Epic home tour of a stunning 19th Century swing-beam agricultural barn, packed full of rustic features and vintage collections, which was rescued and renovated by April and Andy Hershberger…
We all know money is essential to pay bills, buy things we need & care for the people we love. However, we often fail to realise that our finances are closely related to mental wellbeing. So how does mental health affect our finances & vice versa..?
I finally feel like things are happening in our garden now. Looking back over the month of April, I’m actually surprised by how much we’ve got done, even though there’s not much in the way of veggies yet! Here’s the veg we planted & projects we built…
As the world starts ‘getting back to normal’ this month, I thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on the (weirdly!) fun times I’ve had at home thanks to the awesome activities that I’ve enjoyed online. Here are 6 of my favourite virtual events…
Decluttering & spring cleaning are some of my favourite activities. I love a good clear-out & really appreciate the extra space gained by letting go of lesser-used items. Here’s how to minimise your belongings (& prevent recluttering!) this spring…
If you’re a fan of reading like me, you’ve probably already been practicing bibliotherapy without realising it. And it’s not just about reading self-help books; the enjoyment you get from fiction is can also benefit your mental wellbeing. Here’s how…
Get the most out of your existing by furniture by turning a simple coffee table into a two-in-one piece of furniture that converts into a comfy footstool and back again. Here’s how to upholster a padded topper for ANY coffee table…
With Easter approaching on 4th April, how about treating your little ones to something more exciting (and healthy!) than chocolate? Here’s my guide to more sustainable Easter gifts that’ll keep kids entertained during the school holidays too…
What are your ‘lockdown lessons’? Do you have some fab food hacks or top kitchen tips? I was so chuffed when my own grow-your-own veggie patch project was highlighted by FoodSavvy earlier this week so here’s my lockdown allotment story…
I’m sure you already know how handy upcycling is to help you save money & keep items out of landfill – but did you know it’s really beneficial for your mental health too? Here’s how to use your craft skills to revamp furniture & feel happier…
If you’ve ever said “all my money is gone by the end of the month, so how on earth am I supposed to save?” it’s because the little things all add up. Here’s why the conveniences of modern life are stopping you from saving money & what you can do
If you’ve set some new years resolutions or are working toward an epic money goal, today’s post aims to help you achieve a happy medium with your plans that lets you be optimistic about the future while making the most of every day…
If there’s one thing I always need more of its storage, so I’ve come up with a simple DIY project to revamp old drawers to create sliding under-bed boxes on wheels. Here’s how to decoupage the inside & add upcycled handles to stow away toys, books & shoes:
Seeing as we’ve had nearly a year of mask-wearing, you’d think I would’ve already settled on a favourite face mask to suit my needs. But, as a glasses wearer, I’ve found it tough to fight the fog! Here’s what I’ve tried & some solutions for spectacles…
To make the most of the understairs cupboard I’ve transformed the door into a ‘doorganiser’ – a place to store essentials, create a weekly planner for the family & write shopping lists. Here’s how to make your own door organiser by upcycling DIY offcuts…
If you’re working remotely or have got kids studying at home, you might want to DIY a desk to make home-working easier. Or you can use it as a console table to tidy up the keys, cash & post that accumulate in your entryway. Grab an old drawer & let’s
When you’ve got a spare half-hour and fancy watching something festive why not re-watch some classic Christmas TV shows?! Here’s a handy list of all the seasonal episodes of your favourite TV series & sitcoms ready for you to enjoy this December…
Welcome to my festive pallet project! I’ve DIYed a friendly freestanding snowman to adorn your lawn and the best part is that he doubles-up as a family game. I’ve teamed up with DIY website ManoMano to show you how to make this dapper snowman for yourself.
Christmas can be busy at the best of times so I’ve come up with some ways that we can use modern technology to make December easier than ever. From gift shopping to entertainment, there are so many festive things you can enjoy without lifting a finger…
Beautifully layered neutrals, furniture with warmth & patina, and rooms dressed for the seasons. That’s what you’ll find inside Kim Jones’ Texas home & on her blog Salvaged Living. Here’s a tour of her characterful home to inspire your own seasonal decor..
The clocks have gone back, the days are darker & the weather is colder. But that doesn’t mean we have to feel chilly all winter long. I’ve got some tips for staying warm at home without incurring extra heating costs…
With the clocks going back at the weekend we’ve now got to deal with darker days and the impending winter. And when there’s not as much daylight it’s not particularly good for our mental and physical health. Here are some easy ways to take care of yourself…
In today’s post, I’m admitting to some rather messy habits I have but I want to share them for good reason – I think they actually save me both time and money every day. Do you do any of these hacks or have any similar time-saving tips? Let me know!
