Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Kitchen Make-over

Hi guys!

Today I decided I would finally share my kitchen make-over with you!
Of all the rooms in the house this one has undergone the most drastic change and I am absolutely thrilled with the results!

Here is what my kitchen looked like a few months ago. It's a good size with lots of storage but as you can see it's very dark and there's a LOT going on! Yellow walls, brown cabinets, different coloured surfaces. It was in desperate need of simplifying!


I knew I wanted it white and bright so I put together this little mood board for myself.


As you can probably guess the first thing I did was take a paintbrush to those cabinets and get rid of that dark wood! Enormous piles of mess aside I think you'll agree it already looks a LOT better!!


Next I targeted the tiles. I'm renting so there's no chance of re-tiling (and even if there was it's a little out of budget).

I bought some self-adhesive vinyl from Homebase, cut it into squares the same size as my tiles and simply stuck them over! Here's how they looked before and after.


I chose a vinyl from a company called Designs Folie in silver to help reflect light back into the room. If you're wondering how these hold up when they get wet the answer is very well! They've been in place for two months now and even the ones around the sink are still going strong! I have a feeling that the quality of vinyl differs from brand to brand though coz I lined my bathroom cabinets with a different brand and it's not doing quite so well!

I also used white vinyl (the good quality stuff) on the over-head cabinets. They were already covered in a sort of marble effect, laminate so there was no way of painting over them. Here's the 'before' although it's difficult to see exactly how the marble effect looked.


I started at the top edge and worked my way down before moving on to the middle section and finally the top and bottom edges. I cut each piece slightly wider than the width of the section I was covering so that it would overlap onto the wood and metal areas seamlessly.

 
Here you can see what a difference the white vinyl made to the cabinet!


This is how it looked once the whole thing was covered.


I lived with it like this for a few weeks before deciding it was still a little flat so I added some colour! I couldn't paint the inside of the cabinets so I bought some thick card from a stationary store, cut it to size and wedged it into the back of each cabinet.


In case you're wondering, the walls haven't been painted, these pictures were just taken at different times of the day.

To continue the blue and red theme I added a pegboard pot holder (with the help of my boyfriend) to a spare wall along with some other accessories to tie everything together.



I absolutely LOVE my pantry door handles! I got them on sale at Zara Home. My rug cost just £15 from IKEA  and my tea towel (which I'm planning to frame at some point) came from Pretty Berlin

There's still a few things I'd like to add like a blind for the window and maybe a few more accessories here and there but for now I'm very happy with it!


And that's my kitchen!! Thanks so much for reading! Come back soon for more make-overs, decorating inspiration and fun home accessories. Until then have a Happy Hump Day!! :)





Monday, December 16, 2013

Organising Spices

Hi guys!

I just recently redecorated my kitchen (photos to come soon) and I've been having more fun than I care to admit implementing some of the fantastic organising tips that I've been drooling over on Pinterest! One of my many favourites is this drawer organiser which I found on fakeitfrugal!


I absolutely HATE riffling through a shelf of almost identical bottles, inevitably knocking some over and having to have this conversation with myself, 'wait...did I just check this one? nope, don't think I did. wait...no, that's not it either...did I just check that one...?' At this point I normally become convinced that I don't have any *insert literally any spice here* left and go to buy some only to find it during a later search for cumin. All my rambling aside, spices are annoying and I'm very glad someone had the good sense to find a way of taming them!

Here's how my spice organising went! These are my spices before.


Below is one of four corner pieces of protective packaging which came with my oven. Heather at fakeitfrugal used something else but I believe in making use of what you've got (which is why I've been happily tripping over these in my laundry room for nearly two months now)!


I started by cutting the cardboard into three pieces the same width as my drawer using a saw.


At this point I could have just inserted them into place and added my spices but I went one step further and sprayed them blue to match my cabinets :)


And that's it!

I am in love with this solution!!! It's completely put an end to all the rummaging, it cost me nothing AND it took like 5 minutes!! Now all I have to do is nag my boyfriend into putting things back label up! Wish me luck :)



Saturday, December 14, 2013

Last Chance Deals

Hi guys!!!

If you haven't been checking out the DENY Designs 12 Days of Holiday Deals don't worry coz there's one more chance to save money on their wonderful products!!! Head there now to get 25% off all decorative trays!!! Simply use discount code SERVEITUP25 at checkout!!


To see all available Aimee St Hill trays click here.

You can also find matching and coordinating products by clicking here!

Thanks for reading, happy shopping!!! :)



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Dining Accessories & Christmas deals!

Hello all!!

