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Can you believe that it’s October already? Which means that the year is flying by, and the Christmas/Holiday season will be upon us before we know it. In years gone by I tended to fly by the seat of my pants when it came to Christmas planning, but I’ve learnt that it pays to prepare, even just a little bit! I mean, Christmas is the best time to of year to get crafty, but when I’ve left it too late in the past I’ve either found it too stressful to make things or just given up. So, forgive me if...

I'm so excited to share with you one of my favourite projects, easy polymer clay earrings. With Christmas right around the corner, perhaps some of you are thinking about presents to buy for friends, or maybe you just want to spice up a simple outfit. Well you've come to the right place!     As you guys know, Sculpey polymer clay is one of my favorite mediums, and I've been using their Souffl? collection for the last few years for so many different projects. I made this wall hanging for me and this one for Frankie. I also made some...

I must admit, I'm a living room lover. Not only is the living room a key focus of the whole house, smack bang in the centre for most of us, but it's likely a space in your home where you do most of your living – lounging, entertaining, playing and relaxing. Because of that, a living room needs to be designed to be one of the most versatile and comfortable rooms in the house, but also be welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. There's a lot going on! ?For me, creating a beautiful and comfortable living room is all about choosing a...

As I mentioned a few days ago I was excited to visit my local Vinnies as part of National Op Shop week. Naturally I stocked up on lots of things for different epicycles, they had such great stock. I have been pretty busy working on them this week, experimenting with some new techniques and ideas. I wanted to share with you a little sneak peak of what I got and what I have transformed it into. I’ll be sharing full tutorials for these projects soon, but in the meantime I hope you enjoy a little glimpse of this week! *...

More is more when it comes to Christmas trees in our house, whether they be full sized, in a tablescape or as decoration. The best thing about this tree is that it's a beautiful blank canvas. Leave it bare for a minimalist scandinvian look, or add blocks of colour, metallics or painted ornaments! A festive project that's perfect for the craft lover.?For this project I have partnered with Dremel, to show you how to create this at home. The best thing about a Dremel is that they have so many amazing attachments that mean you don’t have to have a...

It's that time of year again! When means as much festive crafting as I can possibly fit into my day. Can you tell? I'm super excited to be partnering with my favourite clay brand Sculpey, using their liquid clay to create some ornaments. For this project, I wanted to experiment with using the liquid clay much like you would make terrazzo, adding sparkle and interest to the clay and then baking it. For this I used gold leaf, but I also think you could use gold foil which would be a less expensive option. The gold leaf makes it feel...

When it comes to living spaces, they have to work hard. Not only are they the centre of most homes but they are also for lounging, entertaining and playing. It can be a challenge because you want one that's going to be beautiful and comfortable. Add children and pets to the mix and you've got a space that needs to work double, or maybe even triple duty!?So today I wanted to share a few tips for creating a space that caters to a family, in collaboration with Sunbrella who make incredible performance fabrics that look great and stand the test...

Hello festive table!

I'm enjoying entertaining at home this season, and given that for so many of you around the world it's the only option right now, I thought I would share with you how to create a simple natural tablescape.?For me, creating a natural tablescape is all about balancing the organic and modern elements on your table to make it feel comfortable and look beautiful. All while using what you have and what you can forage around you. I also love adding little DIYs that make the table really unique!?For this setting I used tableware from Maxwell & Williams and threw in a few easy DIYs that you can create really simply.

Pick Your Palette

It can be tricky settling on colours for your table, and it's always worth thinking about how the setting will look as a whole. I like to pick the plate colours and then the tablecloth, knowing that those things will be the ones that influence the whole look. I actually thought about using the rust coloured tablecloth as the base for the whole table, but then decided to do a white base and then the rust as a runner. This really helped the other elements shine.

Lay It out

I always start with a crushed linen tablecloth, which is the perfect foundation for a relaxed and natural feeling table. Also crushed because let's be honest, I don't really have time for ironing! For this one I actually used two queens sized sheets we don't use anymore, one as the base and one to create an organic feeling runner down the table. For this setting, I used Maxwell & Williams gorgeous Caviar Granite tableware, I love the organic feel of the speckled pattern. I layered with white basics, and added their hammered silver cutlery. Glassware brought some shine to the table!

Add Greenery

Next up, foliage! For me a natural table is all about looking at what's around you and foraging for greenery. My neighbours had some olive in their yard and they let me have a few branches.?I like to use the greenery in as many ways as possible to give the table an organic and cohesive feel so I put it in a vase, in wreaths and as place settings.

Make The Details

If you know me, you'll know I don't shy away from a little DIY detail. I actually find it so much easy to do this because you can just play around on the day with the things that you have. Candles add such a lovely vibe, I wanted to experiment with a twisted candle DIY I've been seeing. It took a few tries but I like the result.?For the fabric napkins, we made these out of some leftover fabric scraps I had, and tied them in simple knots! You can see the DIY for that here. Finally, a little installation of DIY olive leaf wreaths and a few lanterns I had been keeping for a while were the cherry on top.

In this setting: Maxwell & Williams Caviar Granite plates and White Basics Plates. Maxwell & Williams Wooden Serving Board. Maxwell & Williams Wine Glasses and Water Glasses. Maxwell & Williams Hammered Flatware. Maxwell & Williams Glass Vase. Maxwell & Williams Wine Decanter. DIY fabric napkins, DIY olive leaf wreaths.

This post is in collaboration with Maxwell & Williams

Here’s a little weekend project for you! I’ve been wanting to put together a herb garden for the house for a long, long time. I’ve wanted to put it on our deck because that’s the spot that gets the best light – the garden is quite green and bushy and I was worried the plants wouldn’t get enough light. I was at a bit of a loss for how to create a herb garden on the deck, I considered pots but knew there wouldn’t be enough space. Which is why I was so excited to learn about Urban Eden’s ?Vertical...

I'm so excited to share with you a very pretty technique I’ve been working on. I've been really wanting to experiment with drip glazed ceramics for a while, it's an aesthetic I'm always drawn to. But to be honest, the process used by professionals looks like it requires a somewhat complicated set up, so I've been looking for an alternative. Recently I got the chance to use the new Liquid Sculpey and was so excited because I found it was so great for creating this look! You'll be well aware of my love of Sculpey polymer clay. It is just...

With mandatory masks enforced in some areas of Australia due to Covid19, we wanted to create an easy cloth mask design that you can make at home. When wearing the mask ensure that your mouth, nose and chin are covered, and adjust as best you can so that there are no gaps, making sure to avoid touching the front of the mask while you are wearing it. This design is reusable, simply wash at home with hot water and detergent. It is recommended to wash it after each use and don't forget to use clean hands when you take the...

Interrupting the dispatch from DIY central to share a little bit of news. Baby number 2 is on the way. And we couldn't be more excited!

It's been a year all of ups and downs, but this is most certainly an up (even though I have mainly been throwing UP lol). It's been a bit hard to keep the news in these last few months and it feels so nice to finally share it with you.

Honestly, pregnancy number two has been much harder than my first, so I guess that has added a lot to what has been a very upside down year. But I'm not complaining at all, I'm through the worst of it now and just excited to make our family a foursome soon.

We told Frankie about her impending sibling a while ago and it is honestly so sweet to see how excited she is about it. I know it will be an adjustment once the baby comes and she realises that things have changed, but hopefully once that passes she will love having a little sidekick. I can tell she will!

I'm really excited to relax a little bit over the Christmas break and enjoy a few quite moments, if that's possible with a toddler and a baby kicking constantly! As ever, thank you so much for your support. It feels so amazing to be part of such a lovely community.

