The Display Cabinet Makeover

This was a very long project and required from me a lot of patience. I often worked in a very uncomfortable positions hence it is probably the last project of this size.

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Before & After

I bought this furniture on Adverts.ie and asked my husband to collect. When he brought it home it turned out that it has damp smell, which is very hard to get rid of. I’ve tried soda, bleach, antibacterial cleaning products, Zoflora… nothing really worked. We had to replace the back board and paint everything else with few coats of paint. I even painted the drawers inside.

Now I have a solid wood and very well made display cabinet- not like the ones you can find nowadays in large fast furniture stores. You can see the whole process on pictures below. Comment if you have any questions, I will be happy to answer.

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Preview(opens in a new tab)

Thank you for reading,

Gosha

Recycled Throw/ Rug

This was a quick project using fake fur, second hand headbands… I deconstructed them and then using sewing machine connected together. Nothing complicated and it makes our sofa cosier in winter.

How I Saved On The Kitchen Table-A Bit of DIY

We finally moved to our new place and things are getting settled slowly. Because of the Easter weekend, we had some delay with the delivery of the appliances so our life was more about surviving. So instead of cooking, there was a lot of Kebab, Pizza and other takeaway food (there was at least one person very happy about that fact). Finally, this has come to an end with the last equipment (the cooker) delivered today.

The decorating process has started and my first project was the kitchen table as we wanted to sit together as a family and enjoy the meal. Michal also needed a space to do his homework so it was quite important.

I like things with some character but l I have to stay in the budget so I decided to buy a used table and upgrade it a little bit. I see potential in things so when I saw this beauty on Facebook Marketplace I fell in love. It had the perfect shape and nice detail but it wasn’t my colour, it was worn out so it needed to be repainted.

A picture made by the seller. This table was only 50 Eur. and it was in a set with 4 chairs which I did not intend to use (as I had my own vision for the kitchen).

The top has been detached from the base for the time of works.

This picture shows that the top was worn out and had marks o it. I gave all the parts a little bit of sanding and priming…

I put 2 coats of primer sanding in between, then 2 coats of brilliant white satinwood paint 

I decided to leave the brass feet untouched as it had already a nice patina. In the end, I gave the top a few coats of varnish while sanding in between the coats.

Then I bought the chairs I wanted, in a nice warm grey colour and voilà I have unique dining set for my kitchen.

 

There’s always a way how to save a few quids when decorating your house without compromise on the style. I bought a nice solid wood table for nothing and simply changed it’s colour. Buying second-hand furniture is a conscious and sustainable way of decorating. There’s still plenty of life in these objects and often the better quality than most of the new furniture.

And you, do you like to DIY or you prefer to buy new furniture for your beautiful houses?

Thanks for reading,

Gosha

 

I Am Back With Some News

I haven’t been blogging for a while at first I was making a “career” in the coffee industry. In the beginning, I was really passionate about my new job and I enjoyed being appreciated and promoted but after a while, there was that voice at the back of my head telling me that this wasn’t what I wanted. When the voice became louder and I was overwhelmed with stress, I decided to quit. The stress triggered several health issues which happened to be an old Lyme disease. I needed time to recover and find the balance again in my life. All these things encourage reflection about what’s important and how I want to live my life.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. I have been working hard to save on a mortgage deposit but when I decided to let go and find another way to have my home I got a decision from the Local Authority that they will rent us a home. We got a beautiful tiny home in the countryside with a spacious garden. Everything is new and fresh, it is warm and sustainable… I couldn’t be happier. The rent is not killing us so I can spend more time with my family and be present… The time of the move has finally come and I had to face the ugly truth: We were hoarders! It didn’t look like in the famous TV show because we rented a large house and we had 2 spare bedrooms we didn’t use. How much clutter and things that “I might need in future” I’ve accumulated? This was a real battle with all the mess for weeks now. I ‘ve donated so much stuff and few sold for nothing but still, we ended with way more than we could fit in our new home. This was the point where I decided to become minimalist and very selective about things that come into my house. I’ve gotten a chance to start over and I will use it wisely.