If you've been following me on Facebook (if not you really should be!) then you'll know that my licensing partners have been taking things up a notch this holiday season with lots of amazing deals on all sorts of products!!!

Today's deal is $6 off all mugs in my Society6 store! So with this in mind I've put together some inspiration boards of some of the fantastic dining accessories that are now available just in time for Christmas!!!

 Paisley Mix-and-Match Collection


 Shop this collection:
1) 'Leela Orange' Coaster Set                                            3) 'Paisley Orange' Tray
2) 'Patchwork Paisley' Mug                                              4) 'Baroque' Place Mat


Illustrated Mix-and-Match Collection

 Shop this collection:
1) 'Gems and Birds' Coaster Set                         3) 'Illustration' Tray
2) 'Chevron' Mug                                               4) 'Pink Bloom' Place Mat

 Ayanna Mix-and-Match Collection

  Shop this collection:
1) 'Leela Navy' Coaster set                                         3) 'Ayanna' Tray
2) 'Stripe2' Mug                                                          4) 'Pink Modern Baroque' Place Mat


If you're not a fan of mix-and-match you can also get a number of matching sets like these!


Decorative Collection 

Shop this collection:
1) 'Decorative Blue' Tray
2) 'Decorative Blue' Coaster Set
3) 'Decorative Blue' Mug

Amirah Collection


 Shop this collection:
1) 'Amirah Red' Tray
2) 'Amirah Red' Coaster Set
3) 'Amirah Red' Mug

To see all available place mats click here, for Square and rectangular trays click here, to see all coaster sets click here and for all mugs click here!


Thanks for reading!! Don't forget you can find out about daily Christmas sales on all my products by following me on Facebook. Click here to do so!

Happy shopping! :)

UPDATE: Today is the last day of DENY Designs holiday deals!!! To bring an end to the sale, all trays are now 25% OFF when you use discount code SERVEITUP25 at checkout!!!! Click here to see all Aimee St Hill trays! 




Tuesday, December 3, 2013

12 Days of Holiday Deals



Deny Designs 12 Days of Deals starts today!!! We're kicking things off with 30% off throw pillows!!
Use code COLORPOP30 at the checkout to redeem your discount on all these throw pillows and much, MUCH more!!!

Click here to see all available Aimee St Hill throw pillows! You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook to get up to the minute deals this holiday season!!

Friday, November 29, 2013

BLACK FRIDAY SALES!!!!

DENY Designs are having a massive sale of ALL their items throughout the day!! Check Facebootoday for your discount codes!! And don't forget to 'like' in order to receive updates about this sale and more on the lead up to Christmas!!
 

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Phetberg Launch

Hello all!

I have something exciting to announce (which if you've been following on Facebook you may already be aware of)!! I've been working with a menswear company called Phetberg for a while now developing one of my designs for use on their beautiful pocket squares!!

They finally launched their 2014 collection earlier this week so without further ado here are the pics!


All Phetberg pockets squares are 100% silk and hand rolled. All manufacturing processes take place in Como, Italy and are quality checked in Vienna, Austria. For more information about this pocket square please click here.

To see all this seasons pocket squares click here!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Modern Living

Hey guys!

I haven't done a post like this in a while so I thought I would today :)

I'm never really sure what people mean when they use the word 'modern' to describe a room. I guess they mean something that hasn't been done before, something new. The word 'modern' tends to conjure images like this


but as far as I can tell these kinds of spaces have been around for at least the last 10 years so what's so modern about them?! Is it the clean lines? The black and white colour scheme? The total lack of clutter? The perfectly coordinated accessories?! I guess these things are what makes this room modern but I would like to suggest a different definition. I feel as though we're heading further and further from this minimal, ultra coordinated look and much more in the direction of revival and mixing old with new. This to me is a much more modern (and forgive me for saying so, more interesting) way of styling a room. Here's why... 


Make-do-and-mend

There's no doubt about it, living in a recession sucks! However if there's one good thing to come out of it it's creativity! People can't afford to toss all their old furniture when they feel like a change, they have to work with what they've got. This has resulted in some fantastic re-purposed or revamped furniture. Just check out these examples!

Colourful chair make-over courtesy of casadeestar.com.br
Coffee table made from re-purposed crates courtesy of homedesignboard.com
People are less able to get exactly what they want, whether it's a small accessory or a big piece of furniture so they get creative! This kind of thinking has resulted in much more eclectic home decor styles. Homes are starting to look far less uniform as people make more unique decisions about not just what they buy but how they use and reuse it. The make-do-and-mend mentality is fast becoming a way of life and it's the homes that reflect this that I feel truly deserve the title 'modern.'