And you guys know I am such a fan of plants, I have them all around the house and they make me so happy!?Ever since we renovated I've really wanted to fill the spare bathroom with plants and create a forest like feel. I mean, more is more right? Recently I got the chance to do that, inspired by the new Herbal Essences bio:renew Potent Aloe collection. Lots of you guys were asking me about the best plants to put in the bathroom, so I put together a video for you to share the ones I put in our spare...

It’s getting to that time of year again… Gift giving time! This year I wanted to share lots of different ways you can make things for your family and friends, and you won’t be surprised to learn that lots of those involve my favourite DIY of all time (and one that was born this time last year), Trash to Terracotta! I made these bowl vessels a while ago but realised they would make such a lovely gift, so thought it was fitting to share them now. Read on for how to make them, it’s so simple. For this project I...

Got a question about caring for a certain type of fabric? We got you! As many of you know, this year has been a big one for me in terms of looking at my carbon footprint. I’ve been more conscious about the things I’ve been buying, and also trying to look after the things I own a little better. I’ve been doing well to really wear more of my clothes, and get way more wears out of anything new that I buy. I’m embracing the fact that people see me in the same thing over and over! The other side...

A few weeks ago we shared a front veranda makeover, with a lovely little upcycled rattan sofa. Lots of you wanted to know how we made the cushions for the sofa, so today we’ll be sharing the tutorial. For these covers we created a piped edge for a more polished finish, and to reflect the vintage style of the sofa. If you've never done this before, don't stress - it’s easier than you might think! That said, you can also skip the piped edge if you like and simply make the cushions without, it’s the same steps. This is a...

Are you guys ready to dive into the dollhouse project with me? Finally finishing the tiled table project means I have a bit more time to work on a new project… Frankie’s antique dollhouse! The first step will be overhauling it – repainting, fixing and removing the blue felt carpet. Then the next stage will be all about the details! There’s 8 rooms so there’s lots of opportunity for different details and to include all of Frankie’s favourite (also my favourite lol) things. I have been busy planning the details and also working out how in the world to make...

The day has finally arrived for me to share my upcycled tiled table project. I feels like a momentous occasion, mainly because I’ve been working on this project for months now (on and off) and I have to say, it’s one of my favourite upcycles to date. I’d been wanting to test out a tiled table project for a while, and truth be told, I didn’t really know how to tile when I first started, but through this process I’ve learnt so much! It took a while to work out the best tiles to use, how to paint them, how...

You guys will be no strangers to my all encompassing love of complex, challenging and sometimes scary upcycle projects. But sometimes, a simple project is all you need to completely update a room. ‘Simple is best’ is one motto that I might not always stick to, but for these projects I wanted to share with you, I thought it would be nice to go back to basics. Read on for two easy projects that will help to refresh your space. Remove A Mirror From Its Frame This is one of my favourite ways to create a chic and expensive looking...

More is more when it comes to Christmas trees in our house, whether they be full sized, in a tablescape or as decoration.

The best thing about this tree is that it's a beautiful blank canvas. Leave it bare for a minimalist scandinvian look, or add blocks of colour, metallics or painted ornaments! A festive project that's perfect for the craft lover.?For this project I have partnered with Dremel, to show you how to create this at home. The best thing about a Dremel is that they have so many amazing attachments that mean you don't have to have a huge number of larger tools if you don't want to.

Watch the video

Materials

• Dremel 4300
• Wood Cutting Wheel
• Sanding Band
• Abrasive Buff
• Piece of plywood
• Zamo III
• 2 Wood Clamps
• Paint and paintbrush (any colour you like, we used white)
• Pencil & plank of wood or ruler

How to

Voila!

I have to say, bathrooms are my favourite room in the house to makeover. I mean, who doesn't like planning new tiles and fittings? But what about when you can't renovate? Like, if you're renting, living with family or just don't have the cash to splash?

In these situations, bathrooms can be a little demoralising, as you look around and wonder what you can possibly do to improve the space. I've been there! Having rented for much of the last decade, bathrooms in need of a refresh have been the norm for me. I know it can seem like there's nothing to be done, but for me, the first place to start is by refreshing the bathroom accessories. It may seem like a small thing, but it makes such a difference!

For me, modern, minimalist bathroom accessories are central to a beautiful bathroom. Remember how I overhauled my brother's bathroom last year by updating his bathroom accessories? They honestly completely updated the space. In my opinion, even the most far gone bathroom can be improved with new accessories.

You may have tried to update your bathroom accessories in the past, but have been stumped by the not-so-ideal options on the market. uUgly suction accessories that more often than not fall off the wall in the middle of the night (causing you to jump out of bed whilst still half asleep), or mechanical fixings that require you to drill into the tiles. Both of these options are not ideal.

Which is why I love tesa's range of bathroom accessories. They use patented adhesive mounting technology that acts like it's permanently fixed to the wall, but is in fact, easily removable. So basically, the best of both worlds!

My friend recently moved into a new rental apartment, which is quite simple but and has absolutely zero storage or bathroom accessories. I was excited to get the opportunity to help her update the space using my favourite tesa products! I opted for the sleek Loxx range, with rounded edges and modern design, and they worked perfectly in her space. I opted for a towel rail, some hooks, a hand towel holder and a shelf, but these are only a few of the huge range of accessories that tesa offers. What's even better, is that when she moves out, she can take them with her!

It took me only an afternoon to help my cousin put these into her space, and this process is so easy, it can be done no matter how much DIY experience you have. There's no tools required and absolutely zero drilling!

• First, I prepped the surface by cleaning it with an alcohol based cleaner. I let that dry for half an hour.
• The next step is to apply the adapter to the wall. I removed the sticker from the back of the adapter and pressed it onto the wall. For the towel rail, I used the accessory to check where the other adapter had to sit on the other side.
• Next up, it was time for the glue! I applied the adhesive into the hole in the front of the adapter, squeezing it out until I could see it was full. I then let the glue dry for 12 hours.
• The final step was to place the accessory onto the adapter. First, I used the Allen key to open the grub screw in the base of the accessory. I then slotted the base onto the adapter. Using the Allen key, I tightened the screw to secure the accessory in place. Done!

The best thing about tesa's range is that if you need to move or update the accessory, you just simply remove it by rotating the mounting adapter clockwise with a pipe wrench or jaw pliers.

The shelf and other accessories I put into my brother's bathroom last year have held up so perfectly and really do seem like they are permanently attached to the wall. It's such great technology and is an easy solution for so many bathrooms. For a perfectly transformed space in just a few hours!

Click here to see the full range at Bunnings.

This post is in collaboration with tesa.

We have been loving the trend for terry towelling and with springtime and sunnier days just around the corner (for us in the Southern Hemisphere) we couldn't stop thinking of creating a two piece set from this cute fabric. But the search for the perfect terry material was a little bit tricky – nice Terry cloth seemed to be expensive, and too thick and we knew the material wouldn't translate very well into clothing. So for this project we actually found lightweight towels at Spotlight that were the perfect thinness to fashion into a very wearable two piece set.?For this...

Can you believe it’s time for Frankie to move into a big girl bed?! I've been feeling for a while that Frankie was ready to move out of her cot, her cousin recently got a big girl bed and Frankie has been so obsessed with it (like, wants to sleep over every night lol). Even though she’s only two and half, it felt like the right time to move her on. I always felt like a cot wasn’t particularly comfy, and after taking the sides off it a while ago she’s gotten used to climbing in and out. I looked...

Introducing our new favourite hat label!

