After over a year of lockdown, a lot of us have had to adjust to working from home. Working from home has many advantages such as added flexibility and no commute. However, we are more likely to get distracted by our environment whilst at home due to factors such as partners also working from home, children if you're a parent, or the ever so tempting house chores amongst others.
We've been pinning again, and we would love to share some swoonworthy work spaces, that will also improve your productivity!
First things first: if you want to be productive, your environment needs to motivate you. Personalise your desk by adding wall prints with positive messages to get you through the day, or images and a colour palette that inspire you.
Here are some of our very own to get you inspired...
Whether it be on the wall or on your desk, make sure that you always have a planner nearby. Using a planner consistently holds you accountable to meet your deadlines and also gives you control over what you can plan to achieve, not to mention that you can also add fun things to your planner that you can look forward to, think of those as rewards after a productive day at the desk.
Schedule your work day with our weekly desk planners to keep yourself organised!
Never miss an idea. Keep a notebook around so that you can make notes during a zoom meeting or when inspiration hits.
We have added some of our notebooks below to help you on your search for the perfect notebook:
Ensure that you have all the office essentials needed to get your job done. And it's even better if they are colour coordinated!
We have a variety of desk accessories available, and also our very popular Stationery Subscription Box which brings a selection of paper goods and accessories to make sure you never run out of inspirational stationery!
*Sources are linked on images*
]]>Even though the year is flying by, aren't you glad to see longer and brighter days making their appearance? Spring is a very welcome blessing after the long winter months we have gone though in the UK lockdown.
Easter is a great excuse to go all out and decorate, bake and make this time of the year. We have put together our favourite recipes, crafts and decoration ideas below (which will for sure keep our little ones busy as well!), and hope you enjoy looking though them...
1. Give your centrepiece a makeover by hanging a few Easter eggs from your plant of choice, or pick a few branches to decorate and create a focal point.
2. Need a new treat this easter? These no bake mini cheesecakes are very quick and easy to make! Their colourful design will make them a favourite amongst the kids!
3. Get creative with your kids this Easter by designing your own Easter eggs! Use paint or felt-tip pens to let your imagination run wild!4. At last but not least, my friend Ruth who runs Hello Ruth has created a super easy step by step tutorial to create these cute paper decorations. You can download the templates and watch the video here.
*Sources linked on the text and images
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I had to dig deep to find my five things this time, and at the end I realised the simplest things were those I was hanging onto this week.
How are you feeling?
Here are five things I have enjoyed this week:
1.The sunshine-filled days. I know that's predictable, however it makes a huge difference to my mood (and most of the UK population!) Let's get the vitamin D flowing - we need it!
2. Bank Holiday Friday! Three days without home schooling! Need I say more... we made the most of the days off by enjoying dog walks in the sun, watching family movies and drinking iced coffee (that's just me!)
3. Cookies, especially those freshly-baked, warm-from-the-oven, gooey and soft chocolate cookies. If it wasn't for some daily exercise I'd probably get out of quarantine rolling through the door. This recipe is worth a try, but for a quick cookie-fix most supermarkets also sell ready-to-bake cookie dough and as long as you don't overtake it they can be just as soft.
4. I have recently watched a webinar on essential oils and also one on improving sleep quality (both for members-only on Southwood Social Hub) and that has inspired me to improve the quality of my sleep, especially as there is close to zero me-time at the moment and I am working all the late hours I can. There is a quick guide and video on which foods can improve sleep quality here, but there is so much to it, it's impossible to share in a few lines. Worth a look!
5. I wonder how much lockdown will impact children who have been taken out of their routines so harshly. Whilst it's impossible to keep the same rhythm of school work as they had previously, I am trying to make sure they stay in touch with their friends as much as possible. We have had a few calls this week, and hoping we can continue until they return to whatever the new normal will look like.
Well that was week 7, after a bit of uncertainty about what is going to happen next, I am now embracing the next step, mindful that I will do what feels right and comfortable for me and my family.
Week 8 here we come - have a good one!
]]>Businesses and life are changing at a pace that is unbelievably and surprisingly fast, and maybe we are adapting, pivoting, learning and growing. Or maybe we are pausing and taking it all in. Whatever you are doing, make sure it is what's right for you.
]]>We can tick off Week Six of lockdown, it kind of feels like a milestone week. Who knew six weeks ago we would be where we are now?
Businesses and life are changing at a pace that is unbelievably and surprisingly fast, and maybe we are adapting, pivoting, learning and growing. Or maybe we are pausing and taking it all in. Whatever you are doing, make sure it is what's right for you.
Time to revisit the positives from this week..
1.This is an easy one, on Monday my youngest daughter turned three! It was a lockdown birthday in full Frozen 2 style, from the cake to the decorations, she thoroughly enjoyed it - we all did really!
2. Ryan Serhant latest vlog, I first watched it on Instagram and it was emotional to see the streets of NYC empty, but his words made me not want to scroll down the page. Then I watched this and again I couldn't look away. Punchy, clever, persuasive, positive and just right.
3. I've launched 3 new cards and updated my print collection - way overdue I admit and although the to-do list grows each day, I'm also ticking things off at a great pace. I'll add some of the new designs below for you to see.
4. Who knew before quarantine this would even be something I'd be grateful for... I actually managed to find a click & collect slot at one of my local supermarkets. It's a small win, I wasn't enjoying the weekly food shop with all that's going on though and it feels a lot less stressful this way.
5. In December I got Gabrielle Bernstein's book The Universe Has Your Back and I loved it so much, I also got it on audio and it wouldn't leave my side for about two months. Whenever I have a wobble, I play it and it makes the worries go away. I've done a bit of that this week, and I am ending the week feeling positive and energised.
What about you, what are your five things this week?
Take a look at some of the new cards and prints...
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Here are five things I have enjoyed this week... 1. Surprisingly, having my eldest 'back to school' aka home learning was actually good to give us some kind of routine, which I think we are just about getting to settle into. Don't be fooled though, on Friday we were celebrating the weekend was in sight! 2. Going with the flow, and seeing where it takes us. I am trying my best not to put too much pressure on my diary at the moment, as I am working in the evenings when the kids are in bed and that's also when I pack orders. So I have added less things than usual to my to-do list everyday, and for the first time in months I have actually ticked all of them off! I have a second to-do list which has my long-term tasks as well, so that's helping me manage my time and plan ahead. 3. We have finished watching The Stranger on Netflix, it didn't take long to go through the series but it was so intriguing we couldn't wait to watch the next episode every time. Worth a watch! 4. Coming up with meals to cook is a chore at the moment - I love cooking but NOT twice a day for a demanding crew. My favourite recipe this week was this Spiced Carrot and Lentil Soup from BBC Good Food. I've made it before and it's a favourite! 5. Listening to Holly Tucker's interviews with the experts and also on her recommendation this NY Times Daily podcast about the next year of the pandemic.
If you had to write Five Things, what would yours be? |
The NEW Gratitude Journal encourages you to take time out each day to reflect on your thoughts and experiences and focus on the positive. The more you focus on your positive feelings and experiences, the more happiness you will attract into your life.
There is no better way to stay organised then a weekly planner with plenty of room for all your reminders, notes and lists.
The perfect gift set for the stationery lover, filled with delightful desk accessories ready to be gifted in a beautiful pink box with ribbon.
The perfect mindset gift, great to write down all the things that matter, includes a Gratitude notebook, a Happiness notebook and a gold foiled pencil.
And lastly but not least, all our Greeting Cards are printed in the UK on recycled board.
Happy Shopping!
]]>When I say super easy, it really is! I have chosen a pink tiled splash back design and got it printed in an adhesive format at Nutmeg Wall Art. If you need a different colour or design they would be able to help too. Pink was the obvious choice here, and my four-year old was absolutely over the moon to see it and both of them love their updated play kitchen!
]]>Last month I shared our play room reveal, and it still remains one of our favourite rooms in our home. I meant to share the Ikea Duktig Play kitchen DIY with you after so many lovely comments on Instagram and then a mountain of work landed on The Room Alive HQ, including a trade show and launching a new stationery collection. All super exciting and now firmly launched, I can get back to my blogging duties to share this super easy DIY with you.
When I say super easy, it really is! I have chosen a pink tiled splash back design and got it printed in an adhesive format at Nutmeg Wall Art. If you need a different colour or design they would be able to help too. Pink was the obvious choice here, and my four-year old was absolutely over the moon to see it and both of them love their updated play kitchen!
I have made a super easy step by step video for you, just start by making sure the MDF board and the surfaces you'll use are clean and dust free and then follow these steps:
And the best part is that the sticker is wipeable, so it is easy to clean and maintain. We've had it in place for a couple of months now and it still looks perfect. I have added below the links of where I got all the items I used to make and decorate our play kitchen, in case you find it useful.
Whilst I leave you with a few more images of our Ikea Play Kitchen, I hope you enjoy your makeover too if you're going to do it. Share a link to yours below as I'd love to see it!
Links to some of the items I used:
Tiles Adhesive from Nutmeg Wall Art
It's cool to be kind wooden wall plaque from Flat102
MDF Board cut to size from Homebase
Disclaimer: contains some affiliate links.
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I wanted to get the cupboards painted in the kitchen as soon as we moved in. The Mr wasn't keen on the idea and we had other rooms to focus on to be fair so I kept postponing it.
I continued to research though, and inspired by some of my favourite bloggers, after almost three years of living with orangey-oak cupboards, I took the plunge.
]]>When we bought our first home, we had a brand new kitchen, new bathrooms, new carpets, new everything, that was the joy of moving into a new build. I loved our all glossy white kitchen with light worktops and high ceilings! Second time around three years later, we moved into our family home and although it was still relatively a 'newish' build being only nine years old at the time, it definitely showed signs of wear and all the dated choices in bathrooms and the kitchen.
I wanted to get the cupboards painted in the kitchen as soon as we moved in. The Mr wasn't keen on the idea and we had other rooms to focus on to be fair so I kept postponing it.
I continued to research though, and inspired by some of my favourite bloggers, after almost three years of living with orangey-oak cupboards, I took the plunge.
One day when he was at work, I took some of the cupboard doors down and sanded them, before sending him a photo of the door-less kitchen units and newly-sanded doors. This was it, there was no going back, I was getting the kitchen cupboards painted.
I didn't think it would have been easy, but also didn't estimate it would take me three months (*with young children, a dog, full-time jobs and a business we were painting late at night and at weekends).