And because no post of this nature would be complete without them, here come the inspiration boards!

Modern Living Room

I really enjoy the freedom of this kind of decorating. Use what you have, experiment and see what you can get away with. You might be surprised how chic those old ornaments look once you take them out of the cupboard and arrange them on your mantle with a few of your favourite books. Even your old couch can look cool again with some funky new throw pillows tossed over it!


Shop the Look: 
1) 'April' throw pillow by Sophia Buddenhagen    4) 'Decorative Blue' throw pillow by Aimee St Hill  2) 'Amirah Red' throw pillow by Aimee St Hill     5) 'Ogee Green' tray by Aimee St Hill          
3) 'Colorful Thoughts' art print by Bianca Green   6) 'Como 1' rug by Aimee St Hill         


Modern Bedroom

Need a new headboard? Why not simply paint the one you already have! Better yet, buy a great piece of fabric and give it a padded make-over! Remember colour is your friend! Don't be afraid of combining unusual accessories, be bold with your choices! The more creative you can be, the more 'modern' your space will look!

Shop the look:
1) 'Delilah' art print by Samantha Totty       4) 'Leela Navy' throw pillow by Aimee St Hill
2) 'Eve' art print by Samantha Totty             5) 'Geo Floral' blanket by Aime St Hill
3) 'Stripe2' throw pillow by Aimee St Hill

Modern Bathroom

Wallpaper is great way to update and bring character to your bathroom. If papering the entire room is out of your budget try simply covering a cabinet! Not only will it liven things up but it'll give the room a focal point. For a really modern look try adding additional furniture to your bathroom if you have the space. I just love how this old stepladder turned side table ties in with that unique Brian Yates wallpaper!


Shop the look:
1) 'Teal' shower curtain by Bianca Green                  4) 'Bright Tribal' shower curtain by Aimee St Hill
2) 'Amirah Blue' mirror by Aimee St Hill                 5) 'Bright Roses' mirror by Aimee St Hill
3) 'Pattern Aqua' mirror by Amy Sia


So here are a few things to remember when it comes to modern decor. Thinking outside the box is key! Be bold with your choice of colour, embrace the unconventional (it's ok that things don't match) and don't be afraid to blend old with new.


I hope you've enjoyed today's post! I've got a few more furniture make-overs up my sleeve so keep a look out for them! Until then, happy decorating :)



Image Credits:

http://sannaochsania.blogspot.se
Uploaded to pinterest
http://www.apunchofcolordesign.com
http://www.vintagerevivals.com
http://www.redbookmag.com
http://www.housetohome.co.uk
http://lamusadecoracion.blogspot.com.es
         

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Keka Case Product Launch

Hi guys!!

I'm very happy to be able to officially announce the launch of a brand new line of products at Keka Case!! This is the first (but hopefully not the last) in a line of tablet covers which will be available to purchase not just in the US and Canada but also in the UK!! Even better for my peeps in England this will mean FREE SHIPPING on select items!!  



Keep a look out in the next few weeks for the launch of my phone cases at Keka Case!! In the meantime you can enjoy buy 2 get ANY snap-on-case FREE when you use discount code FREESNAP at checkout!!

As if all that wasn't enough DENY Designs have just launched a whole heap of new products in preparation for the holiday season!! If you've not done so already head over there now to check out their snazzy new site along with the complete collection of these bad boys!!


For all Aimee St Hill pet accessories click here, for trays click here and for all coaster sets click here!

Thanks for stopping by! Happy shopping :)


  

Monday, November 11, 2013

Rattan Rocker Revival

Hello!!

Today I'm excited to be able to post another furniture make-over!! This time a living chair to go with my yellow couch.

I found this super cool chair in my boyfriend's parent's basement and immediately decided it would be perfect in my living room!




First I hauled it out of the basement (after getting permission of course) and gave it a good clean! The dog didn't help, she has NO respect for personal boundaries!


Then I painted it white! I started with a coat of primer then added two coats of semi-gloss, water based emulsion. I had a little of the automotive painted left after finishing the table so I gave it a quick once over with that and voila!  


It was looking pretty good at this point but it wasn't the most comfortable thing to sit on! I wasn't much liking my chances of being able to remake the original cushion either. It's a pretty odd shape to make a cushion for, what with the round piece and then the odd kinda sloping angle of the arms. Not easy!

For anyone with a similar chair and more accomplished sewing skills I would recommend this pattern. I was excited to find it but not quite confident enough to execute it! Instead I cut two pieces of foam in a kind of deep D shape and slapped together a couple of covers for them! 

