The Destitute Designer

Wallpaper feature wall: CHECK!

2012-01-14T16:52:00.001+13:00

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.

The photos don't quite do the colours justice, but here it is!

Voila!

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!!

My other VIP (Very Important Project).

2012-01-03T09:21:00.000+13:00

Hello again

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.
However, I wanted to let you know the other project i'd been working on is finally complete!

And here she is:

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!
We're still in recovery/readjustment mode here, but happy, healthy and absolutely in love. Even her big sister thinks she's pretty cool!

A big thank you to Duck Egg Blue 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.... :)

The Reno continues...

2011-11-14T21:19:00.001+13:00

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!
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.

Here are my fancy 'new' switch plates - covered with leftover wallpaper I had lying around and some japanese washi tape (bottom pic).

This is how ugly they were BEFORE:

And how pretty they are AFTER:

An extremely cheap and effective way to make your switch plates NOT look like sun ravaged eye-sores!!

Wallpaper samples ($5 + $3), Washi tape ($8.99), some glue/masking tape and a stanley knife. DONE!

Also, check out my fancy 'new' pendant light, now hanging above my dining table:

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.

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!

Last, but not least - my new framed art for my girls' room:

Fabric remnants, Florence Broadhurst wallpaper off cuts and a glue stick. Craft LOVE!

So, it begins!

2011-10-13T15:24:00.002+13:00

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.

I'll do my best to keep up with the transformation...

The dining room 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!

Here are a few photos of the work so far.. pulling off disgusting old manky plasterboard!

We are hoping to be done by the end of November. We shall see :)

Wallpaper by the yard!

2011-10-10T14:05:00.001+13:00

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! Hygge & West are selling designer offcuts/end of line prints by the yard, and my, my, ain't it pretty!

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 Ferm Living and our very own Paper Room for a great budget way to spice up your home.

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....

Obsessed with...

2011-10-03T15:26:00.000+13:00

Chevron patterns!
I love horizontal stripes too - but this is taking it up a notch.
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!
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.

via The Happy Home blog.

Pure Home blog

How's the painted floor decal in 3rd photo down? I love that! If only I were that brave!

Win some, lose some.

2011-09-21T14:59:00.000+12:00

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.

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.
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.

Back to the drawing board.
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.

Moving on!
Today I was scouring the back page ads in the latest Your Home and Garden and discovered that Mocka - 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.

I love this trestle desk!

And this tv unit:

Simple, lasting design and it won't burn a hole in your pocket.

There are more great pieces to peruse on the Mocka website. Keep your card at the ready!

LOVE!

2011-09-02T18:49:00.000+12:00

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!

It's not too hard on the pocket either - only $149 from Freedom.

Drool away..

Want it? Get it here.

More inspiration for your weekend.

2011-09-02T18:44:00.000+12:00

I just happened upon stylist LeAnn Yare's facebook page. Check it out - it's great! Loads of fun, budget ideas and lovely snaps of her latest work.

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?!

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)!

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!

Writer's Block.

2011-08-22T16:58:00.003+12:00

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!
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.
I even delighted in learning how to build and plaster a wall! A WALL!

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!!
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?!).

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.

LOVE the headboard and the yellow industrial style pendant lights. Pics here.

Vintage hanging light. Perfect. Pics here.

via sweetseasons.typepad.com

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!!

I'll get around to sharing some of my favourites soon.

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.

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!

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.
I loved their Mark Tuckey 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.

Mark Tuckey log table. Mmmmmmm.

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.

So... who's your favourite?!

Back in from the cold.. kind of.

2011-08-21T23:03:00.000+12:00

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...!
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!!
That tells me I must be feeling better, or my brain is defrosting. Either one will do :)

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!

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 KMB, so naturally, I sniffed and followed...
Low and behold - over at theramblingsofanothermother.blogspot.com, lil ol' me got a mention! And SQUEEEEE! a flurry of late night counter ramblings hath emerged!
Nothing like a bit of ego brightening to set you straight on your path to happiness again - so here I go.

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.

The demolition starts soon, so will post before pics ASAP.

See you lot soon!

Sad times

2011-02-24T17:32:00.000+13:00

What a week. Our poor Cathedral City, Christchurch, is all but broken.
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.
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.
From my family to all those affected - Kia Kaha. Stay strong. You're never far from our thoughts xx

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.

Am I Art Nouveau?

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!

Here's a hint:

Now pop on over to one of my favourite new blog finds, Bright Bazaar, to see more!

Pretty butterflies

2011-02-13T23:11:00.001+13:00

Today 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!
So her bedroom is now adorned with a giant tree, some lovely bird-themed number cards, felt birds, and LOTS of butterflies.
Yes, the loose garden theme is coming along quite nicely, thank you!

A SOFA REVAMP TO STEAL!

2011-02-13T10:40:00.001+13:00

Another one from the 'I wiiiiish we had IKEAaaaaaaaaa' (yes, that was a whine) files; Apartment Therapy lead me to this amazing sofa revamp over at Our Mid Century blog.
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 'now'.
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.

Read how they did it here.

x

The Holiday's Over.

2011-02-11T19:18:00.008+13:00

Hello again!
It's been a very busy start to the year in our household - hence why I've been AWOL for a little too long.
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...aaahhhhhhhhh...!
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.
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!

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.
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.
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.

Now they're sharing their Destitute secrets to making your money go sooo much further:

**ARCHITECTS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WITH GOOD IDEAS. 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.

**FIXTURES DON'T MAKETH THE HOME. 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 budget 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.

**KLEVER KITCHEN ETI-KITT. 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!
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.

**THOSE WHO PAINT TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER. We painted the inside and outside of our house ourselves. A bit of hard slog never hurt anyone.. (er, apart from her husband!).

**IT'S NOT UGLY, IT'S 'CHARACTER!'. 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!

**TILES SCHMILES! 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!

**TALK IS CHEAP. 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.

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.

Check out the pictures of this amazing budget renovation and be wow'd! Farewell Waterview cottage - we'll all miss hanging out with you!

BEFORE: PHASE ONE - The 'we can live with this' slight improvements.

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.

PHASE ONE: AFTER

Below, is the old entrance/dining room (the room off the kitchen) before Phase 2 took hold.

PHASE TWO: The Big One.

Bathroom/Kitchen/Hallway/Bedroom extension/Extra bedroom added.

BEFORE - bathroom

AFTER

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?

AFTER: lounge

AFTER: kitchen

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.

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:

AFTER: 3rd bedroom added.

And here is the master bedroom, after a wardrobe was taken out (at the head of the bed) to create more space, yet again.

And finally - the exterior. Check out these incredible Before and Afters!

It's gone from this:

To this:

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!