It's been a long year, with lots of change and plenty of ups and downs. ?Who even knows what 'new normal' means anymore? But, one thing I've tried to stay conscious of is a goal I set in January, and that was to reduce my environmental footprint. Whilst in many ways I've met lots of these goals because I've been forced to - no travel! no eating out! no driving anywhere! - I still know there are areas I could improve, as well as needing to be aware of not letting things slip when (or if!?) things go back to normal. As part of this, I've been trying to get to know more brands that have sustainability as part of their core values, brands like Will & Bear.

Will & Bear's core values are all about sustainable and ethical production, and they use 100% Australian wool and upcycled woollen clothing to make their hats. In addition, for every hat sold they plant 10 trees across West Africa through the NGO trees.org. ?I recently added a few of their styles to my wardrobe (the Calloway Cream and the River Sand) and wanted to share their brand with you guys. They have kindly offered 20% off your first purchase, when you use the code 'Geneva20' at checkout!

This post is in collaboration with Will & Bear

Welcome back to paint 101, this time we're talking all about paint finishes, and when you should use them.

Choosing the right type of paint can be confusing, particularly when you're at the hardware store confronted with aisles full of different sheens. We get lots of questions about when you should use various paint types, so we thought it would be useful to lay out all the info for you as part of our paint series!

Tips For Choosing the Right Paint Type or 'Sheen'

When you think about different paint types, it generally comes down to the 'sheen' that they have. Paint sheen or finish refers to the amount of light that the paint reflects from its surface. Simply put, paints with a higher?sheen reflect light and paints with a low sheen absorb light.?Below we outline all the different types of paint types based on their sheens.

One thing to note is that if your paint color is dark and rich but you don't want a super shiny effect, step down at least one level on the sheen scale. That's because the darker and richer the paint color is, the more colorant it has, which boosts sheen. Ditto if you're painting a large, sun-washed, or imperfect wall. The higher the sheen, the more defects will show.?

Paint Type: High Gloss

Glossy paint finish is the most durable and easiest to clean of all paint types. It's hard, ultra-shiny and light-reflecting.S surface prep is important: this type of paint will show every lump and bump underneath, so don't skip the prep work.

Suitable for : ?Kitchens, cabinets, doors, window trims and?areas that sticky fingers touch and?likely to get dirty

Durability:?Very high

Semi-Gloss

Semi-gloss paint types are some of the most resilient. These finishes create a smooth, slightly reflective finish that is durable and easy to clean. The higher the gloss, the easier the cleanup of messes like fingerprints and smudges.?

Note that semi-gloss's extra sheen may change how your paint color looks on the wall. More light from your lamps or the room's uncovered windows will bounce off of semi-gloss surface than a satin surface (which actually absorbs some additional light instead). As a result of the way light reflects, the same paint color may appear slightly darker in a semi-gloss finish and slightly lighter in a satin one. So, factor that in when you're making your final decision about which paint finish to use.

Suitable for: Kitchen, bathrooms,?trims, brown holding. Also areas that get a lot of use and require frequent wipe-downs like?playrooms, kids' bedrooms and rooms where?moisture, drips, and grease stains challenge walls.?

Durability: High

Satin

Satin finish is often described as velvety and?is more flattering over pocks, divots, and scrapes since it draws the light in and tricks the eye into seeing a more even surface. So, if you want to deflect attention away from faults and blemishes without spending hours sanding them away, satin is the way to go.?It's biggest flaw is it reveals application flaws, such as roller or brush strokes. Touch-ups later can be tricky.

Suitable for: Bedrooms, living rooms and family rooms, foyers, hallways, kids' bedrooms

Durability:?Medium to high

Eggshell

This paint essentially has a flat (no-shine) finish with little lustre, like a chicken's egg. Eggshell covers wall imperfections well and is a great finish for gathering spaces that don't get a lot of bumps and scuffs.

Suitable for : Dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms

Durability: Medium

Flat or Matte

Latte or matte paint finishes are non reflective. A flat finish will soak up light, create a smooth appearance in areas with surface imperfections and hide any bumps or scratches in the surface of the wall. Flat finishes are the hardest to clean, but?are easy to touch up which means you can repaint any major marks or scratches.?

Suitable for: Low-traffic rooms with lots of light, like an office or a formal sitting room, adults' bedrooms and other interior rooms that won't be roughed up by kids

Durability: Low

My Personal Preference for Paint Sheens

Personally, I prefer a more matte finish on all paints in our home. That's because I find that the more shiny a surface, the more cheap that it can look. Take our kitchen for example. We hand painted the cabinets using a bespoke colour. Although it might have been better to paint them in a higher sheen due to the amount of use they get, we knew that the lower sheen paint would make the kitchen look much more expensive. For me, I'm happier to have a space looking better, even if the surface may be a little harder to clean down the line. So far we haven't had any troubles and I find marks actually show up less than they would on a shinier surface.

Planning on stocking up on kids craft supplies? Here's a few ideas for you.

Even though my hometown has opened up significantly since isolation, I have to say we're still staying in A LOT. That means plenty of craft time with Frankie and my niece Emmie, and ample time to go through all the craft supplies in the house. It's time to stock up again! A few of you have asked me in the past for a list of my favourite craft supplies so I thought I would share them with you, in case you're thinking of getting a few new ones too.

From Your House

You know that I LOVE to shop my own closet (metaphorically) when it comes to making kids projects, and am known for hoarding an almost silly amount of recyclables for Frankie to get creative with. One man's trash is another woman's craft supplies, so the saying goes right? A few things I like to use include:

• Egg cartons
• Cardboard
• Milk bottles and cartons
• Bottle tops
• Boxes
• String
• Newspaper
• Craft paper
• Packaging
• Buttons
• Paper plates
• Straws

From the Craft Store

For most of the supplies I have bought I have gone to either Spotlight, Officeworks or Bunnings. I also find that local little dollar stores often have really great kids supplies that can be more affordable than the bigger box stores. You can of course buy all of these online too!

• Air Dry / Polymer ?Clay
• Butchers Paper
• Clothes Pegs
• Cotton Balls
• Coloured Paper
• Crayola washable markers
• Gold Paper Fasteners
• Loose Feathers
• Felt pieces
• Glue Stick
• Googly Eyes
• Hole Punch
• Paint (washable and acrylic)
• Pipe Cleaners
• PVA Glue
• Pom Poms
• Popsicle Sticks
• Kids Safe Scissors
• Stickers
• Tape
• Yarn

By the way, in case you're wondering, we're a no glitter household! So far at least.

If you're looking for project ideas how about:

• A Cardboard Camera
• A Cardboard Cacti Garden
• Matching Transfer Tees

2020 has been, well, not what anyone expected. And so much of it has been tough. But one thing that has come out of these strange times is lots of amazing DIY projects. With so much time at home it’s no surprise that we’ve been getting creative in order to stay sane. I’ve noticed lots of different DIY ideas that keep cropping up, making me think they’re great trends that everyone needs to try. Here are my faves. The Foam Mirror Inspired by a Scandinavian design, Lil Ahenkan was the first person to create her own version of a bubblegum...

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No chair left behind! Is what they say, right?

I have to be honest, I was VERY dubious about this old chair when I found it on the side of the road. It was completely worn out, trashed in fact! ?When I got it home and asked Ben what I would need to fix it (he being the interior and furniture designer), he told me 'an incinerator'. Wow thanks!?And honestly, it's been an epic journey over the last few days stripping, sanding, cleaning and upholstering it. But I'm so happy with how it turned out!?For this project I couldn't wait to use my new Dremel rotary tool. I'd been looking for a project where I could experiment with all the different attachments and functions, and this upcycle was ideal. I'm so excited to be working with them over the next few months to share tips and tricks for how you can use it!

What Is A Dremel?

If you're looking for a multi-use tool to help with your upcycling and DIY projects, this is it! I have the Dremel 4300, which is a high powered corded version (they also have cordless) that has a multitude of attachments. For me it's so great for upcycling, DIY and home projects because it cuts, sands, drills, cleans, engraves, polishes and so much more! For this particular project I used the Dremel to sand hard to reach places, buff and clean the wood so it was fully restored and then clean all the metal studdings and fixings. I can honestly say it gave this project such a more professional finish, and I can't wait to make more things using it.

Materials

For the Upholstery

• An old runner rug (I got mine a few years ago from Etsy)
• 2 pieces of upholstery foam (this is what I used)
• Black Upholstery Tacks (like these)
• Heavy Duty Staple Gun and staples
• Scissors, stanley knife, hammer

For the Legs

• Dremel 4300
• Sanding & Grinding Dremel Kit
• Cleaning & Polishing Kit
• Dremel Abrasive Buffs
• 220 Grit Sandpaper
• Screwdriver
• Brass screws

How to

?

Voila

Why Did I Use A Rug?

Lots of you have asked me what made me use a rug for this project. In truth is I have wanted to cover a chair with a rug for a long, long time. I'm pretty sure I even bought this rug specifically for that purpose! I worried that it would be difficult to actually upholster with a rug, but in the end I found the rug easy to work with. I noticed that the sturdy fabric gives a much more professional look, and doesn't required as much stretching onto the frame you would need to do with a lighter fabric. Also, it covers up a not perfect foam/batting situation! All in all I would recommend, but opt for one that's not too thick.

How Much Did The Project Cost?

So many of you have asked me this! The biggest cost for this chair was the rug, and I spent about $100 on it a while ago. I got it along with a few others from a seller on Etsy who was doing a clearance sale. Other fabric would have been cheaper obviously but I think the rug makes this upcycle. The other things such as the foam and fixings cost about $50.

Here's some proof that you can actually sit on it! I was nervous about that first sit but it's sturdy!

Here's a little anecdote to leave you with. When I shared this road side find on IG stories a while ago, a reader wrote to me and said their sister had picked the other chair (apparently there was originally a pair) from same spot. If only this chair's mate could see it now! Revenge body but make it chair lol.

This project is in collaboration with Dremel.

When it comes to living spaces, they have to work hard. Not only are they the centre of most homes but they are also for lounging, entertaining and playing.

It can be a challenge because you want one that's going to be beautiful and comfortable. Add children and pets to the mix and you've got a space that needs to work double, or maybe even triple duty!?So today I wanted to share a few tips for creating a space that caters to a family, in collaboration with Sunbrella who make incredible performance fabrics that look great and stand the test of time for families.

Tips For Creating A Family Friendly Living Room

Opt for Durable Fabrics

No matter how careful you are, accidents happen - like spills, smudges or craft projects gone awry. So make it easier on yourself and your family by choosing good quality durable fabrics for sofas, ottomans and cushions. Here are some things to consider:

• Always opt for high quality fabrics where you can, performance fabrics like those made by Sunbrella are specifically designed to be stain and moisture resistant, and be washable.
• Choose a fabric with a grain or light speckled pattern, which will also help to disguise any accidents that happen.
• Consider darker fabrics for items of furniture that can't be easily washed, marks and spills will be a lot less obvious.
• Slipcovers are another great choice for the living room. When accidents happen, simply pull off the cover and toss it into the wash.

Choose Soft Corners

When it comes to coffee tables, the arms of chairs or other hard surfaces, opt for softer upholstered styles that won't cause so much injury if a child falls or trips onto it. An upholstered ottoman is great as a coffee table!

Think Storage

When you've got a family, you can never have too much storage. Look for pieces of furniture that do double duty and include storage like an ottoman or coffee table that has a lid and a place to store things inside.

Secure Shelves to Walls

Make sure to secure any item of furniture that could fall onto a child to the wall. I do this using small L brackets on the sides of bookshelves, cabinets and consoles.

Enjoy Your Space

At the end of the day, you want a space that is conducive to making great memories with the whole family. So it's worth investing in furnishings and decor that are durable as well as being aesthetically pleasing, so that everyone can relax and be themselves.

Updating Our Space

I love our open space living space, but recently decided it was time to refresh the space to make it better for Frankie - we have a gorgeous marble coffee table that looks so lovely but isn't ideal when it comes to how she uses the space. I decided it was time to put an ottoman in the space that would act as both coffee table, footstool and as a softer landing for her unpredictable toddler behaviour. I got an old ottoman that my parents had in their garage, it has seen much better days! I checked the height and worked out it would be a great coffee table, it just needed to be recovered. I picked this gorgeous Sunbrella Blend Clay fabric, I liked the darker tone and I also knew the speckled nature of the fabric would be better for hiding small stains which always happen with children around. We'll be sharing the tutorial for this ottoman epicycle shortly! The best thing about this fabric is that it can be machine washed, is stain repellent and can easily be spot cleaned. How great! I love how this colour looks in the space and it is such a comfortable addition.

Voila!

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This post is in collaboration with Sunbrella.

Let's talk entryways.

In my book I talk a lot about creating beautiful and functional spaces, and for each room in the house there's a checklist for what you need in that space along with tips and tricks to make it look great. There's also a bunch of 'Ask Geneva' sections that give solutions to your most commonly asked questions! One of those very frequently asked questions is 'How do I create an entryway when I don't have much space?'. Which is a great question!

A great entryway makes arriving and leaving the house so much easier, but often people think they need a huge mudroom to create a welcoming and useful entryway, and whilst space offers a lot and can be essential if have a big family or live on a farm, most of the time a smaller entryway will work just as well. Having lived in Hong Kong in a tiny apartment, I worked hard to create a useful entryway that looked great and was functional (remember?), and over time have refined that idea. Here I'll share a few tips and tricks from my book for a great small entryway.

In case you're looking to overhaul yours, there are loads more projects and ideas in the Entryway chapter in my book!

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1. Mark Out The Space

It's useful to delineate the entryway from the rest of the house, as that will help to make it more functional and stop it from becoming a dumping ground. So find a space, which could either be part of a hallway or even just a blank wall in proximity to the front door.

2. Add A Slimline Bench

I'm a big fan of slimline benches as places for storage and seating, and they work great in bedrooms and just as well as a piece of entryway furniture, because they don't take up too much space. This bench is a new version of the one from my book so make sure to check it out for the instructions.

3. Use The Walls For Storage

If you don't have much space, the walls are a great tool for storage. Add hooks or brackets for hanging bags, hats and clothing. I love making a wall organiser using a dowel and S hooks, which is an old project I made when we lived in Hong Kong, See here.

4. Use Baskets

A few baskets on the ground or on your bench are great for placing shoes and other clutter that would otherwise be a bit of an eyesore. A round plate is also perfect for corralling keys and other loose items.

5. Add Decor

I like to add a personal touch so plants, art or vases are a nice idea. Obviously you don't want to go over the top as it can become overloaded with decor, so keep that in mind when adding things to your entryway. Cushions on the bench add comfort and colour/texture!

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YOU CAN BUY MY BOOK HERE:

• Australia & NZ readers can order their copy at Booktopia?here.
• USA readers can order their copy from Amazon?here.
• UK & Ireland readers can order their copy from Amazon here.
• For readers in the rest of the world you can order your copy from Book Depository?here.

I must admit, I'm a living room lover. Not only is the living room a key focus of the whole house, smack bang in the centre for most of us, but it's likely a space in your home where you do most of your living - lounging, entertaining, playing and relaxing.

