tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53326761956810052152024-03-13T20:56:28.539+13:00The Destitute DesignerNatalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-43782788725631453542012-01-14T16:52:00.001+13:002012-01-14T17:00:09.330+13:00Wallpaper feature wall: CHECK!FINALLY!!! The feature wall is all but finished (bar a couple of patch ups that need doing because I wasn't sent enough of a couple of the drops.. gah!...they are on order though...) in Miss 3's room.<br />
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The photos don't quite do the colours justice, but here it is!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Voila!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now I just need to add the rest of the 'decorations' and we're good to move in. Feels so good to be pretty much finished!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-86657333810525639462012-01-03T09:21:00.000+13:002012-01-03T09:21:52.841+13:00My other VIP (Very Important Project).Hello again<br />
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Well there has been progress with the room.. It doesn't look like THAT anymore - there are walls! They are painted! The windows aren't chipping paint anymore! I will post some progress shots soon.<br />
However, I wanted to let you know the other project i'd been working on is finally complete!<br />
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And here she is:<br />
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Her name is Beth, and she was born December 27, 2011 at 3.04pm. She was two weeks late and had grown to a substantial 9lb 8oz by the time she made her entrance!<br />
We're still in recovery/readjustment mode here, but happy, healthy and absolutely in love. Even her big sister thinks she's pretty cool!<br />
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A big thank you to <a href="http://www.duckeggblue.wordpress.com/">Duck Egg Blue</a> for gifting me the Versatile Blogger Award too! Forgive me for taking so long to login and acknowledge it - it might take a while for me to regift too - but I will get there! Bare with me.... :)Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-27343504783290143452011-11-14T21:19:00.001+13:002011-11-14T21:22:42.095+13:00The Reno continues...Not yet ripe for photographing either - but in the meantime, I've been busy with some easy craft projects to help spruce the place up!<br />
Probably the only thing I could photograph would be the kitchen, actually - which WAS a deep brick red colour just over a week ago, and is now a bright, crisp and inviting WHITE! The only problem is.. silly me.. I forgot to take a 'before' photo!!! So I might have to have a dig through some random photos and use that as an example.. and when i'm done 'styling' my 'new' kitchen, i'll post some pics.<br />
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Here are my fancy 'new' switch plates - covered with leftover wallpaper I had lying around and some japanese washi tape (bottom pic).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This is how ugly they were BEFORE:</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And how pretty they are AFTER:</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An extremely cheap and effective way to make your switch plates NOT look like sun ravaged eye-sores!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wallpaper samples ($5 + $3), Washi tape ($8.99), some glue/masking tape and a stanley knife. DONE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also, check out my fancy 'new' pendant light, now hanging above my dining table:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It still needs a coat of fluro paint.. not sure what colour yet, but I am loving it - especially with the new old school bulb. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All I did was buy the pendant cord ($20), the bulb ($4) and the old lamp shade shell from a junk shop ($5). And voila! LOVE! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last, but not least - my new framed art for my girls' room:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBdXh6WsJCpN4kuMLSNsc3UK8SGjhO53I-KyVxmNzzE-jJVQJj8ZUnbjv1-lSjEAO35P53zEeWj2iBIXbC77VSwthpJs_1hpVJOtMFikewf8-u1vZtvEWPUr86dfTOICxAjCdv1Evw0Qj/s1600/DSC07074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBdXh6WsJCpN4kuMLSNsc3UK8SGjhO53I-KyVxmNzzE-jJVQJj8ZUnbjv1-lSjEAO35P53zEeWj2iBIXbC77VSwthpJs_1hpVJOtMFikewf8-u1vZtvEWPUr86dfTOICxAjCdv1Evw0Qj/s320/DSC07074.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fabric remnants, Florence Broadhurst wallpaper off cuts and a glue stick. Craft LOVE! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-71313038584623701852011-10-13T15:24:00.002+13:002011-10-13T15:24:59.022+13:00So, it begins!Another room has been gutted. This one will be magically transformed (hopefully faster than the rest..!) into DD1's new bedroom; freeing her old room up for the New Arrival in December.<br />
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I'll do my best to keep up with the transformation...<br />
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The <a href="http://www.destitutedesigner.blogspot.com/2010/12/before-and-after.html"><span id="goog_864079624"></span>dining room<span id="goog_864079625"></span></a> STILL isn't 100% finished (that's what happens when you have no money and you're pregnant... things move VERY slowly), but at least there's light at the end of that tunnel!<br />
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Here are a few photos of the work so far.. pulling off disgusting old manky plasterboard!<br />
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We are hoping to be done by the end of November. We shall see :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOqWQ_PL6U_Y6rj_SVTSDbeIsUyJBOtY2q5mumzdXn3KM4pJdHUSHpzTLZs9_ZXbCB4_sNFuUfbdgD3PStZcqjDwOwIOpKrCvLYdLEZkRgoyiBAQtW85dnMQhOluWgQD2_ZjVzHdyqXY4/s1600/DSC07008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOqWQ_PL6U_Y6rj_SVTSDbeIsUyJBOtY2q5mumzdXn3KM4pJdHUSHpzTLZs9_ZXbCB4_sNFuUfbdgD3PStZcqjDwOwIOpKrCvLYdLEZkRgoyiBAQtW85dnMQhOluWgQD2_ZjVzHdyqXY4/s320/DSC07008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQHtTl7mgdeOhjJOVq4bTkUXiCrTY4OQ3FEPeNKonjmD6cdPPs-1WJg6rzydn2gnKf_jsx-GOCUGMIKTrP-vTwc1CRz5Lm6lU9n2ckUWdoP1H5Mxo42hy6WEwf3V0K8F69vbwKI9oGmxx/s1600/DSC07011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQHtTl7mgdeOhjJOVq4bTkUXiCrTY4OQ3FEPeNKonjmD6cdPPs-1WJg6rzydn2gnKf_jsx-GOCUGMIKTrP-vTwc1CRz5Lm6lU9n2ckUWdoP1H5Mxo42hy6WEwf3V0K8F69vbwKI9oGmxx/s320/DSC07011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-71337081036969574632011-10-10T14:05:00.001+13:002011-10-10T14:06:20.337+13:00Wallpaper by the yard!If you are desperate need to use some swanky wallpaper in your home, yet don't want to splash out on a whole roll then you're in luck! <a href="http://www.hyggeandwest.com/">Hygge & West</a> are selling designer offcuts/end of line prints by the yard, and my, my, ain't it pretty!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTih3wvzs7cscgUIk4aNMOhN9xfmHrvoN4lz857YfCVuTqqO292q3ZwF04fn_WndwhNhQwGDjh8N___Hc0kL2d8L3GtHeQzo1kDM0-uba3ZagQIbAP45ODosoHz1oXFR7WQtszYcoMVW3G/s1600/brown_treet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTih3wvzs7cscgUIk4aNMOhN9xfmHrvoN4lz857YfCVuTqqO292q3ZwF04fn_WndwhNhQwGDjh8N___Hc0kL2d8L3GtHeQzo1kDM0-uba3ZagQIbAP45ODosoHz1oXFR7WQtszYcoMVW3G/s1600/brown_treet.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More suppliers are doing this now - so if the idea of some wallpaper covered drawers or framed art appeals, you can also head over to <a href="http://www.fermlivingshop.com/">Ferm Living</a> and our very own <a href="http://www.paperroom.co.nz/">Paper Room</a> for a great budget way to spice up your home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My Florence Broadhurst wallpaper off cuts are still waiting in their packaging tube for me to decide what to do with them, but I keep changing my mind! I think I need some guidance.... </div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-70154232247121913102011-10-03T15:26:00.000+13:002011-10-03T15:26:23.654+13:00Obsessed with...Chevron patterns!<br />
I love horizontal stripes too - but this is taking it up a notch.<br />
I desperately need some of this in my house NOW. Finding it hard to come across in fabric stores - but as usual, etsy.com has a booming supply!<br />
Also very tempted to start painting random walls.. might wait till I have some walls worthy of it though... most of them are currently in rubbish condition. But we're working on that.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehappyhomeblog.com/">via The Happy Home blog.</a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.simplesong.typepad.com/">Simplesong</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How's the painted floor decal in 3rd photo down? I love that! If only I were that brave!</div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-4349693534323387992011-09-21T14:59:00.000+12:002011-09-21T14:59:01.755+12:00Win some, lose some.TradeMe is getting far too populated for my liking. Especially with the likes of people who happen to have the same needs as me. They hijack my auctions, bid on them and push the price up to a point where I can no longer compete; leaving me empty handed and deflated. Woe is me.<br />
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Take last weeks' amazing find: a weathered and well loved old teak dining table - big enough and tough enough to take the knocks of a young family and yet still shine like the grand lady of design she was. Turned legs and all! I was in love! And the reserve was only $150!! Then the bidding started. And didn't stop.<br />
When it was all over, the sensible $150 price tag had catapulted to $750!!! Ok, so it was probably worth it. It was beeeautiful.. but sooo not what I wanted to pay. Who likes teak these days anyway?! Hmpfh.<br />
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Back to the drawing board.<br />
I mean, don't get me wrong - I really like the dining table I scored on TM for $80 a wee while back, but this was something i'd been after for a long time. And my $80 bargain won't last that long. I need to recover the chairs, actually. Perhaps that will placate me for a while.<br />
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Moving on!<br />
Today I was scouring the back page ads in the latest Your Home and Garden and discovered that <a href="http://www.mocka.co.nz/">Mocka</a> - makers of really cool, good quality and affordable kids furniture here in NZ, have branched out into adult stuff! And it's really cool! And all really good prices! They're also doing some super cute cube storage units that would sit well in either a kids room or a light bright adult rumpus.<br />
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I love this trestle desk!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this tv unit:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Simple, lasting design and it won't burn a hole in your pocket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are more great pieces to peruse on the Mocka website. Keep your card at the ready!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-9007313020313555152011-09-02T18:49:00.000+12:002011-09-02T18:49:05.433+12:00LOVE!Totally NEED this table. I've been going through a yellow phase for a while now, and this looks like the perfect lounge accessory for me!<br />
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It's not too hard on the pocket either - only $149 from Freedom.<br />
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Drool away..<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRm-VCDGjt9fXLN7RrTqneDHeAwzgO1Ko6FqW_ScB17O1SdoO2lVaNxGkZtW_0bljjWvnWl5a5XH3HtE06AOqHpnTcFSXlLMDzBB6jOWXGA9Q-QKKHxmuWcmbd1b6Gc-kuLIKSYGx7LrQ/s1600/Spindle-Side-Table-Yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRm-VCDGjt9fXLN7RrTqneDHeAwzgO1Ko6FqW_ScB17O1SdoO2lVaNxGkZtW_0bljjWvnWl5a5XH3HtE06AOqHpnTcFSXlLMDzBB6jOWXGA9Q-QKKHxmuWcmbd1b6Gc-kuLIKSYGx7LrQ/s320/Spindle-Side-Table-Yellow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Want it? <a href="http://www.freedomfurniture.co.nz/furniture/living/side-tables/23192584">Get it here</a>.</div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-70887901360212403312011-09-02T18:44:00.000+12:002011-09-02T18:44:21.593+12:00More inspiration for your weekend.I just happened upon stylist <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/LeeAnn-Yare/234315386614623">LeAnn Yare's facebook</a> page. Check it out - it's great! Loads of fun, budget ideas and lovely snaps of her latest work.<br />
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She's one clever lady - I seem to remember reading somewhere that as well as being a hugely talented designer and stylist, the girl can also fly a plane! Is there anything she can't do?!<br />
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I love the yellow frame in this pic and on her page she shows you more ways to flash up junk store frames. So tomorrow being saturday, it's only right that I should perhaps go on a bit of a hunt for some for Lila's new room (post coming soon)!<br />
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I love her use of colour - it's so vibrant and eclectic, so i'm looking forward to gleaning as much as I can from her updates. Enjoy!<br />
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Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-23724841674369610732011-08-22T16:58:00.003+12:002011-08-22T17:02:40.385+12:00Writer's Block.Have you been watching this series of The Block on Prime? I'm totally hooked. I have it series linked on my MySky. The only downside to that is having to delete some inspired episodes to fit emergency eps of Dora or Bubble Guppies.. blast it!<br />
This series has been great, with its new 5-night-a-week-extravaganza format, plus the odd boring challenge thrown in. Having said that though, I find it very hard to fast forward even the most mundane of tasks, for fear of missing out on some hot renovators tip courtesy of the handy host, Scott Cam.<br />
I <i>even</i> delighted in learning how to <i>build</i> and <i>plaster</i> a wall! A WALL!<br />
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I won't link to the Channel 9 site, because if you don't want to know who wins, there's no way you can avoid finding out if you go there. Silly me!!<br />
I have my favourites though. I love *almost* everything Josh and Jenna do, with the exception of friday nights living room. That small enclosed space and dark tongue and groove feature wall just didn't fit for me. It definitely made the room look smaller and boxed in. But I hear that is NOT how their finished house will end up looking. Perhaps a wise choice to start afresh (although, where the heck do they find the money?!).<br />
