The final task in my budget kitchen makeover is the flooring so I’m looking for a low cost, easy and (hopefully!) reusable method to revamp my old kitchen tiles. Here are some of my favourite options…
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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…
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Seeing as the majority of items in my home & wardrobe are second-hand (or rescued from a skip), Recycle Week gives me a chance to shout about all the fab things you can make from unwanted furniture or waste materials – such as these fun upcycling DIYs…
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If you’ve got a rusty old bicycle that has seen better days, don’t chuck it out just yet – you can renovate it to give it a new lease of life, or upcycle it to use as a pretty planter in your cottage garden. Here’s how to revamp your old bike…
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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 give a lap tray a quick makeover with self-adhesive vinyl…
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If you fancy giving your 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 a step by step video to show you how to makeover your cabinets…
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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…
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What do you do if you have a sofa but don’t like the colour of the fabric any more? Why, re-cover it, of course! Okay, okay, that’s a rather flippant way of looking at upholstery, but why not give it a go yourself? Especially if the alternative is just to get rid of the sofa and buy a brand new one. By attempting to revamp my sofa, I’ll not only save money, it’ll be keeping a bulky item out of landfill too. Let’s get aboard the upcycling train and try to make the most of what we’ve got, right?
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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…
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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…
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Garden decking can help transform your garden into an extra entertaining space. It makes it the ideal place to enjoy an alfresco dinner or to throw a garden party for your friends. Here’s how to install a deck in your garden at a fraction of the cost..
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Home décor is an essential part of happy living. But it doesn’t need to cost a fortune to look good and can actually make you feel happy to come back home in the evening. Here a few of things you can easily use to decorate your bedroom with the least effort and money…
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What do your ceilings look like? My guess is that they’re painted white, possibly textured and definitely without wallpaper, right? Well the latest interiors trend that I’ve spotted all over Pinterest is decorated ceilings. This under-utilised space above your head can now be adorned with images, patterns and effects. So, read on to find out some ways to incorporate this trend into your own home…
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Have you ever flicked through a home décor magazine and wished that your bedroom was just as beautiful as the ones on those pages? We all know that the costs of decorating such bedrooms can be super high so you may feel discouraged about even thinking of giving your own room a makeover. Well, no more! With a few easy and quick hacks, you can get the bedroom of your dreams without having to spend a fortune…
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Ever wanted to have a gorgeous garden full of foliage and beautiful blooms that takes no time at all to maintain? That’s my plan and it’s exactly what I’m blogging about today! Read on to find out some handy tips to create a low-maintenance garden with plants and veg that take no effort to grow…
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Are you excited to renovate your bathroom? Have you been waiting to renovate the space ever since you moved in? Before you start ripping out the suite, take a deep breath and make sure you’re ready to get started. The following are some of the things that you will want to do before anything else..
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Another day, another DIY and today I’ve been renovating an old pet bed for my cats. What kitty doesn’t want a cosy knitted pillow to sleep on and fluffy pom-poms to play with? Here’s how to give your pet’s basket a quick makeover that matches your decor, too…
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Today I’ve teamed up with online DIY retailer DIYDirect.com to give you some advice when it comes to decorating – and in particular, how you can be as thrifty as possible in your project…
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Have you noticed that wood marquetry is making a comeback? I’ve spotted countless mid-century pieces with a variety of shapes and patterns adorning the wood. If you’d like to recreate this look in your own home without spending a fortune, you can upcycle your furniture yourself and here’s how…
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My home renovation is finally back on track and I’m about to start work on my hallway. In today’s blog post I’m gathering inspiration for a scandi space…
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If you’re planning a house renovation, being thrifty and creative are brilliant qualities to have when it comes to making changes to your home. Here’s some advice to keep your renovation moving along smoothly without too much drama…
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Are you getting ready to renovate your bathroom? If you are looking to add more storage or find space for a shower, today’s blog post is for you!
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Advertisement feature in collaboration with EDF Energy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Happy bank holiday Monday everyone! Are you doing some DIY today?? Want to minimise your energy bills while still keeping your home warm and bright? Here are a few ways – including some smart tech ideas – that’ll help […]
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When you’ve got a freestanding bath, it can be difficult to find a shower solution to fit. But you don’t need to install a separate cubicle; today I’m sharing the research I’ve done for my own bathroom to show you that there are many ways to add a shower over your luxurious tub…
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In order to turn a bathroom from a sterile white box into a welcoming spa-like space, all you need to do is add some accessories. Here are a few thrifty ideas to get you started…
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If you’ve got alcoves in your home, even the smallest space can be turned into a handy storage area. Here’s how I added shelves to a corner of my home office to create a cute bookshelf…
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Here are some ideas to improve the kerb appeal of your home in order to increase your enjoyment of your new house, or to maximise the value when it comes to selling your property…
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Remember when I shared a video on painting a mountain mural for a child’s bedroom? Well today is the finished ‘room tour’ with all the little bits and bobs that turned a spare room into baby’s haven…
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Trying to keep sane during a major home renovation can be tough! Staying organised is key to getting the work done on time and in budget – here’s how…
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Today I’m sharing my DIY project to turn an alcove cupboard into a fitted dressing table, read on to find out the inspiration behind this makeover and to see how I got on…
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Advertisement feature in collaboration with EDF Energy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I learnt some important lessons in home maintenance and property renovation during the first year of owning my own home so read on to find out what went well, and what went wrong!