In the meantime - please pop along and visit Michelle's blog here. 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!

And then it was over..

2010-12-27T12:58:00.001+13:00

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.

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?

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 Arcade Fire album and The Exquisite Book, which i'd been going on about for ages (it really is awesome)!

Jolly's aside, Christmas really is less about the gifts for me, and more about the planning; the preparation.
The tree, the wrapping.. the FOOD.
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.
This year, as my star attraction, I went with a by Annabel Langbein: The Free Range Cook. 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)!
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!! Strawberry Lemon Puff - I salute you. You are glorious.

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..

But wait there's more!!

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:

photo via bloguez.com

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!

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?

If only wrapping presents (and unwrapping, for that matter) burnt as many calories. I'd be a lean Mama machine in no time!!!

Here's a peak at how my Present-wrapping with scraps production line turned out:

The silver paper in the middle is a wallpaper sample I couldn't find another use for.

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.

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!

This was the last thing we saw before we went to bed all cooked, wrapped and sewn out, on Christmas Eve..

Excuse the blurriness...

A happy and safe holiday season to you all!

Happy Hand-made Christmas!

2010-12-17T13:14:00.006+13:00

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!

So here are a few budget friendly options:

photo via Decor8

Brown packaging paper.

*Adorn with some ribbon or twine and perhaps some fancy masking tape (see above) to create a gift that looks really special.

*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 Marimekko 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!).

*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.

An old sewing pattern.

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.

Newspaper.

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 ;)

Old wallpaper.

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.

Fabric off-cuts.

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!

Paper cuts.

How About Orange blog shows you how to make your own 5 pointed star, 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.

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.

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.

Top left: Amy Moss of Eat Drink Chic Blog gives us gorgeous typographic gift tags.

Top right: Free gift tags from Bambino Goodies

Bottom left: Smitten Blog Designs' adorable Christmas tag freebies.

Bottom right: To use as gift tags or ornaments or art! Free Lisa Rupp bird ornaments spotted on Creature Comforts blog: I LOVE YOU!

**Creature Comforts also have this wonderful bow gift tag, free to you on their blog. I am soo getting me one!

Happy wrapping, savers!

Just for Josh!

2010-12-11T11:55:00.029+13:00

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!

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 my 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.

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!!

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!

COLOUR.

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.

1 2 3 4

1. Resene Spray

2. Resene Soapstone (this was just my version of your 'cream', to match to)

3. Resene Outrageous

4. Resene Drover.

Cream is the colour of the walls - and I think little bursts of orange, yellow and aqua would work well for a boys room.

These go well with a pale base too:

1. Resene "Reservoir"

2. Resene "Pursuit"

3. Resene "Hendrix"

HOW TO GET THE COLOUR IN?

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.

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:

I also love this one.

(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).

COLOURFUL ART AND OBJECTS.

Esty have an insane selection of gorgeous prints; framed or unframed, that are perfect for kids walls. But you could also make your own 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 Factory Frames for some new but inexpensive ones, and you're done.

Wall art: 4 for $20 at this Etsy store! Bargains!

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. These 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.

A statement piece would look great as the star of the show. Something like this, perhaps:

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 here.

DIY WALL DECALS.

I made Lila a tree, which was pretty easy. But if cutting loads of leaves out of wallpaper doesn't appeal, then how about an easy painting project?

via DesignSponge and OhDeeOh.

Or, you could get really adventurous and make your own Fabric Wall Silhouette!

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!

You can get all the twine/pegs you need to string them up at any $2 shop.

STORAGE.

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. These ones and cheap and do a great job. We have them in red :)

Or, how about this for a crazy cheap solution? Mitre 10 Pine shelving unit 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.

via OhDeeOh

But if either of those options simply won't fit, how about wall shelves made from recycled drawers?

You could paint/wallpaper the inside of them 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!

As I briefly mentioned before - floating wall shelves (Mitre10/Bunnings/Warehouse) are a great option too.

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:

You could even use wrapping paper or scrapbooking card. I love the extra element of surprise!

WINDOW/FLOOR TREATMENTS.

No need to spend a heap on new curtains! Make this instead.

Rugs are so expensive too. But Trade Aid have really cute ones for under $100.

Or, get creative with some faux fur from Ikes/Geoffs Emporium and cut out clouds or stars or circles to use as mats!

I really hope I've been of some help. Let me know! And if you want any more advice, of course just ask!

Things I've done...

2010-12-08T20:33:00.014+13:00

I thought I'd finally share with you what I've been Destitutely Designing in my house lately - just incase you thought I'd forgotten what the whole point of this blog was!

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.

Let's start with the ugliest sister of all: The fireplace! *cue shiver down spine*

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 less ugly.

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!

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.

A few strategically placed ornaments and photos, and voila! Not bad. In fact, totally livable!

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!

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.

Now I just need another new pair of shoes to sit under it, to finish the look.. don't you think?

Onto the dining room! Nothing remodelly 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.

Before:

AFTER:

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.

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!

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!

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!

From this:

To this:

Sorry, the after pics aren't really that mind-blowing, but I'll get it all finished and THEN I will blow your mind!

Oh, and if you're wondering what came of the couch from the dining room?

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!

Happiness Is...

2010-12-06T22:17:00.006+13:00

Handmade gifts**, a painted out fireplace*, a dining room re-arranged*, Chocolate Cherry Trifle, good friends and great food; a toddler cooing over lights on a Christmas Tree, totally divine freebie art, DIY table adornments*, and of course the giddy feeling you get when summer finally arrives. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

**'Buying handmade' is the new black. 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.

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!

1. Supermarket. 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.

2. Foxes. Homegrown online store which sells predominantly kiwi design and handmade objects of desire. Designers are hand-picked by the experts for their awesomeness. Have your debit/credit card at the ready.

3. Felt. Another homegrown online market, but anyone crafty can sell here. Such a great source for hard to pick Christmas presents.

4. Indie Handmade.

5. Georgie Love. Makes you wish you were Australian. Only for a second.

6. Made It. Sometimes it is good to be this close to our Ocker cousins ;)

*pics to come when my silly battery is charged!

Ho Ho Ho! And a bottle of rum..

2010-11-28T10:58:00.004+13:00

Well it's almost that 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.

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 'Sen-tors, Mama!'. 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.

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!

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.

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!

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*.

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!

Happy Festive Season everyone!

The Big Cheat.

2010-11-21T17:55:00.005+13:00

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..

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!

Because where did I find one just like this - for an downright stupid, nay CRAZY, amount?!

HERE.

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!!

MoAD - GO THERE TOMORROW!

2010-11-20T19:22:00.004+13:00

Attention Aucklanders:

Last weekend I popped along to the MoAD (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.