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The grey theme they've taken through the house is so light and refreshing, but the reason it works so well is because of the accent colours they've chosen to complement it. From bright pastel pinks and turquoises, to tangerine orange, to crisp and summery yellows; it embodies their young, fun and resourceful designers' aesthetic. It's got spunk. I LOVE IT.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkQPz9xW6-PxlEkrm5uasNbJOH5VGXUrUYlBjEZWESYtlnw6A6lE7qmcNDPtADIR3Q_ugORyFtuTQDql5tCYtz9rBQ2Z371Wcj4j4Q_jXwT5wQKcm3ZTNvWTo4kfpFcBvEE3UFR4M2Yr1/s1600/Josh+and+Jenna+Master+Bedroom+blog+spotsandstripes.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkQPz9xW6-PxlEkrm5uasNbJOH5VGXUrUYlBjEZWESYtlnw6A6lE7qmcNDPtADIR3Q_ugORyFtuTQDql5tCYtz9rBQ2Z371Wcj4j4Q_jXwT5wQKcm3ZTNvWTo4kfpFcBvEE3UFR4M2Yr1/s320/Josh+and+Jenna+Master+Bedroom+blog+spotsandstripes.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LOVE the headboard and the yellow industrial style pendant lights. Pics <a href="http://www.blog.spotsandstripes.com.au/"><span id="goog_1237929305"></span>here<span id="goog_1237929306"></span></a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcorIWDqLLN5aj7LMMMLwwuU7CMfbOuTlF2FJv9A8mxT4HMMdviPjkJRyB_7kfM6LPHfsg4UJAGVOlGDasrh0SE2DkX0kLtm-q28xdSD-kahq7qh9hGOO3RoX5P7khpgPSCOWZtb5p8th/s1600/Josh+and+Jenna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcorIWDqLLN5aj7LMMMLwwuU7CMfbOuTlF2FJv9A8mxT4HMMdviPjkJRyB_7kfM6LPHfsg4UJAGVOlGDasrh0SE2DkX0kLtm-q28xdSD-kahq7qh9hGOO3RoX5P7khpgPSCOWZtb5p8th/s320/Josh+and+Jenna.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vintage hanging light. Perfect. Pics <a href="http://www.sasseavenue.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkVAIUyTz5QCBCifmT8IQ_6s3N5WhyRp-zjlNNxVkPxCbp-JG7Uo3MIa_8bOKmj3ahPQ6soLkt7-uDzYiLf_RjGu6J_VuyPV32JkoZvQh3FMPOmiwSRc6wLs2DrWqcLzynqXZrQZGz3hX/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkVAIUyTz5QCBCifmT8IQ_6s3N5WhyRp-zjlNNxVkPxCbp-JG7Uo3MIa_8bOKmj3ahPQ6soLkt7-uDzYiLf_RjGu6J_VuyPV32JkoZvQh3FMPOmiwSRc6wLs2DrWqcLzynqXZrQZGz3hX/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">via <a href="http://sweetseasons.typepad.com/">sweetseasons.typepad.com</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pendant lights are big on my list of must-haves for this house. I have a nice wee collection of images sitting in my inspiration folder, just waiting for when the time comes and I can finally buy some!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll get around to sharing some of my favourites soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am also on the lookout for some great fabric to recreate the headboard pictured above. A simpler version, but just as nice! It would look super in our bedroom, which is not high on the reno list, but could use a bit of a spit'n'polish to see her through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometimes I curse my love of The Block, because it simply makes me want to buy! And buy more. And MORE! The inspiration and rev up you get from watching it - and thinking, 'hey, if they can do it, I can!' is a blessing. The longing and frustration it causes when you realise you don't have their cash on tap is a total and utter curse! </div><br />
So, I have gone on about Josh and Jenna and how great they are but I totally admire those sisters, doin' it for themselves! I mean, golly - did anyone else just about drool all over the tv when Amie and Katrina brought home their giant floor to ceiling artwork last week?! IN.CRED.I.BLE. I want.<br />
I loved their <a href="http://www.marktuckey.com.au/">Mark Tuckey</a> log table too. This man does some incredible things with wood. I've never been much of a solid/exposed woody kind of person, but I could be converted.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGkT8kit2OrxSc2d2AQY6ZiqWXyppG99Ak8W7xfzZWL-S0S1aQrC4wt2pyFTPlXqXVBIuAF-yjmqvOySCYQEtYqZcv801rlp1rTztQbszIyT3M48rPBOTfHKW8Mmw8OBebWvgfC1iNJ45/s1600/dsc00628_20101010_1852084353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGkT8kit2OrxSc2d2AQY6ZiqWXyppG99Ak8W7xfzZWL-S0S1aQrC4wt2pyFTPlXqXVBIuAF-yjmqvOySCYQEtYqZcv801rlp1rTztQbszIyT3M48rPBOTfHKW8Mmw8OBebWvgfC1iNJ45/s320/dsc00628_20101010_1852084353.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marktuckey.com.au/">Mark Tuckey</a> log table. Mmmmmmm.</div><br />
This week the kitchen's are front and centre, and having seen a little sneak peek, I'm rather excited about it. I'll just have to put up with the longing and frustration though, because girlfriend ain't gettin' a new kitchen any time soon! I do have plans to make it less eye-bleedingly ugly though. We'll see what happens.<br />
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So... who's your favourite?!<br />
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Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-23590049978804677932011-08-21T23:03:00.000+12:002011-08-21T23:03:57.128+12:00Back in from the cold.. kind of.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSN_6wnHoIn40LXE9TIA0vlbCLLxfStfUm5k34OF7uA7z9RGmw26kFtiEtX6fWfbZjqqP2UOkl_IqsZwVDLPEBNxjdAZPv5CkGTXw5PUKhbOoiixwefNHhu71ILwasiLqeO9F85fDEzGF-/s1600/watermelon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSN_6wnHoIn40LXE9TIA0vlbCLLxfStfUm5k34OF7uA7z9RGmw26kFtiEtX6fWfbZjqqP2UOkl_IqsZwVDLPEBNxjdAZPv5CkGTXw5PUKhbOoiixwefNHhu71ILwasiLqeO9F85fDEzGF-/s320/watermelon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ok it's still freezing. But I think I've ignored (..not quite the right word.. um.. 'neglected'? ...that's better) my blogging duties for long enough...!<br />
I don't know what happened to me between February and now... well, that's a wee lie, because I do.. but mentally speaking.. I think my creativity just went off the boil a bit. Then I got pregnant (the watermelon is about how big Baby is now).. and sick.. and crazy busy at work... and then it was winter, and OH! look at all the excuses I just came up with in a matter of nano-seconds!!<br />
That tells me I must be feeling better, or my brain is defrosting. Either one will do :)<br />
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Tomorrow I will plan a proper post, when it's not bed time and when I am not living in fear of my 2.5yr old waking and screaming out for us 2 or 3 times in the middle of the night, like she has done for the passed two. I swear, I thought this 'sleep training' business only had to be done once when they were new?! Pah!<br />
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I should pass on a thank you, too - for had I not been avoiding my bed and browsing the Facebook through half-open-tired-eyes, my vanity may not have gotten the better of me, and I may not be typing this right now! For my eye caught sight of a pic I have used here of bark butterflies, used as the icon of a new blog added to <a href="http://www.kiwimummyblogs.co.nz/">KMB</a>, so naturally, I sniffed and followed...<br />
Low and behold - over at <a href="http://theramblingsofanothermother.blogspot.com/">theramblingsofanothermother.blogspot.com</a>, lil ol' me got a mention! And SQUEEEEE! a flurry of late night counter ramblings hath emerged! <br />
Nothing like a bit of ego brightening to set you straight on your path to happiness again - so here I go.<br />
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I have the added bonus of having something to actually document too. We are renovating the spare room for The Sitting Tenant, so she has somewhere new and exciting to move to once the New Tenant arrives in December. Nothing too flashy or spensy, but wonderful all the same.<br />
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The demolition starts soon, so will post before pics ASAP.<br />
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See you lot soon!<br />
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Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-17669148323195190812011-02-24T17:32:00.000+13:002011-02-24T17:32:10.850+13:00Sad timesWhat a week. Our poor Cathedral City, Christchurch, is all but broken.<br />
It's hard stuff to watch on the telly. And being up here in Auckland, so far away, yet so close, you just feel helpless.<br />
Thank goodness, everyone I know with family caught up in this hideous disaster has had good news. I personally don't have any family down there, and I'm thanking my lucky stars for that - as terrible as that sounds.<br />
From my family to all those affected - Kia Kaha. Stay strong. You're never far from our thoughts xx<br />
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I've been so caught up with all this, I haven't felt the need to blog. But I came across something that I loved, so wanted to share.<br />
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Am I Art Nouveau?<br />
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I love a lot of interior styles, and it's hard to pin down one that I think represents 'me', but this one comes pretty close!<br />
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Here's a hint:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSo4OfUgNKUZk1-kXz26clUFyFgqdighbKzpQjD6S7Uz5ZNUBpMq9Hzd_XA8PLp9K6dsa0AqWNqcLumNxe6CyWgIpMBmT89ctSv7mm8K4DytsclNBdabo08NKOTUhG3uoh103Jh-JTdRZ/s1600/ht3+bright+bazaar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSo4OfUgNKUZk1-kXz26clUFyFgqdighbKzpQjD6S7Uz5ZNUBpMq9Hzd_XA8PLp9K6dsa0AqWNqcLumNxe6CyWgIpMBmT89ctSv7mm8K4DytsclNBdabo08NKOTUhG3uoh103Jh-JTdRZ/s320/ht3+bright+bazaar.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now pop on over to one of my favourite new blog finds, <a href="http://brightbazaar.blogspot.com/2011/02/home-tour-art-nouveau-style.html"><span id="goog_1869285902"></span>Bright Bazaar<span id="goog_1869285903"></span></a>, to see more! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-45787745913327819992011-02-13T23:11:00.001+13:002011-02-13T23:15:15.267+13:00Pretty butterfliesToday I decided that the 70 or so paper butterflies I'd tirelessly hand-drawn and cut out were being wasted living inside that crumpled plastic bag on the 'craft' shelf. They should be out - flying around! Or, at least, pretending to.... So, I blue tacked them to Lila's wall!<br />
So her bedroom is now adorned with a giant tree, some lovely bird-themed number cards, felt birds, and LOTS of butterflies.<br />
Yes, the loose garden theme is coming along quite nicely, thank you!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkSbc1_Vse32ezpACnKhV_qlUL13vSD7zANeAFg0JCQGr-ADm5avAgOt896BZKmuj2pyBLWluI9z8QxsF3wVJNFsg6Qn3ubCpxRIFc4jQokdb0VYG0mFMyYq5emYm2xzhn2hlcrDPE-OT/s1600/DSC06561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkSbc1_Vse32ezpACnKhV_qlUL13vSD7zANeAFg0JCQGr-ADm5avAgOt896BZKmuj2pyBLWluI9z8QxsF3wVJNFsg6Qn3ubCpxRIFc4jQokdb0VYG0mFMyYq5emYm2xzhn2hlcrDPE-OT/s400/DSC06561.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyu56l7sgG2KubJiJ0QlozR-Vv0souxAjbTI66VUuIiQrK6-mr9mafz_APMLRShOgH3VU_FZAJTw6Apvo5TQKdJmWCJqJV0kMwlwu24GEVeh_A5yXUZ8Uc9klK81EiZ1spQGfSTBB5OuS/s1600/DSC06574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyu56l7sgG2KubJiJ0QlozR-Vv0souxAjbTI66VUuIiQrK6-mr9mafz_APMLRShOgH3VU_FZAJTw6Apvo5TQKdJmWCJqJV0kMwlwu24GEVeh_A5yXUZ8Uc9klK81EiZ1spQGfSTBB5OuS/s400/DSC06574.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2xIFLHIFDo_avHR4OubCcn3h_o3eFRtQzPCmSijYQm1aKqD69eLNNsh3jXEzyrsfAJzbQpc3l2U7fKYO9xkHDxc4AHowzXpwNBbFHVGMvOqxeuISVzOMTEE9qpXysStRjqEci0UwAMLo/s1600/DSC06575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2xIFLHIFDo_avHR4OubCcn3h_o3eFRtQzPCmSijYQm1aKqD69eLNNsh3jXEzyrsfAJzbQpc3l2U7fKYO9xkHDxc4AHowzXpwNBbFHVGMvOqxeuISVzOMTEE9qpXysStRjqEci0UwAMLo/s400/DSC06575.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-83407409650749301722011-02-13T10:40:00.001+13:002011-02-13T13:08:15.758+13:00A SOFA REVAMP TO STEAL!Another one from the 'I wiiiiish we had IKEAaaaaaaaaa' (yes, that was a whine) files; <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/">Apartment Therapy</a> lead me to this amazing sofa revamp over at <a href="http://www.ourmidcentury.com/">Our Mid Century</a> blog.<br />
After hunting for an authentic mid-century sofa and finding that anything new was far too expensive, they got creative. They found an affordable Ikea Karlstad sofa, with great lines, and turned it into something very mid-century '<i>now</i>'.<br />
This could be just the inspiration you need if, like me, you've been scouring Trade Me for the perfect sofa only to be saddened when anything half decent goes for a bucket load.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd6IvDMQTEDirYBWAoDwxRDLDOF_LwivK8cBOCtUhGCwJvhOKePdSLCAPjXNzrUBGNFMnSAGgEZ-ChrJTFFvhU5b3b3hy-RT16noVzC7zzsqBRK5QDRjEaXUZrY6TEnWRAKhZqLs4ZnRa/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd6IvDMQTEDirYBWAoDwxRDLDOF_LwivK8cBOCtUhGCwJvhOKePdSLCAPjXNzrUBGNFMnSAGgEZ-ChrJTFFvhU5b3b3hy-RT16noVzC7zzsqBRK5QDRjEaXUZrY6TEnWRAKhZqLs4ZnRa/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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Read how they did it <a href="http://www.ourmidcentury.com/2010/11/our-karlstad-sofa-hack.html">here</a>.<br />
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xNatalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-1647624861575584642011-02-11T19:18:00.008+13:002011-02-11T19:29:25.029+13:00The Holiday's Over.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello again! </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's been a very busy start to the year in our household - hence why I've been AWOL for a little too long. </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It started with a dinner party to see in the New Year and our weeks went on to encompass 4 blissful (yeah right - there were 4 x almost 2 yr olds present) days of camping, plenty of impromptu family barbeques by the in-laws' pool, screeds of 2nd birthday parties, and yet more entertaining! I'm looking forward to doing big fat nothing for a while now...</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">aaahhhhhhhhh</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">...!</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But because it's a new year and it's that time when we all start thinking about a fresh start, setting new goals and seeking out fresh inspiration - I thought I'd share with you the workings of a good friend of mine who's started this year off with exactly that ethos in mind. </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2011 is off to a fast and frenetic start for the Sokolich's, who since deciding to sell their much loved first home, got to work to make it the best little Waterview cottage the market had to offer - and they did it. It sold it in a week. Not surprising, once you see just what they did, and how much the entire renovation cost. They've shown me just what is achievable even if you don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend. Read on and be inspired!</span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michelle and her husband Kim moved into their adorable, but rustic, 2 bedroom Waterview bungalow in 2003; fresh faced, newly engaged and full of vim and vigeur for the home they would create for themselves and their children to come. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flash forward to 2011, and the aging and cramped 1930s house they moved into has been transformed into a spacious and practical, modern, charming 3 bedroom home; full of life's comforts and jam-packed with a growing family's memories. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a slender budget of $75,000 ($10k of which was spent having the place re-wired) they took out walls, and even added a couple. They made space where before there looked to be none. They played with the layout and entrance ways, shifting things around almost like it was one of those jumble puzzles that you have to move all the pieces about until they fit properly. And they took out the cole-range. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now they're sharing their Destitute secrets to making your money go sooo much further: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">**ARCHITECTS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WITH GOOD IDEAS.</span></b> We found a builder who had some really good ideas about what would work. I think we saved a bomb by doing that.. but if you forgo the architect I recommend paying lots of attention to details like skirting boards in other people's houses and gleaning ideas that way. </span></span><br />