Read MoreToday, an increasing number of families rent their homes from private landlords or agencies, by choice, or because they are unable to save up the deposit for a mortgage. I rented for my whole adult life until a year ago and it worked for me for all those years. But whatever your reason for considering […]
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I’m about to start work on my DIY kitchen makeover. I say ‘makeover’ rather than ‘fitting’ because we’re keeping the kitchen units in place and are planning to give the whole room a facelift with a new worktop, some window treatments and a lot of paint. I shared the ‘before’ photos on the blog in […]
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Advertisement feature in collaboration with EDF Energy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own You never really know everything about your home until you’ve lived in it through the winter, do you? No matter how cosy a house can seem in the autumn, or how light and airy it can appear in the […]
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Browse my DIY posts and upcyling projects by clicking on one of the categories below for inspiration for your home renovation and for ways to decorate on a budget…
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Oooh it’s the 12th December already! Who else thinks that December is the fastest month of the year? Blink and you miss it. I’ve barely got any decorations up yet! That said, I’m already planning ahead to my new year, and that’s because I’m super-excited about my kitchen renovation. So today, I’m sharing my plans […]
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Now, does your garage actually have a car in it? Or has your garage become a big messy room you use to store all the items you don’t need, but don’t feel like throwing out? And I’m using the term ‘store’ very loosely. In my experience the more likely scenario is that the garage is […]
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Since moving into my home and starting to renovate room-by-room, I’ve realise just how expensive furniture can be. I’ve been especially surprised by the cost of chairs and have therefore only had an ancient folding chair (that was my desk chair as a teen) to sit on at my kitchen table since we moved. I […]
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I thought I’d share with you the amazing news that I’ve been invited to be a judge for the “Tiling for a Good Cause” charitable initiative. I’m so excited! After winning the award for Best Homes & Interiors Blogger earlier this year, I was so delighted when Tile Trader got in touch again to see […]
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I’ve made my own Hollywood mirror – well, if you can’t feel like a star in your own home, when can you, eh?! It took a bit of planning to get the right size of fairy light bulbs for the mirror frame, and to the find the correct diameter drill bit to cut out the […]
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If you’re looking for some creative ways to get your home ready for autumn/winter, today is your lucky day! I’m sharing some simple seasonal updates that can transform any room in your home. This post will look at three easy ways to update your house this autumn to keep your interiors looking and feeling both […]
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The British obsession with buying and selling property is just as engrained today as it’s ever been. Taking on a project, whether it’s to eventually live in or to sell on for a profit, is more doable than ever – why? YouTube! The video sharing site and the wider world of the internet is the […]
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The latest trend in kitchen design is a focus on simplicity and sophistication. A streamlined, contemporary style combined with integrated appliances, thoughtful lighting and a mix of levels helps to keep your room clutter free whilst leaving you more space to relax and entertain.
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Parquet flooring is the new vinyl records. Making a surprising comeback, parquet has exploded back into the flooring scene and is ever increasingly becoming one of the most popular flooring types out there. You may remember parquet from your Grandparent’s house when you were a kid; the distinctive zig-zag patterns and geometric design make it […]
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I love a house with period features. Picture rails, sash windows, working fireplaces and coving; I just can’t get enough of those decorative touches that make a house look a little special. Sadly, many of the homes I viewed while house-hunting have had these period features removed over the years when they were ‘modernised’. It […]
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Well, it’s been a while since I shared some snaps of my home renovation so I thought it was about time I posted some more horrid ‘before’ pics and gorgeous ‘after’ photos. I actually decided to dial-down my DIY efforts during August, for fear of missing out on summer altogether! Nonetheless, I really wanted to […]
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Have you seen this month’s issue of Reloved Magazine yet? If not, quickly get yourself a copy from WH Smith, Sainsburys, Tesco or Costco, because my picnic project is in the magazine with an impressive double-page spread (and 3 further pages of step-by-step photos, too!) Yes, I’m seriously excited! Not one but three of my DIY upcycles were […]
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Staircases can easily be overlooked when you’re decorating your home, even though they are often one of the first things that you see when you come in through the front door. A lot of people think it’s too much hassle to change their stairs, but it can easily be done as a DIY project if […]
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They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home, don’t they? I wholeheartedly agree because it’s where I cook and eat with my husband, it’s where we share the events of our day and is a gathering space for nights in with my friends and family. Of course, I want my kitchen to […]
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When I was writing my blog post about ways to spruce up your bathroom for summer yesterday, I remembered that I haven’t yet shared the “finished” photos of my bathroom renovation with you. I’ve put the word finished in quotation marks because, while all the plumbing, tiling and painting might be finished, I still need to […]
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The birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing, and the sun is out in full force. That’s right – summer is well and truly here and now is the perfect time to refresh your bathroom. I’ve been working on my own bathroom renovation project and will be sharing photos of the ‘finished’ room next week […]