At first I considered just buying a yellow fabric to match the couch but I couldn't find the right yellow so I decided to co-ordinate with some of my throw pillows instead! I found this great fabric at
Sanderson. It's a liiiittle bit pricey but luckily I didn't need much to cover the foam!


I had intended on making this a 'How-to' but I became very self-conscious about my technique (or lack there of) about half way through and decided it's probably better for everyone that I don't write instructional posts when it comes to construction!! If you're looking for instructions with clear, logical steps you should visit The CSI Project. She covered a bench not a chair but it's the same principle. Plus she has a totally cool foam carving knife which I seriously wish I owned!!! The foam under my cushion covers look a lot more like I let a dog chew them into shape rather than carefully cutting them myself!!! Thank goodness for wadding (batting if you're in the US)!!!

I love my new living chair and think it looks great with the couch! :)

 

I'd also like to draw your attention to one of my cushions (the only one I didn't get from IKEA)!! 


I'm super excited about it for two reasons, 1) I made it using a tapestry set which took several months and 2) I get to tell you guys about this incredibly cool online craft store I discovered!!!

Felicity Hall produces modern tapestry sets!!! It's sooooo cool! She has a whole bunch of designs in different colours. They are so fun to do and soooo much more interesting than the traditional tapestries we're all used to seeing! Here you can see how the flat tapestry looked when it was finished! 
  


And finally a little promo of my products! :) You may not have even noticed it in the picture but one of my Kess Inhouse throw blankets made it's way to my living room recently!


You can find it here!

Thanks for stopping by!! Oh, I almost forgot the all important before and after photo!!!


Until next time don't forget you can now follow me on Pinterest to keep up with my latest products, inspirations and now home make-overs too!!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Couch Makeover

Hey guys!

I was lucky enough to be given a couch (in fact quite a bit of furniture) for my big move! And since the table turned out so wonderfully I figured why stop there!

The picture below is not the best example of this couch before. It did have cushion covers when I received it but I had removed them (for reasons you will find out later) so unfortunately this is the only 'before' picture I have. 
 

I was eager to get started on the painting but first I had some mending to do!

I'm not sure the picture below does the sagginess of the seat justice but trust me it was a pretty sad looking frame. Luckily it was an easy fix!


First I removed each section from the base of the chair and cut all the old fabric away so that I was left with a basic wooden frame.

Then I cut a piece of cotton canvas a couple of inches larger than the frame. I placed the frame in the centre of the fabric and beginning at one edge I folded the fabric under and stapled it to the wood.
I continued folding and stapling in this way along one whole edge before moving on to the opposite edge and sides, pulling the fabric tightly to ensure the surface was taught.
  





















I kind of made it up as I went along when I came to the corners. Basically I cut away any bulky extra fabric and folded one side under the other so that it was nice and neat.


Here's how the frame looked with the new canvas seat!


I knew this was gonna be nightmarish to paint by hand (what with the lack of flat surfaces and all the tiny, difficult to get to crevices) but I'd run out of my trusty automotive paint and unfortunately another mixture was just a teeny bit out of budget :(
I figured I would have needed about a million cans of spray paint and probably some expensive finger surgery if I'd decided to go down the spray can route. Instead I used a semi-gloss emulsion and a paint brush.
It took 3 coats of paint including primer and two days (along with some fairly serious sunburn) to finish but it turned out great!

 

As you can see I didn't bother to paint the inside. That section of the frame is hidden under the seat of the couch and can't be seen from the outside. 

Once the frame was looking snazzy it was time to tend to the cushion covers! Remember I said I would get to those!? Well here they are!


They're not the happiest looking cushions are they? Personally I'm a big fan of yellow so instead of replacing the fabric I decided to revive it!

I used Dylon Sunflower Yellow dye and 500g of salt (to fix the colour). Dylon is very easy to use and gives great results when the instructions are followed correctly. I've dyed a lot of things over the past few years and I've learned that when using a single colour in the washing machine it can't hurt to add a little more dye than you need! I wanted a really strong yellow so that's exactly what I did!

  

I used 3 boxes of dye for 6 cushions and the result was better than expected!! See for yourself!






I think you'll agree it's a HUGE improvement!!! :D

Juuuuuuust in case you need more convincing here's the before and after of the whole couch!


Note: If you're worried about dye being left in your washing machine try running an empty cycle when you're finished. This will get rid of any residual dye that may have been left behind in the drum! 

That concludes my couch makeover!! Thanks for reading!!! :D
I'll be posting more furniture refurbishments over the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled!