So, it begins!

Another room has been gutted. This one will be magically transformed (hopefully faster than the rest..!) into DD1's new bedroom; freeing her old room up for the New Arrival in December.

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!

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...

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.

Once Upon A Tea Time

House and Home

Pure Home blog

Sas Interiors

Simplesong

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

Win some, lose some.

TradeMe is getting far too populated for my liking. Especially with the likes of people who happen to have  the same needs as me. They hijack my auctions, bid on them and push the price up to a point where I can no longer compete;  leaving me empty handed and deflated. Woe is me.

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!

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.

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.

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?!