So let’s decorate 😉

Take care Gosha

Michal’s bedroom 

Kitchen

The mood board for the kitchen

Interior Design Trends in 2019 I Want To Follow

The design is always an answer to the current World’s affair hence when predicting what will be in fashion, designers study what are the current problems around. We reached the point when we spend most our day in front of the smooth screen of the phone or the computer that we need to reconnect with nature. This need is reflected in current design trends:

• BIOPHILIA is the first trend worth of attention. Our home has to be the place we can rest and feel grounded and connected with nature. It is scientifically proven that the relationship between human and nature is important. Reconnection with nature can heal hence designers tend to use natural materials such as wood and stone as well as alternative fabric like jute or hemp. The spaces should be airy and let as much daylight as possible. The designers emphasize as well the importance of texture which activates our sense of touch.
• SUSTAINABILITY – It is important where the materials come from and how they are produced. Better to have fewer things but better quality and be able to track the origin of your furniture.
•  FLORAL- fabric and wallpapers. This is related to our nostalgia to reconnecting with nature.
• HANDMADE PIECES which are made with sustainable materials like clay, jute or rice paper.
• LIGHT WOOD floors which reflect natural light. Shades like birch, white and light oak are the ones you should look into.
• 90% WHITE 10% COLOUR – I personally like this trend because it gives you endless possibilities to change your space at a low budget.
• BOLD COLOUR WALLS and painted ceilings. The rich jewel tones like indigo, burnt ochre, deep greens are the colours you should look into.
• BIG STATEMENT PLANTS. Forget about tiny succulents, the bigger plant- the better. Large Dragon Trees, Rubber Plants and palms that make a statement. It is not only for pure aesthetics but has a positive psychological effect and improves the air quality (you can read here about plants that can clean the air in the room).
• MULTI-FUNCTIONAL furniture and spaces. With a new minimalist approach to arranging the spaces and downsizing in things and houses, you need to think outside the box. An office that transforms into a guest bedroom, ottoman with storage that doubles as a coffee table. Designers are really into functional furniture that is also sustainable and beautiful.
• CURVILINEAR FURNITURE. This year furniture will be organic, rounded shape like in the seventies. Very often in a statement jewel tone. This makes us feel more connected in nature and safe.

In 2019 our interiors have to inspire our well being and strengthen our relationship with nature. Our home is our asylum after a long day at work and we can achieve that piece when we rearrange our space following these trends.

How to Have Conscious Christmas?

It’s not a secret that I don’t like Christmas maybe, because nowadays it is oriented on buying… People buy a lot of cheap, plastic crap and all that ends up being dumped at the end of the season. Every year Christmas stock is displayed earlier and earlier and it ruins the festive spirit. However, I still celebrate a little with my family and decorate home and buy some presents and pack them.

I would like to show you that there are alternative ways to decorate your home and pack the presents in this festive season.

1. Natural Wreaths. This year I made a wreath myself from pine cones. It took me a while but it was worth the effort (you can check it on my Instagram account). If you don’t have the time or will to do them yourself there is plenty to choose from on your local market. They can be composted so they don’t end up floating in the Ocean.

2. Repurpose and use what you already have the only limit is your imagination. You can change the look of your last year’s Christmas decoration like on the picture below. I also like the idea of using books as a Christmas tree.

3. Use natural materials like cones, nuts pine branches. They add texture to your Christmas table, look good and stylish without spending money.

4. Bake your decorations. Why not make the little gingerbread with your kids? Your house will smell amazing, children will have great memories… and they look gorgeous too. The Internet is full of recipes on how to make them so it is really easy these days.

5. Pack your presents wisely. Wrapping paper is not recyclable so better to avoid buying it. You can still pack the presents using brown paper, newspapers or some leftover fabric.

6. Potted Christmas tree. When I was a child we had few times a small pine trees in pots. After Christmas, we then planted them in the garden and they actually grew big (well then someone cut them and stole before Chrismas but that’s not the point here). I think it is a really sustainable way to have a Merry Chrismas in style.

That was my few ideas on how to spend this festive time of the year more consciously. I hope you will have a really nice time with your family and friends without unnecessary pressure.

Merry Christmass Everyone! And thanks for reading my post,

Gosha

 

 

My Top 5 Plants That Improve The Air Quality

In one of my previous posts, I wrote about the greenery trend which is evident in interiors this year. Placing plants in your living room not only adds more interest and texture to it but can also significantly improve the air quality.

In 1989 NASA was trying to find the cost-effective solution for the “sick building syndrome” which became a problem along with new energy-efficient buildings. Few of the symptoms of the syndrome were headaches, dizziness, nausea, eye and respiratory system irritations, skin problems and many more. They discovered that stagnant indoor air allows pollutants to build up and cause serious health issues. Adding plants to the rooms was one of the solutions for the problem and can be introduced in any interior, not only in spaceships.