Because of that, a living room needs to be designed to be one of the most versatile and comfortable rooms in the house, but also be welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. There's a lot going on! ?For me, creating a beautiful and comfortable living room is all about choosing a good mix of furniture - pieces that complement each other and are also really versatile. Recently my friends at Brosa asked me to share my secrets to mixing and matching living room furniture (after I added the Ada chair to our space), and after a few years of working to create the perfect space for us at home, I'm excited to share what I've learnt.

Love this chair!

Define What Your Space Needs

It's easy to get drawn into choosing the nitty gritty of the decor of your living room - the rugs, the textiles or the art - and not think enough about the foundations of the space itself. But by doing some simple planning to review what your space needs, you're much more likely to create a room that not only looks great but is functional too. For me, the first place to start is with seating, given that a significant function of the room is about gathering and relaxing comfortably. You and your family may need a sofa and a few occasional chairs, or just a large L shaped sofa. Choose your seating based on how you will actually use the space, and keep comfort in mind. Once you have determined the seating arrangement, think about how you can add in other furniture like a console table, book shelves, main coffee table or smaller side tables to make a space that's easy to use.

Consider a Colour Palette

Creating a cohesive palette in a living room will go a long way to making it feel well designed and welcoming, allowing you to mix a broad range of furniture styles together. As a simple rule, the more furniture styles I go for the more simple the palette. I like to think about the elements that exist already such as the walls and floors, and choose a few key tones that go with that. Keep in mind that larger pieces of furniture like a sofa or occasional chair will have a bigger impact on the palette, so it's worth considering that when you make purchasing decisions. I usually optfor neutral colours for large pieces of furniture then add colour using cushions, art and rugs. Doing this will ensure your space is coherent, even with a range of different furniture styles in the room.

Don't Be Afraid Of Mixing Eras

For me, one trick to creating a space that feels layered and lived in is to mix furniture styles. It may seem like a room will look better if all the furniture and decor is of the one era, but in truth that can feel a little staged. In my opinion you're much better to experiment with hints of all different styles like Scandinavian, Boho, Mid Century Modern and Contemporary. Start by choosing one style, say for your console table or sofa, and then mix hints of other styles in. I also like to consider the shapes of the furniture and contrast them with other pieces. A vintage style console table complements a more modern armchair.

Let Your Favourite Piece Shine

In line with the concept of mixing eras, another secret I have to creating an interesting and unique space is not to overdo any single style or material. Instead, choose one stand out piece that you love, say a Hamptons cabinet, and then use other more simple pieces to complement it. Whilst you may think this will mean your favourite style could be a little lost in the space, what this actually does is allow that single piece to have a stronger visual impact. I've learnt through experience that a little can go a long way in a living room!

Think About Layout

Another way to create cohesion in a space with a range of different furniture styles is to layout the furniture using symmetry. Consider the lines of the room - any walkways, key walls or the location of the windows. Locate furniture in a symmetrical way following those lines, like putting a sofa under a window rather than next to it. This makes for a space that feels organised and calming rather than chaotic.

Consider Pairings and Repetition

If you're a fan of organisation and a space that feels well thought out, one way to achieve this whilst still mixing furniture styles is to opt for pairings of furniture or some sort of repetition in the space. This leads the eye across the room and helps it make sense. For example, a pair of these gorgeous occasional chairs would be perfect facing a neutral sofa.

Find Balance

At the end of the day, mixing and matching living room furniture is all about finding balance. That means how you find the right mix of the materials in the space, the textiles, the finishes and the negative space. Sometimes it's useful to take a step back to see the space clearly and understand what's needed. Take the time to envision pieces of furniture together and don't be afraid to experiment.

Brosa delivers Australia wide, including Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and beyond so make sure to check out their website for lots of beautiful items that you can have delivered to your front door.

Another day, another upcycle with paint! You’ll remember that recently I set myself the task of upcycling a secondhand find using British Paints. I had found a beautiful hutch which I wanted to put into Frankie’s room. I shared a few paint options with you guys, and got so many great ideas and responses! In the end I was torn between the beautiful deep blue of ‘Kara Sea’ and the soft green of ‘Wollemi Pine’. In order to decide what colour would work best I spent a bit of time planning out how I wanted Frankie’s room to evolve in...

Looking for a seriously satisfying project to do at home? You’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re in lock down (thinking of you Melbourne friends) or you’re just choosing to stay in, chances are you might want something to keep you occupied. If you’re like me, that means organising, painting and redecorating! But it can be tricky if you don’t have everything you need for a large project, which is why a little project is just what you need. This self DIY uses only two materials, a plank of wood and some leather strapping. But you can also use...

Another day, another experiment with painting!

I have to admit, I've never been particularly good at drawing. Which is probably why I have stayed away from the line art trend. Up until now! I've been wanting to try my hand (literally) at painting faces, and when The Iconic asked me to put together some easy DIY ideas to do at home, I knew this was one I wanted to tackle. The best part was discovering that it wasn't THAT hard, even for someone who can't really draw faces. Read on for how I did it, and watch the video.

You can shop a few of my faves from The Iconic here. In the video I'm wearing this knit and these jeans.

Watch the video

In the video I'm wearing this knit and these jeans.

You Need

What you need is a plant pot, some contrasting paint, a slim paint brush and a pen and paper for practicing. For these pots I pre painted them using my clay effect paint method, and prepainting them is a good idea so that you can easily fix any mistakes you make.

How to

1. The first step is to practice drawing some line faces art. I have to say, I am definitely no artist and the practice helped me to get the perspective right.
2. ?Next, grab your planter. Using a piece of chalk or pencil, lightly sketch out your design. You can wipe it off if you aren't happy with it. Pay attention to the relative sizes of the eyes, nose and mouth, and don't be afraid to start again if you don't like it.
3. Once you're happy with the shape, it's time to paint!?Take this part slow, and paint over the face you have marked. I found it was useful to turn the planter so that you can do nice sweeping strokes for lines. If you make a mistake, you can use your base paint to cover it up, or paint over it completely and start again.

Voila! Such an easy project that adds so much personality to your space!

This post is in collaboration with The Iconic.

  The easiest (crowd pleasing) salad you’ll ever make! My friends and I often do lunches at each other’s houses, and to make it easy we all bring a dish. I love this kind of eating, where you get to taste a bit of everyone’s cooking. My go-to dish is this cauliflower salad, it’s so easy to make and tastes delicious. I’ve taken it to a few lunches now, and people aren’t even sick of it yet, so I think that says a lot! Read on for the simple recipe. Ingredients One large cauliflower 2 teaspoons ground cumin powder 2...

Whoa. Who knew 2020 would take such a strange turn? I guess I have to preface this by saying that here in Australia we are SO SO SO lucky with the way that Covid has been handled and that the lock down seems to have worked. I know that for so many other countries this hasn’t been the case and in those countries the reality is sadly very different. Not that we’re out of the woods yet. Like many places we’re seeing some lifting of restrictions. In fact, my favourite little thrift store reopened this week, which honestly felt like...

Talk about beautiful details! One thing I've always wanted to do is learn more about Australia's Indigenous artists and makers, so I've taken some time recently to research and follow as many as I can. I always knew that that the first nations peoples of Australia have such amazing traditional crafts as part of their culture, and it has been such a pleasure to delve into the world’s of different makers, artists and collectives. The talent out there is truly impressive. In this round up:?Woven hat by Bula Bula Arts s for Maara Collective,?Hand painted jacket by GInny’s Girl Gang,?Piccabean...

It's starting to feel like Christmas guys! Which can only mean one this, the branch Christmas tree.

Long term readers will know all about the tree I make yearly, which is seriously easy to do, and light on the planet too. I actually kept most of the branches that I had from last year's tree, but added a new tier and some new decorations. Obviously I'll also be adding the ones that I upcycled using paint, and I'll share some pics of that soon.

