March 09, 2018

CONVERSATION CHAIRS AT HOMESENSE

March 09, 2018/ Amanda Cotton

Yay! We have finally moved into our new loft space, which means we can start cracking on with baby C’s nursery (moodboard entry coming soon). We still need to put pictures up and get new side tables, but it’s starting to feel like a bedroom.

We’ve gone for dark walls again and my love of the colour green against the dark grey hasn’t stopped at just the lounge.

As the wardrobes are in a separate dressing room, it means there’s more space to fill with a statement chair to add that little zing of colour.

I’d been looking for a chair for a while which didn’t cost the earth and then a few weeks ago whilst browsing in my local homesense, I found this little emerald beauty.

Priced at £179.99 it was a lot more affordable than the similar ones I’d been admiring on the internet, and did I mention that it’s covered in Green velvet! It’s a like a match made in emerald heaven and fits into the little snug of our bedroom perfectly.

If you’re looking to add a little chair into your lounge/ bedroom/ nursery or just have a corner in your kitchen to fill, then make sure you get down to homesense. And if my little chair hasn’t persuaded you, then hopefully these images of the other chairs on offer this week will.

Prices for chairs start at £49.99

To find your local homesense UK store click here.

Velvet and brass velvet chair from Homesense.

Links to the items in the main picture

1. Velvet chair £179.99, Homesense

2. Walls-Railings, Farrow and Ball (Prices vary)

3. Mustard print cushion- Peonenden £90 House of Hackney

4. Cast iron radiator, cast iron radiator centre prices start at £9.99 per section.

5. Brass and iron planter stand, £12 Matalan

March 03, 2018

DIY UPHOLSTERED FOOTSTOOL

March 03, 2018/ Amanda Cotton

Are you are thinking of buying a foot stool to fill a space in your lounge? Or perhaps you’d like an ottoman for your bedroom? Before you take the plunge and spend a few hundred quid, maybe consider covering your own.

Not only will it be better for the environment, but also much more cost effective and could save you hundreds, not to mention the self-satisfaction it brings you. Ok..so what I REALLY mean is total smugness!!

So where to start, well ebay is a good place, so are car boot sales, gumtree or even vintage flea markets. I bought my one below from Kempton antiques market for £20.

Find a shape and a price you like and remember that anything is possible so don’t be put off by the print or fabric. As long as the legs are sturdy and the frame isn’t riddled with wood worm you can cover anything.

Once you have a frame then all you need is the fabric. Velvet is a favourite of mine and is still up trending and you’ll find plenty of online merchants willing to give you a deal. If you do go for a velvet maybe choose a cotton one. They're more mat, clean and more in keeping to what you would find in the shops if you were to buy your own velvet stool. Alternatively jacquards, and heavy canvas fabrics are also good, just make sure they are hardwearing and don't contain any stretch.

What you'll need;

A foot stool to cover

Nail gun and spare nails

pair of scissors

Hammer

Screwdriver

(and an extra pair of hands can come in handy if your new to this).

DIY Upholstered footstool

1. First buy an old footstool that's in need of a makeover. (As I mentioned before, I bought mine from Kempton market for £20).

2. Strip it back. If you find its actually not antique (like me) and it's made of PU, then keep this as its a smooth base to cover over. Yep mine looked lovely and french but it was probably just from DFS... Good job I only paid £20 for it!

3. Start with the base. Measure and cut a piece of fabric that fits around the base. If you're using velvet decide if you want the fabric pile up or pile down. Pile up will make the colour look brighter.

Then using the nail gun, nail the fabric inside. For the ends, fold the edges in for a smooth, clean look.

At the base fold the fabric in to create pleats. Then pull teh fabric tight and staple. Use the hammer to knock in any nails which haven't gone in fully.

4. Then for the top, unscrew it from the base and lay it on top of the fabric and cut around, allowing an extra 5cm seam allowance to pull it over. Then pull tight and use the nail gun to secure. Hammer down any nails that are sticking out.

And thats it. One finished footstool. The nails are inside and underneath so you can't see them.

If you want, you could line the base to hide the nails. I did this with an ottoman that I covered, but depending on what your using it for, you don't need too.

February 10, 2018

AFFORDABLE STATEMENT LIGHTS UNDER £200

February 10, 2018/ Amanda Cotton

Just when one project ends another one begins. This time it’s our guest room that’s in need of a refresh and the first thing on the list is a new pendant ceiling light. Last time we decorated this room we bought an industrial light which had a huge hood and was rubbish at actually giving off any light (those lights are great for kitchens FYI.. where you have several over the dining table or kitchen counter, but not for a bedroom). In the end my husband took the hood off and we’ve just had an exposed bulb hanging from the ceiling for the past six years so this time I want something much more WOW!

I’ve given myself a healthy budget of £200 to find the ultimate statement light. Which should be easy right? Sure… have you seen my taste? I’m THAT girl… baked bean budget, champagne taste but I love a challenge and I love showing you new websites that you might have never thought of looking at.

From a trend point of view, I’m all about the fluffy feather and paper lights at the moment that keep a room looking wafty, cool and feminine. But I do still like the harder edge metal frame ones, plus these give off maximum light while still looking nice.

Here are my top picks of statement lights on the high street/internet all under £200, and if you want to know which one I went for, you'll have to read below.

1. Fluffy Ducky pendant from www.lights.co.uk for £56.90

2. Wicker lamp shade from Made.com £59

3. Nook copper pendant from Made.com £59

4. Endon Lighting Orta 9-Light Geometric Pendant from Wayfair £185

5. Dexter Sputnik Pendant from Marks and Spencer £199

6. Fiona pendant light with ruched lampshade from www.lights.co.uk for £49.50

7. Huxley pendant light from John Lewis for £195

8. Walnut pendant light from John Lewis £120

9. Oval pendant lamp Jilla made from metal from www.lights.co.uk £63.90

I’m going for the feather light from Lights.co.uk. Not only is it way under my budget at £56.90, it also ticks one of the key trends at the moment to bring some texture into our home. It will also make a change from all the brass and hardware I have going on at House Lust HQ.

I’ve also found some gorgeous lights at Trainspotters, which are vintage and reclaimed. Do check them out.

What’s your bedroom light style?

February 05, 2018

PERSONALISED VALENTINES DAY CARDS & GIFTS

February 05, 2018/ Amanda Cotton

What’s your view on Valentine’s day? Are you a super sentimental type, or do you think it’s all a load of hype? I fall somewhere down the middle.

I don’t need a day to tell my husband how much I love him, but I do like that it reminds us to slow down, write some lovely words and appreciate one another….. AND if Mr C chooses to buy me some flowers that day OR any other day *hint hint then they won’t go unnoticed.

When it comes to cards I’m not into teddy bears or gushy, soppy ones. I like a card to be blank inside so I can write my own words. This is why Clouds and currents personalised ones stood out to me, especially the cactus themed ones for obvious reasons (you know I’m a plant lady right?).

I’ve bought my husband the ‘You had me at Aloe’ Valentine’s day card and for a while Clouds and currents are offering you all 10% off everything on their site if you use the discount code 'Houselust' at the checkout.

Clouds and currents specialise is gorgeous personalised gifts from cushions to aprons. So even if you’re not a soppy type but you know a friend who is, why not treat them to a personalised Apron or a set of cushions for that newly married couple you know?

Love should be in the air all year round, and not just for Valentine’s day!