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When I read about this building earlier in the week, I knew I wanted to share this inspirational project with you all. The Sunlight House was built in January 2010 in Austria, and was the country’s first ever carbon-neutral house. It was the result of a contest for young up-and-coming architects to design the ultimate […]
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Renovating a whole kitchen space can easily be an expensive and time-consuming process. This may be the reason why many people end up neglected their kitchen interior, which can end up looking tired and shabby. I’ve been putting off tackling the kitchen so far, even though it’s definitely the most dated room in the house. […]
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Over the half term holiday I went on a bit of a DIY spree. First I finished grouting the bathroom (I’ll post some pics of the end result soon), then I wallpapered my office and finally I installed fitted wardrobes in the bedroom. And that’s exactly what I’m going to tell you about today, because […]
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Are you at that point where you want to see a change in your home? If you’re itching to give your home an update, it doesn’t mean you have to knock everything down and do a full on home remodel! No, there are many ways you can renovate your home by taking it one room at a […]
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Welcome back to another installment in my bathroom renovation – blimey, it’s taking longer than I expected: I thought we’d be done within 5 days but nooo. So far we’ve taken out the old bathroom and prepared the whole room for some new plumbing, tiles and fittings – we’ve come a long way since I […]
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Are you looking for a decorating project to take on in your home this season? If so, you might want to think about remodeling and redesigning your bedroom. When we think about the most important rooms in our home, we often go straight to the kitchen or the bathroom. In a way, this makes a lot of […]
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If there’s one thing that I thought I’d never do in my life, it was probably fitting a shower in a bathroom. It seemed like such a difficult process and I thought that we’d probably end up with a soaking wet bathroom and no shower. But it turns out that fitting a shower was exactly what […]
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This has to be the quickest DIY project I’ve ever done. I don’t even have a step-by-step guide to share with you. But I do have some before and after photos so you can see just how effective this easy project is. Roll on wedding season!I wanted to make some pretty frames to use in a photobooth […]
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Today I wanted to update you on our bedroom decorating project and share a quick review of my new duvet. You may remember that I’ve been waiting for my bed to be delivered and it has finally arrived! I spent the weekend with a screwdriver in my hand, assembling my new bed. What do you […]
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Guess where I’ve spent this week? I’ve had a week off and did I spend it in the sunshine? By the sea? In a beer garden? Nope, I’ve spent it indoors, ripping out my old, dated and leaky bathroom. What else would I do with a week off than more DIY?! Yes, the house renovation […]
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When it comes to the aesthetic appearance of your home often the smallest chip or crack can look unsightly and stand out a mile if the rest of your home is in a good state of repair. The trouble is that repairing concrete can be a difficult and problematic process. But it is possible to DIY […]
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I love the idea of a minimalist lifestyle. I guess that’s because I’ve got so much clutter in my life! Dreaming of open spaces and white walls provides a complete contrast to my life at the moment. With boxes half-unpacked and not knowing where anything is, I could really do with implementing a few minimalist […]
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If somebody asked you what your dream bedroom would look like, what would you say? What kind of vision do you have? I know exactly what I want my own bedroom to look like – in fact, I’ve already started decorating it; check out my flooring blog post with step-by-step GIF of my progress! The trouble is, […]
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Creating that much-needed extra space in your home can be achieved by creating a brand new room out in your unappreciated attic. Whether you live in an old Victorian semi-detached or a mid-terrace home; a loft conversion could be your next step in home improvement. I definitely want to convert my own attic in the future […]
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Stripping wallpaper is a skill I’ve recently developed. Woodchip wallpaper in particular. It’s a difficult paper to shift and, unfortunately, it seems to be plastered all over ‘houses of a certain age’. I guess it was very fashionable at one point but nowadays it’s the number 1 thing that puts potential buyers off a house. […]
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Hi all, how has your week been? Today I thought I’d quickly shared my ‘Take 10’ interview about upcycling and thriftiness from Reloved magazine in case you didn’t get a chance to pick up a copy of Issue 38 last month. My project on restoring leather was also in the January issue, with the aim […]
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With a new home on the horizon I have, of course, been doing extensive decor research on Pinterest. Yes, research. Honest. Okay, I’ve been pinning plenty of pretty homes and tons of gorgeous homewares over the past couple of months (ahem… years) in order to be well-prepared for my imminent house move. Today I’m sharing […]
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I have some wonderful news to kick start the new year – I’m in Reloved magazine this month! My “How to restore a leather chair” project has been given a full four-page spread in the magazine AND it even made the front cover; look carefully and you can see it in the thumbnail images at the […]
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Ahh it’s nearly time to take down those festive decorations and get your home back to ‘normal’ – whatever that is! Apparently decorations should be taken down by the “12th night”, although there seems to be some confusion over when that is – it’s either the 5th or the 6th January. Either way, the time for sparkly decorations is up […]
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