If you’re running a small business, it sometimes feels like social media and advertising takes up all your time – and even stops you doing the work you actually want to do! Here’s 3 ways you can grow your audience without giving up all your spare time…
Many of us love to decorate our homes for the seasons, and Halloween is a great excuse for a pre-Christmas celebration. I’ve pulled together some of my favourite Autumn and Halloween items to help you get spooky while supporting independent makers…
Autumn has almost become a 2nd Christmas in terms of decorating, with interior designers piling up pumpkins & draping leaf garlands over fireplaces. Here’s some fall decor tips from top interiors bloggers to inspire you…
Today I’m sharing some top tips from a Picquot Ware owner on how to clean and refurbish an original teapot, along with some photos of the original range and price list…
In honour of Recycle Week, I’m sharing my tips for enjoying tech in a sustainable way & without the hefty price-tag. Plus, I’ve upcycled & personalised a refurbished phone so I hope you’ll try out this easy DIY decal project too…
We all have goals for our careers & professional lives, but how many of us have money goals too? As a big #MoneyTwitter fan, I’ve put together some ways you can plan, save and achieve your future money goals…
Our living spaces seem to get smaller during the cooler months, don’t they? I think it’s because we’re indoors more & can’t use our gardens as much if the weather is bad. Here’s some ideas to make your living room more cosy & liveable for autumn…
Hallways can be tricky spaces to decorate. Even though you only pass through them, they link all the other rooms together and the flooring needs to be hardwearing in such a hard traffic area. While working on my own hallway I pulled together some practical makeover ideas…
If you haven’t got much space but want to create a summery display in your garden, why not plant up a wheelbarrow? You could also encourage children to get involved in planting up their own mini ‘fairy allotment’ garden. Here’s how…
It’s a summer of extremes, isn’t it? We’ve had scorching hot days alongside epic thunderstorms. It’s been uncomfortable for us humans, so I can only imagine how my fluffy cats are coping in the heat. Here are some hacks for helping your pets to stay safe:
As your parent ages, they may need additional support. With your assistance, they can be safe, healthy and comfortable. If you want to look after your mum or dad after they retire, focus on the following areas…
Eeeee it’s so exciting! After many years of admiring the work of other Interior Blog Award winners – and even writing about some of their homes for Reclaim magazine – I’ve finally been nominated! Please can you help me get through to the shortlist by voting for me??
You may have heard of self-esteem and self-confidence, but you heard of the term self-efficacy before? I’ve been reading about psychology at lot recently and have been learning about ways to boost your belief in your abilities – here’s how…
If funds are looking a little low & you need to make some cash in a flash, you don’t even have to leave your house in order to add to your savings pot – here are some ideas for making extra money this month…
No matter how you’re feeling, pets are there for you and can be a great source of comfort. But that’s not all – here’s why animals are important for mental health and how you can celebrate these important members of the family…
With the right mental & physical health ‘kit’ I’m sure we can all navigate our own versions of ‘new normal’ in a way that we feel comfortable. Here are some of my own essentials for post-pandemic life…
In the summer, it’s all about getting kids excited about being outdoors. If you can encourage them into the garden they can learn about nature, be more active and get some fresh air. Here are 3 outdoor activities for kids + some rainy-day ideas too…
I bet you’ve got loads of things on your to-do list that you WANT to do, but don’t really NEED to do, so they never get done. A third of people say completing a to-do list is one of their top ‘little wins’ so here’s how to start ticking things
If you’re using a lap tray for your lunch or to hold snacks during film night, it’ll probably get sticky & icky quickly. Even after wiping them down regularly & being careful with spills, they still ended up with little stains & grease marks on the surface. Here’s how to
I’ve been DIYing again and this time I’ve made some nightstands for the bedroom. It’s a simple project that makes use of old drawers from a broken chest to create bedside tables – here’s how…
While some children may have gone back to school, many are still at home. This means they’ll be learning in the same spaces where they usually play and sleep plus, you probably want them to be creative and feel relaxed too. So how do you design a kids room that
If you fancy giving your outdated kitchen a new look, there’s no need to splash out on an entirely new installation. Even melamine cupboards can be revamped with spray paint! Here’s how…
If ever there was a time for a motivational slogan tee, it’s now. Obviously, I’m not going to the shops to buy one, but that doesn’t stop me from making one (or two!) at home. Here’s how to customise your t-shirt with an uplifting slogan…
In this catch-up Q&A with interior designer Ju De Paula, semi-finalist on BBC’s Interior Design Masters, Ju shares her advice for decorating spaces with personality and colour…