Only one thing I can say though: I wish we had done it sooner!
Let me walk you through the steps and how we achieved the look...
If you follow me on Insta you've read this before - the kitchen was dark! Dark worktops on dark units on dark flooring.
We had to do this DIY in many steps to ensure that the results will be long lasting with a good finish. Here is an easy step by step guide:
Here are the finished cupboards - I love the contrast the opposite colours have created and it also made the worktop and tiles look so much better. I am happy with the current tiles (for now!) so I won't be changing them just yet as they are working with the new colours.
We still want to change the flooring at some point, but for now this is a very much loved kitchen at a very low cost!
What do you think? I'd love to hear if you are planning on getting your cupboards painted anytime soon, or have already done it?
*Disclaimer: some of the links added are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase any of these items, and it doesn't cost you anything.
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The playroom is what would be the formal dining room in our home, but that would be a wasted space, with young kids and toys everywhere, the obvious choice for us was for it to become the playroom/games room.
If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen some of the progress, but not yet the full before and after pictures. I'm sharing it all here, even if the before pictures make me cringe a little.
]]>The play room revamp seemed to be one of the most refreshing and smooth revamps we have done at home over the last three years, especially since every room we have decorated here lately has taken such a long time (hello kitchen makeover which took three months!)
The playroom is what would be the formal dining room in our home, but that would be a wasted space, with young kids and toys everywhere, the obvious choice for us was for it to become the playroom.
If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen some of the progress, but not yet the full before and after pictures. I'm sharing it all here, even if the before pictures make me cringe a little.
Before becoming a play room though, this space played many other roles. In the time that we have been living here, the room quickly became the 'dumping room' (every home has one of those right?), then for a short while it was the 'treadmill room', and that was short-lived. After that we had family living with us for a while so this space became the overflow of the kitchen, with a fridge (yes, a fridge!) at the same time as getting back to being a 'dumping room'. When the family moved out last December, we decided it was time to finally make use of the space wisely and turn it into the playroom/games room and give it some TLC. So whilst we were continuing to paint the kitchen cupboards, I was anxiously planning this makeover.
I needed to create a space where the Mr would enjoy spending time in (games room after all!) as well as the girls, which meant no pink walls and nothing too girly, but instead a cool neutral space that the whole family could enjoy with plenty of storage for all their toys and games.
This makeover was completed on a very small budget I must add. I shopped my home for most of the items used, and I sold a couple of unused/unwanted items on Ebay which pretty much paid for the paint and storage units we bought, and we did all the sanding/painting ourselves. It was a tiny-spend revamp: win-win!
It was a typical beige box. Just like the lounge when we first moved in, there was beige carpet, beige walls and brown curtains. What you actually see here is the room already updated with flooring and new blinds so that was already a step forward. However it was uninspiring, with toys everywhere and a complete lack of style. The TV in the photo was just there because we had no where else to put it (dumping room indeed), but it was never actually used here.
The biggest job we had to complete in this room was the painting of literally every surface apart from the floor! After filling in wholes and sanding all the woodwork, we started painting. I kicked off with the skirting boards in the evenings while the Mr spent a whole Saturday painting the ceiling and walls and got it pretty much done in one weekend, with some touch ups left to do only.
After that, it was only a matter of having the time I needed to rearrange everything, complete some DIYs and re-organise and sort through toys.
You can just about see above that the ceiling was being painted in a dark blue tone. It was something I chose as it felt right for the room whilst the white walls would still keep it bright. Forget feature wall, I wanted a feature ceiling. It didn't go down too well with anyone to start with. I stuck to my decision though. And I am so glad I did. Here is the room just about finished. Only now missing a light pendant and a picture on one of the walls...
I have done a mini Ikea toy kitchen makeover too as part of this room revamp, to add something extra special for the girls I created their very own pink tile splash back for their kitchen. Super easy to do with the help of Adele at Nutmeg Wall Art. There will be a step by step post next week - it is super easy and if you want to do something similar come back and check it out!
In regards to the toy storage, I used clever containers within the Ivar Ikea unit which can store a lot - I was impressed with how many toys I could fit in such a slim unit. I ended up actually returning a whole unit because I didn't need any more storage (something I never thought I would be saying!) There is also a tall unit to keep board games and some larger toys, as well as nursery bags and backpacks, and I've even managed some toys in the TV unit which was almost unused before.
I have done my best to clear up and get rid of any unwanted or broken toys by donating or recycling them. It was time consuming - if you're a mum you will know what it's like when you're putting together all the pieces of a shape sorter or puzzle after they'd been misplaced. One of the joys of motherhood! It was worth it... And here I leave you with the newly decorated playroom, I hope you like it!
As I have shopped my home for most of the items, some were purchased a long time ago and are no longer available, but I have linked for you below the items that are still available:
Picture 1: Ceiling Paint: Dulux Saphire Salute, Sofa and Chair from Dwell, Rug and Throw from Urban Outfitters, Palm Leaf cushion and Artist Brush Cushion from my shop, Stendig Calendar from my shop (for sale from September to January), 'New Black' Print by Oliver Gal (similar here), Hanging basket from House Doctor, Side table from Zara Home, throw from Ikea
Picture 2: Ivar storage unit from Ikea, Storage felt basket and floor planter from Homesense, Felt Board and Pink Leopard Print from my shop, Handwriting print which I made using my eldest's handwriting, Pink jug from Flying Tiger, Small clipboards from amazon which I have spray painted in grey.
Picture 3: TV unit, Tall storage locker from Ikea, Gold planter from Matalan, Pink Planter from homesense, wicker planter from Trouva.
Picture 4: Ikea play kitchen upcycled with sticker from Nutmeg Wall Art, Small planter from my shop, large planter from Homesense, 'Kind' Plaque from Flat102.
*Disclaimer: this post contains some affiliate links, so if you click and purchase any of those items I may earn a small commission.
]]>They say the older you get the quicker the years go by, and I am seeing that happen right before my eyes!
On the other hand, there are some great positives with that, one being that the summer will be here before we know it (and long may it last!) and that we also have a pretty special date to celebrate very soon... Mother's Day!
]]>It feels like it was only yesterday when we were celebrating New Year's Eve and facing the thought of a whole new year ahead, how are we in the middle of March already?
They say the older you get the quicker the years go by, and I am seeing that happen right before my eyes!
On the other hand, there are some great positives about that, one being that the summer will be here before we know it (and long may it last!) and that we also have a pretty special date to celebrate very soon - Mother's Day!
Mother's Day should be everyday, we get it! A mother's job is never (ever!!!) done, but isn't it nice that we can get that one day a year to get a lie in and be spoiled?
In the list of priorities, let's put the lie in at the top (hint and reminder to the Mr: Mothers get a lie in on Mother's Day!), and then the 'being spoiled' part. I've put together lots of ideas for gifting below so grab a cuppa and have a browse, hopefully it'll help you tick a few items off your shopping list. And if you're a mum you may want to add some of these gift ideas to your wish list too.
Clockwise:
Clockwise:
Clockwise:
Happy shopping and preparations for the big day!
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If you are also addicted to looking at stunning interiors on Instagram, you will probably know who she is or at least have seen one of her gorgeous rooms.
]]>It is not everyday I get to collaborate with the Wallpaper Queen, so when Charlotte Sweeting used our wallpaper to decorate her guest bedroom makeover, it had to be documented here. Mainly because the transformation she completed was absolutely to die for, and *warning* will make you fall in love with her guest bedroom...
If you are also addicted to looking at stunning interiors on Instagram, you will probably know who she is or at least have seen one of her gorgeous rooms.
Charlotte, @_charlottesweeting_ on Instagram, documents the renovation of her home in York and is also a co-host for #mystylishspace, and I adore her use of colour, furniture and of course, wallpaper! Her wall decor talent is on another level, so prepare yourself for some serious inspo.
I have asked Charlotte a few questions and she gives a good insight into her renovating journey and her taste in interiors.
When did you move into your home and what was the first room you decorated?
We moved into our Dormer bungalow in summer 2015. It needed everything doing and still needs a lot doing! The first room we did was the bathroom! I need a nice loo!! We pulled out the existing bathroom suite and put in a walk in shower etc... and funky tiles from Fired Earth!
How would you describe your interior style?
My interior style is varied and transitional. I love Scandi and neutral palettes but also love eclectic and glam! I love bold colours and features! Being that our home was a 1970's box, I used a lot of wallpaper and panelling to add interest! We changed all the windows to give it a more country feel and the last one that will go in will be the Crittall one at the back.
Where do you splurge and where do you save when decorating your home?
I splurge on individual pieces every now and then but we are on a strict budget as the actual building work has cost so much! I love a bargain too though and hunt these out! My favourite splurge was my pink sofa and all the wood flooring! I always buy frames cheaply and do as much decorating myself to cut down on costs!
Can you describe your vision for the bedroom makeover?
The bedroom was part of the extension! We added a bit onto what was a small box room therefore creating a large but narrow room! As it is for guests, I wanted to create a calm and cosy room using the grey walls, green and pink - one of my favourite colour combinations! I’ve still got ideas to add a feature modern light and another rug but I’m happy with how it looks already! I added the green throw from Kip and co and the print on the wall and I’m so pleased! I also used an old french Mirror and a rail from IKEA to hang plants and bits and bobs on! If I could change anything I would get rid of the carpet and swap for wood flooring!
A big thanks to Charlotte for choosing our wallpaper and sharing her makeover! Don't forget to check out her Instagram @_charlottesweeting and our own @theroomalive
*The wallpaper used was gifted for this collaboration.
]]>Truth is, I've not just been busy, I've actually been re-structuring life too. Sounds deep, I know. It was much needed though. Last year was personally a very challenging one, whilst business was taking many steps forward, I had to learn to deal with the changes it brought.
Anyone in the creative field will usually find that their mind runs wild with so many new ideas and find it hard to tame it. Whenever a new idea sparks, my initial feeling is to drop everything else and spend all the time I got on bringing these ideas (some great, some crazy!) to life.
I also find it hard to say no. Which is why I ended up in the position I was last year, taking on too much and without the time to deliver I ended up overwhelmed by the fact that I was letting myself down, and by that I mean taking up precious family time and me time so I could get everything else done. An overwhelming feeling to say the least.
And that's before I even mention two kids under four, a big house that needs a lot of maintenance, a dog. My husband took on a lot whilst I was going through the busiest times, and I am forever grateful for his support.
