Blogging
How to find a genuine Ercol Design Icon (via Reclaim magazine!)
For this month’s Reclaim magazine I wrote about Ercol for the mid-century modern Design Icon column. And my research led me to some surprising results…
For this month’s Reclaim magazine I wrote about Ercol for the mid-century modern Design Icon column. And my research led me to some surprising results…
All photos of Ju’s home by Alexandra Joseph If you’ve been hooked on the new BBC TV show Interior Design Masters since it started in August, you won’t have been able to miss designer Ju de Paula. Her colourful designs and pattern clashing style are taking the show by storm.
Timeless decor items will be different for every person, but once you find them it can give a sense of comfort and permanence to your house. Plus, I’m a firm believer in ‘buy well, buy once’ so it’s a good idea not to follow interiors trends with your bigger investment
Have you heard about the Etsy Design Awards? If not, I would urge you to check it out today. The list of finalists has been announced and the winners will be chosen in September. It’s a great way to discover new sellers, and here’s what I found when I browsed
To be honest with you, the kitchen was one of the most disgusting rooms in our fixer-upper home. So it was kind-of the room we tackled first. It got a coat of fresh white paint (to cover up the oil-and-nicotine stained walls eww) on the day we got the keys.
I’ve been watching a lot of inspirational & motivational YouTube videos recently so I thought I’d share my my top 5 channels on the topics of minimalism, money-saving tips and living an unconventional life…
When I found a few brick pallets in a building site skip (and asked if it would be okay to re-use them!) my mind starting whirring at the possible projects they could be used for. The result is this kids’ mud kitchen and I thought I’d share the step-by-step project
So you’ve already got a successful side hustle. SO successful in fact, that it’s now your main hustle. You’ve given up your 9-to-5 job and are working on your business full time. Congratulations! But having an extra income stream on the side is always a good idea, so you might
It’s been a really exciting couple of months at Cassiefairy HQ and I’ve been lucky enough to be featured in a few new publications woo! It’s been a while since I updated you with my latest news (in fact, I haven’t shared anything since May!) so I thought I’d gather
Do you know what cryprocurrency is? Are you completely baffled by it, like me? If so, today’s blog post is for you because I’m sharing my research into cryptocurrency so that we can all get to know more about this new way of earning and spending money online…
The bugs in my garden have already stopped me from enjoying the space on a couple of occasions so in today’s blog post I’m sharing what attracts mosquitoes to your garden and some inexpensive steps can you take to eradicate this pest problem…
Although the kitchen is seen as the heart of the home, the bathroom is one of the most used rooms and in my opinion one of the most important. Even though your bathroom is a functional room, it doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish. In this post, I’m looking at
Everyday stress and pollution can cause a lot of damage to your skin. There are skincare products you can use to help you combat these negative effects, but they can also be very expensive, so here are five natural alternatives—some of which you may find in your very own kitchen:
I know it seems crazy to be talking about heating when the weather is like this – but it won’t always quite as delightful as it is right now! That’s why I wanted to help you plan ahead for the autumn and get most of your heating maintenance out of
If you’re planning a summer makeover – or to completely reinvent your look for the new school year – today’s blog post will give you some inspiration to change up your style while sticking to your budget…
If you’ve just moved into a new home and are struggling to find space for all the possessions you’re unpacking, today’s blog post is for you. I’ve done my research and found 5 clever storage hacks that’ll help you to make the most of the space in your new apartment…
If you want to create an outdoor kitchen in your garden, it’s easy to DIY it with just a few pallets, a scaffold board & a ceramic sink. Here’s how I made a handy kitchen cabinet & worktop for my deck from scrap wood…
Living on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t still tick a few things off of your bucket list. I mean, saving your extra cash for travel should be one of the benefits of a thrifty life, shouldn’t it?! Even so, there are savings to be made every time you
Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing – can you believe that fifty years have passed since that momentous occasion?? To celebrate I’m sharing some photos of my vintage Rand McNally lunar globe that featured in this month’s Reclaim Magazine…
When it comes to home improvements, you’ll probably want to prioritise projects that will add more value to your home—especially if you are planning to sell your property and move on in the future. Today I’m sharing some ideas for getting your home ship-shape so that you can enjoy living
If you too are excited about the 50th Anniversary of the lunar landing, today’s space-themed decor might give you inspiration to add a few space-esque touches to your own home. Here’s how I’ve added a few decor details to turn my neutral bedroom into a lunar-themed room…
Good windows are essential in keeping a home cosy, which is why it’s important to care for your windows and occasionally carry out some maintenance. But how do you know if your windows need repairing? Natural causes such as the weather can have an effect on your home, but windows