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</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">**FIXTURES DON'T MAKETH THE HOME.</span></b> We saved money on things like taps, the toilet...all those little details that you can spend insane amounts of money on (we had friends that put in a thousand dollar tap!) but if you're on a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #fcf7bd; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">budget</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't think that's where you need to spend the money. We don't notice those details on a daily basis, and when people come round they certainly aren't looking at the taps, just the overall effect.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>**KLEVER KITCHEN ETI-KITT.</b></span> They can easily cost around 30-40 grand. We looked around at a few of the bigger companies offering kitchens, and had a few sample plans drawn up by them. In the end we decided what we wanted and went to a small local cabinetmaker who did the entire kitchen for $7000 (excluding appliances). Massive savings!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We brought our kitchen appliances/bathroom cabinet at big factory sales and kept them in the garage till we needed them. Those big sales at places like Ellerslie showgrounds are usually advertised in the Herald, so keep an eye out as soon as you even start thinking about renovating.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">**THOSE WHO PAINT TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">.</span> We painted the inside and outside of our house ourselves. A bit of hard slog never hurt anyone.. (er, apart from her husband!).</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>**IT'S NOT UGLY, IT'S 'CHARACTER!'.</b></span> Our beautiful wooden floors were a bit higgelty piggelty - wood going in different directions. We could have got the builder to lift it out and make it all match perfectly (at great expense) but we decided to leave it in and call it 'character'. I think it looks fine!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">**TILES <i>SCHMILES</i>!</span></b> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't be scared of lino! Everyone was horrified when we said we were going to put lino in the bathroom - the builder almost refused to put it in! But you will be amazed at what is on offer in the lino range these days. It was SO much cheaper then tiles and I think looks great. The builder had to eat his words!</span></span><br />
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</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>**TALK IS CHEAP.</b></span> Or at least it is if you can sweet talk your local Landscape Designer into drawing you up a DIY Garden plan! It only cost around $200 for the overall plan, complete with a plant by numbers diagram as well. He then gave it to us so we could do the actual work. That way you can do section by section as you get the money - confident that it will all work together in the master plan.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, they increased the value of the house by $200 thousand - so it was well worth it. They could've gone to town and spent $200k or more on renovations, but would've completely over-capitalised and ended up with zero profit. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out the pictures of this amazing budget renovation and be wow'd! Farewell Waterview cottage - we'll all miss hanging out with you! </span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BEFORE: PHASE ONE - The 'we can live with this' slight improvements.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-collapse: separate; clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrkGW5-YJUhlzYItrghu8dfevCs-DPrLtZHafnKhgEu0bY1talbaoq6VAdyaZZH0AVT4b1-asqdXTZEkuVvBnak1ZQUiRcB39OjCrca2d4Pz3axFl4t8kGp1hfifcG8PgAhE3LCXzPuwC/s1600/b4+lounge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrkGW5-YJUhlzYItrghu8dfevCs-DPrLtZHafnKhgEu0bY1talbaoq6VAdyaZZH0AVT4b1-asqdXTZEkuVvBnak1ZQUiRcB39OjCrca2d4Pz3axFl4t8kGp1hfifcG8PgAhE3LCXzPuwC/s320/b4+lounge.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: separate; clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasfvCFUQCGCf4GE6rRVXDdZsL84P3T3b2gghMwIykGEO1-B-ax3G2eqmdOvyb565IlbGms5XoDIAGtS-EFtW7G1qdjYj7uknoIvFABX1Dm70x1nx0L76-i2kw4DqfsSY3NBJrZkE8bDnF/s1600/House+before+renos_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasfvCFUQCGCf4GE6rRVXDdZsL84P3T3b2gghMwIykGEO1-B-ax3G2eqmdOvyb565IlbGms5XoDIAGtS-EFtW7G1qdjYj7uknoIvFABX1Dm70x1nx0L76-i2kw4DqfsSY3NBJrZkE8bDnF/s320/House+before+renos_0004.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: separate; clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKjOGj2qC7qCJkYXJRCpNn7QI2Rav5Wi0iF9a1JQQDtS558Qk4wHWptXI2Dge9jJOroGqD8X-YPY2kKufUYAJ5oRnpSHeIWcfc1I9XN9amDZ4ypzOuM2glVD4ojLZsP2-Um2eCM2njs9I/s1600/b4+kitchen+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKjOGj2qC7qCJkYXJRCpNn7QI2Rav5Wi0iF9a1JQQDtS558Qk4wHWptXI2Dge9jJOroGqD8X-YPY2kKufUYAJ5oRnpSHeIWcfc1I9XN9amDZ4ypzOuM2glVD4ojLZsP2-Um2eCM2njs9I/s320/b4+kitchen+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="border-collapse: separate; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: separate; clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUf15HhIIukJQHJoh-S4sCkVKL4-AmNggZUFz_y_2OU-iUlUVFlG8__eXotl7Mapmro-3Rh5cEcaAEaPwE5n0RHFM5tc4edNjm2ldHXbNRR_okpOEdDtiL3OYhxsPm_Uyam-sFaN4lYDRs/s1600/House+before+renos_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUf15HhIIukJQHJoh-S4sCkVKL4-AmNggZUFz_y_2OU-iUlUVFlG8__eXotl7Mapmro-3Rh5cEcaAEaPwE5n0RHFM5tc4edNjm2ldHXbNRR_okpOEdDtiL3OYhxsPm_Uyam-sFaN4lYDRs/s320/House+before+renos_0003.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a start, Michelle and Kim removed the wall that separated the kitchen and dining (pic 1) to open up the space for an open planned living area, and ripped up the old carpet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PHASE ONE: AFTER</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLY7Z3SHFutxIxhmZLttB6No5YOyWpPKFsBwMn-KoH0ZZoXuemSgrL0M_uY81jjecFdvubxw4UdK-WC3v-jauRhILjbYgh7flC9LFJ26hD1ewYLNz6qEzeQw5opQ2Or-x7vRbyK-Dxr2T/s1600/House+before+renos_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLY7Z3SHFutxIxhmZLttB6No5YOyWpPKFsBwMn-KoH0ZZoXuemSgrL0M_uY81jjecFdvubxw4UdK-WC3v-jauRhILjbYgh7flC9LFJ26hD1ewYLNz6qEzeQw5opQ2Or-x7vRbyK-Dxr2T/s320/House+before+renos_0001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcZ7tlO8WGhrZCaE21uLWH_s7Fl94C08NUMA3_jfTrYaiKDy2zsvgUwP8zZc6z5Y2ALNST8VLCtRm7Pe9UOoibdQ6R3Gv2fuF2GhyphenhyphenOysVbxQvBBvQGwKSTDlxGJgyahK9tWux4g9FC4qU/s1600/House+before+renos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcZ7tlO8WGhrZCaE21uLWH_s7Fl94C08NUMA3_jfTrYaiKDy2zsvgUwP8zZc6z5Y2ALNST8VLCtRm7Pe9UOoibdQ6R3Gv2fuF2GhyphenhyphenOysVbxQvBBvQGwKSTDlxGJgyahK9tWux4g9FC4qU/s320/House+before+renos.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below, is the old entrance/dining room (the room off the kitchen) before Phase 2 took hold.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJ1aS6QlZWR7sdldT8RsI1rAtTde3oSCZoXTJssrkZyPaMtXTdhTshhvEqpoJgEigIMAIfs7gz0OJq3m7BLEq3aSkvM2BwX8zTY0NUtM52kgrOA63dowkmzL9Z6DBcdkGyEo7PJrQ4VNH/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJ1aS6QlZWR7sdldT8RsI1rAtTde3oSCZoXTJssrkZyPaMtXTdhTshhvEqpoJgEigIMAIfs7gz0OJq3m7BLEq3aSkvM2BwX8zTY0NUtM52kgrOA63dowkmzL9Z6DBcdkGyEo7PJrQ4VNH/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PHASE TWO: The Big One. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bathroom/Kitchen/Hallway/Bedroom extension/Extra bedroom added.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BEFORE - bathroom</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAWyO8JKg5TMhis_JoHrIhi-J1wJLSSj1_aGqH8KCb33rRIb8EO2s4-NyiI5NzHQMMRq4D4KsX3O4Vy_0RItFAVeaBMOJzTOblMoQzjAtP1t23cpPW08xqnlviccRUH6RZKBnVEidutY2/s1600/Michelle+Reno2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAWyO8JKg5TMhis_JoHrIhi-J1wJLSSj1_aGqH8KCb33rRIb8EO2s4-NyiI5NzHQMMRq4D4KsX3O4Vy_0RItFAVeaBMOJzTOblMoQzjAtP1t23cpPW08xqnlviccRUH6RZKBnVEidutY2/s400/Michelle+Reno2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTER </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN9zy1GJy75nHkrJwQMB3or1o2SbYn64o9O7UiM6XUL1UNjlzpNdNGVxpgdXBzHGw16W-8Cc_27yoe8BvacNPuucYzfgfoHB9TVtlSJ79TjEbfmeuHfxayb0XWVJBwr4r9C5BouI8FGAO/s1600/DSC_0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN9zy1GJy75nHkrJwQMB3or1o2SbYn64o9O7UiM6XUL1UNjlzpNdNGVxpgdXBzHGw16W-8Cc_27yoe8BvacNPuucYzfgfoHB9TVtlSJ79TjEbfmeuHfxayb0XWVJBwr4r9C5BouI8FGAO/s400/DSC_0080.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The laundry tub was moved out to the landing by the backdoor, the old shower (not pictured) was removed and a new bath/shower combo added along with a new modern vanity. They tiled, but didn't go overboard with it. Another cost cutting measure which works a treat! And the vinyl looks great, no? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTER: lounge </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrkZnwbck7Gxb-3T6ZWw5FyHmQP1yJxnXZx1cbLUsfTQQk3eHCiDQCJnYZVH3vH2NDzdyJ5I9E666XtVrtOjIv2SfEg-gG2sH0N6rtd0VgRCVx6GCuo-ah5FOLfqDLTt4eaPONYhIwbgf/s1600/DSC_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrkZnwbck7Gxb-3T6ZWw5FyHmQP1yJxnXZx1cbLUsfTQQk3eHCiDQCJnYZVH3vH2NDzdyJ5I9E666XtVrtOjIv2SfEg-gG2sH0N6rtd0VgRCVx6GCuo-ah5FOLfqDLTt4eaPONYhIwbgf/s400/DSC_0062.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g2E6GqAGoKzoRX67tTMxLJOS4Z8Awm1v2ek2LkCPBaRbeAkWb1KWcIUfKpWRxRKrx9mNkNZbra0d8MNa9qaEJVoRv3r_-GIHjOjV4mtVMLFYpRT9yXZdltGFdqkqXbFyt-NH_MM1VPsS/s1600/DSC_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g2E6GqAGoKzoRX67tTMxLJOS4Z8Awm1v2ek2LkCPBaRbeAkWb1KWcIUfKpWRxRKrx9mNkNZbra0d8MNa9qaEJVoRv3r_-GIHjOjV4mtVMLFYpRT9yXZdltGFdqkqXbFyt-NH_MM1VPsS/s400/DSC_0059.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTER: kitchen</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GsKN0eHXjGLBF_AMAqTA8w9sKvLYyWm72KHATvHuP9x_9JiwBj38pEHJqkeXNrOQV11V3qqCLKjRqbKIkxdiUQ9xbTU1NfoUPyD__IITd-AdiS1EsOwUTLzGxhcF7XrBeu44O7c4egDi/s1600/DSC_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GsKN0eHXjGLBF_AMAqTA8w9sKvLYyWm72KHATvHuP9x_9JiwBj38pEHJqkeXNrOQV11V3qqCLKjRqbKIkxdiUQ9xbTU1NfoUPyD__IITd-AdiS1EsOwUTLzGxhcF7XrBeu44O7c4egDi/s400/DSC_0035.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzzCwdlWlMuhkP-OQop62XwrDLsKdbwW2_4HA22hb9pVnJr4YotQ7LWjx8rSMMswrEu0kSVKtTqLT33eVB-0gV5HE9UX5KmMHK7H2DoxQF_Y4YDVEl3MKQyNBJsfOQhytOGPINkrz4fcm/s1600/DSC_0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzzCwdlWlMuhkP-OQop62XwrDLsKdbwW2_4HA22hb9pVnJr4YotQ7LWjx8rSMMswrEu0kSVKtTqLT33eVB-0gV5HE9UX5KmMHK7H2DoxQF_Y4YDVEl3MKQyNBJsfOQhytOGPINkrz4fcm/s400/DSC_0046.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kitchen wall where the coal-range sat was pushed back in order to reclaim a little extra room to give the kitchen a nice big open feeling. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll notice there's also a wall where the entrance/dining room used to be, going off towards the door. Well - that, is now this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTER: 3rd bedroom added.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFA4105hbn3U-DrDQE3TxYm0BOK36VexFC1HxJZnYGV2ur2jBUKC31p09s_wX0h294uC9-PmYjUIXdeKLPeMFc336L09YE39Fo_pFKLX37TGKpU7Qh2QzzspaJSF9l5slV4Xs8Q6ZLUSfE/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFA4105hbn3U-DrDQE3TxYm0BOK36VexFC1HxJZnYGV2ur2jBUKC31p09s_wX0h294uC9-PmYjUIXdeKLPeMFc336L09YE39Fo_pFKLX37TGKpU7Qh2QzzspaJSF9l5slV4Xs8Q6ZLUSfE/s400/DSC_0006.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here is the master bedroom, after a wardrobe was taken out (at the head of the bed) to create more space, yet again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_ff8MUEBDjqs5sethx8_ZNrJikbGLz_nGOIg4xdqeNGAOQwQbNnwhz0PrrX8NUhMHnQDVMTgUkYevr1vXRWDfrqVmw3RTS2hQr9gLsf1GvAeAybe9uISkbCLre1sc5i_me68kDMzNI7y/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_ff8MUEBDjqs5sethx8_ZNrJikbGLz_nGOIg4xdqeNGAOQwQbNnwhz0PrrX8NUhMHnQDVMTgUkYevr1vXRWDfrqVmw3RTS2hQr9gLsf1GvAeAybe9uISkbCLre1sc5i_me68kDMzNI7y/s400/DSC_0013.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally - the exterior. Check out these incredible Before and Afters!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's gone from this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNHd2IkouWhR5pBwVTdzSZfSOglX-PlTjCecbxc3W5vOJoNHKXRhDzPX166FLcehpkDdmi2o_brU39z62YFbT_i1NRZjRHb6pGU393ZoDTqaAGZgpwH9ir9vaWG1JLHSFeNXSDxnspRDQ/s1600/DSC01066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNHd2IkouWhR5pBwVTdzSZfSOglX-PlTjCecbxc3W5vOJoNHKXRhDzPX166FLcehpkDdmi2o_brU39z62YFbT_i1NRZjRHb6pGU393ZoDTqaAGZgpwH9ir9vaWG1JLHSFeNXSDxnspRDQ/s400/DSC01066.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0EN-l5fmd4APjhGKsksyvwmCRvMkNjkQwiEvURN5Pwgc1n7PzIIuCpCV3HaQBDmMxeX1b4NdRFUdaKrVyQJ7N7y-d7SIa-eQcU3MrrauugHRvf_2JTnuHXqJfXtHKoYBCrtyBUqnwgmF/s1600/Outside+house+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0EN-l5fmd4APjhGKsksyvwmCRvMkNjkQwiEvURN5Pwgc1n7PzIIuCpCV3HaQBDmMxeX1b4NdRFUdaKrVyQJ7N7y-d7SIa-eQcU3MrrauugHRvf_2JTnuHXqJfXtHKoYBCrtyBUqnwgmF/s400/Outside+house+2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzBezi0QIuUSBCPs2O9aAFHuvqz9GkQDqFEkPMERTxnBCAJsLoyoR12om_gYvUUGenxaGz2pi8xQhffXrk3yaqX8CmaVugaOgnFgVDfPedK_gdgKJmAfyhxUob-tCVv4Ymu-9wJW8YASZ/s1600/DSC_0006_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzBezi0QIuUSBCPs2O9aAFHuvqz9GkQDqFEkPMERTxnBCAJsLoyoR12om_gYvUUGenxaGz2pi8xQhffXrk3yaqX8CmaVugaOgnFgVDfPedK_gdgKJmAfyhxUob-tCVv4Ymu-9wJW8YASZ/s400/DSC_0006_2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT2YcWGPjpV574cx7kF6DU18-KTS-g30OnyXVV1t2BBpLqBxYl24Ghuy0ImYkWalSNO6cmhx-xfx5A836VgozipgoxQ5I3aWIw70Uk9sb8XJDohuvIrBzxcbTlQMjbtdUCC2gb7Uc4YSN/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT2YcWGPjpV574cx7kF6DU18-KTS-g30OnyXVV1t2BBpLqBxYl24Ghuy0ImYkWalSNO6cmhx-xfx5A836VgozipgoxQ5I3aWIw70Uk9sb8XJDohuvIrBzxcbTlQMjbtdUCC2gb7Uc4YSN/s400/DSC_0003.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think they did an amazing job, so that's why I had to share. Thanks so much to Michelle and Kim for letting me feature their gorgeous first home on my wee blog. I'm looking forward to the next project they're let loose on in a few years time! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime - please pop along and visit Michelle's blog </span><a href="http://www.birthstories.co.nz/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Have a cuppa, a read, and be into win some lovely edible giveaways! My very own Birth Story will be gracing it's pages very soon!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></span>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-23403169954150701222010-12-27T12:58:00.001+13:002010-12-29T15:12:24.331+13:00And then it was over..<div style="text-align: left;">Another Christmas has come and gone, in the blink of an eye. And what a lovely one it was! We had a lovely time relaxing with family, eating, drinking and lounging pool-side. For once I was glad is wasn't a scorcher too - it was just nice. </div>I hope you all had a great day! Did Santa bring you what you wanted? Did you eat your weight in trifle and pav... again?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While the babies in our family were well and truly spoilt (some might say it was a little OTT - but will we ever learn?), the big people in our household didn't do too badly either; not that I was expecting it - but thank you so much to my lovely Mr DD, who got me the new <a href="http://www.arcadefire.com/">Arcade Fire</a> album and <a href="http://www.exquisitebook.com/">The Exquisite Book</a>, which i'd been going on about for ages (it really is awesome)! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAitZuh4ueg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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Jolly's aside, Christmas really is less about the gifts for me, and more about the planning; the preparation.<br />