But no one can or should carry on like that forever, so I have taken some steps to organise life, if I did it, anyone else can. Here are the steps:
Easier said than done. Like everything else in business. There are ways you can be in control though, and not let the business run you, or be constantly working in the business and not ON it.
I have tried a few things, and the one that works for me is keeping lists of all the things that need doing on a weekly basis, and colour coding them by the most urgent or important on that week, and everything else. Separating things like tasks in the business and working on the business is very helpful, and same for the personal tasks you need to achieve.
That way, when you are planning the week ahead, you will know how much time you need to dedicate for work in the biz, ON the biz and also for personal and family tasks. You then allocate those tasks to the days of the week, and you'll feel a lot more organised knowing that the urgent and important things are not being forgotten!
Different to planning what tasks need to be done, this is actually going one step further. As a working from home mum, it is so easy to get carried away and work 24/7 around the kids schedule and then find yourself over worked, over tired and lacking energy. Also, you'll fall into the trap I did and feel like you are not doing anything properly. So the trick is, set times for everything!
Unless you have employees working for you and enough help with the housework, you will never get everything done as quick as you wish (anyone else constantly thinking that the wash load has been in the machine for a day!) Some things have to take priority over others and that is ok. Looking at that list on the first point above, ask yourself:
You will make a lasting impression when you under promise and over deliver! If you know you can get a project done by Thursday - set your deadline to Friday. When you deliver it a day early you will not only feel great but will also make a positive and lasting impression.
On a personal level, don't tell your friends you'll be attending every social event to then cancel last minute and not show up. Be honest when you're busy or tired and can't make it. True friends will still be there when things calm down. Forget FOMO - this is about JOMO (the joy of missing out!)
Guilt should be banned. Full stop.
There is enough of that already when you are a mum and wife and trying to perform so many roles to a full extent, let alone for a mum and wife running a business full-time. THERE IS NO TIME TO FEEL GUILTY. Instead, FEEL GRATEFUL. Practice gratitude and you will be filled with positivity. And use all the tips above to manage your time so that you spend a few minutes a day using a gratitude journal or meditating.
These tips will not make the fact that you run a business any easier, let's face it: anyone who does or has done it knows it is a rocky road, but one that comes with so many rewards that you won't look back.
What these tips will do though, is help you manage your mindset and be in control. After all, you've started a business to have a flexible schedule around the family, and that is exactly how it should be!
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This kitchen makeover has been the most anticipated and the longest in the planning at home.
I have no idea how it has been already two and a half years since we moved in?! The first thing we did was to paint white over the lime-green walls we had inherited in the kitchen. Three times over and we banished the lime green for good!
We made the kitchen useable but it wasn’t totally to our taste. With a strong dislike for dark oak kitchen units and dark tiles, flooring, worktop, the ‘dark on dark’ look never did it for me.
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This kitchen makeover has been the most anticipated and the longest in the planning at home.
I have no idea how it has been already two and a half years since we moved in?! The first thing we did was to paint white over the lime-green walls we had inherited in the kitchen. Three times over and we banished the lime green for good!
We made the kitchen useable but it wasn’t totally to our taste. With a strong dislike for dark oak kitchen units and dark tiles, flooring, worktop, the ‘dark on dark’ look never did it for me.
We kept pushing it back for several sensible reasons (young kids, work, no time, etc) until a few weeks ago when I threw ‘sensible’ out the window and decided it was time. Within a few hours the doors were down and being sanded, and the kitchen makeover had finally kicked off. I sent a picture to the Mr while he was at work so that he knew there was no going back… the whole decision making and taking doors down episode took place while he was at work, he would’ve held me back otherwise, because… well, he’s sensible!
The makeover will take place in stages:
Firstly we are painting the kitchen units. Painting them is the first step to the kitchen we want, and also the step I can DIY quite easily.
The second stage will consist of removing the tiles that cover half of the walls in the kitchen, after that we will probably have to re-plaster, decorate and tile new splash backs.
And finally the last stage will be replacing the flooring.
Here’s what the kitchen looked like before, this is as it was pictured for Home Style Magazine last June, I wasn't in a position to complete a kitchen makeover before the shoot as my youngest was only ten weeks old when it took place, so it went in just as it was, oak cupboards and all.
The ‘before’ kitchen as it was photographed for Home Style Magazine in June 2017
I have now decided to keep the granite worktop, despite it being so dark. I actually like it, it has grown on me, and there are many other things I can change to make the kitchen brighter. As a start, the top units will be painted in Cornforth White by Farrow & Ball, so that will be the key to a brighter space.
With two little ones and a dog, it’ll be more practical to keep the bottom units dark, so every unit that sits directly under the worktop will be painted in Railings by Farrow & Ball. That is almost a perfect match to one of the tones on the worktop.
I have ordered brass hardware for the doors and can’t wait to put them up! I have found these on Amazon and love how they look.
I am strongly considering using very pale pink tiles as splash backs. But I also have my eye on a monochrome geometric pattern tile, so i’ll get some samples ordered soon to help with that decision.
I’ll complete the scheme with some shelving and lots of plants as the kitchen seems to be the one place where I can keep my plants alive. Finally, we recently got a gorgeous Swoon Editions dining table which will fit in perfectly with the newly decorated kitchen.
We are in no hurry to complete the makeover (says the sensible me!) but also quite excited to see how it will all come together! To check my progress, follow me on Instagram here. We are taking a break over Christmas but will get back onto the kitchen makeover soon after.
Are you getting any makeover projects started in the new year?
* Contains some affiliate links
]]>Last week I was invited by the lovely team at Cala Homes to experience their show home in Leonard Gate, Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire and I could not wait to get there!
I have to add that I have got some experience in looking around houses, new and old. When my husband and I were looking for our first place together, we were shown no less than thirty-two houses (yep, I still remember the exact number, slightly traumatic!) I was losing all the hope that we would ever find our perfect home. That included about five show homes, and it was one of those brand new homes that turned out to be the one for us at the time.
Visiting The Pebworth by Cala Homes from their Light and Space collection brought back all the joy of moving into a brand new home (without actually having to do any of the hard work!)
It is a four-bedroom detached home planned and built for busy family life, with every detail being well thought out and plenty of space for a family to spend time together as well as having their own space to express themselves.
Beautifully designed by Emily Wakefield, senior Interior Designer for Claude Hooper Interiors, it is one of fourteen new homes in the privileged location between Bicester and Aylesbury and with stunning views. I wanted to move in straight away!
The pictures will speak for themselves, and there are plenty of them so I hope you enjoy the tour, the styling is just beautiful…
Don’t you love a clever space with plenty of scope for hosting a dinner party as well as kids activities and lounging about in a casual yet cosy room, made for socialising. I love how bright and light it is too.
A more formal sitting area perfect for parents to wind down at the end of the day in front of the fire. It opens up to the garden as well, and wait until you see the views!
Cleverly placed curtains make the room look even bigger, and window coverings are also included in the new home finishings package with Cala Homes.
Great space for entertaining! And for those that don’t use a dining room, this could become a study, a play room, a studio.
I didn’t get a photo of the room as a whole as I was too excited about this wallpaper… Look at those puppies! It was a really good size utility room for a family and obviously, the dog too…
Upstairs there are four bedrooms, two with ensuite, plus a family bathroom. The master bedroom also has a generous dressing area with plenty of light - every girl’s dream.
Master Bedroom
Master Bedroom
Master Bedroom
Ensuite
Bedroom with Ensuite
Bedroom Details
Second Bedroom
Third bedroom, set up as a home office.
Fourth Bedroom, styled as a dressing room for her
Pretty Details in the fourth bedroom
Bedroom Details
There is also a garage and downstairs cloakroom which I didn’t get to photograph, and a generous landing and hallway. After the tour we were treated to a fab and super fun Christmas wreath workshop where I got to make my own wreath from scratch taught by the lovely (and super patient) girls at The Lily Pot (Instagram @the.lily.pot ) but that’s for another blog post coming soon! You can see my wreath here in the meantime.
*This post was sponsored by Cala Homes.
]]>Last week I was invited by the lovely team at Cala Homes to experience their show home in Leonard Gate, Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire and I could not wait to get there!
I have to add that I have got some experience in looking around houses, new and old. When my husband and I were looking for our first place together, we were shown no less than thirty-two houses (yep, I still remember the exact number, slightly traumatic!) I was losing all the hope that we would ever find our perfect home. That included about five show homes, and it was one of those brand new homes that turned out to be the one for us at the time.
Visiting The Pebworth by Cala Homes from their Light and Space collection brought back all the joy of moving into a brand new home (without actually having to do any of the hard work!)
It is a four-bedroom detached home planned and built for busy family life, with every detail being well thought out and plenty of space for a family to spend time together as well as having their own space to express themselves.
Beautifully designed by Emily Wakefield, senior Interior Designer for Claude Hooper Interiors, it is one of fourteen new homes in the privileged location between Bicester and Aylesbury and with stunning views. I wanted to move in straight away!
The pictures will speak for themselves, and there are plenty of them so I hope you enjoy the tour, the styling is just beautiful…
Don’t you love a clever space with plenty of scope for hosting a dinner party as well as kids activities and lounging about in a casual yet cosy room, made for socialising. I love how bright and light it is too.
A more formal sitting area perfect for parents to wind down at the end of the day in front of the fire. It opens up to the garden as well, and wait until you see the views!
Cleverly placed curtains make the room look even bigger, and window coverings are also included in the new home finishings package with Cala Homes.
Great space for entertaining! And for those that don’t use a dining room, this could become a study, a play room, a studio.
I didn’t get a photo of the room as a whole as I was too excited about this wallpaper… Look at those puppies! It was a really good size utility room for a family and obviously, the dog too…
Upstairs there are four bedrooms, two with ensuite, plus a family bathroom. The master bedroom also has a generous dressing area with plenty of light - every girl’s dream.
Master Bedroom
Master Bedroom
Master Bedroom
Ensuite
Bedroom with Ensuite
Bedroom Details
Second Bedroom
Third bedroom, set up as a home office.
Fourth Bedroom, styled as a dressing room for her
Pretty Details in the fourth bedroom
Bedroom Details
There is also a garage and downstairs cloakroom which I didn’t get to photograph, and a generous landing and hallway. After the tour we were treated to a fab and super fun Christmas wreath workshop where I got to make my own wreath from scratch taught by the lovely (and super patient) girls at The Lily Pot (Instagram @the.lily.pot ) but that’s for another blog post coming soon! You can see my wreath here in the meantime.