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!

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 Workroom, think about your old mate, the DD, and get me one too. LOVE YOU LONG TIME!

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 this one.

Let the sunshine in!

2010-11-19T14:04:00.016+13:00

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 re-born!

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.

via Desire To Inspire

Surprisingly though (only to some who know me well) - bright yellow on it's own? That's another story. OBSESSED.

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?

via Emma's Design Blog

via Brightbizarre.blogspot.com

Chair and lampshade - Anthropologie.

Bamileke Feather Ju-Ju hat used as wall decoaration from Table Tonic.

via Apartment Therapy

Table from Jonathan Alder's Lacquer collection. Room also by Jonathan Alder, for Liz Lange.

Olio-what?

2010-11-18T19:55:00.013+13:00

I've been completely engrossed in this new online application 'Olioboard', 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!).

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!

Here it is anyway:

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!

On saturday I bought this dining suite off Trade Me for an absolute steal:

It's not a classic Jon Jansen 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 ;)

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.

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.

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:

This will be a feature wall and the adjoining walls will all be white.

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 earlier post.

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.

Here are some more rugs i'm using as inspiration:

Ikea Gislev Ikea Stockholm Rand

Anthropologie

Room and Board - Fuller Felted Rug

Fingers crossed my painting attempt doesn't go belly up!! You better send me some positive vibes, peeps.

I'm genuinely gutted I'll never have the tripod lamp - 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 Ferm Living 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 paperroom.co.nz, along with lots of other adorable Ferm Living must-haves.

The armchair I found is lovely, don't you think? Wonder if I'll ever find that here?

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.

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!

But there are many more TO DIE FOR here.

Unfortunately, this is another who do not currently ship to NZ. Booooo!!! BUT, there are always ways around that, aren't there.. friends :)

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

Making the most of my time..

2010-10-15T23:15:00.003+13:00

..some of the time..!

A new dress AND muffins.. busy Mama!

Crafternoon Tea tomorrow, people! Tres excited!

Old T-shirt = New dress!

2010-10-11T20:12:00.002+13:00

I also made this:

Cute! It's an old t-shirt that I really loved but the cut was never as flattering on me as I would've liked.. but no point in throwing it out! I have a few recyclables stashed away in my sewing box, so you might see more new toddler creations on here from time to time.. I seem to be getting my sewing groove back. Although, I have a sick little girl on my hands so I'm sure any spare time is about to be swallowed up with sicky snuggles the next few days. Poor mite!

It's nothing to do with my house..

2010-10-09T16:03:00.004+13:00

But I made this today:

Lila will probably wear it around the house this summer.. does that count?

This is my first ever attempt at making her something, so I'm pretty pleased with myself. Hence the need to share! :)

Happy Weekend!

Need Inspiration - look closer!

2010-10-05T19:55:00.004+13:00

Picking the perfect colour scheme for your little cave can be overwhelming, and inevitably leads to people (me) over thinking things completely. There is so much choice; and what mood am I in today? Am I light and airy or dark and dramatic? Could I live with my garden palette over my walls or do I need something completely different as a means to escape? Whatever you're envisioning - here's a tip from Apartment Therapy: Look to the things you already love, and go from there.

Makes sense! And it's not the first plan of attack you think of when you first start out.. well, it wasn't for me.. What about you?

Apparently there are many colour match generators on the internet (I've never heard of such a thing.. but then I've never looked..). Their preferred one is Colour Hunter.

All you need to do is find the thing that inspires you most; something you LOVE, take a picture of it and upload it to this site. Sounds pretty magical actually - once you've uploaded your photo, the program then generates a colour scheme based on those in your picture. Imagine the possible combinations you could end up with! If unique is what you're aiming for - then this could certainly be for you. Some of the programs include the hex value (i guess this is the tint code/number?) so you can identify the colour exactly. Awesome!

Do you have a dress/ city/ animal that inspires you? How would you go about choosing between the myriad of paint colours on offer? Would you take a risk or go for neutrals to be safe? How daring would your colour choice be?

My Dream Home

2010-10-02T20:43:00.004+13:00

I think i've found it.. In the pages of another gorgeous new online magazine Rue.

Featured is blogger Victoria Smith's amazing, amaaaaaaaaaazing pad. And I think i'm in love!

The 'hopeful' photographer, photo stylist, design junkie and flea market queen has taken a raft of styles and flung them together to create the most inviting, invigorating, eye catching and just plain delightful home I have seen in a long time. It's a mix of all the photos I keep as inspiration on my hard drive, organised into the perfect clip art montage. In Rue they've labelled it 'Mid-Century meets Modern Boho'. I'm gonna go ahead and adopt that sensibility for myself, because I have found it rather tricky to isolate my design asthetic to one label - and I think that sounds pretty good!

My love of old nana plates and ikea tv trundles; statement 60s Fler armchairs and striking modern graphic prints framed up on the wall.. with this handle, it all makes sense. And so does the way Victoria has thoughtfully styled her own haven. If only my 20month old would allow me to have such delicate ceramic arrangements within hands reach.. they are unfortunately banished to the very top shelves for now.. but one day!

Take in every delicious morsel of her San Fransisco Bay home and just tell me you're not full of love for this light, airy and creative space that has that perfect mix of quaintness and quirk. I especially love the duvet cover on her bed.. mmmm... looks like one of the many I have been eyeing up at Urban Outfitters (did you know they ship here now! LOOK OUT!!!!). The only thing she's missing, I reckon, is a fabulous wallpaper feature wall! hehehe.

In other news - I made something like this today for my nieces room:

via DecorPad

The cluster of lanterns on the ceiling... mine isn't quite finished yet. I need to make some tissue pom poms, and there aren't as many lanterns, but it still looks cute! When it's all done i'll upload a photo of mine. In the meantime, just imagine my one looks JUST AS AWESOME as this one ;)

Hello? How are you?

2010-09-30T20:50:00.013+13:00

Well, I'M good - but my poor bathroom isn't...

Ok, so it's 'good' just not 'great'.. or finished for that matter. Damn this depressing weather, a boyfriend who is allergic to tools and a Father-in-Law who took leave somewhere sunny o'er the ditch for a few weeks. Pah! Yes, those are my excuses. That is why my bathroom sits unfinished. On with the show!

Actually, amateur dramatics aside, I keep thinking I should just take the damn photos and put them up. Because minus some lovingly placed decorative items and some shelves, it's pretty much done. For now.

But then it hits me that it just feels like a bit like cheating, to take photos when I'm not 100% finished with it, you know. And I think that you - the one person, or one of three perhaps - reading this blog might feel a little cheated too! I mean, I need to show you some skillzzzz huh?