The tree, the wrapping.. the FOOD.<br />
It means pouring over the menu and carefully choosing each component.. and finishing off with a delectable and triumphant dessert with which to get your guests salivating in anticipation! But then, what will accompany your incredible creation? There can't just be one.. and what if it's not a traditional trifle or pav? Can you even have Christmas without one or the other?! Holy messing-with-convention, Batman! I suppose you've guessed by now... for me, dessert is KING.<br />
This year, as my star attraction, I went with a by <a href="http://www.annabel-langbein.com/">Annabel Langbein: The Free Range Cook</a>. It looked absolutely mouth-watering on the tv, and surprisingly easy... well SHE made it look easy. Of course that translates to: easy for me too (eerr, in theory)!<br />
This first attempt was successful, apart from the bit when I didn't know what my own oven settings were and accidentally cooked it on Fan-Grill, and it ended up a flat, charred mess of a round. Queue attempt number 2: and the odd panic aside (I would make for great telly if I ever dared enter MasterChef.. my tanty's would become that of legend, i'm sure) it turned out perfect!! <a href="http://tvnz.co.nz/free-range-cook/strawberry-lemon-puff-3852495">Strawberry Lemon Puff</a> - I salute you. You are glorious.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVUyJod8EhpHiv3l-8GACmE2SluU5V-hzUxNW5A5q0oUWvfpVyPTy2gs1mhz0k0VFlQOy_qD_TJ6u5bEwG9inRk8PdWZ8td1CsT58oNk6JSSlwq0QAH8kL3iqSpiYxmvcclkvIbJgfByp/s1600/DSC05975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVUyJod8EhpHiv3l-8GACmE2SluU5V-hzUxNW5A5q0oUWvfpVyPTy2gs1mhz0k0VFlQOy_qD_TJ6u5bEwG9inRk8PdWZ8td1CsT58oNk6JSSlwq0QAH8kL3iqSpiYxmvcclkvIbJgfByp/s320/DSC05975.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bGu3B5MMJTh2mWxVgQC25GgKo-I_CjcSwn0YN998koWIZ9wSUaF25qhqeOlv7AHpDeuGcs4O3Y6PruO-blz4d0-mJNS_EH-Kj4m3WMq8h8P5Vg1trZ0XoNTa65B-e7skkDBvokhEnowS/s1600/DSC05974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bGu3B5MMJTh2mWxVgQC25GgKo-I_CjcSwn0YN998koWIZ9wSUaF25qhqeOlv7AHpDeuGcs4O3Y6PruO-blz4d0-mJNS_EH-Kj4m3WMq8h8P5Vg1trZ0XoNTa65B-e7skkDBvokhEnowS/s320/DSC05974.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To go with this - as if there wasn't enough to fit in, I made some family friendly chocolate truffles. They were supposed to be mint infused, but for some reason they weren't as fragrant as I'd hoped, so they ended up just being freakin delicious plain chocolate truffles coated in nuts and cocoa. It was so muggy when I made them, that they don't look particularly pretty, but OMG they were amazing! Mmmmm..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpBBje_9RfnCm595fMMtIMa8HaygyXxvmVmZjaZDd_k0QdjlFqddv8GrN1j409IBDHN97u5E9VYE67lmSN6Q-YusGsUkHDTsH3kS1wrenAP6-vn4J0ondk-qAZ0OopKtbkFBvsr71hFw0/s1600/DSC05976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpBBje_9RfnCm595fMMtIMa8HaygyXxvmVmZjaZDd_k0QdjlFqddv8GrN1j409IBDHN97u5E9VYE67lmSN6Q-YusGsUkHDTsH3kS1wrenAP6-vn4J0ondk-qAZ0OopKtbkFBvsr71hFw0/s320/DSC05976.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But wait there's more!! </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chocolate overload here we come!! I present - Nigella Lawson's Snow Flecked Chocolate Brownie - which would've, if i'd remembered to take a photo, looked like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK7jjzUDcEPTaN9GGn96J1EiLaKF6m8Fr3Im8IVo_fMfhtmDEE60UY2PZqaSEC-0RNjMS9uJY3zbyIpFLVyxFlzAvBgB_Rz4ObJj01oasky3HlwvdvMWDeFvi_NGXFHmarniUoCZKSaNs/s1600/bloguez.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK7jjzUDcEPTaN9GGn96J1EiLaKF6m8Fr3Im8IVo_fMfhtmDEE60UY2PZqaSEC-0RNjMS9uJY3zbyIpFLVyxFlzAvBgB_Rz4ObJj01oasky3HlwvdvMWDeFvi_NGXFHmarniUoCZKSaNs/s1600/bloguez.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via bloguez.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was good news for our family in the end though. I actually forgot to take the Brownie down to our Christmas hang out on the day, so we took it to Boxing Day dinner at a friends instead. Great with left over trifle, it turns out! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I now weigh approximately double what I did on Xmas Eve. Remind me why I let that Zumba auction on TradeMe lapse the other day? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If only wrapping presents (and unwrapping, for that matter) burnt as many calories. I'd be a lean Mama machine in no time!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a peak at how my Present-wrapping with scraps production line turned out: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzIl7l6frxiYpUI2sL9vqhRzGm_C8u4fiT30sAiwjCto_zrB6OBwLkCnpS2w8-Ae3Yh9ot-dIUMxa0DVPnaxeQpJg1HqwYF7dUk_gfixguYwsN65SQKyYGOLwU0DbOCmtI6lhI2gE-Nyn/s1600/DSC05919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzIl7l6frxiYpUI2sL9vqhRzGm_C8u4fiT30sAiwjCto_zrB6OBwLkCnpS2w8-Ae3Yh9ot-dIUMxa0DVPnaxeQpJg1HqwYF7dUk_gfixguYwsN65SQKyYGOLwU0DbOCmtI6lhI2gE-Nyn/s320/DSC05919.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The silver paper in the middle is a wallpaper sample I couldn't find another use for. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlleK7jlATa3K1BKatX1VmKqFJ9pzeGQ0zxdzylY-42K54DtX6s6MhtVrC03UO8DhveorO9S5-9Z1Z_hL0fOpuBDfVLywAMO1fLznAViZTDiQRgmcnBNiKHRjvBoRn7Cc_0fRxrzQwUIX/s1600/DSC05920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlleK7jlATa3K1BKatX1VmKqFJ9pzeGQ0zxdzylY-42K54DtX6s6MhtVrC03UO8DhveorO9S5-9Z1Z_hL0fOpuBDfVLywAMO1fLznAViZTDiQRgmcnBNiKHRjvBoRn7Cc_0fRxrzQwUIX/s320/DSC05920.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made paper cut of stars to use as decorations to brighten up my brown packaging paper, and printed out some free labels! Paper doily's also make great labels, and scraps of fabric add a splash of colour too.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzk8-pJzKaUYlOqAC_fp6rmH_AwrTwsVecbS55kjmHiHGMU4FWmrfO_RiogD4vA8LQsP0egCVjh1NF9cKH8QIDAwTRPBrZcMI-2Jabfjz3n22et-EwuZENoKrZPo31DcgPpu1k1qXx56Z/s1600/DSC05921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzk8-pJzKaUYlOqAC_fp6rmH_AwrTwsVecbS55kjmHiHGMU4FWmrfO_RiogD4vA8LQsP0egCVjh1NF9cKH8QIDAwTRPBrZcMI-2Jabfjz3n22et-EwuZENoKrZPo31DcgPpu1k1qXx56Z/s320/DSC05921.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyVGvUgMefMF-96Ni8oueUI-HFkz3xYAgja35Jwtwt-8d3beK2ubVO7N8YIL7HYLVx66wygANlyIC1UnDrTrXo25QEkSerSMU5Pd_cXG9t3XpH1-mXozK3yc8GWUTWy2ijhYRPF818XtE/s1600/DSC05922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyVGvUgMefMF-96Ni8oueUI-HFkz3xYAgja35Jwtwt-8d3beK2ubVO7N8YIL7HYLVx66wygANlyIC1UnDrTrXo25QEkSerSMU5Pd_cXG9t3XpH1-mXozK3yc8GWUTWy2ijhYRPF818XtE/s320/DSC05922.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll never ever be one to take my presents to the Gift Wrap stall at the mall to be quickly covered up, like someone sprung running from the bathroom to the bedroom without a towel, in a panicked rush. And even though at my age presents are the least important thing about the whole day, and the season, I still love the look of childlike glee that springs to your loved ones' faces once they've ripped through the layers of a lovingly wrapped parcel, to be greeted by something they've been secretly hoping for aaages. It just makes me melt inside! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was the last thing we saw before we went to bed all cooked, wrapped and sewn out, on Christmas Eve..</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDhpx-kImrSibtiojunjezBCi1rhHCQaNj1kdlXG7BPYr-i5fC63GK0F1PR44Rt0pfHUcQUo0373yuSKsXiRliPBCcLaSsstHFDhNoZxkct8YlzlHmp43wm8FK_0BVtxMqA9Nf8UdjWMv/s1600/DSC05931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDhpx-kImrSibtiojunjezBCi1rhHCQaNj1kdlXG7BPYr-i5fC63GK0F1PR44Rt0pfHUcQUo0373yuSKsXiRliPBCcLaSsstHFDhNoZxkct8YlzlHmp43wm8FK_0BVtxMqA9Nf8UdjWMv/s320/DSC05931.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excuse the blurriness...</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwosE4XKgmQcLmGfVTZHsG-ZCK_-rV8eiUKHRefYoupRhu7TdYp3KxQgsDjx4eDE6OtSiMLJ9fCq0J46wVpZvH3KGg6kvERB-bWVeRS5W21GjB_kVlyT25tMqCaO2fZUipcaN7VkODbmCR/s1600/DSC05934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwosE4XKgmQcLmGfVTZHsG-ZCK_-rV8eiUKHRefYoupRhu7TdYp3KxQgsDjx4eDE6OtSiMLJ9fCq0J46wVpZvH3KGg6kvERB-bWVeRS5W21GjB_kVlyT25tMqCaO2fZUipcaN7VkODbmCR/s320/DSC05934.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A happy and safe holiday season to you all! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-26681303941854751412010-12-17T13:14:00.006+13:002010-12-17T14:16:02.294+13:00Happy Hand-made Christmas!Christmas is fast approaching and OOPS! I'm ridiculously behind AGAIN with shopping.. and everything in general. Oh well. I might aswell channel that guilt into sharing some ideas on how to make your pressies stand out in the crowd, all the while allowing you to use up any scrap paper or bits and pieces you have lying around the place. Because I don't know about you, but as much as I like the outside of my presents to look as good as the inside, I hate spending heaps of money on fancy wrap that get shredded and ripped, screwed up and tossed away the second they get near a small (or large) pair of hands. Such a waste!<div><br /></div><div>So here are a few budget friendly options:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8zg6JQWvDTKrDkz-O3hBXNDXpYSDEO3FnDTiTXd9ayyUl_SYl4mhzaSlaQjdCPkFSg1q6ybbD_vYs2AmyLxsggEJr0qG2ZKSi0ZqwaBsgaJRavWbJqkMbfQVoi2VLj9pmhyXg2MJ8QQ8/s1600/decor8.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8zg6JQWvDTKrDkz-O3hBXNDXpYSDEO3FnDTiTXd9ayyUl_SYl4mhzaSlaQjdCPkFSg1q6ybbD_vYs2AmyLxsggEJr0qG2ZKSi0ZqwaBsgaJRavWbJqkMbfQVoi2VLj9pmhyXg2MJ8QQ8/s320/decor8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551452906120233698" style="cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 243px; " /></a></div><div>photo via <a href="http://www.decor8blog.com/">Decor8</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Brown packaging paper. </b></div><div>*Adorn with some ribbon or twine and perhaps some fancy masking tape (see above) to create a gift that looks really special. </div><div>*Let your kids, or you, loose with a marker and draw your own decorations on the paper before you wrap. Find a bold pattern to copy, such as a <a href="http://www.marimekko.com/collections/search/browse/by-pattern">Marimekko</a> print or similar, which shouldn't be too hard to replicate, and enjoy! (This would actually work really well as a gift too - only grab a plain white plate and and porcelain pen, and get drawing!).</div><div>*If you happen to have some of Nana's old doily's lying around that you don't plan on using, try covering your brown paper with one and fastening it with twine or raffia for a cool neutral look.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>An old sewing pattern.</b></div><div>Combined with ribbon or twine, old pattern paper give a lovely vintage feel to gifts. A nice sprig of greenery would compliment nicely too. I'm talking rosemary or lavender here, not some limp parsley, ok. Just use a few layers so you can't see through it! Beautiful.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Newspaper.</b> </div><div>I guess you could use you an old Central Leader or North Shore Times, but how about an old Chinese/Asian paper, for something different? It's probably better if you can't actually read it anyway ;) </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Old wallpaper. </b></div><div>If you're lucky enough to have some old vintage wallpaper lying around that hasn't been framed or stolen by someone, how about wrapping up a present with it? Grandma would probably LOVE it. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Fabric off-cuts.</b> </div><div>Great for wrapping things like soaps, or clothing for children. Especially if it's bright and fancy. Don't worry about the fraying edges, it only adds to the effect!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Paper cuts.</b></div><div><a href="http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/">How About Orange</a> blog shows you how to make your own <a href="http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-make-5-pointed-paper-snowflakes.html">5 pointed star</a>, by simply following a few instructions and folding and cutting your way to decorative glory. So easy and you can do it with any left over paper. The red does look particularly fetching though. I made one in pink, which is also cute. Actually, that blog has MANY great things to make and do. Go there - NOW. </div><div>Personalising gifts is so much fun. Once I've actually done my shopping, I'll try and post some pics of what i've done.</div><div>In the mean time, I'll leave you with a selection of freebies I've found to put the finishing touches on your wrapping. I warn you, they're gorgeous. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSAVcT1v8lIyW0RfE9w-59CV7cI0WzOEtRFKeruiegquXvA2FPsVRY5tmmOc4RZis5uV7Mdm_Zplcvxl-JVgNSYS0M6yZ5GbvX5-vm1UkQ-s_KLNTLh3VtTf_Sr8SQ6kzDJg9-Q1GPgZy/s1600/holiday_type_tags.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSAVcT1v8lIyW0RfE9w-59CV7cI0WzOEtRFKeruiegquXvA2FPsVRY5tmmOc4RZis5uV7Mdm_Zplcvxl-JVgNSYS0M6yZ5GbvX5-vm1UkQ-s_KLNTLh3VtTf_Sr8SQ6kzDJg9-Q1GPgZy/s320/holiday_type_tags.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551445982570065826" style="cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 320px; " /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LiAfaM9QYMlxGjQ_cO9APsxAACsi_b2R3Ynkw26_HfzO_bnrg9vBYnQCeEjdMeb8XDrs2C5U8R2R3ExStvbqYFContRMA9lMmzjStrAi5DU5cBFElC1XM2Eh_ljPipmAVfdwsM5laO3b/s1600/free-christmas-gift-tags-download3.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LiAfaM9QYMlxGjQ_cO9APsxAACsi_b2R3Ynkw26_HfzO_bnrg9vBYnQCeEjdMeb8XDrs2C5U8R2R3ExStvbqYFContRMA9lMmzjStrAi5DU5cBFElC1XM2Eh_ljPipmAVfdwsM5laO3b/s320/free-christmas-gift-tags-download3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551445976054484290" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLl2FdNzxah3ZZkp9FhfUcHHvZvbuaJkV8JaQS8ImQihzKvSWptgSSW6XHJCLE1nHMx2E0xCdwL3wPULIwi7oUNAmaBSIk4dySFc8NdYUMJkbRrvKbFHhkEhZrPzMS7dBDU3ruCgQgr2J/s1600/red+deer+tag+cutout.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLl2FdNzxah3ZZkp9FhfUcHHvZvbuaJkV8JaQS8ImQihzKvSWptgSSW6XHJCLE1nHMx2E0xCdwL3wPULIwi7oUNAmaBSIk4dySFc8NdYUMJkbRrvKbFHhkEhZrPzMS7dBDU3ruCgQgr2J/s320/red+deer+tag+cutout.