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

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

How To Decorate Easter Table?

This year I completely disregarded the Easter and am totally unprepared. Since I work in a coffee shop as a Barista (haven’t I told you that?) it may turn out that I will be working these days but as a designer, I was looking for some ideas for decorating the table for holidays. I gathered few inspirations for you that I find interesting and are a bit different from commonly used.

Whether you plan a dinner for 20 people or just meet some friends, I am sure you can find something for yourself among this inspirations and be creative with what you have already. Mix and match items, add few Easter themed items or tulips, daffodils or branches with young leaves to create this festive feeling.

Thanks for checking this post,

Gosha

How To Organise Your House In Style

 

Spring is usually a time when we clean our houses to let the fresh energy in and say goodbye to winter. We want to keep our home clean and organised so it is a good idea to make some changes in terms of extra storage space. In this post, I will show you how to make the most of your space in style.

Book Shelves Under The Window. Usually, space, where we have window sills, is going to waste. Why not use it for extra storage- it looks interesting and adds functionality to our room.

Repurpose Old Furniture. This old mailbox cabinet can be a perfect organiser in your craft room or home office. It adds an industrial feel and personality to it.

Small Shelves And Extra Hangers. They are perfect to hang small items, little organisers or expose interesting items like jewellery or other accessories.

Drawer Organisers and Cupboard Containers. Natural materials like this bamboo organiser or glass containers will look much better than the plastic ones.

Wire Baskets. If you have interesting items you can show them and keep them organised at the same time in baskets like this. There are a plethora of possibilities here because you can find them in different styles and colour. I would stay away from the chrome ones though as they are not very pretty.

Wooden Crates. They are perfect for storing larger items. They are nice as they are or can be painted or stacked to create shelving etc. You can ask at your local fruit and veg store or they can be bought on Amazon.

I wrote this post to give you some creative ideas to organise your homes and I hope the article was useful. Please note that it contains few affiliate links to similar products shown in the photos. I am on the organisation stage in my rented home as well so expect more of this type of posts. Are your houses organised or are they rather the creative messes like mine? I would like to know so please share some thoughts on this in the comments below.

Thanks for reading,

Gosha

Top 10 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Mothers are the most significant others in our lives. They give us unconditional love and are behind our successes. When we were children they were always happy (or at least pretended they liked them) with a handmade card or drawing which were far from a piece of art:)

Now when we are adults it would be nice to put some effort into choosing a perfect gift for our mothers. If you are looking for ideas for presents that you can purchase online I got you covered. Here’s my subjective list of perfect gifts that you will save you time because you can find them online. This article contains some affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase through them I will get small commission. The products I link here are the one I would consider myself when buying a present not only for my mum.

1. Personalised mug -it can be cute like this one or cool like this one depending on your mum’s taste and personality.
2. Throw is a good idea as well- by wrapping up with a warm and cosy throw your mother will feel that you take care of her. She will think of you in that moment and she will feel loved.
3. Jewellery is something that always work and on any occasion. I really like the idea of personalised necklace with a name or this delicate bracelet
4. Purse– the bigger the capacity the better. There are reasonably priced ones like this Patent Kisslock Clutch Wallet or this vegan leather wallet
5. Scarf is also a cost friendly idea for a present. This statement piece or delicate neutral one – definitely there is a plethora of styles available online.
6. Scented candles – because everyone likes beautifully smelling house. Her home can smell like cookies or there are sets of different smells available.
7. Books are always good idea for a present. It can be an uplifting book on happiness or a book about healthy cooking.  There’s plenty of bookstores that sell online which is convenient as you can shop any time of the day.
8.  Home accessories like pictures , cute bedding or this cool wine rack are good ideas if you know your mum’s taste. Us women like to decorate home and surround ourself with beautiful decor.
9. Instant camera- I think this is an absolute hit. a camera  that prints pictures straight away. How often do you make a photo and then you never print it? So many memories lost. I would be happy to get a present like this for any occasion;) They also have a pink version.
10. Beauty and hair products – especially the ones that make our life easier like BaByliss Big Hair which I recommend. It changed my life forever and saves me a lot of time and effort when styling my hair. A good hair dryer is always handy as well.

