31 Days of Cheap & Free Decor: Day 5-A Touch of Whimsy

As I look around my house, I love all the big pieces I found for free. I love the textiles. I love the overall tone.
But its the little details that make me smile!



... Like these LEGO minifigs of us that sit on our mantle.

Or like the moose my hubby stuck way up on our speaker.

Or this little guy who says goodbye every time we walk out our door.

Can you see him up there?

It's my candle gnome! I LOVE him! Seriously!!!

Basically, what I'm saying is that while I love a good investment piece, you've got to have some details you love. Add some fun. Don't take yourself too seriously. Buy (or find) something small that will make you smile every time you see it.

That's always a good investment!

31 Days of Cheap & Free Decor: Day 4-Material Things

Anyone who's heard of Pinterest knows there are a thousand ways to use fabric in decorating. Between classic sewing projects, crafts, and modern online tutorials, there's nothing knew I can show you.

But here's my take on it...

This is one of my all-time favourite fabrics! I bought like 10 yards of it years ago and have used it for so many projects! That green paisley floral has covered seat covers, storage boxes, gift wrapping, and currently sits in a three foot square frame on top of my hubby's wardrobe. (One 'ugh' about life in London-- no closets!) The space on top of the wardrobe isn't easy enough to access to add drawers or other usable storage, but there's a huge space... which is filled quite well by my pretty print!

But perchance you don't have several yards of fabric lying in a sewing cupboard. (Really? Seriously? Are you sure?) Fine. Then look around-- got any old curtains? How about sheets with elastic that has stretched and can no longer be used? Old baby blankets?

No? Nothing?

How about that shirt with the pattern that you loved but don't fit into anymore?

These sweet blue prints are cut from a mandarin style silk blouse I bought on a trip to China during my university years. I seriously loved that print! But it didn't fit well. It was made for petite asian women who average 5'1". On my 5'6" frame (with unusually long torso), it just looked silly. So it sat in my closet for years... till this!

Made me so happy!

So go on- quick! Look in your linen closets, check under beds, look for old scarves you'd forgotten about! And find a tutorial you love. There are so many options, and with little investment, you can make a big change to a room!

Ready... set... GO!

31 Days of Cheap & Free Decor: Day 3- Repurposing on Purpose

Do you like my yarn basket? Thanks--I thought you would!

Wanna know a secret?

It's a bike basket. From my friends bike. I broke it.

Those of you who've been with me for a while know that I've not had the best experiences with bicycling in London. But I didn't give up... oh no! I tried again.... three times. Each time ended poorly. Chains fell off, handlebars loosened and turned randomly, and once, I ran into the curb and pretty much face-planted into a fence. It was in this last episode that I broke said bike basket. After replacing it with an identical one (so my friend wouldn't know), I had a beat up, but still usable basket. So... I used it! (You can see evidence of the damage on the top edge of the basket.)

But its usable! That's the key!

Maybe you have some stationary boxes that can go in the bathroom to organise toiletries.

Perhaps you have an old chair that you could use as a nightstand.

Think outside the box. Look around your house. See what's lurking in the dark corners, just waiting to be rescued and brought into the light!

Don't be afraid to pull things out of their original rooms- even out of furniture sets. Give it a second lease on life in a new place- and see what happens!

31 Days of Cheap & Free Decor: Day 2-Check for Good Bones

Almost every item in this photo is used (save the Ikea Lack table in the middle), and the same would be true in almost every room of our flat.

*Note: I've rearranged since taking this picture!*

You really can find great pieces and make great statements with your decor, if you know what you're looking for. Here are some quick tips:

Where to Look

Whether its physical shops, like Goodwill or Salvation Army, or online, you should be able to find something near you. In the States, I used Craigslist a lot, and only had one bad experience. Here in London, I use Gumtree or Freecycle.... and yes, I've been stood up once or twice. But when something is free, you put up with a little more trouble! And be smart when looking online. Communicate with sellers-- ask for photos, clear meeting points, phone numbers in case of miscommunication-- there are simple things you can do to minimise the number of dead-ends you hit in looking.

What to Look For

Look at the 'bones' of a piece. Do you know what I mean when I saw that? Look beyond paint colour, faux finishes, even hardware, to the actual construction of a piece.

• What's its shape? Are there nice curves or clean edges? 
• What's it made of? Solid wood, mdf? How long can I expect it to last?
• Hows it finished? What are the joints like? Is it coming apart in multiple places or is it solid and sturdy?

Our church was getting rid of this piece... which was bright red when I got it. But it's a sweet little cupboard, and I loved the curved legs. If all I'd seen was the red gloss, I'd never have given it a chance!

What to Look Out For

I hear some of you freaking out. What about germs?! Bugs?! Someone else used that! I know all the questions about cleanliness, bugs, etc..... but that's where common sense comes in. Look carefully at the item. Turn it over. (Yes- I have turned sofas upside down in Goodwill- do it!) Look for bug holes in the wood, for moth damage on upholstery, for rust or warping.