*This post was sponsored by Cala Homes.
]]>And by ‘the right thing’ I mean things that make you smile, fill your heart with joy every time you see them, and make your house feel even more like the home you love.
Whether your ‘thing’ is wall art, plants or adding textures, have a look at my picks below as there is something for everyone.
I’ve added the links to each product below, clockwise:
2019 Stendig Calendar £60 (last few units available)
Palm Leaf Garden Cushion Blush/Navy Blue £39
Artist Bruch Cushion Grey/Pink £39
Our last orders to arrive before Christmas will be shipped on the 19th, so make sure you order by the 18th of December, this Tuesday to receive your orders in time.
Check out also the other gift guides: Gifts under £20 and Gifts for the Interior Lover.
]]>And by ‘the right thing’ I mean things that make you smile, fill your heart with joy every time you see them, and make your house feel even more like the home you love.
Whether your ‘thing’ is wall art, plants or adding textures, have a look at my picks below as there is something for everyone.
I’ve added the links to each product below, clockwise:
2019 Stendig Calendar £60 (last few units available)
Palm Leaf Garden Cushion Blush/Navy Blue £39
Artist Bruch Cushion Grey/Pink £39
Our last orders to arrive before Christmas will be shipped on the 19th, so make sure you order by the 18th of December, this Tuesday to receive your orders in time.
Check out also the other gift guides: Gifts under £20 and Gifts for the Interior Lover.
]]>Our range of furniture and rugs has grown over the last year, with the Jamila Moroccan rug and Brass Drinks Trolley being two of my best-sellers.
If you are an interior lover like me you wouldn’t see anything wrong in getting a cosy armchair for an end of year treat, or a fluffy new rug for the winter ahead this time of the year. In fact, I have once got an armchair as a birthday gift and I loved it, it still holds a special place in my home!
I’ve added the links to each product below, clockwise:
Ayanda Armchair Midnight Blue Velvet £790
Our last orders for furniture and rugs to arrive before Christmas will be shipped on the 19th, so make sure you order by the 18th of December to receive your lovely orders in time.
Look out also for the next gift guides coming out soon: Gifts under £20 and Gifts for the Interior Lover.
]]>Our range of furniture and rugs has grown over the last year, with the Jamila Moroccan rug and Brass Drinks Trolley being two of my best-sellers.
If you are an interior lover like me you wouldn’t see anything wrong in getting a cosy armchair for an end of year treat, or a fluffy new rug for the winter ahead this time of the year. In fact, I have once got an armchair as a birthday gift and I loved it, it still holds a special place in my home!
I’ve added the links to each product below, clockwise:
Ayanda Armchair Midnight Blue Velvet £790
Our last orders for furniture and rugs to arrive before Christmas will be shipped on the 19th, so make sure you order by the 18th of December to receive your lovely orders in time.
Look out also for the next gift guides coming out soon: Gifts under £20 and Gifts for the Interior Lover.
]]>It is great to have this magical world to step into and take a break from reality, making their Christmas special and fun takes some effort (hello Insta-mums!) but the best part is that we are making memories together, whether it is baking together, opening advent calendar windows, counting down the sleeps or making a tradition of seeing Christmas light displays.
With making memories becoming a priority and shopping becoming less of a Christmas ‘activity’, being able to shop conveniently from home is a must, especially at a time when we are also very conscious to support small businesses, shop ethically and make smart choices.
There are ideas for stocking fillers, secret santa gifts and gorgeous treats for your loved ones.
I’ve added the links to each product below, clockwise:
Black Pom Pom Natural Seagrass Storage Basket £16
Confetti Salt Water & Lily Candle £15
Black Coconut & Amber Tin Candle £8.50
Fierce Make-Up Bag with Gold Foil (can be personalised) £19
Electric Pear Fig Concrete Candle £20
Make a Wish Rose Champagne Candle £15
Rose Gold Jewellery Holder Marble Base £14
Our last orders to arrive before Christmas will be shipped on the 19th, so make sure you order by the 18th of December to receive your lovely orders in time.
Look out also for the next gift guides coming out soon: Go Big This Christmas and Gifts for the Interior Lover.
]]>It is great to have this magical world to step into and take a break from reality, making their Christmas special and fun takes some effort (hello Insta-mums!) but the best part is that we are making memories together, whether it is baking together, opening advent calendar windows, counting down the sleeps or making a tradition of seeing Christmas light displays.
With making memories becoming a priority and shopping becoming less of a Christmas ‘activity’, being able to shop conveniently from home is a must, especially at a time when we are also very conscious to support small businesses, shop ethically and make smart choices.
There are ideas for stocking fillers, secret santa gifts and gorgeous treats for your loved ones.
I’ve added the links to each product below, clockwise:
Black Pom Pom Natural Seagrass Storage Basket £16
Confetti Salt Water & Lily Candle £15
Black Coconut & Amber Tin Candle £8.50
Fierce Make-Up Bag with Gold Foil (can be personalised) £19
Electric Pear Fig Concrete Candle £20
Make a Wish Rose Champagne Candle £15
Rose Gold Jewellery Holder Marble Base £14
Our last orders to arrive before Christmas will be shipped on the 19th, so make sure you order by the 18th of December to receive your lovely orders in time.
Look out also for the next gift guides coming out soon: Go Big This Christmas and Gifts for the Interior Lover.
]]>One of my favourite things to do this season is to decorate! Whether it is to make the home cosier for the winter ahead, put Christmas decorations up, or prepare for the new year, I’ve been pinning non-stop for inspiration for a few weeks now.
Last year the shop sold out of Stendig Calendars quite early on and I ended up being a little too disorganised to get my own, we also had family arriving to stay and lots of changes taking place that I felt like the new year arrived before I could prepare for it. This time, I’m getting ready though!
I love seeing photos of such an iconic piece fitting into so many different styles and how it is so versatile to adapt to each individual home. If you’re thinking of getting a Stendig Calendar for yourself or as a gift, the options are endless. I have put together some inspiration and I am sharing my favourite ways of decorating with the Stendig Calendar on the images below…
*Sources are linked to each image
With a touch of bohemian style
The perfect monochrome scheme for the Stendig Calendar
It brings the kitchen to life and breaks the dark wall nicely
The perfect office accessory
The industrial decor from UTRDecorating fits the Stendig Calendar style perfectly
And who would’ve also thought it’s multi-functional? You may have noticed in a couple of the images above, past month pages rolled up and stored for something special…
UTRDecorating shows how you can re-use each page as wrapping paper!
Isn’t this gift wrapped with a Stendig calendar page super cute? I want one of those under my Christmas tree…
]]>One of my favourite things to do this season is to decorate! Whether it is to make the home cosier for the winter ahead, put Christmas decorations up, or prepare for the new year, I’ve been pinning non-stop for inspiration for a few weeks now.
Last year the shop sold out of Stendig Calendars quite early on and I ended up being a little too disorganised to get my own, we also had family arriving to stay and lots of changes taking place that I felt like the new year arrived before I could prepare for it. This time, I’m getting ready though!
I love seeing photos of such an iconic piece fitting into so many different styles and how it is so versatile to adapt to each individual home. If you’re thinking of getting a Stendig Calendar for yourself or as a gift, the options are endless. I have put together some inspiration and I am sharing my favourite ways of decorating with the Stendig Calendar on the images below…
*Sources are linked to each image
With a touch of bohemian style
The perfect monochrome scheme for the Stendig Calendar
It brings the kitchen to life and breaks the dark wall nicely
The perfect office accessory
The industrial decor from UTRDecorating fits the Stendig Calendar style perfectly
And who would’ve also thought it’s multi-functional? You may have noticed in a couple of the images above, past month pages rolled up and stored for something special…
UTRDecorating shows how you can re-use each page as wrapping paper!
Isn’t this gift wrapped with a Stendig calendar page super cute? I want one of those under my Christmas tree…
]]>Do you also start the week with the best intention to hit the gym, eat healthy and then spend some time pampering yourself whether it’s a manicure, a new haircut or just some time on the sauna or reading a book?
I do! And then reality kicks in… being a mum of two kids under four and running a business, there is just not enough hours left in the day to attend to that much needed yoga class, or a coffee and chat with friends.
The summer was particularly busy for me in every aspect, on top of everything I had renovations at home and additional projects to prepare for. Then September arrived and if felt like the weight of the world was hanging on my shoulders. I was doing too much and spreading myself too thin. Not being able to cope with the daily demands of my business and family left me in a very emotional state.
It was no surprise that I started having anxiety attacks. If anyone reading this has had them, you’ll know the horrible feeling of helplessness along with all the other symptoms that come with it. Hands down, the worst month I had since I can remember. September also marked two years since I was made redundant from a long-term job and found that I was pregnant with my youngest. In those two years, I haven’t had much of a break and kept pushing myself as if saying no was a failure - BIG mistake!
I have always been quite good at going to the gym regularly and exercising, even it I could only fit in one session a week, I would do it. It didn’t happen in September though, as the demands of my business/life were too high I did not find the time to have any kind of me-time.
After a month away, I returned to David Lloyd in October determined to put myself first. If I don’t take care of myself, I won’t be enough help when taking care of my family and business.
Exercising has made a whole world of difference to my mindset and energy levels, and if you follow me on Instagram you’ll know that I join Blaze classes weekly and those are amazing to get in shape and re-boot! (I added some of my IG stories snapshots below)
If you haven’t heard of Blaze, it is a dynamic new workout combining mixed martial arts, intense cardio and strength training, it's a HIIT boutique-style class synced to up-beat, motivating dance music. Everything about the class is prepared carefully for us to have the best experience. There is loud high-energy music (a must when I work out!), mood lights and (the best part!) cold peppermint-infused towels ready for you when you finish. Those towels are always a treat after you’ve worked out hard. When you want to lose weight and shape up, the recommendation is to attend three Blaze sessions per week.
Trust me, those 45 minutes in class fly by, so you’ll definitely be left waiting to come back for more.
I used to take Pilates classes years ago (pre-kids) and I always loved them. I missed pilates! So last month I also decided to go back and now I’m asking myself why didn’t I do that sooner!? I’ll definitely be keeping that up in my weekly routine.
It is definitely not just for exercising though, I have found David Lloyd to be a safe place for me when I just need time out from my routine, perfect to re-energise and also to be productive.