I feel, with working and parenting, and being seasonally depressed (I'm blaming my inaction on the weather/temperature), there just aren't enough hours in the day! (Ok, so there are some more excuses.. bare with me). I feel a change a comin' people..!

I was buoyed by the news that someone out there IS in fact someone reading this blog (shout out to you Hayley in Beach Haven)! So now I feel like I've really been letting the side down, after starting out with such enthusiasm and joy de vive and then.. well.. if you've been keeping half an eye on this, you'll know where this is going.

... I know that that was a totally inappropriate use of the phrase 'joy de vive' but I just had to get it in there..! ok!

Soooo the point of this post? Let's see. Well - to weasel out of posting pictures??

NO! I'm teasing you so you'll want to see what's coming EVEN MORE! Yes! Ohh it will be fantastique! Indeed!!

Let me tell you, Hayley, I have a sheet of Florence Broadhurst wallpaper that is burning a whole in it's storage tube, just waiting to be the finishing touch on the ghastly old used vanity I've repurposed, rehandled and rejuvinated; and I have shelves; and I have a fabulous old mirror to paint.

That there is just a taste of what awaits! :) :) :)

In the meantime, I will leave you with a few things I've found lately that I love and desperately want to have as my own. One day... one day..

Lonnymag.com: If you haven't yet found this fabulous online interior design magazine and site, please go there NOW! You can visit the main site and be inspired by the myriad of Interiors on display and dream of how to create your perfect space (and get ideas for how to cheat all those million dollar looks!). Or you can virtually flick through the pages of their amazing monthly online magazine! Trust me, you won't be disappointed. I love online mags and the instant links that allow you instant gratification and drooling rights. MAGnifincent!

Style By Emily Henderson: Formerly 'The Brass Petal' Blog - this is Interior Designer/Stylist Emily Henderson's new place of ramblings. She's an American designer who recently took out the reality tv competition 'Design Star' on US Cable. She has some fantastic ideas on here.. One of which I have appropriated.. very cheaply, I might add!

I love anything graphic, and seeing this vintage flag on the wall struck me as a really clever thing to do with something you might first think of as rather naff! Plus, lucky me, I am half Swiss and the Swiss flag is the same as this, but red with a white cross - so off I scurried to TradeMe and got me a nylon (ok so it's not vintage) flag for $20! I plan to make a frame or stretch it over a canvas, and soon it shall hang nicely (in my minds eye it is, anyway) in my lounge. Hoorah!

Looking on The Design Files tonight I spotted a link to this beautiful store Douglas + Bec - which just happens to be in our very own backyard! It's just opened up on St Mary's Road in Ponsonby, and by God it looks as though I could swallow up every last thing in their divine little shop!! Squeeee!!! I WANT THOSE STEEL LIGHTSHADES!!! Rebecca Snelling, you are a woman after mine own heart.

I love them, and you will love these prints by Auckland stencil artist Flox. There is also a link to her blog here. And, just look at the beautiful work she recently completed for a client in Ponsonby:

This was inspired by a piece of wallpaper her client had. I think it's GORGEOUS!! Possibly a more stylish alternative to this. Depending on how steady your hand is.

And in other Budget Friendly news: I am supposedly getting married at some point in time.. and I LOVE the look of these homemade wedding cakes and I think I could totally pull it off!

OnceWed.com

This post is pretty much all over the place, so I thank you for getting this far! Now that I'm recommitting, I'll be sure to plan more betterer for the next installment, and maybe even learn some english grammar while I'm at it! I shall also have to get back into the DIY'ing.. and not just the LIY'ing (Looking at It Yourself.. hahaaa... hmmm.. lame. It's late).

Project Bathroom/Laundry...

2010-08-25T12:33:00.004+12:00

Is almost complete!!!

We have re-gibbed, plastered, sanded, painted walls; re-plastered, re-sanded and even given the floors a coat of white paint! Now all that remains is for sealer to go on the floor and white-ware to be reinstalled. Oh my God, you have no idea how excited I am to have a washing machine again!!!!

Proper photos and entry coming soon. x

"Blog Guilt" and Bathrooms

2010-07-24T12:36:00.004+12:00

Hello out there - I wouldn't blame you if you'd decided to totally give up on me.. I've been sick (again and again), lazy and suffering from tremendous Blog Guilt. And the more you think about it the worse it gets and the more you feel you have to make up for.. uuurrgghh!!!

There has finally been some progress on the reno front..

We are having our gross laundry/second bathroom gutted and renovated this week. So far, it's been pulled out, re-gibbed, plastered and is in the process of being sanded.

As you can imagine - with no washing machine within close reach (it's under the house, hooked up mind you) and a toddler, the pile that is Mt Washmore is getting a little out of control. It's just been so miserable, I can't be bothered going outside in the freezing cold and rain to constantly reset the wash cycle because it's on a slight lean that seems to be harder than it would seem, to fix. And i'm just not that motivated.. lazy cow ;)

Luckily I have a Mother in Law whose main game is laundry and who likes to help out with a load here and there. She'd challenge Shannon Lush as the Queen of Clean, I would have to say. But, I digress...

This a very simple reno. Not a lot of room in the budget for flash cabinetry or new white-wear; actually, none at all!

We are fitting a new (but not designer) vanity that was left under the house when we bought it. It's perfectly fine and hasn't been used at all. I think there may have been plans to use it in the main bathroom that we then updated without that in mind.

I think we've saved ourselves at least $500 right there! And it will serve it's purpose well in our second bathroom-come-laundry.

We are however, getting a new shower, because the old one was so grotty.. and broken, and had mould under the silicone that you just could not shift. So that will be the star of the show.

All I really need to do is decide what colour i'm going to paint it...

I'm looking at neutrals from the Dulux Colours of New Zealand palette. It can't really be a stark white like the other bathroom, because it's on the cold side of the house, so it needs a bit of a lift.

This is a front runner at the moment -

Dulux Cadrona Quarter.

And, a warmer white around the architraves. Yet to decide what that might be.

Anyhoo - hopefully in a couple of weeks it will all be finished. In the meantime, here are the 'before' photos of the 2nd bathroom-come-laundry.

Hole in the ceiling above old shower cavity, and the hole in the floor that was left once we removed the huge concrete slab that was under the shower!

Where the old vanity was, and the site of the old loo. We are putting it back in, but had to take it out in order to gib.

We are going to sand the floors and paint them white. A good budget option that also uses a lovely feature of our old bungalow as a statement look. Go wooden floors!

A Little Girl Waits..

2010-06-11T08:53:00.003+12:00

Since writing this post i've been waiting for my wallpaper samples to arrive. Well, they have! Just need to have them sent to me and we're all set. Too exciting.

In dining suite news - I had my eye on the most GORGEOUS table and chairs set on TradeMe, that I was sure was MEANT for me. Danish design, amazing condition, perfect colours.. but all my destitute designing dreams came crashing down when the price went from $300 to $500, to nothing at all when they cancelled the auction, only to put it back up with a reserve of $500 and a buy now of $900!! Gutted.

And so.. the search continues.

However, imagine my conflicting glee, having already semi decided on the wallpaper I want - when this arrived in my inbox from Lil Magoolie. 2 Modern have a range of 'tempaper' - temporary wallpaper - that is just as gorgeous as the Ferm options. With conversion rates and shipping it would probably work out to be roughly the same price per roll.

Anyhoo this stuff looks fantastic because, like a decal, it's self adhesive - no more mucky pastes! - and can be removed at any time! AND the designs are to die for!

The Dining Room MEGA POST!

2010-05-27T13:30:00.016+12:00

Decorating a room from top to bottom is a daunting task. Let alone, when you are trying to do it on the smell of an oily rag, so to speak. You really have to choose carefully. What will we splurge on, what will we save on and more importantly - what can we get for free? :)

This is the first room in the house to get a makeover, aside from the new bathroom (which i must remember to post before and after shots, once it's finished); so it's a little overwhelming.. and a lot of pressure!

Editing all the ideas in my head, distinguishing my wants from my needs and weeding out the items that would just be overkill in this room is also a mammoth task. For some reason I'm great at telling other people what works, but when it comes to my own house.. well.. that's another story. Perhaps it's a touch of performance anxiety?

First thing's first though. What is this room for?

It's not just a dining room, it's family room - a place to play, to chill out, to snuggle up in front of the fire, and to eat. It's connected to the kitchen, so a lot of my daughters time will be spent in there just hanging out and waiting for tea.

I'd like a couch in there or some comfy lounge chairs. You can see in the photos I posted, there's a sofa in there at the moment. I'd like that to stay, but it depends. Downsizing to a pair of chairs might be a better idea.

Walls:

I am in love with vibrant, unusual wallpaper designs! And there are some really interesting prints available now - though most of them are overseas. Luckily there are a couple of stores importing some of my favourites. Netti and Gee have a fabulous collection, as do PaperRoom, whom I've linked to before. I have a stack of sites in my favourites now - of course all the ones I like are the most expensive! But I can kind of get away with this, as the area I want to wallpaper is quite small. Just 2 walls - one with no window, and one with a huge window.

I know I would like a pattern to feature heavily, but not take over. And I love the idea of blues/aquas.

The darker greeny/blues would compliment my colour palette of warm browns (this will be achieved with furniture), greys, and greeny, mustardy yellows.

Ferm Living's collection of gorgeous wallpapers has me sold. I love this deep turquoise blue - it's so rich and warm, cosy and inviting. Quite the opposite feeling you normally associate with blue tones. I love the prints too. But is this tooooooo dark for my dining room?

Resene Optimist and Festival

Aqua (and duck-egg blue) is one of my favourite colours. In fact, one of my favourite colour combinations is this, teamed with a vibrant red and white.

Great for kids rooms. Actually I painted my daughters chest of drawers in this combo and it looks awesome :)

Resene Foam and Pursuit.

I'm having a real problem deciding between this lighter blue and the darker shade. But I must say, at the moment, the Deer print is winning. It's bold, but at the same time it's shade subtle enough not to overpower a room either. My only reservation with a print like this, is will I still like it in 5 years time?

For longevity, perhaps the Ferm Living Ribbed (to the right) is the way to go?

WHAT DO YOU THINK??? I'd appreciate your opinions!!

Furniture:

I love 1950s Danish furniture - everything about it. Solid, well made, beautiful lines and lasting design. I fritter away hours online looking for a reasonably priced sideboard to call my own. Never happens, people are onto it. I need an old lady to start selling off all her unwanted 'old' furniture and for her not to know what she's sitting on..!

However, a sideboard is not needed for this room. But a great table and chairs are!!

via Makingitlovely.com

These Eames chairs are originals, but there are plenty of replicas available in the shops these days. They're still not cheap, but they aren't toooooo badly priced. There's a great store in Aussie who do fantastic replicas for a great price. Unfortunately, I don't think Matt Blatt ships here. Boo!!!

There is however, Homage in Newmarket who do a lot of the same pieces. Oh, and Republic Home also stock a chair very similar in design to these. I will be going a chair hunting very soon!!

via marieclairemaison.com

This is the kind of table I would like. A danish one would be nice, but I think i'll save and splurge on the chairs instead. They're more statement pieces.

Lighting:

Left: via design*sponge; Right: Bubble Chandelier by Jeanpelle via Mochatini

via Diana Vinoly

It's not a huge room, so I don't need A LOT of lighting, but I'd like to make it a feature.

At the moment there's one lone halogen bulb that throws out next to no light, and to top it off it's a really harsh blue/white.. stark and horrid! I'd like some 'mood' lighting. And i'd like it to hang, please.

Don't you just love Jeanpelle's Bubble Chandelier? BUDGET TIP: You can create your own version with this tutorial via FemTalks blog.

Soooooo I hope I haven't bored you to sleep with this mega post! Until I get to grips with Photoshop though, I will have to keep painstakingly setting out my posts all higgilty-piggilty and drawn out like this.. methinks I better get onto learning, fast..!

2010-05-12T08:30:00.001+12:00

Nan passed away early this morning, with her family by her side. I was dreaming about her at the time.

RIP Nan. xox

I'm not dead....

2010-05-11T13:48:00.004+12:00

The last couple of weeks have been full of sickness and and now my Grandmother is nearing her end.

So as you can imagine there's not a lot of room in my head for much else, unfortunately.

Dear Nan - I know we've had our ups and downs and for many years we didn't have much to say to each other that didn't involve a terse word or a screeching lung, but nevertheless, you are my Grandmother and I love you no matter what. There was a time, up until quite recently, where I questioned whether this was the case. But seeing you there, innocent, aged and now in need of freeing, I knew I couldn't NOT love you.

I don't want to see you in pain. I don't want to see you not knowing who any of your family are. I don't want you to suffer anymore; I just want you to be at peace. Go with Granddad. Go with your brother and your many friends. Just be free, be young and be the happy-go-lucky, carefree spirit that you oughtta be. I don't want you to just keep on going because you feel you have to. But I do want you know that all your many children and grandchildren cherish the time spent with you. It was one hell of a life, after all.

xxx

Just a little something I made

2010-04-21T21:29:00.004+12:00

Sick....

2010-04-21T13:57:00.003+12:00

The lurgy has hit our household, so forgive me for the lack of posts lately.. my head feels like it's about to explode.

