Category Archives: home and interiors

Create a Perfect space in your loft

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Many people have loft conversions on their properties these days, whether it be to create extra bedrooms for an extended family, an home office, an extra upstairs bathroom, even a space for a truculent teenager to exist in without having to see and mix with any other human beings. But if I was to transfer my loft into a living space, then I would love to create a dream haven, just for me.

Creating a Living Space

We have a rather large loft space that would be perfect for transformation, and what I would most like to make in the eaves of my house would be a personal dressing room, complete with space for all my clothes and shoes. It would need a fair few wardrobes, a glamorous dressing table (I’m thinking of the one my Sindy doll had in the 1980s) and a chaise longue. This would be a girls only space (Pete and Joe totally banned) and it would be made light and airy with a skylight in the roof, with a roof blind for those days when the sun is a little too blinding. (Not that many in the UK I know, but you have to think of all eventualities.)

Stuart Jones Ltd Athens Chaise Longue £619.99 click to visit Wayfair

Storage

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I would choose my wardrobes carefully and they would each have different uses. I would have one for casual/daywear and one for evening/formal wear – I may even have one just for dresses. The room would have a vintage feel, using retro style hat boxes for storing scarves, belts, maybe even a hat or two. I would also invest in some stylish storage from Homes Direct 365. They have French style storage boxes that resemble old style luggage trunks and storage trunks that you could find in granny’s attic, which is exactly the style of aesthetic I would be looking for. I particularly love the four drawer luggage trunk, which you can almost see sitting on a station somewhere many years ago, and the Bergman Set Of 3 Storage Trunks which look like they have stored many treasures over the years.

I love that the cases from Homes Direct 365 are often hand crafted, which makes them both practical, as well as beautiful and luxurious. The vintage style is perfect for a bedroom space as both a piece of furniture and as storage, and I love that these will help keep your space looking tidy and elegant, but also look elegant in themselves.

For additional storage that could slide either inside a wardrobe space, or under a day bed, I would head to Bed Bath & Beyond which is another great destination when it comes to storage that goes beyond the mere useful and practical. My favourite colour at the moment is pink, so a hot pink Jumbo Rhino trunk would be a definite first choice, I love the colour and the leather handles and the fact that it is also durable. There is also a smaller cube version which would be a great match and would work for jewellery or cosmetics. The organizer trays would also be very useful to make your drawers really earn their keep and add some sort of system to them.

Dressing tables and a Wardrobe

The dressing table would have fabulous glass jars and Art Deco style jewellery boxes, along with vintage knick knacks I have picked up over the years, like vintage Chanel bottles and original Biba make-up.

Stackers Glass Jewellery Boxes from £22-£30 Click to visit John Lewis

Linea DAMASK GLASS STORAGE JAR £10 click to visit House of Fraser

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Set of 4 Red Hat Boxes with Cream Lining, Gold Cord and Old French Adverts to the front. 23cm, 28cm, 30cm and 35cm £49.95 Click to visit Amazon

Rather than modern, fitted wardrobes I would scour charity and antique shops for solid wood wardrobes, especially those you find with internal drawers and mirrors. I love the 1950s mirrors that hang from a chain. I wouldn’t particularly worry about matching items to one era or time, the mismatch would be part of the charm of the room.

These are beautiful.

These are beautiful.

This would be my dream space, a haven and a retreat back to past era’s of glamour.

What would you stick in your loft if you were to opt for a conversion to your property?

 

 

Creating A Living Room The Whole Family Will Love

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Spring is the season of refreshing and renewing, at least in my house it is. So you’ve just finished your spring cleaning but aren’t happy with the look and feel of your lounge? Don’t panic; it just needs a little makeover, that’s all. Your lounge should be somewhere that you love spending time in, alone and with your family. If it’s not a space that you love, then it’s time to rethink it a little.

The great thing about transforming your living room is that it doesn’t have to be a big project. Many people don’t realize it, but you can easily update your living room with just a few simple changes – all you need to do is get creative. To give your some living room design ideas, I thought I would put together this handy guide. Have a read, take these tips and ideas on board, and you can create a family living room that you love.