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551445972527435170" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEW0c7Jc54PN4V65y0h0Pbp-r9mEqUQL27um5KI_dQeXCelpYbm_YyCcDwLJqZ-_yGHN8DVj_YrXgXbvsCYZ0Va2s_MwEmTfgTdAYhCJMk2sDddDqGI-BTjCNKIBYKcLVbxcg8lCBylVq/s1600/lisa-rupp-free-bird-ornaments.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEW0c7Jc54PN4V65y0h0Pbp-r9mEqUQL27um5KI_dQeXCelpYbm_YyCcDwLJqZ-_yGHN8DVj_YrXgXbvsCYZ0Va2s_MwEmTfgTdAYhCJMk2sDddDqGI-BTjCNKIBYKcLVbxcg8lCBylVq/s320/lisa-rupp-free-bird-ornaments.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551445966826602178" style="cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Top left: Amy Moss of <a href="http://eatdrinkchic.com/">Eat Drink Chic Blog</a> gives us gorgeous <a href="http://eatdrinkchic.com/post.cfm/holiday-freebie-typographic-gift-tags">typographic gift tags</a>.</div><div>Top right: Free gift tags from <a href="http://www.bambinogoodies.co.uk/free-gift-tags-to-download/">Bambino Goodies</a></div><div>Bottom left: Smitten Blog Designs' adorable <a href="http://smittenblogdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/12/week-of-christmas-freebies.html">Christmas tag freebies.</a> </div><div>Bottom right: To use as gift tags or ornaments or art! Free <a href="http://creaturecomfortsblog.com/home/2010/12/9/free-printable-bird-ornaments-gift-tags-by-lisa-rupp.html">Lisa Rupp bird ornaments</a> spotted on <a href="http://www.creaturecomfortsblog.com/">Creature Comforts blog</a>: I LOVE YOU!</div><div>**Creature Comforts also have this wonderful <a href="http://www.creaturecomfortsblog.com/home/2010/12/16/come-on-over-a-printable-freebie.html">bow gift tag</a>, free to you on their blog. I am soo getting me one!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy wrapping, savers! </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-60158342483025538642010-12-11T11:55:00.029+13:002010-12-11T20:41:59.816+13:00Just for Josh!Ain't Facebook great? Keeping up with all those people you might've otherwise lost touch with completely since school, and getting to see how their lives have turned out is too much fun to NOT keep coming back! Especially when they grow up, get married to lovely men and have the most gorgeous bubba's!! Aaahhhh, the cluck factor. Gets me every time!<br /><div><div><br /></div><div>My friend Kate from college sent me a lovely message the other day, after I posted the latest link to my blog. I was soo chuffed just to know people are reading - and then she asked for <i>my</i> advice!! Too exciting for words really. I looooove giving advice (some might say, a little too much! haha), especially when it comes to beautifying ones' home.. and how to do it cheaply. </div><div>I should really have called this blog 'Design Hacker' (much like Ikea Hacker), because I just love finding awesome expensive stuff to recreate for a fraction of the cost. It's so satisfying!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Kate wanted some advice on what to do in her wee son Josh's room. So I went to work and found some budget friendly ideas that should make the wee man, and his folks, smile with thrifty delight!</div><div><br /></div><div>COLOUR. </div><div><br /></div><div>For kids, bright is best in my opinion - but you don't have to go overboard with it. Their little brains need stimulation, sure, but yours doesn't need to ache every time you walk into their room. </div><div><br /></div><div>1 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtMDEhAYHGK_uTTVAJWS_veyW4M0jjOLmjN_Pt2ds_zsunYl7y5iC-zFsdP-3wK0RNqz0q6DVYB1ahdC9jzqInEnqFMWLR50eJxcMo5SuiWuuKEfifp9HnLN5DdVT3zN-uSYaPz7XjoO5/s1600/Resene_Spray.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtMDEhAYHGK_uTTVAJWS_veyW4M0jjOLmjN_Pt2ds_zsunYl7y5iC-zFsdP-3wK0RNqz0q6DVYB1ahdC9jzqInEnqFMWLR50eJxcMo5SuiWuuKEfifp9HnLN5DdVT3zN-uSYaPz7XjoO5/s320/Resene_Spray.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549195542336302834" style="cursor: pointer; width: 75px; height: 75px; " /></a> 2 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Tk4gKgO5_3ln1ugGjZMQuI8ZyJdVIJeRe0yshN7-wL6QXxlY3NKiaHiA_pgWaokMNKUSWpDsNZiHZ_5zbCNWerie33q5zy2pwqx-yt99ZiEbh52FQnjRnnEH7arsre6698Guk450z_6S/s1600/Resene_Soapstone.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Tk4gKgO5_3ln1ugGjZMQuI8ZyJdVIJeRe0yshN7-wL6QXxlY3NKiaHiA_pgWaokMNKUSWpDsNZiHZ_5zbCNWerie33q5zy2pwqx-yt99ZiEbh52FQnjRnnEH7arsre6698Guk450z_6S/s320/Resene_Soapstone.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549195535861017042" style="cursor: pointer; width: 75px; height: 75px; " /></a> 3 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOWDQTGSb1ANLGK0ZD1jzNuYRQLxLnngSnvRCrPW88cnhWyXqnB7U4noXgXjeB9qtGGckdEqBvbY-Fc4CKm0kHh3SvsvuAR2eBGmNEk7Mv88fwRuXJMA0vN0pt49LTI9MOAdd4zlEaLH6/s1600/Resene_Outrageous.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOWDQTGSb1ANLGK0ZD1jzNuYRQLxLnngSnvRCrPW88cnhWyXqnB7U4noXgXjeB9qtGGckdEqBvbY-Fc4CKm0kHh3SvsvuAR2eBGmNEk7Mv88fwRuXJMA0vN0pt49LTI9MOAdd4zlEaLH6/s320/Resene_Outrageous.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549195531075566594" style="cursor: pointer; width: 75px; height: 75px; " /></a> 4 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6X-BiU47EnYVl6ypGi3U1rOl2uUZPXMIbVb0MxPnCybB0EfSyE-cg_Fjs_eVN1HvUcoY2D7AIMkfL4p7fMYkHwcbXZ03mA6LEag3YAk8YkuoHo1O6k81pTpwzonAWhle8OF5NyEmEggHR/s1600/Resene_Drover.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6X-BiU47EnYVl6ypGi3U1rOl2uUZPXMIbVb0MxPnCybB0EfSyE-cg_Fjs_eVN1HvUcoY2D7AIMkfL4p7fMYkHwcbXZ03mA6LEag3YAk8YkuoHo1O6k81pTpwzonAWhle8OF5NyEmEggHR/s320/Resene_Drover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549195526652702018" style="cursor: pointer; width: 75px; height: 75px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>1. Resene Spray</div><div>2. Resene Soapstone (this was just my version of your 'cream', to match to)</div><div>3. Resene Outrageous</div><div>4. Resene Drover. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cream is the colour of the walls - and I think little bursts of orange, yellow and aqua would work well for a boys room. </div><div><br /></div><div>These go well with a pale base too:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbcrabbuggfbqKel5H2G0s5YvPEN8CQtoy3fMDShjBSvIFmtrTJjs3SQR66vwagrioDJ_3yoZDrytn76HdyfuVDiP_D12_A63yTBHCDwUdL_SzKk3iBmrZaj2qQp7cD44uJIOin4SJ-Wd/s1600/Resene_Reservoir.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbcrabbuggfbqKel5H2G0s5YvPEN8CQtoy3fMDShjBSvIFmtrTJjs3SQR66vwagrioDJ_3yoZDrytn76HdyfuVDiP_D12_A63yTBHCDwUdL_SzKk3iBmrZaj2qQp7cD44uJIOin4SJ-Wd/s320/Resene_Reservoir.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549303069036551218" style="cursor: pointer; width: 75px; height: 75px; " /></a> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SWn5esjZEC-PaQYj19wWi1z6MeaZGzyOJ37nSDv0nZ4ztzuvBqfGcU6Nsmkhbn8O_SOywRa_zIpKaBpYLGcYjlBmRCoEoq_nM4PqzYalpFZN050LBq1SNUHbdE4oyWe7CM_3ESHU4PMz/s320/Resene_Pursuit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549303062969736930" style="cursor: pointer; width: 75px; height: 75px; " /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqNoOWtSsAitfuYoSwacBTNUcmmIFR90UzechjMH9oYEb5ku15Qrt8xGiML61Y6-U_NsnJBcE0WoXkHTbGxPrUEbuJyceLUkULilyENwjcddty37giWiFt3ctUmlGGszEbGxde3g6Rc2B/s320/Resene_Hendrix.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549303058554674450" style="cursor: pointer; width: 75px; height: 75px; " /><br /><br />1. Resene "Reservoir"</div><div>2. Resene "Pursuit"</div><div>3. Resene "Hendrix"</div><div><br /></div><div>HOW TO GET THE COLOUR IN?</div><div><br /></div><div>If you're keen to get out the paint brush and have a go at remodelling Josh's drawers, then this is a cool way to do it. </div><div>I painted Lila's drawers (which were bare MDF) white (Porter's Paints "Milk"), then painted the odd drawer and drawer handle a different colour, using red (Porter's "Chili") and duck egg blue (Porter's "Glass"). Here's an example:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQkr9g51ccGm6NTClWvMrODsSWLt-HMSo2YjqJBFpYiOWhWxNQHZOnyfQNJoiVNunew3EU85qNPdVzIaxVEvaI4BwLZtpCD4pbjnXHD_X-pE9l_26wjTQ4N2PQ2nTKIu6bxBlQFiQct2z/s1600/1043834.large.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQkr9g51ccGm6NTClWvMrODsSWLt-HMSo2YjqJBFpYiOWhWxNQHZOnyfQNJoiVNunew3EU85qNPdVzIaxVEvaI4BwLZtpCD4pbjnXHD_X-pE9l_26wjTQ4N2PQ2nTKIu6bxBlQFiQct2z/s320/1043834.large.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549197296006942690" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 193px; " /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>I also love <a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/05/before-after-hollys-bench-alyssas-dresser.html">this one</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>(tip: I bought a small can of "Milk" to use as the base, but then just got a couple of tester sized pots to paint the accents with. Much cheaper than buying 3 big pots). </div><div><br /></div><div>COLOURFUL ART AND OBJECTS. </div><div><br /></div><div>Esty have an insane selection of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=kids+poster+art&search_type=handmade">gorgeous prints</a>; framed or unframed, that are perfect for kids walls. But you could also <a href="http://destitutedesigner.blogspot.com/2010/04/once-more-with-feeling.html">make your own</a> if you have a capable colour printer and something nice to say! Pick up some second hand frames and give them a lick of paint or pop to the Warehouse or <a href="http://www.factoryframes.co.nz/">Factory Frames</a> for some new but inexpensive ones, and you're done.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVNnp-QHcYStk4yY1wzkLQDP7tOnX0jCcQ9BXWp4Y29dG6b679fBXxEY73M4p_G0Dqbu2GuFKb-unmfmgrBol3CgOVTHap4nam9oc3A0b8PzNxmDnXEba5_qK2Kab81vjNbhmxjV5Pfwe/s1600/il_fullxfull.195776800.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVNnp-QHcYStk4yY1wzkLQDP7tOnX0jCcQ9BXWp4Y29dG6b679fBXxEY73M4p_G0Dqbu2GuFKb-unmfmgrBol3CgOVTHap4nam9oc3A0b8PzNxmDnXEba5_qK2Kab81vjNbhmxjV5Pfwe/s320/il_fullxfull.195776800.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549201003188247026" style="cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>Wall art: 4 for $20 at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftedbylindy?section_id=6248717">this</a> Etsy store! Bargains! </div><div><br /></div><div>To add a bit of interest to your display, team painted wooden letters (Spotlight have them for about $3 each), different shaped objects (eg. butterflies or other easy silhouettes cut out of paper/bark) or embroidered quilt rings to create a cluster. <a href="http://www.homelife.com.au/home+ideas/galleries/8+easy+diy+weekend+projects,11833?pos=4#top">These</a> are really easy and inexpensive to make. Fabric + felt + a black sharpie + glue/stickie + quilt ring = adorable. And if you put a cork tile under the fabric, it can act as a cork board too. But if you do that, make sure your quilt ring is huge and your fabric is a loose 'knit' and printed too, to disguise pin holes.</div><div><br /></div><div>A statement piece would look great as the star of the show. Something like this, perhaps:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUId80QYcP6Y0GU5oElk_VSHw5jTPzqvegcNCFcuRICpWMdAYNHhVAEdA-dP2xP0lE_Ha2K1vNv-mLQ1rRrWKPsY3hsGqU0-tXxoQ0Ww4RxtfHaKAqH-YHoXv3p_6xO4hMRYkKXrXMt70/s1600/4681-d-09729-Lion-for-Felt.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUId80QYcP6Y0GU5oElk_VSHw5jTPzqvegcNCFcuRICpWMdAYNHhVAEdA-dP2xP0lE_Ha2K1vNv-mLQ1rRrWKPsY3hsGqU0-tXxoQ0Ww4RxtfHaKAqH-YHoXv3p_6xO4hMRYkKXrXMt70/s320/4681-d-09729-Lion-for-Felt.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549286667128130914" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These are made locally by Hayley at The Art Room, and screen printed by hand. Amazing aren't they? I love how bright and fun they are! Limited edition prints available <a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/36997/Circus-Series---Lion">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R5JpDDLFfI0M4JzJk6vzzTMQd1Ro_gBMSUBZ9EkUZ2b6-_gUlpQrO9QhrZBvfLr6Qy3b8PTKl67IO55q79GCNqKnTbDtR7nYSZ0NrfR5bA8Eh3wPuRMeymJv2seNISf2iEEQDv4Z-CDe/s1600/awall.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R5JpDDLFfI0M4JzJk6vzzTMQd1Ro_gBMSUBZ9EkUZ2b6-_gUlpQrO9QhrZBvfLr6Qy3b8PTKl67IO55q79GCNqKnTbDtR7nYSZ0NrfR5bA8Eh3wPuRMeymJv2seNISf2iEEQDv4Z-CDe/s320/awall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549281854136509762" style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 320px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UWtSXdOhyphenhyphenzDdNNc6jOCBRIx48UpbQXlJt6Yr0f8h8oig0DLKD2Tf6vY_i0vVyYPAHu8BkpZLwkGbwxCa6-DQCvt92Xx7QMEdwb6HhXX3qorXgijmjMni1saSzU-mAk2rZtX28I-sdTNL/s1600/boycollection.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UWtSXdOhyphenhyphenzDdNNc6jOCBRIx48UpbQXlJt6Yr0f8h8oig0DLKD2Tf6vY_i0vVyYPAHu8BkpZLwkGbwxCa6-DQCvt92Xx7QMEdwb6HhXX3qorXgijmjMni1saSzU-mAk2rZtX28I-sdTNL/s320/boycollection.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549201619561645394" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 193px; " /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>DIY WALL DECALS. </div><div><br /></div><div>I made Lila a <a href="http://destitutedesigner.blogspot.com/search/label/Project%201">tree</a>, which was pretty easy. But if cutting loads of leaves out of wallpaper doesn't appeal, then how about an easy painting project?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtRMSh0JRLoxl4piJ4pzHoH9P7yqT3zmqbJekeAFnvn_h4XEbTLvv9NehyphenhyphenRJxLoj59fwUsxRvVhunvuBxn2aR2wbsOoUevCsjAuK_xd9WBf4xB4bVsDeW2i_UWocsI2utO27uFHkyrn5g/s1600/georganneafter.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtRMSh0JRLoxl4piJ4pzHoH9P7yqT3zmqbJekeAFnvn_h4XEbTLvv9NehyphenhyphenRJxLoj59fwUsxRvVhunvuBxn2aR2wbsOoUevCsjAuK_xd9WBf4xB4bVsDeW2i_UWocsI2utO27uFHkyrn5g/s320/georganneafter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549209799009821682" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 288px; " /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6tKJtm4YGzhZpf8F2UyaxZ7UvjgCphI_j50knCK0xAf0zTx9Kt8DlOoefkObc405ajx8Q2dlKBYPkMyrryPhPKpeGH1faEStAEYko0sc1kXXZJd08c5kD9LLbltc-PU2KY9zoz-YyW6P/s1600/dsponge1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6tKJtm4YGzhZpf8F2UyaxZ7UvjgCphI_j50knCK0xAf0zTx9Kt8DlOoefkObc405ajx8Q2dlKBYPkMyrryPhPKpeGH1faEStAEYko0sc1kXXZJd08c5kD9LLbltc-PU2KY9zoz-YyW6P/s320/dsponge1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549209804014874530" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px; " /></a> via <a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/">DesignSponge</a> and <a href="http://www.ohdeeoh.com/">OhDeeOh</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Or, you could get really adventurous and make your own <a href="http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/how-to/how-to-make-fabric-wall-silhouettes-052419">Fabric Wall Silhouette</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div>I love this too - find a packet of cute flash cards and peg them up as art. Throw in some cute photos of little Josh, and it should look gorgeous. And CHEAP!</div><div>You can get all the twine/pegs you need to string them up at any $2 shop. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoCkGyz8KoT9SHIjVaErI3VG8TNRE0_BZJNMyvsInfl9NgsxBAX-027kUaQKT2zG_IxBtXuyo06B1V2yIjSOanEGjRujdwdBEvM3xrGJeccS9Nho_sbJpIv4vxwW_11QtbDhX8FZgTrCD/s1600/34e876af22d20f47acf2d91c0697faf7417e99f7_m.