I have had the joy that is bedbugs- not from my furniture, from the neighbours- and yes, it put me off used upholstered furniture for a while. But if you know what you're looking for and do a thorough check, you'll be fine. Use your best judgement, but don't forget how much a good scrubbing or a coat of paint can do! Give it a good clean, leave in the garage for a week if you're worried. It'll be fine. Really. 

31 Days of Cheap & Free Decor: Day 1

I'm taking up The Nester's challenge to blog 31 Days about different aspects of one topic! I'll link all the future posts back to here, in case you need to catch up. So follow along with me as I share some of the ways I've worked to make my home beautiful on a little or nothing!

This is Day One.

Day 2: Check for Good Bones
Day 3: Repurposing on Purpose
Day 4: Material Things
Day 5: A Touch of Whimsy
Day 6: Know Your Limits
Day 7: Mix it Up
Day 8: Follow Your Gut
Day 9: It's Not Permanent
Day 10: Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Day 11: The Magic of Spray Paint
Day 12: Going Green
Day 13: Cardboard Baby
Day 14: Make Do
Day 15: Go Industrial
Day 16: The Borrowers
Day 17: A Paper Trail
Day 18: Know When to Invest
Day 19: Use Mother Nature
Day 20: A Bit of Black
Day 21: Hunt for Odds and Ends
Day 22: Check the Attic
Day 23: Make It Work
Day 24: Tackle a Project
Day 25: Ikea
Day 26: To Dye For
Day 27: Don't be Precious
Day 28: Hold on to Things


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One of the key themes you'll see on my blog is starting with a foundation of second-hand items. Frankly, its what's most affordable, but it also has the added benefit of being eco-friendly, as well as a bit 'chic' in this generations love of DIY and vintage pieces!

If you're someone who only buys new... I challenge you to consider why, and maybe give 'pre-loved' a chance. Yes, there can be challenges to owning used items, but I've found the pros usually outweigh the cons. For example: it's how I can own unique, solid pieces, without paying tons.

Pieces like this:

This is one of my favourite pieces! This amazing hutch that serves as my nightstand was completely free!

If you're nervous about used items, check back tomorrow, as I'll be sharing more about what to look for (and avoid) in second-hand furniture, so stay tuned!

And if you're keen to link up to my series on your blog, grab the code for my series button below!
And be sure to subscribe to learn all of my secrets!

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A Loom with a View

I read about a knit garden up in North Finchey- about a 40 min journey from where I live. I had a free morning and went to check it out. It was... precisely that. A knit garden, complete with trees, ponds, vegetable patches, shed, greenhouse, and even clothesline! It was a lot!

It doesn't really require much explanation, but I did want to share it with some of my knitty friends. So, if you don't care about knitting or crochet, please feel free to leave now. If you do, feel free to look around and be inspired! (I left the photos large so you can try to see the details.) So fun!

Yes- even all those undies on the line are knit! There was SO much! Apparently, it was a group project by about 2500 knitters around the UK. And they used cardboard, wood, or metal as framing, especially for the larger structures, but the whole of everything was covered in yarn. It was kind of crazy!

If you've done anything like this- let me know in the comments! I'd love to see how your projects came out!

#LFW14

For those who were wondering, that stands for London Fashion Week 2014.

This world-renowned event, which I've heard about from across the pond, was apparently on last week. A few banners and ads aside, most Londoners had no idea it was happening. But I decided to walk down to Kenwood House to see what the hubbub was all about. (And I promise, this is my first, and last, fashion post. This won't become a regular habit!)

Of course, I didn't plan to pay the exorbitant prices to get a seat to any shows or exhibition, but it wasn't needed. The crowds standing around hoping to be seen were enough. Don't let the labels fool you- "street style" is as manicured and preened look as any runway fashion. And they are by no means normal. At least, I sure hope not!

I think the girl on the far right looks a bit British Jersey Shore, don't you agree?

Apparently, this lady with the slicked back hair is on Made in Chelsea- a reality show that really does seem like the UK's Jersey Shore!

Some cool cats taking in the scene.....

Apparently, the lady on the right didn't get the notice that its Fashion Week, NOT the Royal Ascot!

These two showed up together, and were pulling off the retro thing pretty well.... ish.

Why yes, that is a latex dress, why do you ask?

Apparently, the lady in blue in the middle is famous. I had no idea why, but I took a picture, then Googled when I got back home. Jourdan Dunn- a British model. Who knew?!

A couple dapper looking gents!

And this was actually one of my favourite looks of the day! Of course over the top- what would you expect?! But at least it coordinates and looks kind of attractive!

And of course, one has to take the obligatory selfie, right? Okay maybe it was just the vanity floating around in the air making my head a little crazy.

My ego was a little puffed when a couple people there asked to take my picture. But it was duly squashed when those pictures were never posted or tagged anywhere. I even saw some photos where I'd been cropped out of the background. Ouch!

So, I went, I saw. I watched people see and be seen. And while there's a buzz in the air, cameras flashing, and beautiful (and frightening) people milling about... it was empty. Most people were alone, or in giggling gaggles of girls (ooh, like that alliteration?!). Phones and cameras dominated faces, and 'style' and labels out-shadowed real beauty. A fun place to visit for an hour or too, but I wouldn't want to live there.