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Look carefully at your flooring

Your choice of flooring is important to the look, the comfort and the warmth of your home. A classic carpet is still hard to beat when it comes to a little luxury beneath your feet, but if you want the look and style of a carpet, but are worried about the cost of fitting, or the maintenance, you could instead opt for carpet tiles.

JHS carpets create tiles that can be used in offices, but because they have cool, quirky colourways, and are hard working, they are also great in residential settings, especially if you have children or pets. Another good choice of tile is gradus genus, which is also known to be hard wearing and comes in stunning colours including Winter Fjord, a glorious dark blue shade.

Get the decor spot on

For a living room, you enjoy spending time in, getting the decor just right is important. If possible, avoid decorating in bright, bold colors, instead keep the decor neutral. You can add color and style later with accessories and furniture. It’s best to keep the space neutral so that should you decide to change the look of the space, it’s just a case of switching the accessories. If the paintwork doesn’t need redoing but you want to make the space feel a little different, consider adding an accent wall. This is a great way to change the look and feel of the space, without too much work. For inspiration have a browse on Pinterest.

Make it a comfortable, cozy space

The most important thing you can do to make your living room a space that the whole family loves, is ensure that it’s as comfortable and cozy as possible. This means selecting a sofa that fits everyone on and is family-friendly. Your best bet is to opt for a leather or faux leather design, as these types of sofas are easy to keep clean as they’re wipeable. If you need to add extra seating, consider investing in large floor pillows, bean bags, or an ottoman. Dot cushions around – you can use these to add style to the space, as well as blankets and throws.

Add a few little luxuries

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If your living room is going to be somewhere that the whole family enjoys spending time in, it’s worth adding a few little luxuries. To create a space that everyone loves, it’s important to think about the needs of each family member. For instance, your husband and kids would probably love a big, flatscreen TV. Especially if it has a fantastic Sky package on it that caters to the whole family. You can guarantee that should you buy sky, your husband’s first question will be, “What channels are on Sky Sports?”. Or if for instance, you’re a big reader, add a lovely, large bookshelf to the room, so that you have plenty of books to choose from when you’re relaxing.

Make storage a priority

Last but not least, in a family living room storage should always be a priority. Kids make mess; that’s a fact, but that doesn’t mean your home has to be a mess. Ensure that your lounge has adequate storage space for your children’s toys, so that they can be easily put away. This is important as your living room needs to feel like an adult space, not a children’s play room.

 

Want to create a beautiful living room that you and your family will love? Then make sure to take the tips and advice above, on board.

Garden tips for small spaces

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I have recently developed a love for gardening, and consider myself very lucky to have a large garden space, big enough for a double patio, and a large lawn area for Joe. My garden is now turning into a lovely riot of colour, as the plants I bedded in spring have now sprouted and grown.

But you don’t need the space of Kew Gardens to be able to have a lovely garden area, or to get a thrill from growing your own fruit or flowers. A small backyard, or even a balcony if you live in a flat or apartment, can give you a space to make beautiful. Gardening is a hobby that has therapeutic and relaxing qualities so it is well worth setting some time aside to create your ideal space, whether it be through large pruned bushes or small potted plants.

Grasslands, the garden hedging specialists,  have created an eBook titled “How to make the most out of a small family garden” , which is full of useful hints and tips that could be helpful if you don’t have the biggest of garden spaces. The e book focuses on design tips for your garden such as which garden pots and plants are easy to maintain, but also looking at the scarier aspects of gardening,  looking specifically at which plants are to be avoided as they can be poisonous or cause irritation.
 A small garden can also need some clever design in order to make the most of the space that you have. The design of your garden,  can, for example, be helped by the garden furniture that you choose, and how you place it around your garden to maximise space. For instance, if you position your furniture in a corner facing onto all your space, your area will feel much larger and will give the impression of lots of space, even if the reality is much different.
Lots of pots can also be used,maybe to develop a small vegetable patch or a herb garden, and it is also great to get your children out into the garden, maybe giving them their own pots in which to grow their very own plants. A fairy garden or a bug box can also be a lovely idea to help your children fall in love with the garden, and see it as somewhere other than a place to throw or kick a ball.

With gardening said to help relieve stress and lower instances of depression, it seems sad to not get involved due to a lack of space, or a proper garden area. You literally just need to make the most out of what you’ve got.