The world has been a very different place of late but one thing that has been incredible to see is how quickly we have adapted. Services that were only ever delivered face to face have shifted & we’re able to do more things online than we would ever have been
You want the best for your pets, right? They’re family, after all! So I’ve been looking for ways to make my cats Cookie & Muffin more comfortable at home during their later years. Here’s what I found…
If you’ve been spending more time in your home than usual, you may find yourself looking around the interior and thinking about how it could be different. When all elements of interior decor come together, such as painting, lighting, furniture and accessories, it’s like your own personal form of magic
If you’ve been having trouble sleeping in recent weeks, you’re certainly not alone. Self-care is so important at the moment & sleep is a key factor so here are some ways to boost your bedtime routine to get the restorative sleep you need…
Get inspiration for a happy, vibrant, mid-century interior from this apartment tour of interior designer & artist Melanie Mahrhold’s retro, boho home…
I’ve recently been renovating the kitchen of my 1950s home, adding colour & vintage design to recreate how it would have looked when the house was first built. Here’s what I discovered when I searched for iconic Skyline utensils…
We’ve been relying on online orders more over the past month so I thought it would be a good idea to build a parcel box and share the step-by-step project. But how do you build a delivery box without going shopping for DIY materials..?
If you’re developing a new website or redesigning your existing blog, today’s post will take you through the options for personalising your theme with unique fonts to help your design stand out from all the rest…
Technically, re-covering my Ercol studio couches was simply a case of sewing a couple of big cushion covers, right? So how hard could it be?? Here’s how I got on when I attempted sofa upholstery for the first time…
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden – whatever the size and shape – there are many things that you can do to turn your garden into a haven for wildlife. Here are some tips to get you started…
If you’re looking for interesting and educational ways to entertain your youngsters, you’ve come to the right place! Today, I’m sharing some fun ideas for activities and projects that your kids can enjoy at home…
Whether you’ve dabbed with blogging in the past, or are completely new to it but would like to start sharing your ideas online, maybe now is the time to give it a go. If you’re planning to start a blog, website or even build an online shop, here’s some advice
With Mother’s Day fast approaching and it being #MarchMeetTheMaker month on Instagram, I figured that there’s no better time for me to put together a blog post featuring some of my favourite local makers and Etsy shops.
Our kitchen items should actually fit into the kitchen units we have available – not piled up, shoved in, & tumbling out every time you open a cupboard door! So here’s 5 steps to help you minimise your kitchenalia and organise those units…
Considering some of the mistakes I’ve made when renovating my own home, I can now see how appealing it would be to get some professional advice before I started! Whether you are looking to re-do one room or the entire house, there are times when hiring an interior designer makes
Renovating my bathroom was a steep learning curve & I made a few mistakes along the way! Today I’m sharing my experience & hopefully you can avoid my newbie errors, as well as saving money on your own bathroom makeover…
My thrifty ’50s kitchen makeover is nearly complete – with the exception of the flooring. So, I’ve researched a few options to revamp the space would love to know what you think…
Did you know that in Norfolk and Suffolk alone 113,000 tonnes of food is wasted each year? It’s such a shame that we are wasting so much food – both financially & environmentally. The aim of the #FoodSavvy challenge is to reduce our food waste by 20% & decrease single-use
Whether you’re renting or buying, space comes at a premium in any property. The more spacious your interior, the greater the cost of your rent or mortgage. So if you opt for a smaller home & here’s how to use the space you have to best effect…
There just aren’t enough hours in the day, are there? Your to-do list of cleaning, shopping and adulting tasks takes up so much time! Here are some ways to minimise the chores you have to do and free up some relaxation time for yourself..
I was getting close to completing my DIY kitchen renovation but it all went spectacularly wrong last week. If you’ve read my blog, you’ll know that my kitchen ceiling now has about 60 holes in it! So it’s back to the drawing board for more kitchen inspo…
Well, my year has got off to a cracking start..! If you detected a hint of sarcasm in that first sentence, you’d be right. A mysterious water problem quickly turned into a day of emergency repairs, with floorboards taken up, holes drilled and plumbing problems. Here’s what happened…
Happy new year! How was your Christmas and new year? What plans do you have for 2020? And the coming decade, for that matter?! If you’re anything like me, you’ll be raring to get started on your goals for the year and will be excited about what the year brings.