This were my personal favourite Mother’s Day gifts ideas that can be found online. I hope this post was helpful and I am curious what were your favourites from this list. Would you add something to it? Please leave me some comments below.

Thanks for reading,

Gosha

How To Add A Boho Chic To Your Interior?

Historical Background

The term Boho is a short form of Bohemian which is defined as a someone who lives and acts freely, disregarding conventional rules, usually an artist or writer. It has its origin in 19th century France where some artists and poets rebelled against an institution controlling the art market- the Salon. This movement died at the beginning of 20th century but influenced later art like surrealism or music like punk rock.

Bohemian Style

Nowadays Boho chic in fashion and interiors is associated with free spirits like hippies, Gypsies, travellers and artists. This eclectic style has to express individuality and freedom. There is no rules here and you can be very creative decorating in Boho vibe.

Boho Chic Interiors

As there’s no rule and the style is as unique as a person utilising the space it is hard to define the style, but there are few characteristic elements of Boho chic. Combining few of them or even all creates Bohemian feeling in the room.

Tropical Plants

They remind us exotic places and travels

Macrame

This technique uses different knots to produce textiles and decorations. There are tutorials available online that show how to create macrame decor like the pictured below.

Hobbies

If you play the guitar or any other instrument or paint incorporate your interest in your interior after all Boho chic is associated with art and free expression. This will be a perfect topic for a conversation when someone visit you 😉

Rug

In this style rugs are welcome even the old fashioned ones, patterned and vibrant- whatever you like.

Fairy Lights and Lanterns

There’s something magical and artistic about them, they create ambient atmosphere- a perfect background for good music and long night conversations.

Pattern and Colour

In Bohemian interiors there’s no rules how to mix and match patterns and colours be as creative as you want.

Lace

This decorative and romantic element is used commonly in Bohemian style interiors.

Succulents and cacti

They don’t need too much care and will survive without watering even if you travel a lot.

Dream catchers

They are supposed to protect us from nightmares and are characteristic for Boho chic.

I hope that this article was helpful and inspired you to add a bit of Boho to your beautiful houses…Writing this post made me think of buying a camper and travel around the World… Maybe, at least, I will learn to play the guitar?

Thanks for reading,

Gosha

Texture In Interiors- Why Is It Important?

A texture is associated with the sense of touch. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “the quality that can be decided by touch: the degree to which something is rough or smooth” but by looking on something we can estimate the feeling of a material. The picture below shows four different textures and looking at them we can imagine how they feel without touching them. For example if we touch the blanket or the cat it will be nice and soft and the jute carpet will be rather rough, the wood- hard etc.

Texture is important element in interior design and without it the room often feels flat, cold and incomplete. Smooth and sleek textures- like metal, marble, glass are associated with luxury and rough and soft textures create cosy and homey feeling. It is necessary to add a bit of texture in interior but balance is important as too much of texture can be overwhelming and create the sense of mess and clutter.

The easiest way to introduce texture to your room is to use different fabrics like linen, faux fur pillows, high pile rugs or knitted throws.

Different fabrics are perfect for adding texture.

Without these cushions the room would feel cold and unwelcoming.

Another material that interior designers love to use is wood or wood-like materials. The wood warms up the space and and is always in trend.

Neutral interiors would be dull without introducing different textures.

Plants are perfect texture as well they add an instant update to the room. Being around greenery is good for our mood and health.

Without plants these rooms would feel cold and incomplete.

Throw some books around to add  texture instantly- plus you will appear smarter if someone visits you 🙂

When you are on the stage of designing it’s worth to consider architectural elements like moldings, columns and tiles in terms of texture.

 

I love texture in interiors and I always introduce it in my designs to create interesting rooms. I hope this post gave you a lot of ideas how you can make your beautiful rooms even more interesting by bringing in different textures.

Thank you for reading,

Gosha