If you're looking for the tutorial for this one, you can check out this post! It's from 2018 when I put up the tree in Hong Kong, and I'm happy to say it works just as well in a house as it does in an apartment. For this project I got everything new I needed from Bunnings including the lights, jute star, gold decorations which are actually air plant holders and some coasters I painted terracotta. Easy!

Planning on stocking up on kids craft supplies? Here’s a few ideas for you. Even though my hometown has opened up significantly since isolation, I have to say we’re still staying in A LOT. That means plenty of craft time with Frankie and my niece Emmie, and ample time to go through all the craft supplies in the house. It’s time to stock up again! A few of you have asked me in the past for a list of my favourite craft supplies so I thought I would share them with you, in case you’re thinking of getting a few...

You guys will be no strangers to my all encompassing love of complex, challenging and sometimes scary upcycle projects. But sometimes, a simple project is all you need to completely update a room.

'Simple is best' is one motto that I might not always stick to, but for these projects I wanted to share with you, I thought it would be nice to go back to basics. Read on for two easy projects that will help to refresh your space.

Remove A Mirror From Its Frame

This is one of my favourite ways to create a chic and expensive looking feature for any room.. Update a mirror by removing it from the frame! I mean, how often have you rejected a mirror because it sat in an ugly frame? This project works particularly well if you find an arched mirror, or if the frame is in really bad condition. It's easiest to achieve when the mirror isn't glued into the frame, only screwed in, as it just requires you to use a screwdriver to release it. So next time you see a horribly ugly mirror, consider what it might look like if you take it out of the frame!

Paint Those Shelves White

You'll often find cheap old shelves on classified websites and in thrift stores, and the easiest way to give them a new life is to paint. them. white! Yep it's the most simple of updates but it honestly works so well. I found these shelves being thrown out on the side of the road, and knew that their shape made them a perfect little update for my office. But the dark brown stain had seen better days, so I decided to paint them. And they came up perfectly! If the wood is varnished, it's a good idea to use a primer before painting.

Looking for a seriously satisfying project to do at home? You've come to the right place!

Whether you're in lock down (thinking of you Melbourne friends) or you're just choosing to stay in, chances are you might want something to keep you occupied. If you're like me, that means organising, painting and redecorating! But it can be tricky if you don't have everything you need for a large project, which is why a little project is just what you need. This self DIY uses only two materials, a plank of wood and some leather strapping. But you can also use old belts if you have some laying around!

This project is an oldie but a goodie for me, and one that I shared a few years ago. I recently gave the idea an update to suit my space, and made a little video of it. You can watch the video for this project on IGTV here. Here's to easy projects!

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Hats are the best, but honestly they can be a bit tricky to store – often piling up and losing their shape. If you’ve been here a while you know I’m all about creative storage that works well and also looks great. Here’s another idea to add to your list. Recently I added a few more hats to my collection from my favourite label Will & Bear. I think I’ve mentioned before how much I like their philosophy,?their core values are all about sustainable and ethical production, and they use 100% Australian wool and upcycled woollen clothing to make their...

Hats are the best, but honestly they can be a bit tricky to store - often piling up and losing their shape. If you've been here a while you know I'm all about creative storage that works well and also looks great. Here's another idea to add to your list.

Recently I added a few more hats to my collection from my favourite label Will & Bear. I think I've mentioned before how much I like their philosophy,?their core values are all about sustainable and ethical production, and they use 100% Australian wool and upcycled woollen clothing to make their hats. Annnndd, for every hat sold they plant 10 trees across West Africa through the NGO trees.org! ??Obviously I needed a cute and practical way to store these new hats, so I put together this hanging hat rack. It's actually very similar to one I made 4 years ago, with some new details added in to match the house and also reduce the impacts on the brim (I've swapped out the pegs on the brim for S hooks that hook to the inside band of the hat). I'm also sharing this project as an IGTV now (along with one other simple idea for hat storage) if you want to see me talk you guys through it. Enjoy!

Hats shown here: Will & Bear's?Calloway Cream,?Andy Auburn, Oak Auburn, Harvey Amber and the River Sand.

How to Make a hanging hat rack

Voila!

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This post is in collaboration with Will & Bear.

It's getting to that time of year again. Gift giving time!

This year I wanted to share lots of different ways you can make things for your family and friends, and you won't be surprised to learn that lots of those involve my favourite DIY of all time (and one that was born this time last year), Trash to Terracotta! I made these bowl vessels a while ago but realised they would make such a lovely gift, so thought it was fitting to share them now. Read on for how to make them, it's so simple.

For this project I made one simple style using terracotta paint, which I thought was a nice jewellery holder or planter, and the other I made into a candle. Note that I didn't paint inside the bowl that I planned to put the wax in.

You need

• Two matching bowls
• Paint in white and terracotta tones
• Baking POWDER
• A Paint Brush
• Super glue or hot glue
• Candle wicks
• Candle wax and heating implements (microwave or stovetop)

How to

Voila!

I think it might be a VERY trash to terracotta Christmas.

I'm so excited to share with you a few changes we’ve made to our front veranda! As some of you will already know, a little while ago we made a few changes to the front and the back of our house – adding wooden battens and pop out panels. They have added amazing privacy and have also kept our little gymnast Frankie from falling out! Since then I've been meaning to style the front deck but haven't had the chance. I've spent a long time looking for furniture that would suit this space and stand up to the elements outside....

The secret to a unique space? Antiques! The difference between a well styled space and a just ok one is often hard to put your finger on. Is it the colours? The finishing? The textiles? Chances are it’s all those things, but for me, a space really sings when it tells a story. And by tells a story I mean has lots of layers and FEELS like the person that lives there. I think a mistake that we can often make is to cut and paste a concept or idea we’ve seen somewhere else into our space, which can make...

Have you noticed that with a push towards less packaging, you get so many drawstring bags when you do any sort of online shopping these days? I love that we’re seeing better choices being made about packaging, which can be very wasteful sometimes. But if you’re not careful, you can end up with a cupboard full of unused drawstring bags. Never fear, there are lots of different ways to use them! Here are a few ways I’m using mine.   Using Them As Packing Cubes OK so admittedly I’m not going anywhere at the moment, but when I did my...

Upcycle in progress! I’m so excited to be upcycling this secondhand hutch to use in Frankie’s room as storage. Recently I decided I wanted to put a little more storage into Frankie’s room, so went online to find something secondhand. After ?a while I stumbled upon an amazing vintage hutch, and knew it would be perfect in the corner of her room. It was obvious just how gorgeous this piece could be wth a refresh and a new coat of paint. I’m partnering with?British Paints to give it a complete overhaul, and I’ve love it if you could help me...

We have a dollhouse update! I’m so utterly blown away by these gorgeous pieces that I had to share them with you. When we got Frankie’s dollhouse, which is pretty much a family heirloom, it didn’t have any furniture. I didn’t think much about it but recently Ben’s mother dropped over a box that she had discovered in storage…… The furniture for Frankie’s dollhouse! These are the original pieces that Ben’s grandfather made for the house, and I have to say, they are incredible. I’ve been doing a lot of research about dollhouse furniture and have found that in most...

I'm so excited to share with you a few changes we've made to our front veranda!

As some of you will already know, a little while ago we made a few changes to the front and the back of our house - adding wooden battens and pop out panels. They have added amazing privacy and have also kept our little gymnast Frankie from falling out! Since then I've been meaning to style the front deck but haven't had the chance. I've spent a long time looking for furniture that would suit this space and stand up to the elements outside. I finally decided to get creative, and am excited to work with Sunbrella to give this space a little spruce. Sunbrella is the world leader in performance fabrics, which are amazing because they're water resistant and mold resistant, and are also machine washable so are perfect if you've got kids! I knew they would be the perfect foundation for a calm and inviting deck.