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoCkGyz8KoT9SHIjVaErI3VG8TNRE0_BZJNMyvsInfl9NgsxBAX-027kUaQKT2zG_IxBtXuyo06B1V2yIjSOanEGjRujdwdBEvM3xrGJeccS9Nho_sbJpIv4vxwW_11QtbDhX8FZgTrCD/s320/34e876af22d20f47acf2d91c0697faf7417e99f7_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549210639767667538" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>STORAGE.</div><div>If you can fit it - cube storage. Best thing ever for lots of fiddly kids things! They are relatively cheap too. Best bargains come via Warehouse Stationery (i know!) and Target. Buy some cute and colourful 'drawers' to finish the look. <a href="http://www.storagebox.co.nz/product.php?id_product=131">These ones</a> and cheap and do a great job. We have them in red :)</div><div>Or, how about this for a crazy cheap solution? <a href="http://www.mitre10mega.co.nz/shop/storage_shelving/shelving_brackets/core_pine_shelving_unit_3_shelf_800_x_300_x_900mm__105847/">Mitre 10 Pine shelving unit</a> for a measly $39. You could paint or stain it any colour you wanted and simply add the fabric boxes to create your own cube look; and 2 side by side would look even cooler.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7D1XXZrlHmgU6Z7afjry7sFAxkBiIvJK38U0q0mggSTLgAritRFjAhFktqkA1ROCos6ViVFDsEkAyA_asovOhyphenhyphenEI7jlWOrKSrbhRttUKeWkumw9OAOrJeR6-HsSugTzOLJ-YXGyS7LTW/s1600/2010-06-dallas_sm1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7D1XXZrlHmgU6Z7afjry7sFAxkBiIvJK38U0q0mggSTLgAritRFjAhFktqkA1ROCos6ViVFDsEkAyA_asovOhyphenhyphenEI7jlWOrKSrbhRttUKeWkumw9OAOrJeR6-HsSugTzOLJ-YXGyS7LTW/s320/2010-06-dallas_sm1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549212466791813666" style="cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 320px; " /></a> via <a href="http://www.ohdeedoh.com/">OhDeeOh</a></div><div><br /></div><div>But if either of those options simply won't fit, how about wall shelves made from recycled drawers?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGCCVtzQylQbTuy5uCocgwRDbupMZR-YWIevdnAcrDyr71eI-oK1sbsaRKhKmO7KWk1d6okecNWDgaYQWO_r6wrMOTHwEmtHGxol0RwHBQHRjGM6SvYK3-1U4g7GhTW_Oul2fV-iRy6-l/s1600/2277940296_3221944c7a.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGCCVtzQylQbTuy5uCocgwRDbupMZR-YWIevdnAcrDyr71eI-oK1sbsaRKhKmO7KWk1d6okecNWDgaYQWO_r6wrMOTHwEmtHGxol0RwHBQHRjGM6SvYK3-1U4g7GhTW_Oul2fV-iRy6-l/s320/2277940296_3221944c7a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549212135594250754" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 310px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>You could <a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/2007/10/diy-wednesdays-wine-crate-display-cases.html">paint/wallpaper the inside of them</a> to make them match your colour scheme. Place them evenly, or randomly over the wall. You could even paint some kind of hanger device around them so they look like they're attached to a structure? I'm planning on doing some in Lila's room, as I have a couple of spare drawers floating around that aren't needed. I think they'll be super cute!</div><div><br /></div><div>As I briefly mentioned before - floating wall shelves (Mitre10/Bunnings/Warehouse) are a great option too. </div><div>Add colour by painting or wallpapering the under side of them with different colours/prints, and hang a few, one of top of the other. Something like this:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_68bXDHWx6riLvXi_YoQChNXKHLWI0dNC7QV2m9R4xijP3Wi8ixiDXNS_8s3Z2BISklO33aqkqQJMu9aYtHzfMx36VWdn2dz6c5K6_HQiwgoLav1bulwuHTgR8jEJ454_pHbSGfODPNG/s1600/8509bookcase4.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_68bXDHWx6riLvXi_YoQChNXKHLWI0dNC7QV2m9R4xijP3Wi8ixiDXNS_8s3Z2BISklO33aqkqQJMu9aYtHzfMx36VWdn2dz6c5K6_HQiwgoLav1bulwuHTgR8jEJ454_pHbSGfODPNG/s320/8509bookcase4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549235068979213602" style="cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>You could even use wrapping paper or scrapbooking card. I love the extra element of surprise!</div><div><br /></div><div>WINDOW/FLOOR TREATMENTS. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>No need to spend a heap on new curtains! Make <a href="http://realliving.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=984874">this</a> instead.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rugs are so expensive too. But Trade Aid have really cute ones for under $100. </div><div>Or, get creative with some faux fur from Ikes/Geoffs Emporium and cut out clouds or stars or circles to use as mats!</div><div><br /></div><div>I really hope I've been of some help. Let me know! And if you want any more advice, of course just ask! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-11523263000408351502010-12-08T20:33:00.014+13:002010-12-08T22:47:28.755+13:00Things I've done...<div>I thought I'd finally share with you what I've been <i>Destitutely Designing</i> in my house lately - just incase you thought I'd forgotten what the whole point of this blog was! </div><div>This weekend was very satisfying for me. I got a lot of what I'd been wanting to do done, and it's great to sit back and enjoy it now... before I get stuck into the next lot of jobs on my list, that is. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's start with the ugliest sister of all: The fireplace! *cue shiver down spine*</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4L_TCGCZQnKsFPWc4i7FYe9P6_oePAaOaeM9AjAq7UPkD5ED6100nCjvxhdOuk6I33gFhIJtkOYOpkJRmNJzTZv-xrHDQgqP5WeOYtDrZdHZDOPNbT8pJUygkM8WDiNQMBRRC-6D-OOa/s1600/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4L_TCGCZQnKsFPWc4i7FYe9P6_oePAaOaeM9AjAq7UPkD5ED6100nCjvxhdOuk6I33gFhIJtkOYOpkJRmNJzTZv-xrHDQgqP5WeOYtDrZdHZDOPNbT8pJUygkM8WDiNQMBRRC-6D-OOa/s320/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="clear: both; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Excuse the crappy 'before' photo, this is all I could find! However I think i've succeeded in showing you how ghastly the fireplace looked before I painted it to make it .. a little <i>less</i> ugly.</div><div>This was the absolute bain of my life, I swear. But the white transforms it from dark, drab, moody and totally overbearing; to light, bright and most importantly: INVISIBLE! </div><div>Sure, you can see a few imperfections: the cracked grout and the bowing, but i'm just glad I don't walk into the lounge and snarl anymore when I see it. </div><div>A few strategically placed ornaments and photos, and voila! Not bad. In fact, totally livable!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrHSP6kJSQARvjiYIxmxKKk_b8_IuRUyudBRyVxGys6WnCJ3r5hBR5RGodYlYpuR1fsjAjwmL_p5mI-ZNbtTS4up9AxuC56nGkWUzSXgKvb30AeE8tBlonF_ndZH0jBZX2oQjcpgt1mCT/s1600/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrHSP6kJSQARvjiYIxmxKKk_b8_IuRUyudBRyVxGys6WnCJ3r5hBR5RGodYlYpuR1fsjAjwmL_p5mI-ZNbtTS4up9AxuC56nGkWUzSXgKvb30AeE8tBlonF_ndZH0jBZX2oQjcpgt1mCT/s320/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548213504428362114" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is my entrance way, before and after the addition of my gorgeous coat hooks, which I picked up during a trip to Italy a few years ago, and my new bird hook from Urban Outfitters. LOVE them!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZieyEQkVySAhXcQsKRlsQpr5l2dv2eDKcGUHtGhE3dxzAyTr01Nqd1gMUvgVAXq91JoTXb1HLtSxEpQIoyqVq7LO_2UtTUEaCvYNWaKh-ZxW3xcACw-5nTQA0CqzKYjl2Xzxfrb79skLq/s1600/DSC05831.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZieyEQkVySAhXcQsKRlsQpr5l2dv2eDKcGUHtGhE3dxzAyTr01Nqd1gMUvgVAXq91JoTXb1HLtSxEpQIoyqVq7LO_2UtTUEaCvYNWaKh-ZxW3xcACw-5nTQA0CqzKYjl2Xzxfrb79skLq/s320/DSC05831.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548217059130827842" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, that's my old mahogany table (Sorry, no before pic available! I can tell you it was brown though.. use your imagination) which I spray-painted sunshine yellow. It's only 90% finished thanks to the windiest month on record (I reckon)!! Still, I really love the lift the colour gives it, and it looks great against my beloved wallpaper.</div><div>Now I just need another new pair of shoes to sit under it, to finish the look.. don't you think? </div><div><br /></div><div>Onto the dining room! Nothing <i>remodelly</i> has happened here lately, but I had a clear out of all the clutter, got a new table, and now I love it. Gone is the couch (ah, what room is this again?), and I've moved the new table into the middle of the room and parked my new chairs around it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Before:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lyjnXTT_irMeUvz1ICnfUG0Q4lJAd-TJw-BCrLOdQtWjfcq3JoioNL4Ud4sntbA_eJkBfbLYdKOyEI4lhzcO19a2QfGHTdu4_y9peBNO_FY6voJIXEX-dAOwvVL1WMZR3iJv0KxE2wO-/s1600/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lyjnXTT_irMeUvz1ICnfUG0Q4lJAd-TJw-BCrLOdQtWjfcq3JoioNL4Ud4sntbA_eJkBfbLYdKOyEI4lhzcO19a2QfGHTdu4_y9peBNO_FY6voJIXEX-dAOwvVL1WMZR3iJv0KxE2wO-/s320/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548229429993866738" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>AFTER:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8j0G8wYAtQ-se536fnUO_wCgLSB70c-pVwPaz8JzChZb8R_6A2xqWhTKpeOCjO6EQLQeID_bZbuODY6E_fnqxvNHLnlAA-CUpEGi-4KklL_0-BVkyq3aTFKJ0zkdQbzTLl4olLHLNVyK/s1600/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters3.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8j0G8wYAtQ-se536fnUO_wCgLSB70c-pVwPaz8JzChZb8R_6A2xqWhTKpeOCjO6EQLQeID_bZbuODY6E_fnqxvNHLnlAA-CUpEGi-4KklL_0-BVkyq3aTFKJ0zkdQbzTLl4olLHLNVyK/s320/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548231802012240610" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This orientation is MUCH better. Also, without the clutter and confusion of the couch in there, it clearly defines it's purpose. I used to hate getting trapped in there when friends came round. It was just easy to plop yourself on the couch while I rustled up some food close by in the kitchen, but it's the darkest room in the house in the afternoon, being on the south side of the house - so not very cosy, despite the log burner.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQm-p-rVlkqvEG9j0LWzAOrpX3fRsn0rAwRNIH9Gt4b1k9hV20fVO0lDcIT_6K1NPT4ueTXDegA5k1ABk_YIJBfTOOS7Yq0deC26_Alf_HCTL3FjRrX2I71UJVnyQSJWddiRbThpeNEWbf/s1600/DSC05836-1.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQm-p-rVlkqvEG9j0LWzAOrpX3fRsn0rAwRNIH9Gt4b1k9hV20fVO0lDcIT_6K1NPT4ueTXDegA5k1ABk_YIJBfTOOS7Yq0deC26_Alf_HCTL3FjRrX2I71UJVnyQSJWddiRbThpeNEWbf/s320/DSC05836-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548232319420697250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The blinds (made by my Mum out of fabric from Ikea which was $9 a metre - which, when you consider the 10 metres I bought will easily dress a lot of the windows in my house, is ridiculous good buying) will actually move to another room once I get the wallpaper up. But I love them, and they will make another room very happy in the future! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MRXAPI0Gfru_pkQBexU4aydFuCDC4lCLn8A1bIT7ndeqmjtBic5IicGVosoMRTEWgngKpuD9rY-_PmLzukhEs2tk0eO4GL3d6ZMfJ4NGJpIvOZy5y3qQU_5cXOimb9oVP11G7Mcu7BiD/s1600/DSC05807.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MRXAPI0Gfru_pkQBexU4aydFuCDC4lCLn8A1bIT7ndeqmjtBic5IicGVosoMRTEWgngKpuD9rY-_PmLzukhEs2tk0eO4GL3d6ZMfJ4NGJpIvOZy5y3qQU_5cXOimb9oVP11G7Mcu7BiD/s320/DSC05807.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548234092790609410" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I 'made' these lovely vases myself, out of some fantastic bottles I found at the thrift store the other day for $1.50 each. Just pour in some paint and make sure you turn it a bit so the paint covers every inch of the inside of the bottle, turn upside down and drain the excess. Leave to dry. Easy! </div><div><br /></div><div>Last but not least, the laundry/bathroom. It's not finished, but check out the difference some new gib and a lick of paint makes! </div><div><br /></div><div>From this:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM9e5C4lqYKv9B7NZcDMDiYQXFtNhtPhJdXMxoYXSbJt_g1r5pcJGPwnJKCD5Pm1D_9I-IrFbbq98Pl-EiB1Ryaq6AION79ushWGPEkx1Z48ARi3UNZJsQHDd7II8PCGJz390zgZHgy_-/s1600/bathroom.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM9e5C4lqYKv9B7NZcDMDiYQXFtNhtPhJdXMxoYXSbJt_g1r5pcJGPwnJKCD5Pm1D_9I-IrFbbq98Pl-EiB1Ryaq6AION79ushWGPEkx1Z48ARi3UNZJsQHDd7II8PCGJz390zgZHgy_-/s320/bathroom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548235665269445250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>To this:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGcCZcJR_5LXiohNNBaAb6i0IOxiHbTdZ0vN4ynmITMeXHDD0YziQpvA2-Nl-OW80RYXKaiaeNaOez9dU3H1QeM0BTnNmyqryizyaxoPuRUC9S9mk97IVnTkFlfRhg52sRCQ7JyjbwS6V/s1600/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters4.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGcCZcJR_5LXiohNNBaAb6i0IOxiHbTdZ0vN4ynmITMeXHDD0YziQpvA2-Nl-OW80RYXKaiaeNaOez9dU3H1QeM0BTnNmyqryizyaxoPuRUC9S9mk97IVnTkFlfRhg52sRCQ7JyjbwS6V/s320/House+rearrange+and+b4+afters4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548235670765555138" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sorry, the after pics aren't really that mind-blowing, but I'll get it all finished and THEN I will blow your mind! </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and if you're wondering what came of the couch from the dining room? </div><div>Lila and I now have a lovely place to hang out and play and read magazines, in our delightful little sunroom. One day it too shall be glorious, but for now I'm just happy I can sit down with Captain Feathersword or Dorothy the Dinosaur or Scarface Claw; or whoever Lila decides she's going to be that day, put my feet up and enjoy! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaT7FoGMOYNGkbmZOR1TtU4jfCeoC4wwKummz4030PY4VNKIf9CvjGFW3zdfRLWzZqaKr5uo62Q-PbdpXpRenvKQCj6jltkBDEvnG9XRcxKw8oi6_7UFlYiTR4vbq3RTIvDdOINg4NGgD/s1600/Dec2010.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaT7FoGMOYNGkbmZOR1TtU4jfCeoC4wwKummz4030PY4VNKIf9CvjGFW3zdfRLWzZqaKr5uo62Q-PbdpXpRenvKQCj6jltkBDEvnG9XRcxKw8oi6_7UFlYiTR4vbq3RTIvDdOINg4NGgD/s320/Dec2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548237472854879554" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-50457189214701906422010-12-06T22:17:00.006+13:002010-12-07T08:16:42.113+13:00Happiness Is...Handmade gifts**, a painted out fireplace*, a dining room re-arranged*, <a href="http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/recipes/1685/chocolate-cherry-trifle">Chocolate Cherry Trifle</a>, good friends and great food; a toddler cooing over lights on a Christmas Tree, <a href="http://www.myowlbarn.com/2010/10/owl-lover-2011-free-calendar.html">totally divine freebie art</a>, DIY table adornments*, and of course the giddy feeling you get when summer finally arrives. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHnphjUIb0FLsiRCmgTHyp5zDD4bdEgqPIe49UR-yfnG4oR3Lxq4N3mfixTsjheegpGWvs2n9i5leppCXzMA0PgZHgGYuajoBVnnpTAE2EykPVKLwjrhVwJGz9mTI7wyhI0rq0I36GOcb/s1600/leaf_full.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHnphjUIb0FLsiRCmgTHyp5zDD4bdEgqPIe49UR-yfnG4oR3Lxq4N3mfixTsjheegpGWvs2n9i5leppCXzMA0PgZHgGYuajoBVnnpTAE2EykPVKLwjrhVwJGz9mTI7wyhI0rq0I36GOcb/s320/leaf_full.