I have recently spent a couple of days there working. There is plenty of space to work, a quiet working zone if needed, and everything I need for the day.
The smashed avocado from their menu always ends up being my lunch choice, it’s delicious! Plus the convenience of being already there when I want to work out. Win-win!
Beats every coffee shop I’ve ever worked from…
Our Sunday morning routine is pretty much like this:
-Get everyone ready and out the door by 8am to head over to David Lloyd (it takes a lot of organising and saying ‘let’s go we’re late’ about 20 times but it is all worth it)
-I take a Blaze class or run for 20 minutes, followed by a Pilates class
-In the meantime the girls stay in the play area with the Mr and plenty of snacks!
-He then works out and I order early lunch for the girls. They normally request beans or eggs on toast, that easy…
-We then head back home, and by the time we get back the youngest is ready for her nap, perfect timing!
It’s our weekly ritual, we get to spend quality time with the girls, get a work out session in, and also gets them plenty of play time. My 3-year old is always asking to go to David Lloyd to play, that’s how much fun she has there!
Now that I have realigned my priorities I feel much more in control of my life at home and business. This doesn’t mean at all that I am slowing down, it just means that I am working smarter (not harder!) and making time for the things that matter: ME TIME is finally in!
*This post was written in collaboration with David Lloyd Milton Keynes.
]]>Do you also start the week with the best intention to hit the gym, eat healthy and then spend some time pampering yourself whether it’s a manicure, a new haircut or just some time on the sauna or reading a book?
I do! And then reality kicks in… being a mum of two kids under four and running a business, there is just not enough hours left in the day to attend to that much needed yoga class, or a coffee and chat with friends.
The summer was particularly busy for me in every aspect, on top of everything I had renovations at home and additional projects to prepare for. Then September arrived and if felt like the weight of the world was hanging on my shoulders. I was doing too much and spreading myself too thin. Not being able to cope with the daily demands of my business and family left me in a very emotional state.
It was no surprise that I started having anxiety attacks. If anyone reading this has had them, you’ll know the horrible feeling of helplessness along with all the other symptoms that come with it. Hands down, the worst month I had since I can remember. September also marked two years since I was made redundant from a long-term job and found that I was pregnant with my youngest. In those two years, I haven’t had much of a break and kept pushing myself as if saying no was a failure - BIG mistake!
I have always been quite good at going to the gym regularly and exercising, even it I could only fit in one session a week, I would do it. It didn’t happen in September though, as the demands of my business/life were too high I did not find the time to have any kind of me-time.
After a month away, I returned to David Lloyd in October determined to put myself first. If I don’t take care of myself, I won’t be enough help when taking care of my family and business.
Exercising has made a whole world of difference to my mindset and energy levels, and if you follow me on Instagram you’ll know that I join Blaze classes weekly and those are amazing to get in shape and re-boot! (I added some of my IG stories snapshots below)
If you haven’t heard of Blaze, it is a dynamic new workout combining mixed martial arts, intense cardio and strength training, it's a HIIT boutique-style class synced to up-beat, motivating dance music. Everything about the class is prepared carefully for us to have the best experience. There is loud high-energy music (a must when I work out!), mood lights and (the best part!) cold peppermint-infused towels ready for you when you finish. Those towels are always a treat after you’ve worked out hard. When you want to lose weight and shape up, the recommendation is to attend three Blaze sessions per week.
Trust me, those 45 minutes in class fly by, so you’ll definitely be left waiting to come back for more.
I used to take Pilates classes years ago (pre-kids) and I always loved them. I missed pilates! So last month I also decided to go back and now I’m asking myself why didn’t I do that sooner!? I’ll definitely be keeping that up in my weekly routine.
It is definitely not just for exercising though, I have found David Lloyd to be a safe place for me when I just need time out from my routine, perfect to re-energise and also to be productive.
I have recently spent a couple of days there working. There is plenty of space to work, a quiet working zone if needed, and everything I need for the day.
The smashed avocado from their menu always ends up being my lunch choice, it’s delicious! Plus the convenience of being already there when I want to work out. Win-win!
Beats every coffee shop I’ve ever worked from…
Our Sunday morning routine is pretty much like this:
-Get everyone ready and out the door by 8am to head over to David Lloyd (it takes a lot of organising and saying ‘let’s go we’re late’ about 20 times but it is all worth it)
-I take a Blaze class or run for 20 minutes, followed by a Pilates class
-In the meantime the girls stay in the play area with the Mr and plenty of snacks!
-He then works out and I order early lunch for the girls. They normally request beans or eggs on toast, that easy…
-We then head back home, and by the time we get back the youngest is ready for her nap, perfect timing!
It’s our weekly ritual, we get to spend quality time with the girls, get a work out session in, and also gets them plenty of play time. My 3-year old is always asking to go to David Lloyd to play, that’s how much fun she has there!
Now that I have realigned my priorities I feel much more in control of my life at home and business. This doesn’t mean at all that I am slowing down, it just means that I am working smarter (not harder!) and making time for the things that matter: ME TIME is finally in!
*This post was written in collaboration with David Lloyd Milton Keynes.
]]>I wonder though, does anyone else find themselves browsing design hotels? I find it one of the best sources of inspiration. There is something very intriguing and almost daring about design hotel interiors. They’re designed to transport you to a different place and spoil you endlessly. What’s not to love about that.
I have recently written an article for Trivago Magazine on London Design Hotels, and my seven picks are so stunning that they must be up there with the best design hotels in Europe - not just London.
I’ve added a sneak peak here in the pictures to follow. To find out which other design hotels in London made the cut have a read at the full article here.
Charlotte Street London Hotel by Firmdale Hotels
The Green Room Bar in The Curtain London Hotel
I wonder though, does anyone else find themselves browsing design hotels? I find it one of the best sources of inspiration. There is something very intriguing and almost daring about design hotel interiors. They’re designed to transport you to a different place and spoil you endlessly. What’s not to love about that.
I have recently written an article for Trivago Magazine on London Design Hotels, and my seven picks are so stunning that they must be up there with the best design hotels in Europe - not just London.
I’ve added a sneak peak here in the pictures to follow. To find out which other design hotels in London made the cut have a read at the full article here.
Charlotte Street London Hotel by Firmdale Hotels
The Green Room Bar in The Curtain London Hotel
If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen that July pretty much consisted of spending any spare time planning and renovating a buy-to-let property that we recently got. I loved the challenge, though hard when you are running a business, have two young children and renovations going on in our own house too, we initially wanted to get the work done in two weeks which turned out to be a nearly impossible task when you are depending on builders and handyman during the hottest weeks of the year. So four weeks later, it was done.
The property is a two bedroom terraced house in Milton Keynes, and it was looking sorry for itself (I'm generous when I say that!) when we got the keys. The renovation included installing new kitchen and bathroom and decorating throughout amongst other things that needed fixing/updating. Check out how it looked before we started the work.
Not only it looked tired, it was also not functional. The kitchen was old and poorly planned with layers of vinyl stuck on the floor, the living room looked very dark with brown carpet and beige walls, the stairs were unsafe with gaps between them and no banister. There was no heating, considering we are in the UK you'd freeze there in the winter! The bathroom: blue carpet... sums it all. Old carpets in the bedrooms, stains and marks throughout. In the garden, more TLC needed.
As the property is for letting, we wanted to keep it neutral enough to be appealing to anyone moving in who would want to make it their own. So there is a lot of grey and white, and it works perfectly to give the property a modern uplift and bring it into 2018.
With central heating installed, new flooring and decorating throughout at hand, we still had the task of planning the kitchen and bathroom renovations, the installation of the banister and the garden updating. It took many days (and nights after work from the Mr mainly) to get everything done in those four weeks, including sourcing and setting timelines of when we would need everything in. That meant picking flooring, tiles, and paint colours and designing the layout of the kitchen we sourced from (yes, it really was from there) Ebay! Which was the biggest bargain we got for this house by the way...
Bedroom with freshl painted walls, new carpet and radiator.
The flooring in the living room was uncovered when removing the brown carpet, and all internal doors were replaced.
The steps on the stairs were blocked off and a banister was installed.
We sourced the kitchen from Ebay from a new build so it was brand new, however it needed adapting to the space which meant units trimmed and doors adjusted. For the cost of £521.11 it was worth all of it and it meant we could get a new kitchen within our budget. The worktop was sourced separately.
We chose white metro tiles from B&Q to keep the kitchen bright and airy.
New tiles, vinyl flooring, and white paint made a world of difference in the bathroom
The towel rail and copper piping finish the bathroom renovation nicely
Aside from the delay in getting the builders and handyman in when we needed them and getting them to meet deadlines, it was a smooth project. We could've done a lot more however being a rental property we had to keep the budget low and be selective with our spending. The property is now rented and as much as we are so glad it is completed and there are no more late nights or 7am shopping trips to B&Q, I'd love to take on more renovation projects.
For the time being though, I'm quite busy preparing mood boards for the makeover of my bedroom, play room, living room, kids bedrooms... (let's just pretend Mr Room Alive won't be reading this...) so watch this space!
]]>
If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen that July pretty much consisted of spending any spare time planning and renovating a buy-to-let property that we recently got. I loved the challenge, though hard when you are running a business, have two young children and renovations going on in our own house too, we initially wanted to get the work done in two weeks which turned out to be a nearly impossible task when you are depending on builders and handyman during the hottest weeks of the year. So four weeks later, it was done.
The property is a two bedroom terraced house in Milton Keynes, and it was looking sorry for itself (I'm generous when I say that!) when we got the keys. The renovation included installing new kitchen and bathroom and decorating throughout amongst other things that needed fixing/updating. Check out how it looked before we started the work.
Not only it looked tired, it was also not functional. The kitchen was old and poorly planned with layers of vinyl stuck on the floor, the living room looked very dark with brown carpet and beige walls, the stairs were unsafe with gaps between them and no banister. There was no heating, considering we are in the UK you'd freeze there in the winter! The bathroom: blue carpet... sums it all. Old carpets in the bedrooms, stains and marks throughout. In the garden, more TLC needed.
As the property is for letting, we wanted to keep it neutral enough to be appealing to anyone moving in who would want to make it their own. So there is a lot of grey and white, and it works perfectly to give the property a modern uplift and bring it into 2018.