On the plus side, we had our house baited last week so the mice should be moving out soon (although I found one residing quite comfortably in the family room couch this morning... he's now outside in the bushes).

On the reno side of things: our dining room is pretty much ready to decorate! It's taken a little while but the new walls have been stopped and sealed, and whilst they probably need one more sand and seal - the time has come to put the finishing touches on it - floors included. I'll pop back when I have a little more energy and enthusiasm to put together a mood board. There are so many ideas flying around my head I hardly know where to start! I'm also trying desperately to find the perfect used dining room set on Trade Me. I'm looking, of course, for danish inspired mid century tables and chairs.. gee, that won't cost me much!!

What's also on my list is the perfect wallpaper. I'm going to do 2 of the 3 walls. I think. I might get excited and do all 3! Depends how far the cash stretches...

Here are some photos (which i promised aaaages ago) of the dining room as it is now..

This of course is going to be on the more expensive side; besides the bathroom it's the biggest improvement we've done so far, but in actual renovation terms - we've done it extremely cheaply!

Do you know where a girl can find great vintage pieces at a good price? A really good Sally's store or St Vinnies that no-one knows about?

Where would you shop for wallpaper? And have you seen this site?

Project 2: Death to the Fireplace

2010-04-11T21:01:00.007+12:00

Far out - 2 posts in one day!!

Well folks, this is a must. After careful consideration it looks as though we might be ripping down the old fireplace after all. It is kind of a safety issue, to be honest. It sits away from the wall - and doesn't seem that stable. I mean, it doesn't move or anything; no wobbling or swaying, but I think if you got in there with a crowbar it wouldn't take too much effort to topple it. There's even a crack a third of the way down, where it appears to bow outwards a little... Mr DD is not at all happy about this and the potential threat he has deemed it to pose on our little girl, so he wants it gone.

I am not too worried about this... more the effect this has on the rest of the wall. It will mean that we will, quite possibly, need to re-gib and refinish the wall - and the rest of the lounge with it. That's cool; exciting even! Only problem is it means a whole lotta cash - like, significantly more than $50 - as I don't think I could find a vintage surround to cover the hole completely (it's quite large, as it is). Arrgghh! What to do?!

I might have to go on a hunt for a giant surround at the timber recycling joint up the road and see what I can find. Perhaps the Gods will be on my side! On top of everything else, we had to buy a new car on the weekend, so now there's that to factor into our 'budget'. Sighhhhhhhh...

In a weak effort to try and make myself feel better about this, here are some pics I've been saving up of my dream living room scenario, featuring a magnificent fireplace centrepiece. Enjoy!

livingetc via Door Sixteen

Shoot Factory via Door Sixteen

KML Designs

Dottie Angel

Once More with Feeling

2010-04-11T14:53:00.018+12:00

I mentioned in my last post my love of word art. I love it because it literally speaks to you - in so many different ways! Bright colours, beautiful typography and of course the message itself can brighten anyone's mood with just one glimpse; and what's more, this isn't something you have to pay through the nose for to get.

These prints by Studio Mela are just adorable! Available online at their etsy shop.

I love Made By Girl's simple use of typography and clever layout.

Pennywishes "Je t'aime pour toujours" print translates to "I'll love you forever". So sweet! Speaking of sweet - I could probably do without this KeepCalmShop cutey in my kitchen.. which is a shame because I love this play on the ever popular 'Keep Calm and Carry On' series.

You must have a phrase that you use all the time? Something that just tends to roll off your tongue, or a song lyric that strikes a particular chord with you? Why not put it in a frame!?

You don't have be able to draw or noffink - you could just get into some good ol' microsoft Paint action, or heck, plain old Word or whatever - and the literary world is your oyster!

You can download free fonts from Da Font, and away you go. All you need is a good idea and a colour printer.

As an example, here's one I just made (as a document on my Mac):

Not that you'd want a statement alluding to farts on your wall... just wanting to demonstrate how easy it is :)

Then what you can pop them up on the wall amongst your other fabulous family photos and curios, and voila - personal style personified!

Via apartment*therapy and blog.freepeople.com

It's Easter and we have a mouse!

2010-04-06T22:06:00.009+12:00

My new motto after a very busy Easter weekend, which included no reno work but a lot of chocolate scoffing, mouse stalking, and driving around looking for a new car.

This year was my daughter's 2nd Easter; but the first where she was old enough to taste some of the treats she'd spied sparkling in the fridge. And I have to say, she took to it with a little too much enthusiasm! Thank goodness that's it till next year! Then again, next time she'll really be into it and want an easter egg hunt with clues and all. Secretly, I can't wait!

Anyhoo, such is the excitement of car shopping (and having to trawl through hundreds of specs on various websites *yaaawn*), I needed something else to pass my jittery (with fatigue) eye over.. and here I am.

Look at these stunning, and ever so intricately decorated Easter eggs. Slovenian "Pirhi" are considered to be among the most beautiful examples of Easter eggs in Europe.

I just love them - they remind me of my mothers doily collection. Just how on earth they can do this without smashing them to smithereens is beyond me! So clever, and so gorgeous. I would love to have these adorning my mantle. Do you like?

I saw this print (and the one above) on Flickr and I just loved it. I have a bit of a thing for 'phrase' prints.

This one is part of a collection I found by Ashley G and Drew (artists from Portland, Oregon), whose blog Kitty Genius is a treasure trove of pretty prints, recipes and great thrift store finds such as this:

It's the kind of stuff I will be keeping an eye out for for the wedding, and then to dress up my nest with afterwards. I love the glasses and the fake pear!

On top of the gorgeous prints, they also has a range of miniature porcelain artworks available through their etsy shop. How cute are these?! I LOVE THEM ALL!!!

Well, that's all for tonight. My poor little eyes are like slits. I will come back soon with a new Finds of Fancy post. That will give me a little glimmer of hope and excitement while I continue to wade through dozens of average second hand cars that I can't afford. Yay!!

Project 2: What to do next?!

2010-03-30T09:03:00.004+13:00

Ever feel, when you look around your house, that it's all just too much; there's too much to do it's all a little overwhelming? That's me, right now.

I have a cluster of projects just waiting for me to pull my finger out get cracking on. But which one?! They all seem as important as eachother - there's the fireplace to makeover, because I can't stand looking at that ugly brick facade one second longer than required; a table in need of a new colourful coat of paint; some book covers to cut up and make into butterfly wall art; some throw pillows to be sewed; and I think my bed could do with a new duvet..

I wish there were more hours in the day!

