How to plant a mini garden or ‘fairy allotment’ in a wheelbarrow

August 21, 2020.Reading time 8 minutes.

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…

DIY Pallet bar project – Spanish wine tavern with beach holiday vibes

February 2, 2020.Reading time 2 minutes.

If you’ve spotted my pallet bar around the internet (and on the TV now, thanks to Kirstie Allsopp!) you may be interested to see today’s pallet project – a Spanish-style wine tavern pallet bar with summery stenciled pattern…

5 Garden DIY hacks to get your outdoor space ready for summer

June 2, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

Is your garden looking a little tired or uninviting? With summer almost upon us (at last) now is the time to ready your outdoor space for the months of summer fun ahead! If you look at the state of your garden and your heart starts to sink, then don’t worry; there are plenty of ways you get your outdoor space ready for all the activities, drinks with friends, family BBQs and outdoor fun that’s to come. Here I’ve gathered 5 super simple hacks that will help get you started. Enjoy!

How to upcycle a shed + ideas for a low-cost garden

July 8, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

If you’re planning on landscaping your garden or installing features like a pond or patio, here’s my tips for doing it on a budget – with photos of my own attempts at salvaging a shed for the garden…

How to illuminate your garden for summer with outdoor lighting

June 14, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

Imagine a warm summer evening in your garden, with a beautifully illuminated patio and twinkling fairy lights hanging in the trees. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? Here’s how to get a lovely ambience in your garden after dark…

How to make a DIY pallet bench for your garden

April 29, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Ahh isn’t it nice when the sun shines? Don’t you just want to sit out in the garden and watch the world go by? Here are some ideas for making your own bench (using pallets – a big win for upcycling!) and finding lovely garden furniture if you’re on a budget…

Making progress in the garden & a new place to relax

September 13, 2017.Reading time 7 minutes.

Remember I said that we’ve put our house DIYing efforts on hold during August (apart from decorating our guest room, of course) so that we could enjoy the summer? Well, it turns out that the extra time we had gained by not filling, sanding or painting allowed us to do a little work on the […]

My home renovation project: Tips for choosing a patio door

June 10, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

Hi folks, the lovey summery weather has got me thinking about my outdoors and in particular, I’m considering changing my kitchen door to a glazed patio door. Has anyone else done this? Leave me a comment if so and let me know if you think it’s a good idea. Having looked into it, there seem to […]

Is that garden furniture really a bargain? Things to consider before you buy outdoor items

May 23, 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

Summer is on its way and us Brits love to get outside as much as possible as soon as we see the sun coming out from behind the clouds. This very weekend I went for a walk along the promenade as soon as the drizzle stopped. I’m really excited about the upcoming bank holiday too and hope […]

Household DIY: How to fix cracked concrete on a budget

April 9, 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

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 […]

4 ways with windows to create a bright & airy home

March 31, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

One of the things that I’m trying to achieve in my home is a feeling of brightness and airiness. I’ve been painting dark walls in fresh white paint, and have positioned mirrors at suitable points around the house to reflect the light. But I’m sure that there’s more I can do to achieve a home […]

How does your garden grow? My new dining room…

August 7, 2014.Reading time 4 minutes.

Last week I showed you some plans for the garden and how we needed to move the caravan into a new position to make the design work. Well, the eagle-eyed of you will have spotted a patio area on those plans and that’s exactly what we’ve done – oh boy, was it a lot of […]

How to create the illusion of space in your home

June 17, 2014.Reading time 4 minutes.

Whether you have a large or a small home, it’s likely that at some point, you’ll bemoan your property’s lack of space. The size of your home matters to some degree, but it’s what you choose to do with the space available that really makes a difference. If you’ve lived in your home for many […]