With central heating installed, new flooring and decorating throughout at hand, we still had the task of planning the kitchen and bathroom renovations, the installation of the banister and the garden updating. It took many days (and nights after work from the Mr mainly) to get everything done in those four weeks, including sourcing and setting timelines of when we would need everything in. That meant picking flooring, tiles, and paint colours and designing the layout of the kitchen we sourced from (yes, it really was from there) Ebay! Which was the biggest bargain we got for this house by the way...
Bedroom with freshl painted walls, new carpet and radiator.
The flooring in the living room was uncovered when removing the brown carpet, and all internal doors were replaced.
The steps on the stairs were blocked off and a banister was installed.
We sourced the kitchen from Ebay from a new build so it was brand new, however it needed adapting to the space which meant units trimmed and doors adjusted. For the cost of £521.11 it was worth all of it and it meant we could get a new kitchen within our budget. The worktop was sourced separately.
We chose white metro tiles from B&Q to keep the kitchen bright and airy.
New tiles, vinyl flooring, and white paint made a world of difference in the bathroom
The towel rail and copper piping finish the bathroom renovation nicely
Aside from the delay in getting the builders and handyman in when we needed them and getting them to meet deadlines, it was a smooth project. We could've done a lot more however being a rental property we had to keep the budget low and be selective with our spending. The property is now rented and as much as we are so glad it is completed and there are no more late nights or 7am shopping trips to B&Q, I'd love to take on more renovation projects.
For the time being though, I'm quite busy preparing mood boards for the makeover of my bedroom, play room, living room, kids bedrooms... (let's just pretend Mr Room Alive won't be reading this...) so watch this space!
]]>
A few weeks ago I was so excited to find out that I will be exhibiting at the Autumn Fair this September. This month has been eventful in the best of ways - from finding out that I have been one of the selected 12 winners to win a stand at the Autumn Fair sponsored by Theo Paphitis #SBS, to designing the stand and seeing my new collection in the flesh! All sorts of 'happy-dance' were happening at The Room Alive HQ (aka my home office/studio)!
Check the announcement on Twitter here
There couldn't be a better opportunity to launch my new collection then at the Autumn Fair, so I got everything prepared to launch my new design a bit sooner than I anticipated: I introduce to you the Artist Brush collection.
The new Artist Brush collection includes wallpaper in three different colour ways, and four different cushions in a stunning cotton linen blend. One of the things I am most proud about is that all our products are printed and made in England, by local makers and handmade wherever possible to support other small businesses. The new collection is no different.
The new Artist Brush Cushion in Grey and Pink
I am also very excited to introduce the colours in this collection. The grey and pink in the picture above is one of my favourite combinations, and this design also comes in dark grey and blue & yellow.
If you are a buyer/retailer and would like to visit us at the Autumn Fair, head over to stand 2F21 from the 2nd until the 5th of September at the NEC Birmingham, and get in touch with me for a VIP pass to visit as our guest. More info on the Autumn Fair can be found here.
If you'd like to shop for the new collection and products, look out for more news on Instagram, or register your interest here and you'll be one of the first to know when it's available to order (very soon!)
]]>A few weeks ago I was so excited to find out that I will be exhibiting at the Autumn Fair this September. This month has been eventful in the best of ways - from finding out that I have been one of the selected 12 winners to win a stand at the Autumn Fair sponsored by Theo Paphitis #SBS, to designing the stand and seeing my new collection in the flesh! All sorts of 'happy-dance' were happening at The Room Alive HQ (aka my home office/studio)!
Check the announcement on Twitter here
There couldn't be a better opportunity to launch my new collection then at the Autumn Fair, so I got everything prepared to launch my new design a bit sooner than I anticipated: I introduce to you the Artist Brush collection.
The new Artist Brush collection includes wallpaper in three different colour ways, and four different cushions in a stunning cotton linen blend. One of the things I am most proud about is that all our products are printed and made in England, by local makers and handmade wherever possible to support other small businesses. The new collection is no different.
The new Artist Brush Cushion in Grey and Pink
I am also very excited to introduce the colours in this collection. The grey and pink in the picture above is one of my favourite combinations, and this design also comes in dark grey and blue & yellow.
If you are a buyer/retailer and would like to visit us at the Autumn Fair, head over to stand 2F21 from the 2nd until the 5th of September at the NEC Birmingham, and get in touch with me for a VIP pass to visit as our guest. More info on the Autumn Fair can be found here.
If you'd like to shop for the new collection and products, look out for more news on Instagram, or register your interest here and you'll be one of the first to know when it's available to order (very soon!)
]]>I started looking for hotels with this wish list in mind: great kids facilities for the girls, a splash pool, of course great decor, a gym, near a beach and good food. Oh and within our budget!
There are Fergus hotels located around the island and also one in Ibiza (on the wish list for sure, although that will have to be a child-free holiday, adults-only hotel demands) I loved the idea and the look of the Fergus Club Europa for our holiday. Although it is a compact hotel, it is really well planned and equipped to keep kids and parents entertained and relaxed throughout.
It is located in Peguera which was a 30-minute cab drive from the airport. I love this side of the Island, not too far from Palma, with a great local feel to it, access to beautiful beaches and good facilities. If you like doing some local shopping whilst away, it has a great selection of small boutiques in the Boulevard selling trendy woven beach bags that you need in your life, just because you can never have too many.
Nothing better than letting the pictures do the talking though, so here it goes:
There are plenty of lounging areas around the hotel, indoor and outdoor, for whatever mood you are in. We went early June an had a great week weather-wise. I know we won't have the luxury of travelling whenever we want once my eldest daughter starts school next year, but this time we chose the week after half-term and it wasn't too busy but there were still plenty of younger children around for them to play with.
Talking of kids play time, the fantastic splash pool was a hit amongst the girls (and I admit I loved it too!)
There were other brilliant facilities for the kids, such as a games room with movies, plenty of games available and also a racing track. For the younger ones there was a kids club which was just like taking them to messy play or spending an afternoon at nursery. They loved it!
The menu is varied and there are different dishes everyday with endless options, and at dinner time there is also a buffet just for kids. The Italian restaurant had a smaller selection, it was so good I could have dined there every night.
Have I even mentioned the endless dessert options yet? Oh and the wine on tap?
And there was endless coffee available at by the pools, bars and lounge areas, I was really spoiled the whole week...
After being tempted by so much delicious stuff, I made up for it by taking a spinning class which they offer everyday. There are basic facilities at the gym and just enough to get a good holiday gym session in. I managed a few times in the week and was quite pleased with myself! There are also stretching and yoga classes in the morning if that's your thing.
We had a fantastic time in Mallorca once again, and can't wait for the next time! Have you got your next holiday planned?
*We paid for our holidays and received a 10% discount booking directly with the hotel. I only share places that I would recommend and return to, and we loved Fergus Club Europa - thank you for an amazing week!
]]>
I started looking for hotels with this wish list in mind: great kids facilities for the girls, a splash pool, of course great decor, a gym, near a beach and good food. Oh and within our budget!
There are Fergus hotels located around the island and also one in Ibiza (on the wish list for sure, although that will have to be a child-free holiday, adults-only hotel demands) I loved the idea and the look of the Fergus Club Europa for our holiday. Although it is a compact hotel, it is really well planned and equipped to keep kids and parents entertained and relaxed throughout.
It is located in Peguera which was a 30-minute cab drive from the airport. I love this side of the Island, not too far from Palma, with a great local feel to it, access to beautiful beaches and good facilities. If you like doing some local shopping whilst away, it has a great selection of small boutiques in the Boulevard selling trendy woven beach bags that you need in your life, just because you can never have too many.
Nothing better than letting the pictures do the talking though, so here it goes:
There are plenty of lounging areas around the hotel, indoor and outdoor, for whatever mood you are in. We went early June an had a great week weather-wise. I know we won't have the luxury of travelling whenever we want once my eldest daughter starts school next year, but this time we chose the week after half-term and it wasn't too busy but there were still plenty of younger children around for them to play with.
Talking of kids play time, the fantastic splash pool was a hit amongst the girls (and I admit I loved it too!)
There were other brilliant facilities for the kids, such as a games room with movies, plenty of games available and also a racing track. For the younger ones there was a kids club which was just like taking them to messy play or spending an afternoon at nursery. They loved it!
The menu is varied and there are different dishes everyday with endless options, and at dinner time there is also a buffet just for kids. The Italian restaurant had a smaller selection, it was so good I could have dined there every night.
Have I even mentioned the endless dessert options yet? Oh and the wine on tap?
And there was endless coffee available at by the pools, bars and lounge areas, I was really spoiled the whole week...
After being tempted by so much delicious stuff, I made up for it by taking a spinning class which they offer everyday. There are basic facilities at the gym and just enough to get a good holiday gym session in. I managed a few times in the week and was quite pleased with myself! There are also stretching and yoga classes in the morning if that's your thing.
We had a fantastic time in Mallorca once again, and can't wait for the next time! Have you got your next holiday planned?
*We paid for our holidays and received a 10% discount booking directly with the hotel. I only share places that I would recommend and return to, and we loved Fergus Club Europa - thank you for an amazing week!
]]>
Lust Living spotty monochrome office, which looks lush with Olivia's choice of gold accessories and the most stunning light pendant.
Lust Living spotty - gold - monochrome office of dreams
Little Big Bell also gets a top spot on my office inspiration list, the mix of bright colours and the composition she creates is so beautiful, I could work in Geraldine's office all day long!
Little Big Bell - Geraldine's choice of colours and designs creates a perfect inspirational space.
Once you've decided on your office style and colour scheme, it's so easy to get spoilt for choices when it comes to decorating it, there is a lot of cool stuff out there! I've put together a handy selection of stylish accessories to decorate and style your office so you can create the look that will keep you inspired.
Accessories for your desk need not only be pretty - priority number 1 you'd say?! :) but also need to be practical and serve a purpose.
- Blush pink concrete candle holder doubling up here as a desk tidy for paper clips and hooks: I love how versatile this piece is, and also how unique as it adds a touch of colour with minimalist style.
- A5 Notebooks so you never miss an important thought or idea. Inspiration can come from anywhere, and it is so handy to have notebooks to hand when you're in the middle of something when a brilliant idea just comes to mind. Get those ideas on paper as you never know what could come of it! The A5 notebooks pictures are also gold foiled so that's extra glam for your desk.
A home office is the perfect space to use and abuse of all those motivational prints you love. I love a gallery wall in an office like Little Big Bell's choice above. Simple and to the point, they can uplift you when you're having a tough day, and keep you focused when procrastination threatens to take over. The 'Goals' and 'Girlboss' prints above are available framed in a selection of colours or unframed for you to create your own display.