Before & After

What I really wanted from this space was a lovely little chill out area. It gets the most gorgeous sun in the mornings and for a long time I have thought about spending a few minutes here in the morning before Frankie wakes up, just having tea and relaxing. I think it would be such a nice spot to do some meditation and a gratitude journal. And also a lovely spot to sit with Frankie too!

Choosing A Colour Palette

If you have my book you'll know that one thing I think a lot about when I plan a space is the colour palette. It's something that has helped me build a cohesive style throughout the house. This space was a lovely blank canvas, and I took some time to plan how colour would be used, and tie into the rest of the house. Being part of the entrance, I wanted it to be a welcoming space and also a nice introduction to our home. I decided to use white as the base colour for the spac in keeping with the existing colours, and then chose terracotta and khaki as the highlight colours. There were so many amazing shades of Sunbrella fabrics that it was hard to choose!

Creating The Perfect Outdoor Seating

I was very lucky to find this vintage rattan two seater sofa on Gumtree, it was a little bit worse for wear but I sanded it and gave it a coat of lacquer to make sure it stood up under the elements. I knew that Sunbrella would be the ideal fabric to use for this space, not only is it comfortable but it is perfect in this outdoor environment. I wanted to create a piped cushion to reflect the sofa's vintage character, so I made them myself using Sunbrella's Natural Canvas (we'll share a separate post on this shortly). I also added some gorgeous cushions in Sunbrella's Blend Cactus fabric. They look so great in this space!

Adding Decor

I was excited to finally have a place for my tiled table! Being a tiled surface I thought it would work well in this semi outdoor space - it adds such a lovely pattern and tone. Plants were also always going to be a key element, although space was a little tight so I didn't want to go overboard. I chose to put in a big lipstick hanging plant, which I hung using a large shelf bracket attached to the wall, it worked so well! I then added a Zanzibar Gem plant in a pot to balance the greenery. I haven't set up watering for the hanging plant so I'm just watering it every few days by hand at the moment A terracotta wall hanging and some trash to terracotta vases were the perfect?finishing touches.

Voila!

I am so excited about this space and can't wait to use it! And because life is never perfect, it's so great to know that these Sunbrella fabrics are durable and family friendly, along with being so so comfortable.

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In this space:

Vintage rattan lounger with DIY cushions using Sunbrella Natural Canvas fabric, Sunbrella cushions made form Blend Cactus fabric, Upcycled coffee table made using DIY painted tiles, DIY Whitewashed Vase, Palm Beach candle, DIY wall hanging, West Elm glass lantern, Bunnings plant pot, Target cup.

This post is in collaboration with Sunbrella.

I couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to my new project…. Frankie’s Dollhouse. A little while ago we received the most incredible gift from Ben’s parents. This incredible dollhouse! I guess it wasn’t really a gift per say, it was actually made by Ben’s grandfather for Ben. So I guess it’s Ben’s gift to give to Frankie? But Ben’s parents have been very kindly holding on to it while we gallivanted around the world, and recently dropped it off for Frankie. Ben’s grandfather was a master craftsman, and made one of these for each of his grandchildren, complete with...

This week has been a wake up call. The tragedy of George Floyd’s death (and so many others) in the US has sent reverberations across the globe, making many of us question the system and our own part in it.?Even though I grew up in a mixed race household, I know that my skin colour has (in all likelihood) never stopped me living the life I want to live, and because of that I have been incredibly privileged. Even though there's no way to truly understand another person's experience of racism, I know that it’s?essential to commit to learning and...

Welcome back to paint 101, this time we’re talking all about paint finishes, and when you should use them. Choosing the right type of paint can be confusing, particularly when you’re at the hardware store confronted with aisles full of different sheens. We get lots of questions about when you should use various paint types, so we thought it would be useful to lay out all the info for you as part of our paint series! Tips For Choosing the Right Paint Type or ‘Sheen’ When you think about different paint types, it generally comes down to the ‘sheen’ that...

Are you guys ready to dive into the dollhouse project with me?

Finally finishing the tiled table project means I have a bit more time to work on a new project. Frankie's antique dollhouse! The first step will be overhauling it - repainting, fixing and removing the blue felt carpet. Then the next stage will be all about the details! There's 8 rooms so there's lots of opportunity for different details and to include all of Frankie's favourite (also my favourite lol) things. I have been busy planning the details and also working out how in the world to make everything.

I have started building a Dollhouse Pinterest board to gather my inspiration, and there is so much info online about making miniatures. But to be honest, I'm mainly drawn to real life rooms and inspiration for how this doll house is going to come together! I know that might make it a little tricky when it comes to actually executing it, but I'm happy to dive right in! I've been gathering imagery for the transformation, looking for details that I like. My main goal is that it's a really fun little house with lots of colour and all of frank's favourite things. The antique dollhouse already has a cottage/American home feel so I'm trying to take that into account with my ideas! Scroll down for some details I like.

?A few details that have caught my eye.

• Swings, playroom and other cute kids details.
• White washed tongue and groove walls (aka VJ panelling).
• Mixed furniture including modern, mid century and coastal.
• Creative use of colour on walls, doors, nooks etc.
• Cute window box seating.
• Build in shelves.
• Greens in the kitchen.
• Terracotta tiles, and lots of terracotta vases. Of course!

Sight Unseen | The Design Files |Honestly WTF | Set Living | Down The Rabbit Hole Wines for Spell | Jenni Kayne | The Three Birds Renovations | Sarah Sherman Samuel?| Pop & Scott

Another day, another experiment with painting! I have to admit, I’ve never been particularly good at drawing. Which is probably why I have stayed away from the line art trend… Up until now! I’ve been wanting to try my hand (literally) at painting faces, and when The Iconic asked me to put together some easy DIY ideas to do at home, I knew this was one I wanted to tackle. The best part was discovering that it wasn’t THAT hard, even for someone who can’t really draw faces. Read on for how I did it, and watch the video. You...

I'm so excited to share with you one of my favourite projects, easy polymer clay earrings.

With Christmas right around the corner, perhaps some of you are thinking about presents to buy for friends, or maybe you just want to spice up a simple outfit. Well you've come to the right place!

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As you guys know, Sculpey polymer clay is one of my favorite mediums, and I've been using their Souffl? collection for the last few years for so many different projects. I made this wall hanging for me and this one for Frankie. I also made some very simple fridge magnets. And I recently experimented with Liquid Sculpey. In truth I've been wanting to make earrings from this clay for a very long time, and recently I finally got a chance! As soon as my friends at Sculpey told me they were launching a new Midnight Blue shade, I knew I had to use it! Read on for how to make your own.

You need

• Sculpey Souffl? polymer clay. I used Midnight Blue, Igloo, Cinnamon and Pumpkin.
• A rolling pin or glass bottle
• Clay cutters or various sized lids
• A scalpel or sharp knife
• Earring posts and earring backs
• Jump rings
• Jewelry pliers
• Glue
• Raffia for the tassels (optional)
• Baking tray and baking paper

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How to make clay polymer earrings

Voila!

Hello festive table! I'm enjoying entertaining at home this season, and given that for so many of you around the world it’s the only option right now, I thought I would share with you how to create a simple natural tablescape.?For me, creating a natural tablescape is all about balancing the organic and modern elements on your table to make it feel comfortable and look beautiful. All while using what you have and what you can forage around you. I also love adding little DIYs that make the table really unique!?For this setting I used tableware from Maxwell & Williams...

Interrupting the dispatch from DIY central to share a little bit of news… Baby number 2 is on the way. And we couldn’t be more excited! It’s been a year all of ups and downs, but this is most certainly an up (even though I have mainly been throwing UP lol). It’s been a bit hard to keep the news in these last few months and it feels so nice to finally share it with you. Honestly, pregnancy number two has been much harder than my first, so I guess that has added a lot to what has been a...

We have a dollhouse update!

I'm so utterly blown away by these gorgeous pieces that I had to share them with you. When we got Frankie's dollhouse, which is pretty much a family heirloom, it didn't have any furniture. I didn't think much about it but recently Ben's mother dropped over a box that she had discovered in storage.. The furniture for Frankie's dollhouse! These are the original pieces that Ben's grandfather made for the house, and I have to say, they are incredible.

I've been doing a lot of research about dollhouse furniture and have found that in most cases people make them out of cardboard or foam core, which if I'm honest, is probably what I would do! But these pieces are so so much more than that. They are all hand crafted, detailed and made like tiny perfect replicas of the real thing. I'm going to be doing some teeny tiny upcycles on a few pieces, and changing a few fabrics, but of course I want to stay as true as possible to these gorgeous pieces. I'll also be making a few modern pieces of my own to give the house that eclectic and mixed feel that I like, but I couldn't be happier to bring these gorgeous designs home to Frankie's dollhouse. Stay tuned!

It's that time of year again! When means as much festive crafting as I can possibly fit into my day. Can you tell?

I'm super excited to be partnering with my favourite clay brand Sculpey, using their liquid clay to create some ornaments. For this project, I wanted to experiment with using the liquid clay much like you would make terrazzo, adding sparkle and interest to the clay and then baking it. For this I used gold leaf, but I also think you could use gold foil which would be a less expensive option. The gold leaf makes it feel quite luxe though!

You Need:

• Liquid Sculpey Polymer Clay (we used white and rose gold)
• A silicone baking mould
• Gold leaf or gold foil
• A hole punch
• Ribbon or raffia

How to

I love these as a tree decoration or even as a present topper!

This post is in collaboration with Sculpey

Since we renovated our little cottage a few years ago, it's not been that easy to pick my favourite update. But, the more I live in the house the more I'm sure it's the solid timber pop out panels we put on our back deck!

After posting a short video clip of them today, I got so many questions that I thought it would be a good idea to put together a detailed post so that you guys can always refer back. Honestly, these panels/windows are the most amazing solution to so many issues in outdoor spaces, and they have made this space immeasurably more usable. They have also created a better feel and ambience in the rest of the house. Sharing all the details below!

Before & After

Why Did We Put Them In?

When we first renovated the back deck (see that reveal here) we kept it pretty simple. Fast forward to us living in the house for a while and we wanted to make some changes. Firstly, the back deck faces west, which in Australia means that it gets significant afternoon sun that makes its way through the house causing heat and an uncomfortable glare. We always knew this may be an issue, but it wasn't until we lived in the house that we understood how tricky it would make life, particularly in winter when the sun is lower. We considered using roller shades but ultimately I didn't think they would be right. That's because the other thing we wanted to do was create a space that was lockable and completely secure, allowing us to leave the house more open when we were at home to capture nice cross breezes.

What Do They Do?

• The first thing the panels do is give us a huge amount of flexibility to open and close them fully, or leave them a little open, to let in light to varying degrees throughout the day.
• They can also be opened onto different angles to capture breezes.
• ?The panels are solid timber and are lockable on the inside with a bolt lock that also has a key. That coupled with the addition of a timber slatted door (also lockable) and the space can be made completely secure, which has honestly transformed how we live in the house! We did a slatted design on the front of the house too (see that here) so we've carried this secure element throughout the house. It also stops our little climbing toddler from jumping off the balcony!
• Putting the panels in also created more of an outdoor living space feel on the back deck, because it's not as exposed as it was.

Who Makes Them?

Ben designed these panels and then we had them custom built by our carpenter, and Ben did something similar to ?the concept he used for the design of the bedroom with the solid timber windows. Ben obviously worked hard to create simple and streamlined details for these, down to the simple locking system that blends with the overall design, but at the end of the day they are a standard casement window design that any builder could do, and it's a design detail you see around Brisbane in architecturally designed homes now and again, probably due to the harshness of the sun. The fact that they are symmetrical and all open the same direction is so key to the design.

How Much Did They Cost?

We did these panels as part of a bigger scope, so its hard to say exactly how much they cost, but a ballpark is around $3,500 - $4,000 which included custom making of the window panels and all materials and labour. This isn't an insignificant amount of money and it's something we had to budget carefully for (and the reason we didn't do it straight away after moving in). But, ultimately it added so much to the house, in liveability and also in value. It completely transformed the living space and made it feel so much bigger.

Tips For Doing It At Your House?

A builder can easily create this solid timber casement window style for you. You could also do it on a tighter budget by using readymade solid casement windows, or even using secondhand (most likely glass) ones which you could find at a demolition yard. If you wanted to DIY, one thing you could possibly do is use plywood to make simple glass casement windows into solid timber panels! The key is to work out what size to get so that they fit perfectly. If you're building a deck from scratch and want to include these, it would be easy/cheaper to get something off the rack because in that case you can tailor the size of your deck openings to fit what you can find. Because our deck was already built we couldn't find anything that fit properly which was a shame. I trawled lots of demolition yards looking! Although, even if you are looking to update your existing deck with these, you should see what's out there because you might just get lucky. We used locking hardware similar to this to make them secure.

How Do You Use Them?

Throughout the day I'm always tinkering with these panels to get feel of the house right. First thing in the morning I open them all up and let lots of light into the house. Once the afternoon comes around I change their angle so that some of the more harsh light is blocked. Once the sun has descended I often open them up again to get a nice view of the sunset and let fresh breezes through. Finally, before bed I close them all up and lock them along with the back gate. This also keeps the possums off my vertical garden. This might sound like a bit of work but I guess it's similar to opening and closing the blinds. Either way I'm used to it now and grateful for something that works so well.

If you're interested in the hanging plants, check out this post. And this is is all the outdoor styling details of the space.

    No chair left behind! Is what they say, right? I have to be honest, I was VERY dubious about this old chair when I found it on the side of the road. It was completely worn out, trashed in fact! ?When I got it home and asked Ben what I would need to fix it (he being the interior and furniture designer), he told me ‘an incinerator’. Wow thanks!?And honestly, it's been an epic journey over the last few days stripping, sanding, cleaning and upholstering it. But I’m so happy with how it turned out!?For this project I...

As I mentioned a few days ago I was excited to visit my local Vinnies as part of National Op Shop week. Naturally I stocked up on lots of things for different epicycles, they had such great stock.

I have been pretty busy working on them this week, experimenting with some new techniques and ideas. I wanted to share with you a little sneak peak of what I got and what I have transformed it into. I'll be sharing full tutorials for these projects soon, but in the meantime I hope you enjoy a little glimpse of this week!

* For those of you not based in Australia, we call secondhand stores 'op shops' meaning opportunity shop. Just an FYI!

Before

This was my haul. I have to say I don't usually buy as much as this when I go thrift shopping, but as it is national secondhand store week I thought why not?! I had done a little bit of thinking about what I wanted to make before I went so that helped a lot in terms of honing in on what they had. I find this is a useful process so you end up with things you'll use.

After

OK so I have to admit that I stuck to my old ways with these projects and used a lot of paint to overhaul them. But as I always say, stick to what you know! Actually, I never say that but you know what I mean. I ended up making two structural vessels (one being a candle), a painted decorative plate (for jewellery storage or for the wall) a raffia embellished jug and two simple painted vases. It's been a fun week!

Stay tuned for the full tutorials for these. And let me know what you get during national op shop week!

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