Design Inspirist
It’s not about matchy, matchy paint samples or Insta trends or copying your neighbours safe but oh so blah kitchen. Nope, interior design is about living in or around what makes you happy. Be it a funky mid century chair, ramshackle farmhouse, lush chartreuse sofa or steamy designer wet room that catches the heart, I say be be bold, be fearless.
Do-It-Your-Selfer
As self-confessed DIY design addict, I’ve restored many homes. I’ve taught myself about amps, plumb-lines, back water valves and where a supporting beam runs. Give me an ugly, broken house.. and I see pure potential. So whether you dream of a fancy full-tilt kitchen reno or country cottage atrium, be inspired, take the plunge and just do it. Or better still let me do it for you.
BLACK-O-LICIOUS
Brits Love Moody Eclectic Interiors
Black is in my DNA. Yes I know, its not everyone’s cuppa. But my blah bathroom was unloved and needing a face-life. So I was going full tilt bold Brit blackolicious. Where to start? Old subways lined the shower, the vanity had a chip and the walls where a 'bland beige-y white’. So depressing. A home refresh is like a non-surgical face-lift. A little goes a long way. Thing is we don’t always have the moolah for a full gut and reno right? So it was time for my cost savvy DIY skills to kick in. Armed with my Benjamin Moore ‘Carbon Copy’ (Aura, low VOC), some gold accents and a long week-end, I flipped my blah-room to batholicious.
Bring The Outside In
I hunted down an old fashioned wood store. It was heaven. Surrounded by heady varnish and woody auras I lingered for hours touching the grains. Choosing took time but I eventually found my wood, got them cut and dashed home to sand, stain & install 3 hand crafted ‘live edge’ shelves.
Ripping out the old subways didn’t really appeal (mucho work, mucho cost) so I just refreshed by re-grouting instead. While time consuming and messy, it was pretty easy.
TIP: Afterwards really clean tiles to remove all the leftover drying grout, or you’ll be scraping at little hard-to-get-off chunks 24 hrs later. Removing the old vanity faucets appeared easy but was entirely another story. It involved much yanking, twisting, bruising of knuckles and many blue words.
It was a sweaty fight swishing my boobs underneath the porcelain sink. Several hours later the hateful faucets finally broke (or crumbled) free. I sobbed with relief. But next time ‘i'm calling Joe the plumber'.
My Sleuthing Skills Unearthed Gold
I found a Moen look alike vanity faucet (made in China) and water saving shower kit by Delta Trinsic (Ebay/Amazon has fab open box deals). Several YouTube vids later, I embraced my new plumbing skills & installed the fancy fixtures.
TIPS: Always turn water OFF at the mains. Read instructions.
Buy good tools (don’t be cheap ‘cos they won’t work or break).
A glass of vino eases the pain.
While nerve-wracking, everything went in (almost) perfectly. I held my breath & turned on the water. YESSSS. I had a bathroom with no nasty leaks flooding my house. Feeling super smug I happy dance-jigged. Then I hit a curveball. My old ‘overflow’ didn’t match & buying a new one was tres cher. So it was off to Home Depot to grab some gold spray paint.
After Mucho Sanding & Frog Taping
I soon had the miss matching overflow all painted golden matchy-matchy. Small sidebar, when using a spray can just make sure to sand well, clean off dust then spray in light, multiple layers which gives a less dribble-y, more even and smooth finish. Then it was time (drumroll please) to embrace my dark side.
Easing open the Ben Moore can, I stirred the lush inky liquid. Mmmmmm. There is something so sensual about painting walls a daring colour. 6 hours later it was all an eclectic dramatic Carbon Copy black.
Yup, this DIY refresh def took a bit of zen perseverance. But I didn’t have a Noah’s Ark situ and it only cost 400$. So if you’re feeling brave, go forth darkly.