Anyhoo, since actually beginning to write this post and now (I've left it and come back, slightly more clear headed than before) I think I'm going to go with the fireplace makeover. Here is a photo of the 'beast' for your viewing pleasure. I've tried to tart it up with a few photos and strategically placed artworks, but as you can see, this monstrosity is pretty hard to disguise. Trust me though, I think the photo actually makes it look a bit nicer than it is, but DO NOT be fooled!

She is one frightful looking mo-fo, see:

I've been looking for inspiration online on how to give this baby a bit of a facelift. I'd like to think I could do something more than just painting it out, white.

I have some gorgeous Florence Broadhurst wallpaper off-cuts that I have been saving up for a special project, and perhaps this is it!

Gorgeous, huh!

On top of painting out the ugly bricks, my thinking at this stage is to make my own cover to fit over the hole (where the big A1 bit of cardboard - which is actually my 7th form design folio - is sitting right now, to keep the draft out); perhaps out of mdf or just foam board, and covering that with the wallpaper. I would maybe line the back of the recessed shelf with wallpaper too.. or again, cover a piece of foam board and pop it in there, just to pretty it up a bit.

What do you think?

Project 1: Complete!

2010-03-28T09:07:00.004+13:00

Yippeeee I'm done! The tree decal is finally finished and I'm really happy with it. So is Lila, which is a bonus! I cut out some birds (you can just see one in the top right corner) from a CottonOnKids bag and stuck them on and we ask Lila to point them out, which she does so with glee. It's funny though, she only has a few words in her vocabulary at the moment: 'Mama', 'Dada', 'Yay', 'Teddy' (which comes out 'te-dahh') and now birdy. Except she says 'dirday'. Which is both ridiculously cute and hilarious all at the same time.

Do you think it has enough plumage though? I kept staring at it thinking I should be adding more leaves.... of which there were far more than I had expected! I did, in the end, rummage through my box of wrapping paper off cuts, cut up an old gift bag someone gave me, and borrow a roll from my Mum. The thinner paper worked, but it's not as hardy as the wallpaper or scrapbooking card - but still did the job and added a bit more colour too, which I like.

So, the big question - how much did this cost me (not counting the supplies I already had or begged, stole or borrowed to get)? Here's a rundown:

Vintage Wallpaper $40.00

Scrapbooking paper $ 8.00

Wallpaper Paste $13.00

Extra Glue ($2 Shop) $ 2.00

TOTAL: $63.00

So BUMS, I failed to reach my target of $50 :( But I blame it on the fact I couldn't steal any wallpaper paste from anyone in my immediate family. The cheek! I managed to get size, for some reason, but not the paste. Still, knowing how much these decals kits cost to buy in the real world - I'm happy with being a tenner or so over.

Will you chastise me for this? I HOPE NOT!

Next project will definitely be less than $50. YES IT WILL BE!!!

Finds of Fancy

2010-03-25T17:44:00.007+13:00

I thought I'd do a regular column highlighting all the fancy things I've found in my net journeys during the week, or things I've had stored in my favourites for ages and neglected to share.

This week - going with the plates theme, I would like to introduce to you a clever local lass who goes by the name Trixie Delicious. She scribbles on vintage plates. Usually with dirty words (you have been warned), and they are wooooonderful! In fact, I have a fabulous set of my own that my adoring boy bought me for my birthday.

These have unfortunately been lying, hidden in a box in the spare room instead of brightening up my walls, because the wall I *think* I want to put them on isn't quite ready yet. If they do end up going there, it'll have to wait until it's painted. Makes me sad to think they're wasting away in the dark, but they will come out soon!! Poor plates *sad face*.

Over on Trixie's blog I also spotted this gorgeous creation!

I love this tiered version of my Seven Deadly Sins plates!

I have a stash of super cute tiered cake stands aswell; bought and handmade. But I won't be scribbling on them as I want to use them on a grandiose dessert table at my wedding (which probably wouldn't looks as chic with swears).

If you want your very own slice of Trixie Delicious, go to her blog or trixiedelicious.com for links to her shop. Or if you're in Auckland, she exhibits at Kraftbomb which happens to be on this weekend! Lucky us!

25 DIY Projects That Cost Less Than $50

2010-03-24T12:39:00.001+13:00

It's like this was written especially for me! apartmenttherapy.com has pulled together a bunch of really clever ideas to spruce up your space that cost, as the title suggests, $50 or (even better) MUCH less! Me likey!!

I especially love these butterflies made out of wood veneer; and actually, I have a few tricks of my own to share on how you can make gorgeous butterfly art from old scraps of paper etc that you might have lying around the joint; so stay tuned for that!

In the mean time, check out this fabulous list and get crafty! And, if you have a clever creation to share, please email it to me here.

Project 1: Almost done!

2010-03-24T12:10:00.001+13:00

I've spied so many cool things to post about this week, but i've been staying away for fear that if you see me posting anything other than photos of my current project, you'll just think I'm a fraud, get bored and move on. And fair enough! Not that that's an open invitation to 'de-follow' me... so don't.

Anyway, you'll be pleased to hear that after a bloody busy week and a whole lot of cutting, I've finally had a chance to get pasting! At the moment it is 70% finished - just need to finish sticking on all the leaves so it looks a bit more lush - but here is the progress so far:

Now, as you know, I ran out of vintage wallpaper to make the leaves, so I have to make do with scrapbooking paper from Spotlight. I think it looks really good though! I just hope the regular paper sticks as well with the wallpaper paste as the actual wallpaper does. Time will tell!

I figure if it does start to peel, I will just stick down any loose edges with wallpaper glue. Easy.

I have quite a few leaves yet to stick on, but Baby is asleep so that will have to wait.

Just a thought: if you wanted to get more bang for your buck than the scrapbooking paper (not that it's particularly expensive), you could use wrapping paper. They have some really gorgeous designs available in those A2 sheets in places like Whitcoulls, that aren't folded. They'd be great too - just watch how much glue you slap on those babies.

So there we are - hopefully I can post a pic of the finished product tomorrow, along with the 'how to' guide and a cost sheet.

Do you hate your walls? Gotta Sharpie handy?

2010-03-18T21:20:00.000+13:00

Now, this is a GREAT idea for those of us who want that flash designer wallpaper but don't have a spare $350 to spend on EACH roll (insert LARGE *sigh*. Again, this is something that physically hurts me; that I can't have this. Seriously. Palpatations).

BUT there is hope on the horizon! If you can draw, or at least have a steady hand and aren't afraid to do something RAD-I-CAL (and not at all worried about your beloved walking in on you and upon finding you halfway up a ladder with a big fat marker in your hand, about to draw on the walls he spent 6months carefully painting, decides to make a beeline for that new dress you just bought at Zambesi.. AND he has SCISSORS!), then heck, by all means have a go!