In this post, I will give you my top 5 plants to use around the house that are relatively easy to maintain and hard to kill.

• Spider plant– is very easy to grow and is a powerful filter that removes formaldehyde and xylene from the air. It likes bright and indirect light and requires watering 2-3 times a week depending on the season and humidity.
• Dracaena– comes in more than 40 different kinds so it will be easy to find the perfect one for your room however if you have cat or dog you may reconsider buying it as it is toxic for them. It is able to remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene from the air.
• Peace lily– prefers shady areas, in summer it produces white flowers that may contribute some pollen to the environment. Refrain from having too many of them around the room or place them outside in summer. This rather small plant can remove ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air. It likes moist soil. Avoid overwatering your peace lily though because it will die.
• English Ivy– this very expansive plant is not recommended to use in your garden as it will take over it very fast but used indoors can purify your air from benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene. Some studies have shown that it has the ability to remove also the mould spores. This plant loves well-draining soil, plenty of watering and direct sunlight (it will grow in the shadow as well).
• Snake plant– commonly called Mother-in-Law’s Tongue is one of the easiest to grow. Water it occasionally, it prefers drier conditions and not too much sun. It removes formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene from around the house.

Adding these five plants to your design can significantly improve your well being through cleaner air but this won’t solve your problem with pollutants in 100 %. You may consider improving air circulation around the house through a better ventilation system, opening windows to let the fresh air or buying the air purifier. Better choices as it comes to the furnishings, cleaning products and even reducing plastic can benefit your general health as well because they emit harmful gases to the atmosphere. Take care of yourself by taking care of your home and environment.

Thank you for reading,

Gosha

Few Snaps from Barcelona

When I started my current job decided to reward myself and spent my first salary on a trip to Barcelona. It was a low-cost holiday. We stayed in Hostal Nilo located in Gothic Quarter.

We arrived in Barcelona at 9 p.m. so we decided to get there by taxi… Our first impression wasn’t great because the driver added extra 10 euros to the fee for bags (!) That basically was the scum as it turned out later. We learn by experience right?

In general, people there seem very distant and cold compared to Ireland. They don’t engage in small talks, don’t reciprocate the smile or thank you for letting them pass or anything like that.

Another thing that I didn’t like was the small portions of food for a fairly high price but we found one place close to our hostel where for 10 Euro we got a very filling meal plus drink and a dessert so we usually went there.

What I really loved there was architecture and many palms everywhere. They really care about the design and have exceptional attention to detail. I enjoyed the guided tour of Park Guell designed by Gaudi.

We also went to Monsterrat. We travelled there by train and then we changed for the cable car. The view from it was amazing. The cable car took us to former monastery located in the mountains. There was also a possibility to go higher by funiculars. They took us to the upper part of a monastery where we could walk to the tiny chapel on the top of the mountain… It was the best place I visited during this trip and the view was breathtaking.

Here you have few pictures I took during this voyage… Definitely, want to go back to Barcelona someday…

We took the funicular to get to the upper part of Monsterrat…

A creative window display on a restaurant called “Ticket”. An interior was pretty amazing too…

Me- Hungry, waiting for food. I was hungry all the time 😉

Casa Batlo by Gaudi.

The Gat located in not a really nice neighbourhood, but we had to see it. It was pretty cool…

This was the most expensive meal we had there and we had to go to eat something after this lunch…

This building is beside the Casa Batlo. I liked the detail on it and the colour combination…

Here as well I liked the colours combined together. There is a beauty in this place even though it wasn’t very representative…

This lighting is amazing… We were just passing by and sneaked in to make a photo 😉

In summary, I was fascinated by Barcelona, especially by Gaudi’s creations. If you would like to see more pictures from that trip and see what’s going on in my life, please follow me on Instagram .

Thanks for reading,

Gosia

New Window For SVP Shop

An Upcycled Stool

It’s been almost a month since I published my last post… but it doesn’t mean that I didn’t do anything. If you’re following my Instagram or Facebook you could see the stories of upcycling the stool.

 

It was pretty bad so I removed the old upholstery…

I had to use glue to prevent chipping the base…

Then I used grey chalk paint I had left from another project and sealed it with wax…

I stapled the cover I made from leftover fabric…

Et voilà…. the stool is like new

That was one of the furniture transformations I made for more and to be up to date with what’s going on at My Gosh House follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

Thanks for reading this short post.

Gosha