Feb 17

Feb 17 2017 Changes and 2018 Plans

Instagram is a powerful place in which to build a creative interiors business and to source ideas. The challenge is that you always want to try those ideas in your home (or at least I do), and last year was one of a fair few changes in my house, a little bit because some of the rooms had become scruffy and needed a pick me up, a little bit because some brands had asked to collaborate and a LOT because I get bored and covet other people’s homes. I also decorate as a stress relief and needless to say, last year was full on and busy.

So, what did I change up in 2017 and what are my plans in 2018?

First off, was a change to my master bathroom, which we haven't touched in 14 years; yes really! Partly because the room is enormous and covered in tiles and we just couldn't justify changing a room that was perfectly functional if not attractive at all, and partly because having fairly recently renovated the entire third floor of our house, we were not up for a big project involving dust, just yet.

This bathroom is on my list for 2018, the 2017 changes were always intended to be a short-term fix, we want to change up the bath and shower and add panelling, new tiles, but for now let's see what changes I made in 2017.

As I said the room was perfectly functional if a little bland, the shower is ancient, but it works and the tiles, while not something I'd choose, are fairly okay. I really hate the ceiling which the previous homeowners chose to create almost like a sauna look?!? but as I said this was intended to be a cosmetic change, done by me, so I wanted to create a boho jungle look, which would partly disguise this. I chose wallpaper from The Loft and Us, which I'd coveted for a while and one weekend I set about changing the room. The room was covered in wood chip paper, so first off, I have to remove it; a hot and dirty job, but one I got finished in a day, even if I couldn't walk much afterwards.

I then papered the whole room the next day. I know some people don't like wallpaper in a bathroom but I've found this is perfectly okay. The bath panels got a quick coat of gloss paint and that's really all I did, except adding in some pictures, plants, a rug, and a stool from Suburban Salon and dramatic lampshade by Anna Hayman Designs.

Is my bathroom perfect? No it's not. Do I love the changes, absolutely, they have made the room more liveable in the short term and that's a good enough reason for me to do a small project, while we save up for something bigger and brace ourselves for more dust.

Next up came the guest bedroom, which I had painted the year before, just to add some colour. The impetus of this was a photoshoot and the fact I just could not bear someone seeing this room. Again, it was a brief cosmetic change rather than a full project and I collaborated with a few brands to bring this scheme together, all of which were the first to feature on my blog.

The wallpaper is fromFeathr and was a great way of adding drama to the room. The furniture is vintage that I've had a long time, in fact the side table was my Grandmothers so I was definitely not changing that. I did add new bedlinen from Piglet in Bed, a pom pom throw from Darbeida Moroccan Living, cushions from Age of Reason Studio, neon from Bag and Bones and a large print by Pati Robins.

A simple makeover but one that made a great deal of difference to the room.

After. Picture was on loan from @light_up_north

A quick makeover in the kitchen with Lucy Tiffany wallpaper, a painted table, a couple of new chairs. This is only partly finished, I want to change the kitchen cupboards, the tiles and the work surfaces, concrete instead of wood, the handles (possibly Buster and Punch). This is unlikely to happen this year, unless I win the lottery, but again, a quick change makes all the difference.

Alfie's room came next. To be fair he'd been asking to change his room for about a year and I'd been putting off doing so because I loved his old room, the paper, the cute little vintage desk and partly because I knew I'd need to take a week off to do it and I was really busy at work. I'm not going to go into too much detail about the changes now, you can read the blog post about this room here. However, this room was a full change, not just some cosmetic changes and the result Alfie absolutely loves.

And, if you are still here reading this, there are two more projects; writing this has made me realise just how much I got done last year. My study was next. Here it was simply a case of it being a bit tired, a place where I spend every day when I'm not travelling, a place I escape from the madness of two boisterous boys, to read and relax on my sofa so it needed a "pick me up".

I chose some wallpaper from Sandberg, rejigged the room with my desk on a different wall, and changed the chair. that's it! Simple but an effective change that has made a difference to my environment at work and the place I escape to.

Finally, and a project that flipped into 2018, because I got flu; the master bedroom. This really was a big change project not least because I had chosen to panel a wall and redecorate throughout, but it has totally changed the vibe in the room and I love it. You can read about the bedroom renovation here.

And so what about 2018?

Well I have a long list of things I want to do but how many of them will I achieve? I actually don't mind if I don't do very much, I find it helpful to have a list regardless, that way when I'm inspired by things I see on Instagram or Pinterest, I can save them and start to pull a scheme together for when I'm ready to go. You can see my plans on Pinterest here

Many of the projects that I'm planning to do this year require outside help, so the pace will be slower and the cost higher and so we will only achieve one or two.

I want to re-do my top hall and landing. This can't be done by me as the wall is 16ft top to bottom and I can't face the height so we will get a decorator in for this one. New carpet is needed too, ideally a runner.

Some of my favourite papers choices at the moment include; @annahaymandesigns SIOUXSIE, @wearefeathr. Oh La La and @houseofhackney Paradisa, all very different wallpapers and colours, but until I actually start the decision will fluctuate daily I suspect.

The master bathroom has to be done this year. I want a roll top bath, panelling (now I've got the DIY bug), a walk-in shower, new taps and hardware and new tiles, so quite an expensive job. Two of my favourite bathrooms right now are from @thisstylrocks and@comedowntothewoods and I want to create something with some of these vibes but my own twist. I also love the tiles @thefrugalityhas used in her recent bathroom renovation. The choices are endless but I will be sharing my mood board of the bathroom soonish.

My Kitchen, which was done by us when we knocked through, is now looking a bit tired and dated, new cupboard doors, new work surfaces, tiles and some open shelving would be good here. I adore the open shelving in @archertj home. I suspect, however, that this will roll over until next year, given my work schedule and the expense, not to mention the mess!

And another project I'm toying with, could do myself but don't yet know if I'm ready to make the change, is my living room. No, I’m not changing the green sofa, that would-be Instagram suicide, but I'm think another new sofa, I've already ordered a pink velvet chair (which turned up just as I was about to publish this (see below) and I'm considering a change of colour along the lines of this inspiration.

Photo credit LHS Ferm Living, RHS Anthropologie.

Naturally, I will need to change up the accessories, lighting and probably the wallpaper, so while this always feels like a quick change, invariably it's not as cheap a solution as I would like at the end of the day.

So, there you go, I have a mind that never stills, my husband has long since given up keeping up with my ideas, but the family love our home so I generally get free reign, unless it is something significant like the kitchen and bathroom. So, I’m going to have to hone my powers of persuasion this year

watch this space......