Take a close look - that ain't wallpaper!

See, all you need is a gold marker and some balls. Bob's your uncle!

WARNING!!! I hate to have to add one, because I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from trying this, but here's a trap for young players. I actually tried this in my lounge, and failed miserably. This is because when we moved into our house, it was adorned with hideous and badly hung wallpaper in a few rooms, and I decided that I just couldn't live with it like that and decided to paint it out as a stop gap.

When I saw this idea and went to try it, the paint on the walls reacted with my paint pen and it just kind of 'stuck' and glugged up the pen and the ink stopped flowing properly and I got a grand 2 half lines into my design and had to quit! This made me very sad, but at least I have tried and tested this for you and can safely warn you NOT to try this if you've painted over wallpaper and the finish is a bit sticky and icky and not completely kosher. On plain painted walls, like most normal houses, it'd be fine. No worries. All feel sorry for me and my boring white walls now, please. And go forth and prosper!

Find out more here on Kellie's Scraplog.

Can someone please buy me this:

2010-03-18T17:17:00.001+13:00

I LOVE both of these rugs from American furniture/homewares designer Angela Adams that I spotted on Decor8. And I love the sideboard too. I have been searching for one forever but unfortunately none seem to be in my (limited) price range. Even the really ugly ones! It hurts me to think I can't just go out and splurge a few thousand dollars on a timeless, superbly designed piece of furniture, which I would love and cherish and polish and admire forever more. I'd even go as far to say it rips my knickers. I just wish I'd paid more attention in woodwork so I could just make one; or that a hoarding old Aunt 5 times removed, who I met once when I was 5 but was so taken with tiny (and infinitely charming) me that she leaves me a 1950s danish designed vintage sideboard in mint condish. Well, a girl can dream.... For now I'll just keep coveting them longingly on Trade Me and hoping that one day that dollar reserve auction only reaches $39.99 and the jokes on That Guy, who thought 3 grand would be a cinch. PAH!

I heart these dining rooms

2010-03-17T18:50:00.000+13:00

So, in order to distract anyone reading from my slow progress, I decided to showcase a few gorgeous dining rooms I've come across in my net travels.

The dining room is actually my next 'project'. It's a work in progress at the moment. It doesn't really fit into my theme of budget makeovers though, as it's already cost us $900 to re gib the walls and take out part of one that was blocking the kitchen. Open plan really has revolutionised meal time! Anyway, on with the pictures of pretty things:

This selection comes to you via of desiretoinspire.net.

I heart this one because it's a little bit vintage.

I heart this one because of the mis-matched chairs and the splendid lightshade.

I heart vintage sideboards.

I heart the clever as all hell plate arrangement and plan to steal this idea for mai own.

I heart MASSIVE book libraries. I only wish I owned enough actual books to recreate this properly!

I'm not lying!

2010-03-16T21:13:00.001+13:00

Before you ask - YES! I have started.. I just can't right now finish because I have run out of paper to make the leaves with; and besides, I can't get into my daughters' room when I have a spare moment to glue anything to the wall during the day because when that happens, she's asleep! So you see my conundrum. I will remedy this soon though.. and it will be magnificent, in ways you cannot imagine!! OH. EM. GEE. YES.

Project 1: VINTAGE WALLPAPER TREE DECAL

2010-03-12T13:41:00.000+13:00

Thought I would post a few examples of what I'm going to create. The bottom one is from Inke a fantastic company based in the Netherlands that makes wallpaper silhouettes out of vintage wallpaper. I first saw one of these trees in an Australian magazine Real Living when I was living over there. I am obsessed with that magazine; it's like DIY porn to me. So many cool ideas that you can totally steal, that won't break the bank. And hey, I'm all about that at the moment! I must admit, I'm a bit of a 'oh how hard can it be? I can totally do that!' optimist when it comes to making things. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail miserably; but somehow that doesn't stop me believing that I really do have crafty super-skillz.

I suppose that's why the Tree appealed. I can draw, and I can use a pair of scissors so instantly I think this is going to be easy, ha! But also I just love the idea of it because; A. it will look like I have made it myself, and I love that. It won't be perfect, but it will be perfectly charming; and B. I love the idea of taking something that might seem unusable in this era....

and 'upclycling' to create something really freakin cool!

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Project 1: It's coming!

2010-03-11T14:29:00.000+13:00

So I have decided to make a giant tree wall decal for my daughter's room out of vintage wallpaper that I brought on Etsy. I think it cost me $35 all up for the paper. It's gorgeous stuff. I have a 70s geometric pattern to use as the trunk, and some lovely florals to use as decorative leaves. I have had this on the back-burner for a few months now. So when I saw this hilarious diagram I had to share it - because it's pretty much 'me' in a nutshell. Although, with this blog it's a habit i'm hoping to break!

I will start the project tomorrow (ha! ironic) and charge my camera batteries so I can keep a record and show off my masterful skills when it's complete. I will keep a track of extra materials and how much they cost and even include a 'how to' guide. Exciting, i know!

Operation: Make A Pretty House With Next To No Money

2010-03-09T07:56:00.001+13:00

Sounds... difficult, right?

Well, I'm up for the challenge! I am Natalie, and along with my partner Nick, we have purchased a 'rustic' bungalow in Auckland's North Shore suburbs in the hope of creating our very own haven to raise our young family in.

Our house is old. 1930s old. And with a lot of half finished projects undertaken by the former owners, which make the place both ripe for rejuvenation and a bit of a headache at the same time!

It's going to be a mammoth task to bring this baby into the 21st century. And I know I won't be able to do it all on my tiny fortnightly budget - obviously you can't replace entire walls for that, but

what I can do is make it pleasantly livable - even stylish - with a bit of imagination and creativity and some good old upcycling!

I suppose I decided to blog about it so I would actually do it, instead of just talking about it!

I have lost count of all the hours I spend trawling the net for decorating blogs and crafty ideas that I can steal and use in my own home. I keep a notepad which always has a list a mile long of 'things to do' or 'projects to start', which with working and looking after my toddler, often get pushed aside.

So this is my challenge: Make over my house $50 at a time (I said it was tiny!). That's $50 per project. Or less. Whatever it takes to be thrifty; whatever junk I can reuse or reinvent to keep to my budget - I will do my best!

I will post some photos soon so you get an idea of what I'm dealing with..

But let it be known, it will not be drab and boring for much longer! And my pocket will not be (completely) emptied either. If you are reading this and are one of the many people with 'do-ups', scratching your head and wondering how on earth you can make your nest a comfy place to rest without going broke, perhaps we can inspire eachother? Or if you are a creative cat with good ideas to share, then please do!

So - onward and upward!

Hmmm.. now, which project to start first...?