To make it the most productive space in the house, the walls must be just right. If you love pattern and it inspires you, then hanging wallpaper like Just Living did in her gorgeous office above is the way to go. Looking at a beautiful pattern will make you feel good, and that's what you want from this space!
However if you feel that you couldn't stare at it for long though, consider wallpapering one of the other walls, as it would add depth and beauty to your home office and still make you smile every time you walk past it.
The wallpaper above is 'For the love of dots' , and it's available in paste the wall or self-adhesive format.
Lust Living spotty monochrome office, which looks lush with Olivia's choice of gold accessories and the most stunning light pendant.
Lust Living spotty - gold - monochrome office of dreams
Little Big Bell also gets a top spot on my office inspiration list, the mix of bright colours and the composition she creates is so beautiful, I could work in Geraldine's office all day long!
Little Big Bell - Geraldine's choice of colours and designs creates a perfect inspirational space.
Once you've decided on your office style and colour scheme, it's so easy to get spoilt for choices when it comes to decorating it, there is a lot of cool stuff out there! I've put together a handy selection of stylish accessories to decorate and style your office so you can create the look that will keep you inspired.
Accessories for your desk need not only be pretty - priority number 1 you'd say?! :) but also need to be practical and serve a purpose.
- Blush pink concrete candle holder doubling up here as a desk tidy for paper clips and hooks: I love how versatile this piece is, and also how unique as it adds a touch of colour with minimalist style.
- A5 Notebooks so you never miss an important thought or idea. Inspiration can come from anywhere, and it is so handy to have notebooks to hand when you're in the middle of something when a brilliant idea just comes to mind. Get those ideas on paper as you never know what could come of it! The A5 notebooks pictures are also gold foiled so that's extra glam for your desk.
A home office is the perfect space to use and abuse of all those motivational prints you love. I love a gallery wall in an office like Little Big Bell's choice above. Simple and to the point, they can uplift you when you're having a tough day, and keep you focused when procrastination threatens to take over. The 'Goals' and 'Girlboss' prints above are available framed in a selection of colours or unframed for you to create your own display.
To make it the most productive space in the house, the walls must be just right. If you love pattern and it inspires you, then hanging wallpaper like Just Living did in her gorgeous office above is the way to go. Looking at a beautiful pattern will make you feel good, and that's what you want from this space!
However if you feel that you couldn't stare at it for long though, consider wallpapering one of the other walls, as it would add depth and beauty to your home office and still make you smile every time you walk past it.
The wallpaper above is 'For the love of dots' , and it's available in paste the wall or self-adhesive format.
I was spoiled to that last weekend. We went to the Cotswolds with Mr Room Alive's family for a long weekend, and there are two things we always do when we visit the Cotswolds:
1- Visit Daylesford Farm (read more about it here)
2- Treat ourselves to afternoon tea
Little did I know when we bought our Groupon vouchers to Bowden Hall Mercure Hotel in Gloucester... It's a hotel 4 miles away from Gloucester, tucked away on the edge of a small village. The main thing I was looking for when booking was a place that would be dog-friendly as that would be a deal-breaker since we were travelling with Sky our dog. We were glad to hear they allowed dogs in the bar and could serve our tea there, so off we went.
Imagine the pleasant surprise when I walked in to find a reception room with pink walls! Followed by many more pink-coloured rooms after that one. The afternoon tea of dreams! But although the title of this post includes afternoon tea, expect to see a lot more decor than food!
The reception at Bowden Hall Mercure Hotel
The restaurant was beautifully laid out but we were happy to sit in the lounge area. It worked out really well as we had a whole lounge area to ourselves, not bad when you're a party of 8 plus two kids and a dog. It was actually great to have some space for the girls to move around without having to worry about bothering other guests.
The staff could not have been more lovely and helpful! They brought water for Sky, juices and toast for the girls, and plenty of drinks to keep the conversation going. Any meal out with the kids is eventful to say the least, so I actually didn't take pictures of the food... everything was delicious, although I have to say the scones really stood out... The atmosphere was very relaxed, the views of the grounds were stunning so after eating and drinking for three hours we had a walk and a play in the hotel grounds.
I have taken lots of pictures of the decor so I hope you enjoy scrolling down to some delicious interiors with lots of pink!
Bar/Lounge area
Restaurant
Hotel Grounds
*This post is not sponsored by Mercure or Groupon, we bought the vouchers ourselves, I just wanted to share the stunning interiors!
]]>I was spoiled to that last weekend. We went to the Cotswolds with Mr Room Alive's family for a long weekend, and there are two things we always do when we visit the Cotswolds:
1- Visit Daylesford Farm (read more about it here)
2- Treat ourselves to afternoon tea
Little did I know when we bought our Groupon vouchers to Bowden Hall Mercure Hotel in Gloucester... It's a hotel 4 miles away from Gloucester, tucked away on the edge of a small village. The main thing I was looking for when booking was a place that would be dog-friendly as that would be a deal-breaker since we were travelling with Sky our dog. We were glad to hear they allowed dogs in the bar and could serve our tea there, so off we went.
Imagine the pleasant surprise when I walked in to find a reception room with pink walls! Followed by many more pink-coloured rooms after that one. The afternoon tea of dreams! But although the title of this post includes afternoon tea, expect to see a lot more decor than food!
The reception at Bowden Hall Mercure Hotel
The restaurant was beautifully laid out but we were happy to sit in the lounge area. It worked out really well as we had a whole lounge area to ourselves, not bad when you're a party of 8 plus two kids and a dog. It was actually great to have some space for the girls to move around without having to worry about bothering other guests.
The staff could not have been more lovely and helpful! They brought water for Sky, juices and toast for the girls, and plenty of drinks to keep the conversation going. Any meal out with the kids is eventful to say the least, so I actually didn't take pictures of the food... everything was delicious, although I have to say the scones really stood out... The atmosphere was very relaxed, the views of the grounds were stunning so after eating and drinking for three hours we had a walk and a play in the hotel grounds.
I have taken lots of pictures of the decor so I hope you enjoy scrolling down to some delicious interiors with lots of pink!
Bar/Lounge area
Restaurant
Hotel Grounds
*This post is not sponsored by Mercure or Groupon, we bought the vouchers ourselves, I just wanted to share the stunning interiors!
]]>A few weeks ago my youngest one turned one... The year went by way too quick, there's no doubt. Since we had a special occasion to celebrate and in turn a great excuse for a party, I decided to throw her a party and no better theme than Unicorns to use when my 3 year old is obsessed with them.
Unicorns are everywhere at the moment, there is so much inspiration out there! So my challenge was to put my own stamp on a theme that's so popular with the best mix of decorations I could find and/or make. Challenge accepted... here's what it looked like:
I used pink, purple and mint green as the main colours, the mint green was great to break up the pink and keep it fresh.
It is tricky to make party bags original, so instead of bags this time I opted for these kids lunch boxes and used the fantastic printable from Party Delights.
I printed and also laminated them all for a more durable finish.
It was time consuming to cut them and as I chose a Kraft box instead of white I gave up on cutting the eyelashes (as the white around it was too obvious!). Instead, we drew the eyelashes directly on the boxes and coloured them in with a black marker.
What's a party without food!? The main event was a Hot Dog Bar! I'd been wanting to do one for ages so I finally nailed it. This is how I did it:
The Hot Dog Bar prep before the party
I hope you like our Unicorn party + Hot Dog Bar! Are you planning a party at the moment? I'd love to know about it, drop a comment below!
*This post is not sponsored - I just wanted to share how I decorated it and help another mama throw a cute birthday party! It contains affiliate links for some of the items used.
]]>A few weeks ago my youngest one turned one... The year went by way too quick, there's no doubt. Since we had a special occasion to celebrate and in turn a great excuse for a party, I decided to throw her a party and no better theme than Unicorns to use when my 3 year old is obsessed with them.
Unicorns are everywhere at the moment, there is so much inspiration out there! So my challenge was to put my own stamp on a theme that's so popular with the best mix of decorations I could find and/or make. Challenge accepted... here's what it looked like:
I used pink, purple and mint green as the main colours, the mint green was great to break up the pink and keep it fresh.
It is tricky to make party bags original, so instead of bags this time I opted for these kids lunch boxes and used the fantastic printable from Party Delights.
I printed and also laminated them all for a more durable finish.
It was time consuming to cut them and as I chose a Kraft box instead of white I gave up on cutting the eyelashes (as the white around it was too obvious!). Instead, we drew the eyelashes directly on the boxes and coloured them in with a black marker.
What's a party without food!? The main event was a Hot Dog Bar! I'd been wanting to do one for ages so I finally nailed it. This is how I did it:
The Hot Dog Bar prep before the party
I hope you like our Unicorn party + Hot Dog Bar! Are you planning a party at the moment? I'd love to know about it, drop a comment below!
*This post is not sponsored - I just wanted to share how I decorated it and help another mama throw a cute birthday party! It contains affiliate links for some of the items used.
]]>There is! We have created a range of personalised toy storage crates which are fun, modern and will also be a good fit for any room as they won't clash with your decor.
Toy storage crate on wheels: Very Important Toys
Our personalised plywood crates are handmade and we pay attention to every detail. They are a generous size to allow even large toys to be hidden. Measuring 45cm wide by 35cm deep by 40.5cm tall including the white plastic wheels, it will transform your where-did-all-these-toys-come-from moments into an easy task to tidy them up and put them away.
The personalised toy storage crates are available in three designs: the Monochrome Very Important Toys, the Dots and the Beach Hut:
Beach Hut Personalised Toy storage wooden crate on wheels in blue
Beach Hut Personalised Toy Storage wooden crate on wheels in pink
The Beach Hut design is available in six different colours: yellow, green, pink, blue, peach and grey.
The Dots design is a modern take on Scandinavian + pattern with a monochrome finish where the text can be personalised in blue or pink.
Apart from the cute designs to fit every room theme, they are easy to move anywhere with four plastic white wheels which will move in any direction you take them. All to make moving those toys that much easier...
Personalised toy storage crate on wheels
Do you like them? You can have a look at our full collection on our online shop or on our NOTHS shop.
Let us know what you think and if you would like to see any other designs or sizes!
]]>
There is! We have created a range of personalised toy storage crates which are fun, modern and will also be a good fit for any room as they won't clash with your decor.
