I recently created this IKEA hack as a commission for The Telegraph but I was so happy with the outcome, I thought I would share a few pictures of it here on the blog. If you want to see the full step-by-step DIY process of creating this hack, click here to be taken to the piece on The Telegraph website where there is both a video and picture tutorial. Otherwise, here are a few ‘before and after’ pictures of how it started and how it ended up. This old IKEA METOD kitchen wall unit was on its way to landfill, but I knew I could transform it into something useful. I needed a bit more space at ..read more

Furrow Herringbone flooring by Ted Todd in the home of Anne-Marie Leigh Interiors. Featured Partner Post At some point in every homeowner's life, there comes a time when you have to make a decision between moving in order to gain more space or staying put and expanding your current home via an extension. Although home extensions can be built to meet evolving needs, when do they truly make sense? A bright and light home extension featuring a Searle & Taylor Kitchen. As Your Family Expands If you increase in size as a family, you’ll immediately notice space will become scarce. An extension ..read more

After recently redecorating my hallway, entrance and landing, I had a lot of blank wall space available that I wanted to fill with bright, colourful art prints to contrast against the new blue paint colour. I believe that art in the home should be personal and unique to your style and I try to avoid hanging prints that are mass-produced; once upon a time this would have meant that art was quite inaccessible to me, but in recent years there have been a number of new galleries, creative companies and independent curators who have made art a lot more accessible for all. Events like The Affordabl ..read more

I’ve been really captivated by brown interiors recently. I’ve been filling up my ‘brown decor’ Pinterest board full of chocolate-coloured room schemes and when a friend sent me an image by Chris Loves Julia of their colour-drenched plummy brown bedroom, I knew I wanted to use a similar hue somewhere in my home. Luckily, UK high street brand Dunelm had just launched a very similar shade called ‘Mahogany Brown’ and I chose this paint colour to redecorate my husband’s home office. Before the makeover, my husband’s office had turned into our ‘room of doom’. It was such a disaster, it became the ..read more

Pietre di Paragone Grè Bianco porcelain stoneware tiles from Casalgrande Padana Sponsored Content: This post has been kindly sponsored by Casalgrande Padana, with all words, thoughts and opinions by Melanie Lissack. If you are looking to elevate the design of your garden or create a courtyard, patio or terrace area, you’ll want to make sure that as well as looking stylish and modern, it is also durable against the elements, strong enough to survive the impacts of outdoor living and easy enough to keep clean. Regardless of whether you want to lay a small patio or plan to build a more expansiv ..read more

It’s that time of year again when the evenings are lighter, the days are brighter and you can fling open the doors and windows to welcome in spring. I always feel that spring is the real start of a new year, with the earlier months just being a hangover from Christmas. Spring is when I want to reset the house via decluttering, deep cleaning and swapping the old for new, so here are five spring cleaning hacks and tips to try for your home to be refreshed and renewed in no time! Wash your carpets and rugs Hoover your bed frame and clean the mattress Plant some indoor spring bulbs Remove ..read more

Green floor lamp from houseof. Dark corners and poorly lit rooms often make a home feel less welcoming. However, with a few smart and creative strategies, transforming these spaces into bright, inviting areas is not only possible but can also be a fun project. From maximising natural light to choosing the right décor, this guide will walk you through several effective ways to lighten up your living space. Understanding Light And Space Light plays a fundamental role in how we perceive our surroundings. Well-lit rooms feel more spacious and lively, while darker spaces can seem smaller and less ..read more

Featured Partner Post The mention of a fireplace often conjures up images of roaring fires in traditional homes with detailed surrounds and mantel designs. However, for new builds or homes that are modern in specification, these fireplaces would look significantly out of place. So, how do you integrate and get to enjoy a fireplace in a modern home? These days, with modern technology and state-of-the-art design, it’s actually incredibly easy. Modern fireplaces aren’t just a source of heat - they are an art piece in their own right, a statement of sleek design and revelation in the latest techn ..read more

Image Credit: Green Retreats Featured Partner Placement Post These cozy dwellings of tiny houses, often no bigger than a few hundred square feet, challenge you to rethink your relationship with space and what truly matters in your home. Yet, the challenge of limited indoor space in your tiny home underscores the critical importance of maximizing your outdoor area to enrich your living experience. As we venture into the world of tiny house landscaping below, we'll uncover ideas designed to optimize your outdoor space.  Ideas to Turn Your Outdoor Space into a Sanctuary There's immediate an ..read more

I really do love decorating for Easter. There is something so charming about all the painterly Easter eggs, spring flowers, bunnies and pastel hues. After months of grey skies, spring and Easter decor adds a real injection of lighthearted joy into the home and alongside Easter table settings and hanging decorative eggs on Easter trees, I also love to create an Easter display by my front door for neighbours and passers-by to look at. While my Easter door arch was probably the largest Easter display that I have created, this year I still wanted the wow-factor, but it had to be easier to put to ..read more