Interior design is an ever-changing industry with new trends emerging each year. I’ve summarised muchneeded.com’s recent analysis of interiors publications & online data, which outlines the top interiors trends 2019…
If you’ve always wanted to grow your own veggies and pick fresh herbs from your back garden, I’m here to show you that it can be done in just a small space. Here’s how to grow your own herbs (and stop the weeds from making a comeback!) in a raised
If you’re planning a party for adults (or for teens too, I guess!) why not make it a Bob Ross themed event? Think curly hair, canvases and happy little trees and you’ve got the beginnings of an epic painting party that’ll stretch your creative skills and have you giggling for
If you’re looking for an affordable kitchen update, you don’t need to completely rip everything out and start again. Today I’m sharing some easy ways that you can refresh your kitchen and follow the 2019 kitchen trends for less…
If you are planning to move you’ll want to get the best possible price for your current home. To stand any chance of doing that you need to make sure your property looks its best as first impressions really DO matter! Here are some hacks to help you get a
Why is it that the vast majority of the time we neglect our bedrooms the most out of all of the rooms in the house? Sure, we are probably the only ones to actually see our bedrooms, and we’re mostly asleep when we’re in there – but that doesn’t mean
Father’s Day is just around the corner on the 16th June so I thought I’d put together a gift guide of slightly different presents for dad that you might not have though of before, including sweet treats, personalised goodies and on trend tech…
Do you feel like suddenly everything is in bloom? Finally, my garden is looking better than it ever has before and I can actually go outside and enjoy the space a little. Here’s what I’ve been up to over the past month…
We love our smartphones; they keep us constantly connected to friends, let us snap gorgeous pictures of the family, and feature some really cool apps. But as much as I love my phone, I loathe how much they can cost each month – especially if you’ve got multiples devices in
Whether it’s a post-exams treat, a birthday present or a celebratory GCSE-passing gift, you’ll probably need to think outside the box the next time you’re buying a gift for a teen. The usual toys and games just aren’t going to cut it anymore, are they? Here are some ideas that
If you’re a keen crocheter (is that the right word?) or even if you’re just starting out, this fun crocheted cactus project is for you. It’s a cute project that’ll impress friends when they spot your crocheted cactus on display on your mantelpiece. How cool would it be to be
If you’ve been getting into a pickle with your spending in recent years, it’s not your fault. I’ve looked back at the ways we used to shop pre-internet to discover some lessons that we can use today to take control of our modern shopping habits …
I’ve been working on another pallet upcycling project and this month I’ve been creating much-needed storage for my bathroom. Pallet wood is my favourite material to make furniture from – it’s sturdy, looks much better with just a little TLC and, best of all, it’s free! Here’s how I DIYed
If you love the look of slogan T-shirts but don’t want to be wearing the same thing as everyone else, why not make your own? With just some heat-transfer vinyl and a lovely font, you can easily create a design to express yourself through your clothing. Here’s how…
The great thing about gardening is the peaceful feeling of being surrounded by nature. Which is why I’m sharing some low-cost gardening hacks and upcycling projects today to help you get started this sunny Sunday…
As the saying goes, you’re only as old as you feel — but most of us want to look young, too! More than ever before, marketers are trying to cash in on this with the global anti-ageing industry topped out at over $42 billion USD in 2018, and is expected
Have you thought about starting up your own online business? Do you have a unique idea that will appeal to others? If so, what’s holding you back? One of the most common answers is the amount of money required to create a website from the ground up. But it doesn’t
We’re right in the middle of the school Easter holidays so, if you’re running out of ideas for keeping your teens entertained, here are four activity ideas that’ll make them feel grown-up…
The ethical shopping movement doesn’t stop at the places you buy your food and clothing; it can include your utilities and broadband service provider as well. If you’re interested in sustainable brands, here’s a list of some utilities suppliers who can help your bills become more ethical too…
It’s the Easter holidays and for many of us that means our first trip away of the year. If you are taking a break this month, here are some ways to make your journey and holiday stress-free so that you can enjoy your hard-earned time off…
If you’ve been following along with our home renovation, you’ll probably have noticed that we’ve had a bit of a break from the DIYing over the winter. But now we’re back on the job and raring to go – and the hallway makeover is next…
If you’ve been wondering how I’ve been getting on with my home office makeover project here’s a quick update on my progress, including a review of the ultimate desk seat…
If you’ve never meditated before, you may not think that this Buddhist technique if for you. But wait – you may be surprised to discover just how many problems meditation can help with…
If you want to start a side-hustle business selling your designs and products but don’t have the premises for a physical shop, online retail could be the solution. All you need are plenty of creative and unique designs and, wait for it, no actual stock..!