Toy storage crate on wheels: Very Important Toys
Our personalised plywood crates are handmade and we pay attention to every detail. They are a generous size to allow even large toys to be hidden. Measuring 45cm wide by 35cm deep by 40.5cm tall including the white plastic wheels, it will transform your where-did-all-these-toys-come-from moments into an easy task to tidy them up and put them away.
The personalised toy storage crates are available in three designs: the Monochrome Very Important Toys, the Dots and the Beach Hut:
Beach Hut Personalised Toy storage wooden crate on wheels in blue
Beach Hut Personalised Toy Storage wooden crate on wheels in pink
The Beach Hut design is available in six different colours: yellow, green, pink, blue, peach and grey.
The Dots design is a modern take on Scandinavian + pattern with a monochrome finish where the text can be personalised in blue or pink.
Apart from the cute designs to fit every room theme, they are easy to move anywhere with four plastic white wheels which will move in any direction you take them. All to make moving those toys that much easier...
Personalised toy storage crate on wheels
Do you like them? You can have a look at our full collection on our online shop or on our NOTHS shop.
Let us know what you think and if you would like to see any other designs or sizes!
]]>
I am a big believer in mixing old and new when it comes to home decor, and up cycling old pieces of furniture to fit in a newly decorated room adds all the special touches you need, especially when they hold a special meaning to you.
Plus... if like me, you get tired of your decor or want to innovate and try new things pretty much every six months (yeah, sorry Mr Room Alive!), using wallpaper is a cost effective and sensible way of doing it.
So let's get to it, I've selected three furniture makeovers which you leave you dying to try them at home. Take these for inspiration!
I love this quick and easy nightstand makeover from A Beautiful Mess! The white and gold accents are so fresh, plus with a simple change by replacing the new with new brass ones, it doesn't even look like the same piece. That's the sign of a good makeover!
Can you believe that this is the FOURTH makeover Kimberly at Swoon Worthy has given this cheap pine chest of drawers?! It's certainly held up to her efforts and now looks quite the showstopper! I love love love the chest of drawers she created.
Isn't this bedroom from Clare Elise Interiors absolutely dreamy? I love the muted tones and how she adds pattern by cleverly using wallpaper to update the wardrobe.
Ok this is not quite a furniture makeover, but just look at this lampshade! You could literally change it every season with a new wallpaper design... This fabulous lampshade comes complete with tutorial over on Apartment Apothecary!
What would you makeover with a simple strip of paper? Would you like to be able to buy wallpaper by the metre? We are working on something really exciting so watch this space... For the time being you can check out our exclusive designs for some inspiration!
]]>I am a big believer in mixing old and new when it comes to home decor, and up cycling old pieces of furniture to fit in a newly decorated room adds all the special touches you need, especially when they hold a special meaning to you.
Plus... if like me, you get tired of your decor or want to innovate and try new things pretty much every six months (yeah, sorry Mr Room Alive!), using wallpaper is a cost effective and sensible way of doing it.
So let's get to it, I've selected three furniture makeovers which you leave you dying to try them at home. Take these for inspiration!
I love this quick and easy nightstand makeover from A Beautiful Mess! The white and gold accents are so fresh, plus with a simple change by replacing the new with new brass ones, it doesn't even look like the same piece. That's the sign of a good makeover!
Can you believe that this is the FOURTH makeover Kimberly at Swoon Worthy has given this cheap pine chest of drawers?! It's certainly held up to her efforts and now looks quite the showstopper! I love love love the chest of drawers she created.
Isn't this bedroom from Clare Elise Interiors absolutely dreamy? I love the muted tones and how she adds pattern by cleverly using wallpaper to update the wardrobe.
Ok this is not quite a furniture makeover, but just look at this lampshade! You could literally change it every season with a new wallpaper design... This fabulous lampshade comes complete with tutorial over on Apartment Apothecary!
What would you makeover with a simple strip of paper? Would you like to be able to buy wallpaper by the metre? We are working on something really exciting so watch this space... For the time being you can check out our exclusive designs for some inspiration!
]]>When I mention that I go to David Lloyd in person or on social media, I often get asked how it is and whether it is worth joining... The prices are not necessarily the cheapest when you compare to other gyms and health clubs, however I don't think that would be a fair comparison as David Lloyd is much more than that. It's a lifestyle club that also has a gym and much, but so much more to offer.
A few months ago we very lucky to be offered a family membership at David Lloyd Milton Keynes, so we started discovering everything that they had to offer, you can have a look at our first impressions here and here.
As an answer to whether it is worth it, I thought I'd list here the five things I love most about DL!
This is kind of the obvious one, but it is so true and the main reason why I love it! Having two young daughters, a business, a dog and everything else that comes with decorating and maintaining a family home, 'busy' is an understatement and the moments we get to spend together are far and few between, so they are treasured!
When we go to DL at the weekends or evenings, we know it's guaranteed fun family time. The play area with a soft play frame is great to entertain the little ones while one of us are working out. And then there's the swimming pool which is the highlight for my 3-year-old, and even my 10-month old baby has a blast. Guaranteed naps afterwards are a bonus...
I have spent many working days at DL when I just needed a quiet place or a change of scenery to focus. With their awesome facilities it was a no brainer. And even better with their delicious menu and coffee available from the bar only a few steps away.
Of course this list had to include the fitness side of it. I used to be really active, but with everything that I have going on at the moment, if I can work out twice a week I feel lucky!
So I have been making the most of the classes available at David Lloyd. Their app makes it super easy to book them, as you can save your favourites and then book your classes up to 10 days in advance. The options are endless, although my favourite ones are pilates, group cycling and body balance. And there are classes for the little ones as well...
Their Cardio equipment in the gym with individual screens have always been a hit for me! They are currently renovating their gym area which will be re-opening on the 22nd of March in what promises to be a 'state of the art' gym. I seriously cannot wait to see it! In the meantime, there are temporary facilities for the CV and weight training addicts so no one is let down.
There is childcare on site. How genius is that?
And the facilities are really well equipped with an experienced team to cater for children of 4 months up to 5 years old. You can book an hour at a time which is just what you need for a workout or a class, or even a quick meeting or a trip to their hairdressers just upstairs (see what I mean about lifestyle? You can literally get everything done there!)
There isn't much of a social life going in in this household... when you're working at every spare minute during the day and after the kids go to bed, the next thing you think about is always sleep (how little will I sleep, how long until the next little person wakes up, how soon can I get to sleep and so on).
We barely go out and choose takeaways instead most of the time, so our social life was reduced to catching up with friends at birthday parties. DL has allowed us the place and time to see more of our friends. As some were existing members and others joined after we did, it is so easy to arrange to meet for a coffee and play time for the girls at the weekends. It is also the best option since there is no bad weather once you're in there! No more trying to find where to go on a rainy Sunday!
So my answer is a big fat YES, it is worth it if you are looking for a place that can provide you with all of the above and more. I haven't even mentioned the tennis facilities and many others simply because we don't have time to use them all, but what we do use is fantastic.
These six months of membership have been the best gift we could have had last October, and after this trial would I continue to be a member? I guess you already know the answer - of course I would and I think we just might have to...
*A big thanks to David Lloyd for this great opportunity to experience the club for six months. As always my opinions are my own and I only recommend things and activities that I would do myself.
]]>When I mention that I go to David Lloyd in person or on social media, I often get asked how it is and whether it is worth joining... The prices are not necessarily the cheapest when you compare to other gyms and health clubs, however I don't think that would be a fair comparison as David Lloyd is much more than that. It's a lifestyle club that also has a gym and much, but so much more to offer.
A few months ago we very lucky to be offered a family membership at David Lloyd Milton Keynes, so we started discovering everything that they had to offer, you can have a look at our first impressions here and here.
As an answer to whether it is worth it, I thought I'd list here the five things I love most about DL!
This is kind of the obvious one, but it is so true and the main reason why I love it! Having two young daughters, a business, a dog and everything else that comes with decorating and maintaining a family home, 'busy' is an understatement and the moments we get to spend together are far and few between, so they are treasured!
When we go to DL at the weekends or evenings, we know it's guaranteed fun family time. The play area with a soft play frame is great to entertain the little ones while one of us are working out. And then there's the swimming pool which is the highlight for my 3-year-old, and even my 10-month old baby has a blast. Guaranteed naps afterwards are a bonus...
I have spent many working days at DL when I just needed a quiet place or a change of scenery to focus. With their awesome facilities it was a no brainer. And even better with their delicious menu and coffee available from the bar only a few steps away.
Of course this list had to include the fitness side of it. I used to be really active, but with everything that I have going on at the moment, if I can work out twice a week I feel lucky!
So I have been making the most of the classes available at David Lloyd. Their app makes it super easy to book them, as you can save your favourites and then book your classes up to 10 days in advance. The options are endless, although my favourite ones are pilates, group cycling and body balance. And there are classes for the little ones as well...
Their Cardio equipment in the gym with individual screens have always been a hit for me! They are currently renovating their gym area which will be re-opening on the 22nd of March in what promises to be a 'state of the art' gym. I seriously cannot wait to see it! In the meantime, there are temporary facilities for the CV and weight training addicts so no one is let down.
There is childcare on site. How genius is that?
And the facilities are really well equipped with an experienced team to cater for children of 4 months up to 5 years old. You can book an hour at a time which is just what you need for a workout or a class, or even a quick meeting or a trip to their hairdressers just upstairs (see what I mean about lifestyle? You can literally get everything done there!)
There isn't much of a social life going in in this household... when you're working at every spare minute during the day and after the kids go to bed, the next thing you think about is always sleep (how little will I sleep, how long until the next little person wakes up, how soon can I get to sleep and so on).
We barely go out and choose takeaways instead most of the time, so our social life was reduced to catching up with friends at birthday parties. DL has allowed us the place and time to see more of our friends. As some were existing members and others joined after we did, it is so easy to arrange to meet for a coffee and play time for the girls at the weekends. It is also the best option since there is no bad weather once you're in there! No more trying to find where to go on a rainy Sunday!
So my answer is a big fat YES, it is worth it if you are looking for a place that can provide you with all of the above and more. I haven't even mentioned the tennis facilities and many others simply because we don't have time to use them all, but what we do use is fantastic.
These six months of membership have been the best gift we could have had last October, and after this trial would I continue to be a member? I guess you already know the answer - of course I would and I think we just might have to...
*A big thanks to David Lloyd for this great opportunity to experience the club for six months. As always my opinions are my own and I only recommend things and activities that I would do myself.
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