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547506462255369730" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>**'Buying handmade' is the new <i>black</i>. Not only can you find something unique to gift, but it's often a lot cheaper too. There's also the knowledge that you're helping a humble crafter keep on creating and not pumping money into a mega-money-making-gift-monopoly-machine. Or something.</div><div>There are craft collectives popping up in every neck of the woods, so why should online by any different? Etsy is a goldmine for cleverly crafted treasures, but it's soooo popular these days you really have to trawl through the muck to find the shiny jewels. You may not know, but there are alternatives - and I've found a few. Have a longing gander at these and maybe go one for one on 'em? It's so blinkin' tempting, I dare you not to! </div><div><br /></div><div>1.<a href="http://www.supermarkethq.com/"> Supermarket</a>. As good as a daily Etsy Finds email! All awesome, not a lot of fat because there are so fewer sellers than the aforementioned. Go there now. </div><div>2. <a href="http://www.foxes.co.nz/">Foxes</a>. Homegrown online store which sells predominantly kiwi design and handmade objects of desire. Designers are hand-picked by the <a href="http://www.bambamcreative.blogspot.com/">experts</a> for their awesomeness. Have your debit/credit card at the ready.</div><div>3. <a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/">Felt</a>. Another homegrown online market, but anyone crafty can sell here. Such a great source for hard to pick Christmas presents.</div><div>4. <a href="http://www.indiehandmade.com/">Indie Handmade</a>. </div><div>5. <a href="http://www.georgielove.com/">Georgie Love</a>. Makes you wish you were Australian. Only for a second. </div><div>6. <a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/">Made It</a>. Sometimes it <i>is</i> good to be this close to our Ocker cousins ;)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiJ1lDeifaJCJsfGnbp-uOjrO4MRf9SbLPBAkJDBNQXlq37Mn3bA7oMNNDuHlxbRrD37NZzBd34OCnnEgIaASQUwQCLRFebnfiTuZW2u3wL9BgBqDd-o6NcBTiXY7SG1ZPDtgq6WUScPo/s1600/sailor-girl-georgie-love_jpg_76d085397aaaf5161bc2c9d88c957db6.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiJ1lDeifaJCJsfGnbp-uOjrO4MRf9SbLPBAkJDBNQXlq37Mn3bA7oMNNDuHlxbRrD37NZzBd34OCnnEgIaASQUwQCLRFebnfiTuZW2u3wL9BgBqDd-o6NcBTiXY7SG1ZPDtgq6WUScPo/s320/sailor-girl-georgie-love_jpg_76d085397aaaf5161bc2c9d88c957db6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547506808364206514" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>*pics to come when my silly battery is charged!</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-27178185788988280542010-11-28T10:58:00.004+13:002010-11-28T11:27:50.828+13:00Ho Ho Ho! And a bottle of rum..Well it's almost <i>that</i> time of year again - and I have to say, it's become a whole lot more fun with the addition of the small person to our household, who is currently (and so my wallet would agree, a little too soon!) obsessed with Santa Claus - or 'Sen-tors', as she calls him. <div><br /></div><div>I can put this fascination down to one day a few weeks ago, when my Mum took her out to the mall for a morning play/shop. When I came home from work that day she was going on and on about something called <i>'Sen-tors, Mama!'</i>. It took me a while, but finally I clicked as to what she meant!! Mum must've really gone to town explaining who this Sen-tors was, because from that day on - there has been little mention of anyone else, bar the Wiggles. But that's a whole other level of obsession. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last year was the first time we had a 'real' christmas tree. I'd been putting it off because both myself and Mr DD suffer from horrid hayfever at this time of year - but I actually think it was worth it. The smell is like nothing else, don't you think! So earthy and warming. I cannot go back now. Plus, our Small Person will be truely enchanted this year, by the decorations and lights (if her reaction to in store Xmas Lights displays are anything to go by). We might even have a go at making some of our own decorations to hang from the branches! </div><div><br /></div><div>I still have a few days to get the household adornments together, but as a start I was inspired by a friend to have a go at making my own advent calendar. </div><div>I started with some bankers envelopes, some paint, a few scraps of felt, a gold marker, some glitter and of course, glue. Pop in some sneaky treats and a lolly or two, peg to some twine or ribbon on a wall or board, and voila! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AS4iWC5mHlxUJTONZTb8hyphenhyphenXgtDwAzvA350VL7zjuOEvogeQKLMEpB5tSKeQASAqaQ-ALVvqoHxIN69v7iDMBClAjHqNqcDNcKljpD0XSCuOYZ5kp2mkM9D1C1s01j2RwMW90UbKp2sMf/s1600/DSC05760.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AS4iWC5mHlxUJTONZTb8hyphenhyphenXgtDwAzvA350VL7zjuOEvogeQKLMEpB5tSKeQASAqaQ-ALVvqoHxIN69v7iDMBClAjHqNqcDNcKljpD0XSCuOYZ5kp2mkM9D1C1s01j2RwMW90UbKp2sMf/s320/DSC05760.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544358937836747410" style="cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XC98CQU-53vdPTqqWQM17xTCSBY_dVLpIymmNIs4MrrhaPtIswA37Hxiw6GxzGy3oNn6EM7jT8KppOH7cbr98WKpmbxj2B8wCb5_5Q2_OQOz6M0gD7ujfUDbgmmyRLV2aTm9PRV4PWzS/s1600/DSC05756.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XC98CQU-53vdPTqqWQM17xTCSBY_dVLpIymmNIs4MrrhaPtIswA37Hxiw6GxzGy3oNn6EM7jT8KppOH7cbr98WKpmbxj2B8wCb5_5Q2_OQOz6M0gD7ujfUDbgmmyRLV2aTm9PRV4PWzS/s320/DSC05756.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544358948373273618" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIbCtoSZAuq6XjzkjNfcKziOUIGMvge9YXvUCc6UujMQrpyLxO6bvjzX4XVRr0YYtdV2snU73BVHWXlfW7GmnzvwirUIVaSF1t9O6bJSWjcJeCD8HoP1lsUrQLm2lYQohtS5RncMyzZAY/s1600/DSC05761.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIbCtoSZAuq6XjzkjNfcKziOUIGMvge9YXvUCc6UujMQrpyLxO6bvjzX4XVRr0YYtdV2snU73BVHWXlfW7GmnzvwirUIVaSF1t9O6bJSWjcJeCD8HoP1lsUrQLm2lYQohtS5RncMyzZAY/s320/DSC05761.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544358938646969746" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholUai44J6K9_L3agVfCy18v8-gBoX2ossK7KDotJshf4qQ7pQSG-8eJUNtUJN5zJ7w8Gy50oHlUGR78A2FChMo0TxLCCWuDtalp3b93X1Kk60WM2JfUTcKixcyuv-oCrslB9eltXz8W9A/s1600/DSC05751.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholUai44J6K9_L3agVfCy18v8-gBoX2ossK7KDotJshf4qQ7pQSG-8eJUNtUJN5zJ7w8Gy50oHlUGR78A2FChMo0TxLCCWuDtalp3b93X1Kk60WM2JfUTcKixcyuv-oCrslB9eltXz8W9A/s320/DSC05751.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544358944531371026" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Hung on a very ugly old wall, they still manage to look lovely and festive, and i'm sure our Small Person will take much pleasure in destroying each lovingly put together package to dig out its treasure each day of December. And we will have the camera ready to capture the look on that wee face as she does so.. *melt*.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sure, advent calendars aren't the most expensive things in the world to buy - but it's so much cooler to make your own! This is pretty cheaply done - the treats inside probably cost $4 altogether (hair clips, stickers and a lolly here and there), and you can use anything you have lying around the place to decorate the envelopes. The more creative the better! And what fun to have with your kids too!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Festive Season everyone! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-77824215642719756122010-11-21T17:55:00.005+13:002010-11-21T18:05:59.042+13:00The Big Cheat.This HAS to be my Destitute find of the year. I can't believe I'm sharing this - because now i'm actually going to have to kill you. Jokes! But just be careful with who you tell.. <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuySXg3rVK3wMVUNq_I1CCHu9DB2n1pF4sh71aPeLMZmti5v5LZzgyBKHSw_xi3DXXNY5LC5rbbAIKpWzuRm0pstLL3_qcwc5BdtaO376nt7mkwFbnk7FKnIArS2Tlfqw2E_u9Zgd6Y5aq/s1600/Eames+DSW+Chair.jpeg.gif"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuySXg3rVK3wMVUNq_I1CCHu9DB2n1pF4sh71aPeLMZmti5v5LZzgyBKHSw_xi3DXXNY5LC5rbbAIKpWzuRm0pstLL3_qcwc5BdtaO376nt7mkwFbnk7FKnIArS2Tlfqw2E_u9Zgd6Y5aq/s320/Eames+DSW+Chair.jpeg.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541863471581308322" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div>As you know i've been eyeing up Eames replica chairs for a while now. You'll pay upwards of $250 for these beautiful babies (just the replicas!), but today the budget Gods were smiling down on me. Oh yes!</div><div><br /></div><div>Because where did I find one just like this - for an downright stupid, nay CRAZY, amount?! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.ezibuy.co.nz">HERE</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>And don't even try and tell me you're not surprised! I was looking for something entirely different and just about fell off my chair when I saw it. Even if the quality isn't as good when we get it - I DON'T GIVE A RATS AT THAT PRICE!! Talk about cheap and cheerful - this is bloody cheap and ECSTATIC!! </div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-76472252389414406622010-11-20T19:22:00.004+13:002010-11-20T19:40:48.943+13:00MoAD - GO THERE TOMORROW!Attention Aucklanders:<div><br /></div><div>Last weekend I popped along to the <a href="http://www.moad.co.nz/">MoAD</a> (Ministry of Art and Design) exhibition in Newmarket - and came away equal parts impressed and veeeery peeved that I couldn't splash out on something deliciously naughty and frivolous while I was there. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3B4H7Vzp8MeoN6oLXEdOneCUa8QKvOzA1UOPv04mRVLdORgCoM8FnN2N8rJPhFaC6dHh_yf9NCe00Lo95Si3EyWSHTBUJz2tZX9aq3WDqjx6y7l4kk411HX0UJtFPMkuomLALmRC_6U3/s1600/alice-in-wonderland-emily-andrews.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3B4H7Vzp8MeoN6oLXEdOneCUa8QKvOzA1UOPv04mRVLdORgCoM8FnN2N8rJPhFaC6dHh_yf9NCe00Lo95Si3EyWSHTBUJz2tZX9aq3WDqjx6y7l4kk411HX0UJtFPMkuomLALmRC_6U3/s320/alice-in-wonderland-emily-andrews.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541516783170192050" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The article in last week's Viva featured their Alice in Wonderland range of gorgeous powder-coated (i think) silverware, in the most divine colours. Seriously, don't you think they look like glorious giant lollipops - good enough to eat! I do!!! I WANT!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's the last day tomorrow, so get down to 110-116 Carlton Gore Rd in Newmarket and if you can afford one of my latest design crushes - those wire light shades by <a href="http://www.workroom.net.nz/news/?page_id=129">Workroom</a>, think about your old mate, the DD, and get me one too. LOVE YOU LONG TIME!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXy0y4t8N7MtrkE1MYSVMUHyxEx-u1aRYttU-4GDhWGJ_CI4_5ATCRcq7oeGA5N6drjlqcj1wlYGj7MIxAh-iP6pMWoOHqAc6w-N4BgPRTQcecgEsP7xI-jFG2vFONVpH-DbGZcczMYYJ/s1600/wr02.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXy0y4t8N7MtrkE1MYSVMUHyxEx-u1aRYttU-4GDhWGJ_CI4_5ATCRcq7oeGA5N6drjlqcj1wlYGj7MIxAh-iP6pMWoOHqAc6w-N4BgPRTQcecgEsP7xI-jFG2vFONVpH-DbGZcczMYYJ/s320/wr02.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541516108227857586" style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh and that floor lamp looks like it could happily take pride of place in my real life dining room - seeing as i'll never get my hands on <a href="http://www.bludot.com/stilt-floor-lamp.html">this one</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-74634952078566079292010-11-19T14:04:00.016+13:002010-11-20T15:32:08.928+13:00Let the sunshine in!Sun seekers rejoice! Not only is the warm weather upon us (apart from the last couple of days -but then the Sun has been very busy lately so he probably does need a rest), but our enthusiasm for life and 'doing stuff' is returning! And to top it off, the colour trend making it's way back into our hearts and homes: bright mouth-watering yellows and beachy keen turquoise and aqua blues. It's enough to make one feel positively <a href="http://www.birthstories.co.nz/">re-born</a>!<div><br /><div><div><div><div>And while I can't quite bring myself to go back to that stunning 90s colour combination of bright yellow and colbalt blue (such kitchens make my eyes bleed); soften them a bit, bring in some mustard tones and add bit of edge to the hue of your blues, and I am IN LOVE. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcjLkYFBOmG5cbSHZnR7kXuzTWaZNIctZ8GuAa5x9r2FSJTe_Tvy4O577sZ36a6e5sTUnNLeV79JFpz2BCpBkAMmjavLOVeR9PATrAqBUDHGDeauPaHNk1E39MnjngjJ9yu5EUzw1jEmc/s1600/kim_01.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcjLkYFBOmG5cbSHZnR7kXuzTWaZNIctZ8GuAa5x9r2FSJTe_Tvy4O577sZ36a6e5sTUnNLeV79JFpz2BCpBkAMmjavLOVeR9PATrAqBUDHGDeauPaHNk1E39MnjngjJ9yu5EUzw1jEmc/s320/kim_01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541437938279830626" style="cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>via <a href="http://www.desiretoinspire.net/">Desire To Inspire</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Surprisingly though (only to some who know me well) - bright yellow on it's own? That's another story. OBSESSED.</div><div><br /></div><div>Abstract feature walls, wall art, accessories, and furnishings overhauled from muted browns to crisp, perky aquas and every colour of sorbet imaginable! Who says you can't bring the sunshine inside?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wg-mCsJv-4YXtguy9VX-XCLJ1-jOjKSC0U_isgWtlqAnGBdpybzLoSROk93gHX92Fwr6zinSRN1xZ0CCWHGs3SxtbO9Lw5PUmLYXIKEbMLnArjkf_y3GZnlExotA0eyOVcYXRNbPIzYn/s1600/emmasdblog.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wg-mCsJv-4YXtguy9VX-XCLJ1-jOjKSC0U_isgWtlqAnGBdpybzLoSROk93gHX92Fwr6zinSRN1xZ0CCWHGs3SxtbO9Lw5PUmLYXIKEbMLnArjkf_y3GZnlExotA0eyOVcYXRNbPIzYn/s320/emmasdblog.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541394202086087682" style="cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px; " /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXliqbXhOwNTXEHdhfE2xaIBIawMPZnFLKl8dipTH6MBtkRyiUXNP3jKvxlQZYzfHoxuY4lV4tOqL3z-smbur5zvG8CDbK48dMVxCXRneIjD6GHw15VK7K0Iw4Dvd6rZYtlwmczldOFr3B/s1600/emmasdesblog.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXliqbXhOwNTXEHdhfE2xaIBIawMPZnFLKl8dipTH6MBtkRyiUXNP3jKvxlQZYzfHoxuY4lV4tOqL3z-smbur5zvG8CDbK48dMVxCXRneIjD6GHw15VK7K0Iw4Dvd6rZYtlwmczldOFr3B/s320/emmasdesblog.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541394184459836738" style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>via <a href="http://www.emmas.blogg.se/">Emma's Design Blog</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGDdFuit7IFT9BSkWMRhOCL9_B3X1B1mN2SS3jwPSwyLqfI8xjN4xKHcqPCKzWFoWLDvhg5WOZsMrgFamtm73F0mLvsUpwdttvZLEahRIYYRfa5JJx88eEmG0WW8DPULFXOY7hdVORdjq/s1600/yellow-interior-door-elle-norway+%2528blog.ben-evans.com%2529.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGDdFuit7IFT9BSkWMRhOCL9_B3X1B1mN2SS3jwPSwyLqfI8xjN4xKHcqPCKzWFoWLDvhg5WOZsMrgFamtm73F0mLvsUpwdttvZLEahRIYYRfa5JJx88eEmG0WW8DPULFXOY7hdVORdjq/s320/yellow-interior-door-elle-norway+%2528blog.ben-evans.com%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541453664951609362" style="cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>via <a href="http://www.Brightbizarre.blogspot.com/">Brightbizarre.blogspot.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOlK-gJ-OhyphenhyphenGmRHxWwFp2kaYNbzDNrXdYcykeL1bXLZIaEYnztSX641dz3TVwPHZkcpbypBCKR0LN1sTF5xz5HsMJocugXWNJsWR8Z9xaoj8jCdS1fxAyUdyyOsLJ_IWLd4kDe0fKob_P/s1600/yellow-chair-anthropologie.