Are you in need of extra storage space in your kitchen? Today’s upcycling DIY could be just what you need! I’ve turned a couple of old pallets into a ‘pallet pantry’ and I’ve shared the step-by-step project…
Here’s an easy step-by-step guide to make a gorgeous ombre gradient triangle shawl. PLUS you could win a copy of JOMO Knits craft book in my giveaway so read on to enter the competition…
If you’ve been going a little too hard while chasing your new year goals, here is some inspiration for self care, wellbeing and making positive changes to your life…
For the entire month of February, I took on environmental charity Hubbub’s #FoodSavvy challenge to try to reduce my food waste within 4 weeks. Did you know that in Norfolk and Suffolk alone up to 113,000 TONNES of food waste goes in the bin? Here’s how you can reduce your
Did you know that there are things in your wardrobe that you only need to buy ONCE? If you choose the right item in the first place, you can get that cost-per-wear down to pennies! Here’s 3 accessories to get you started:
If you usually set a monthly budget, special occasions may cause a dent in your finances. It can be tempting to overspend when you’re celebrating something special and Mother’s Day is no exception. Here are some thrifty tips to celebrate in style…
Winter may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean you’re ready to fling open all the windows yet! There may still be a few more weeks of cold days (and even colder nights) to come. But heating your home during the bitter chilly winter months shouldn’t cost your entire monthly
Even though a kitchen revamp can be costly, a few simple changes to the room – a new wall colour or a few trendy décor pieces – can add value to your home with very little outlay. Here are some more design ideas to effectively update your kitchen without overspending…
There are plenty of ways you can save money on fashion but have you every considered sewing-your-own?? If this sounds intriguing to you, here are a few tips for getting started…
If you’ve lived in your home for a considerable amount of time, you might be considering giving it a fresh new look. However, if you don’t have the budget, you might be putting it off until you can afford it. Thankfully, there are tons of really beautiful renovation projects you
Has the new year given you a burst of enthusiasm for getting your home organised? That’s how I’ve been feeling this year and I’ve been trying to sort out all the things that I’d been putting off during 2018. This week I’m tackling the artwork I’ve been collecting – it’s
I’m currently working on landscaping my garden so if you too are working on a garden revamp this year here are some of the exterior finishes and accessories that are on trend for 2019…
We’re only three weeks into the new year and already there have been massive changes afoot at Cassiefairy HQ. We’ve been DIYing in earnest and I’m exhausted just thinking about it! You see, we’ve decided that 2019 will the be the ‘year of the garden’ and we’re tackling a landscaping
This year I’m not keeping my Valentine’s gifts a secret from my husband. That’s because I really wanted to share them with you in my ‘his & hers’ guide. There’s something for him and for you in this collection of products so you can ensure that you’ll get something for
Did you know that there’s so much more to London than just Buckingham Palace and Big Ben? London is a city brimming with mystery, with hidden secrets and unique quirks that make it a place people love to live, work and play in. So, step away from the guide book
The last month of 2018 was super exciting for me and this is the first chance I’ve had to share some photos of my recent magazine features, articles, awards and online interviews with you 🙂
Investing in property for buy to let purposes can be an incredibly worthwhile and lucrative venture. The UK is one of the best places in the world for property investment, with the buy to let market in a number of cities such as Liverpool and Manchester offering impressive rental yields
Fancy making your own neon snowflake light to decorate your home for Christmas? I’ve shared the full DIY project along with photos of my own minimalist snowy white festive bedroom…
If you’ve got a rental property there are so many ways that you can make it feel cosy and homely, especially at this time of year, and here are a more few ways to boost the appeal of your property before you put it on the market…
Smiling is good for you. When you smile, a little burst of happy hormones is released into your brain, which gives you a mental lift. It also helps you to make friends as people are drawn to happy folk and smiling is contagious. With the new year coming up, why
Here’s some of the personalised and retro gifts I’ve picked up for my husband this year, and I hope they’ll help you get your gift list in order too…
Christmas is about so much more than materialism but it’s also nice to buy or create something that lets people know you are thinking about them at this time of year and that you enjoy having them in your friendship circle. Sometimes all it takes is a Christmas card so
If you’re looking for a truly unique gift this Christmas, you’ve got to go handmade. Etsy is a great marketplace to find items that have been crafted by artisans and creatives so that’s where I’ve been shopping this year. Here are some festive gift ideas for all members of the
I’ve made my own Christmas jumpers this year! What do you think? After a quick rummage in my local charity shop I found three different types of jumpers just calling out to be upcycled, so I thought I’d share this heat-transfer vinyl project with you so that you too can
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