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOlK-gJ-OhyphenhyphenGmRHxWwFp2kaYNbzDNrXdYcykeL1bXLZIaEYnztSX641dz3TVwPHZkcpbypBCKR0LN1sTF5xz5HsMJocugXWNJsWR8Z9xaoj8jCdS1fxAyUdyyOsLJ_IWLd4kDe0fKob_P/s320/yellow-chair-anthropologie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541449191176229778" style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px; " /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOgxLsdsbok_Zx1KIKcoKpqlqwEuWW97_GL0hrnU7EthDya9oUFLcgxidgVaS1-4oaPCwon06OQI6t84qh4vVoVk9B0nUlPd1_uEqTpoRdCJYcVXjhsdtp0tbpjkItm8WKX4uQBCUABlo/s1600/3.16.10-yellow-tulip-pendant-lamp-anthropologie2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOgxLsdsbok_Zx1KIKcoKpqlqwEuWW97_GL0hrnU7EthDya9oUFLcgxidgVaS1-4oaPCwon06OQI6t84qh4vVoVk9B0nUlPd1_uEqTpoRdCJYcVXjhsdtp0tbpjkItm8WKX4uQBCUABlo/s320/3.16.10-yellow-tulip-pendant-lamp-anthropologie2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541449186512619394" style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Chair and lampshade - <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/">Anthropologie</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZCSeMUcrOvPFSd3CQRxAQHCL_sNL8U0Z_pfFero_hxdjkghyIdTbVzOwvOzEbBsZFw0e3DQZw8G0j-AES7Gx9LKZjU6JLcoSCi9sbcZLMcD9h1_IAju1ZHW5Tn6fzMn9cFQurOSa8BlU/s1600/Yellow_Juju_2__35777_zoom.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZCSeMUcrOvPFSd3CQRxAQHCL_sNL8U0Z_pfFero_hxdjkghyIdTbVzOwvOzEbBsZFw0e3DQZw8G0j-AES7Gx9LKZjU6JLcoSCi9sbcZLMcD9h1_IAju1ZHW5Tn6fzMn9cFQurOSa8BlU/s320/Yellow_Juju_2__35777_zoom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541452593208714882" style="cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 320px; " /></a> Bamileke Feather Ju-Ju hat used as wall decoaration from <a href="http://www.tabletonic.com.au/">Table Tonic</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsCecWKnCJ1qGCceOM2R4ZMJ_kYIYfiuHOTSjx7Sq3yz7cP21jjAtptxOpgj17x7Toohxu_BmliQBcBmLhu_Xr7YpRdtu061W4Y4hVWv3gW9COxxoM5lEZ5zzS3DI2jKO7XvzUKWHlc5O/s1600/375467361_Gaft9-L.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsCecWKnCJ1qGCceOM2R4ZMJ_kYIYfiuHOTSjx7Sq3yz7cP21jjAtptxOpgj17x7Toohxu_BmliQBcBmLhu_Xr7YpRdtu061W4Y4hVWv3gW9COxxoM5lEZ5zzS3DI2jKO7XvzUKWHlc5O/s320/375467361_Gaft9-L.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541394210512030642" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPus1E0ij0ItT4qmDv6BMV8XMG-6bBfF3qpQ6nOx0OXVrhyJu60FvQ6i_fNyG6RCSCKCIM2xcHUua-8o4BZFcj8xlCHiV5xPB24VTCKiB87Cd90TlX8lsmBc077RxcCm9c7p6CHL9GbzwT/s1600/apartmenttherapy.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPus1E0ij0ItT4qmDv6BMV8XMG-6bBfF3qpQ6nOx0OXVrhyJu60FvQ6i_fNyG6RCSCKCIM2xcHUua-8o4BZFcj8xlCHiV5xPB24VTCKiB87Cd90TlX8lsmBc077RxcCm9c7p6CHL9GbzwT/s320/apartmenttherapy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541444180437957842" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>via <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/">Apartment Therapy</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsPJQ3epYwWXqIUS0SeuDF5an1mGPC5DSNHgRK7g0DgV3rXdntiwORr_UgU-owafzUxB64lfGle04vd2pBf6b-yE-9qJR7Kuk1pHzM3a2T8iJTJx5VkpXDi6nkPRQPEVfazcGK_33yHsi/s1600/4-affordablemodern.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsPJQ3epYwWXqIUS0SeuDF5an1mGPC5DSNHgRK7g0DgV3rXdntiwORr_UgU-owafzUxB64lfGle04vd2pBf6b-yE-9qJR7Kuk1pHzM3a2T8iJTJx5VkpXDi6nkPRQPEVfazcGK_33yHsi/s320/4-affordablemodern.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541449176952972994" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px; " /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrOij8JeJ3tKhrkb88vU8HbqjyQWDdB4fwOvNsv7404Spow8Dn_0MvaT97hCN665aXLMXaPHMYCNA5P0i4BS9m3MwPRo5j94G6iXw7k29es1Yhxl0XwGuOpWB_JqlpK4lL6sRg_v2ThTA/s1600/jonathan-adler-liz-lange-country-residence-home-dining-room-yellow-chippendale-chairs-zigzag-rug-platner-table-turquoise-drapes-curtains1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrOij8JeJ3tKhrkb88vU8HbqjyQWDdB4fwOvNsv7404Spow8Dn_0MvaT97hCN665aXLMXaPHMYCNA5P0i4BS9m3MwPRo5j94G6iXw7k29es1Yhxl0XwGuOpWB_JqlpK4lL6sRg_v2ThTA/s320/jonathan-adler-liz-lange-country-residence-home-dining-room-yellow-chippendale-chairs-zigzag-rug-platner-table-turquoise-drapes-curtains1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541449178585913138" style="cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Table from Jonathan Alder's <a href="http://www.jonathanadler.com/Lacquer/?cat=369&xid=8c697b482388f6afcd03ed00b3bf44ae">Lacquer collection</a>. Room also by <a href="http://www.jonathanalder.com/">Jonathan Alder</a>, for Liz Lange. </div><div><br /></div><div>x</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5332676195681005215.post-90569132961875180292010-11-18T19:55:00.013+13:002010-11-20T19:20:28.729+13:00Olio-what?I've been completely engrossed in this new online application '<a href="http://www.olioboard.com/">Olioboard</a>', in which you can create mood boards by dragging and dropping your favourite homewares (available for purchase, mostly in the States unfortunately), to make up your perfect room scenario. It's AWESOME. The best fun you can have without spending a dime! It sucked me in for a good few hours yesterday.. but I emerged with a 'guestimate' of how I imagine my finished dining room to look (in 20 years time when I have money again... aaahhh dreams are free!). <div><br /></div><div>It's a bit of a work in progress.. I keep tutuing with it and adding things. Also, I've used the Feathers wallpaper in the background, which is the only Ferm Living wallpaper I could find in their catalogue, so I put that in as the colour palette is very similar. Hopefully they beef up their selection soon!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here it is anyway: </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCKWqXN3uWdYevWJu7BynunQwsNb8PI3lKqUQhXbqv4r3U2vR6k4xcv7suzF0-JkyX034NcrD-vyx0nRDSA3eYtngSFXHWx0x6FbfcccJGOMWVy6s-af7PZHtles7bEkaci15lePeN8xC/s1600/OB-living+room.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCKWqXN3uWdYevWJu7BynunQwsNb8PI3lKqUQhXbqv4r3U2vR6k4xcv7suzF0-JkyX034NcrD-vyx0nRDSA3eYtngSFXHWx0x6FbfcccJGOMWVy6s-af7PZHtles7bEkaci15lePeN8xC/s320/OB-living+room.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540781249940821410" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 175px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In real life, I have a few of these things.. or a plan to have them, at least. And I promise you, I don't plan on spending a fortune on getting the rest either!</div><div><br /></div><div>On saturday I bought this dining suite off Trade Me for an absolute steal:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0D_djlLAgAgeB7q0S2eD4nku4p-Y8ZIRKg24PJ57J6ZGqz8MWcoELfMD_JX_y7g-yMNFCVbR2dTbl6OiOLabRbrJXseltw5T4FR1HFZ5Ou9CZFgHonyCEqDW4wVmzWqiex_TLP8Yb3qe/s1600/149536774.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0D_djlLAgAgeB7q0S2eD4nku4p-Y8ZIRKg24PJ57J6ZGqz8MWcoELfMD_JX_y7g-yMNFCVbR2dTbl6OiOLabRbrJXseltw5T4FR1HFZ5Ou9CZFgHonyCEqDW4wVmzWqiex_TLP8Yb3qe/s320/149536774.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540782367814043698" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's not a classic <a href="http://www.google.co.nz/images?q=jon+jansen+furniture&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivo&source=lnms&tbs=isch:1&ei=I9PkTP7YOofwvwOp_riNDQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CA4Q_AU&biw=2077&bih=1187">Jon Jansen</a> or Fler, but it's rather cute. I immediately loved the chairs, but they do need a little TLC. I spent an hour the other day scrubbing about a quarter of a century's worth of nicotine and grime off them. Yeah, doesn't really show up in the photo, huh ;)</div><div>They also need a nice rub down with some white vinegar to get the smoke stench off them - but once that's done they'll be sweet! They're covered in vinyl... and though I know how i'd recover the seats (they come off really easily), i'm not quite sure how to do the backs.. I'm not really adept in taking chairs apart, you see! Might have to pay a visit to someone 'in the know' for that one. </div><div>As for the table? Well it's formica, so i've been googling how to deal with that, and most people say either replace it altogether or get a piece of glass cut for it and put some paper/fabric underneath to freshen it up. That's probably the easiest and cheapest option, to be honest. But I'll have a think about it. Anyone out there - if you have any tips for me, feel free to let me know! Apparently formica does NOT like paint very much, no matter how well you prep the bugger.. hmph. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have (well, not in my possession, but in my mind) the wallpaper, as you may recall I had a few options and settled on this one:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE0DAkgx7nKYAyzW8SW15Ib5JiLsFwSU3qML5KffQIGzZYupom6MWXimLLN_LpD8wtu0r5a7suJbLppvLjBCPEZpzFLEy0TcRZ15yg_u7ddTHcdasuTJj126dlxE6DBnmglZK-ntVI0rt/s1600/FERM+Wallpaper+Family+Tree+Petrol_0.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE0DAkgx7nKYAyzW8SW15Ib5JiLsFwSU3qML5KffQIGzZYupom6MWXimLLN_LpD8wtu0r5a7suJbLppvLjBCPEZpzFLEy0TcRZ15yg_u7ddTHcdasuTJj126dlxE6DBnmglZK-ntVI0rt/s320/FERM+Wallpaper+Family+Tree+Petrol_0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540784143360264258" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This will be a feature wall and the adjoining walls will all be white. </div><div><br /></div><div>The rugs you can see there are inspiration for me. I bought a large cream natural cotton rug from the Warehouse last week - $100 down from $170 (thanks Republic Revolution!), and I plan to paint it! I'm tossing up between a black and white pattern or a mustardy yellow one. I LOVE the muted yellow and blue tones together, as per an <a href="http://destitutedesigner.blogspot.com/2010/05/dining-room.html">earlier post</a>. </div><div>Once I get around to doing it (note to self: must ship daughter off to Grandparents so I can get things done!), i'll let you all know. </div><div>Here are some more rugs i'm using as inspiration:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQlLq3OKx_0IXdEoVDyyYYgD1D3SLY7zHl_0LMRf3hN3bTFqQ8G3V5M3fwjX_LZ5sTuFrCGlQ_a566T-SkL8PrwtP_-1FSUI-r2J1v5m4zRAuBRz90nADirzMOAWdwjcHi6IOSd5PGgkd/s1600/0105421_PE252669_S4.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQlLq3OKx_0IXdEoVDyyYYgD1D3SLY7zHl_0LMRf3hN3bTFqQ8G3V5M3fwjX_LZ5sTuFrCGlQ_a566T-SkL8PrwtP_-1FSUI-r2J1v5m4zRAuBRz90nADirzMOAWdwjcHi6IOSd5PGgkd/s320/0105421_PE252669_S4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540789407132631922" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3k0E4Qwi3NMPHAIBG32n8EtGouLdYAJirRV6EcgSkT_hiQqPX132IuXOY8alnPPsfjGb33SxPfbI2mjwoZGzV6FpgjWyXT4XUhlw3CDpLWH5qDMgUBflQFhSvswgqzQtyrqLfF4g2crx2/s1600/56123_PE161531_S4.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3k0E4Qwi3NMPHAIBG32n8EtGouLdYAJirRV6EcgSkT_hiQqPX132IuXOY8alnPPsfjGb33SxPfbI2mjwoZGzV6FpgjWyXT4XUhlw3CDpLWH5qDMgUBflQFhSvswgqzQtyrqLfF4g2crx2/s320/56123_PE161531_S4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540789405517563506" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div> <a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/categories/departments/Textiles/10653/">Ikea Gislev</a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/categories/departments/Textiles/10653/">Ikea Stockholm Rand</a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OKNSCSlzbJ9iiQC62iiAz8Onpx1gdhbNWPppfeBLUNH1zsFlvtRE_HUAMHK-YAOBhgGvG4ra1ta9vPi8wiP3fMZnkU-zbOFk7L1JFuivbpxjTqS1Dwg6fzLMx8sSzOVJ1INPB22iRI7K/s1600/ca38f883fc78.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OKNSCSlzbJ9iiQC62iiAz8Onpx1gdhbNWPppfeBLUNH1zsFlvtRE_HUAMHK-YAOBhgGvG4ra1ta9vPi8wiP3fMZnkU-zbOFk7L1JFuivbpxjTqS1Dwg6fzLMx8sSzOVJ1INPB22iRI7K/s320/ca38f883fc78.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540788443970645346" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 259px; " /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvil0LYPilEOOhflJk7NPTr7sRPJ64AmONs84ggJdneNjWEeeWM_GsI10fI7Niz1f8CjCCS0_B1liHvmwPa9DKmMf0pGBMgoNSg17QWNhb_huZtKqES4vst9IXk1RhmBEQdZyle982w8Eo/s1600/ruganthro1.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvil0LYPilEOOhflJk7NPTr7sRPJ64AmONs84ggJdneNjWEeeWM_GsI10fI7Niz1f8CjCCS0_B1liHvmwPa9DKmMf0pGBMgoNSg17QWNhb_huZtKqES4vst9IXk1RhmBEQdZyle982w8Eo/s320/ruganthro1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540788246526973602" style="cursor: pointer; width: 107px; height: 160px; " /></a> <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/">Anthropologie</a></div><div><a href="http://roomandboard.com/">Room and Board - Fuller Felted Rug</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Fingers crossed my painting attempt doesn't go belly up!! You better send me some positive vibes, peeps. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm genuinely gutted I'll never have the <a href="http://olioboard.com/misc/frame?store_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shareasale.com%2Fm-pr.cfm%3FmerchantID%3D11035%26userID%3D454769%26productID%3D474838974&store_name=All+Modern">tripod lamp</a> - which I LOVE. I think more people should ship to little old NZ!!! I'll have to try and find a similar one somewhere.... hmm. And the new <a href="http://www.fermlivingshop.us/stickers/calendar.html">Ferm Living</a> wall art calendar is absolutely going on my wish list! You can write on it! It's practical AND a work of art. I am smitten! It also comes with coloured post-its to further customise it. You can get yours locally from <a href="http://paperroom.co.nz/">paperroom.co.nz</a>, along with lots of other adorable Ferm Living must-haves.</div><div><br /></div><div>The armchair I found is lovely, don't you think? Wonder if I'll ever find that here? </div><div>The wee side table though, I'm pretty sure I saw one just like it at the Salvation Army store up the road the other day! Must pop up and double check tomorrow. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lighting is the other big feature of the room. Has to be pendant lighting and has to make a statement. I found some amazing ones by Seppo Koho. Aren't they fantastic!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4M3Y3Ryb4jJYLnPqH8ZaOGb_QPTISr5M_7yWyOSqQXT5dW6Q4mHO_tfcrdNaz_7Cem9dnp5aobmTvH2m8mcdk6KTQL39_MHhkGh_OlA3h2CVoZ25EkyLnMWSjnohAUwSXWwGZ7p84KVY/s1600/6a00d83451cbb069e2011570e48cb6970b-800wi.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4M3Y3Ryb4jJYLnPqH8ZaOGb_QPTISr5M_7yWyOSqQXT5dW6Q4mHO_tfcrdNaz_7Cem9dnp5aobmTvH2m8mcdk6KTQL39_MHhkGh_OlA3h2CVoZ25EkyLnMWSjnohAUwSXWwGZ7p84KVY/s320/6a00d83451cbb069e2011570e48cb6970b-800wi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540795495876027346" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px; " /></a> But there are many more TO DIE FOR <a href="http://www.finnishdesignshop.com/lighting-pendants-c-897_693.html">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, this is another who do not currently ship to NZ. Booooo!!! BUT, there are always ways around that, aren't there.. friends :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, so I urge you all to go and login to Olioboard and have a go at being a real life Interior Designer yourselves! It's so much fun and it won't cost you a cent. Yet. :D</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Natalie No-cashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06682926162106400937noreply@blogger.com0