Upcycled Bedside Table

Monday 27 October 2014 ·

One of the worst things about living in a rented flat has to be the temporary nature of it all. I know that ideally in the new year we'll be buying a flat and moving in there so there doesn't seem to be much point buying furniture for the rented flat when it might not fit in in the new flat... So I took it upon myself to upcycle my old bedside tables and make them a little more 'chic', or my interpretation anyway!

Back in June, when I was away in France (visit here and here if you want to find out more about my trip) my mum and I both picked up some beautiful enamel handles for drawers etc and I had this specific DIY in mind when I bought them. It really is amazing what a difference a fresh coat of paint and some new handles can make.

So for a simple and yet super effective DIY / upcycle project you will need:
  • All purpose white primer / undercoat 
  • White eggshell paint
  • Paint brush 
  • Wooden dowel (or something similar to mix the paint)
  • Handles of your choice
  • Bedside table
First up you need to remove the original handles off the bedside table. Now I was too excited when I got these handles in France so I swapped them over as soon as I got back so forgive me for not having a proper 'before' photo. 
Next up, make sure to wipe down the bedside table so that it is completely clean before you start the painting as otherwise the paint won't settle right. Then all you need to do is crack into the primer, give it a mix and get painting. It's usually easiest to do this by taking the drawers out so that you can get into every nook and cranny that could possibly be visible - you don't want any of the original wood poking through on the final product. It may take 2 coats of the primer, depending on the finish of the bedside table, so just see how it goes, the primer tends to dry pretty fast so don't worry too much. 

When the primer is dry mix up the eggshell paint and dive back in and get the first coat done. Then it comes down to personal preference as to whether or not you want a little bit of the original wood showing through. Personally I really like it as it gives it a slightly distressed look. 

Now last but not least, when the paint is all dried and your happy with the finish it's time to screw on the new handles, pop the drawers back in and put it to use. 
I'm delighted with the result of this as my wardrobe is also a slightly distressed white too so it all ties in so well. What do you think of my first attempt at upcycling? 

J'adore...

Friday 17 October 2014 ·


Am I the only one who finds themselves daydreaming of living somewhere a little more exciting? Paris maybe? I hope not, and if your like me then you might just be interested in my newest discovery.... 

A couple of years ago I jumped straight on the subscription service bandwagon and subscribed to Glossybox but I only kept the subscription for about 6 months as, essentially, all the excitement I had for each box just disappeared...and from then on I dismissed subscription services as overrated! But that's all changed now...

A little box of Parisian surprises with everything from luxury beauty products to inspiring postcards coming through my letter box once a month - now this is definitely a monthly occurrence that I can look forward to…

As I was a little late to the 'My Little Box' party (although I ordered as soon as it started popping up on my Twitter feed...) I only received my September box last week and it certainly didn't disappoint! I mean come on! Laura Mercier, a notepad and a laptop case all in one box? This ticks an awful lot of boxes. 

I'm a complete stationary junkie so was thrilled by the laptop case, notepad, 3D stickers and cute, inspirational postcard included in the 'My Little Parisian Box'. As if this wasn't enough there was also a Laura Mercier foundation primer, My Little Beauty highlighter and a multi purpose dry oil. 

This little box of lifestyle and beauty is something really unique and original and has given a much needed injection of life into the world of subscription services in the UK (where our selection is somewhat limited). I can't wait for my October box to arrive so I'll no doubt check back in with you guys then to give you another sneak peak into 'My Little Box'.




Sneak Peak | Bathroom Cabinet

Wednesday 8 October 2014 ·

If you saw this post that I put up a couple of months ago you'll know that at the end of July I moved in with my boyfriend, which by the way is going pretty great - thankfully I knew most of his annoying habits already so there weren't too many unexpected surprises for me! However, one of the frustrating things about having to be in a rented flat is that we can't change anything that was provided, whether that be wall colour or furniture. This means we were left with this less than ideal bathroom cabinet but I think I've managed to make the most of a very awkward space! 

Unsurprisingly I have a few more products than Matthew and most of his things don't fit (height-wise) in the cabinet so I've pretty much dominated the entire cabinet.... So starting inside the left door I've managed to fit in a few of my facial products that I use more or less daily. I absolutely adore the Weleda Wild Rose Smoothing Night Cream that came in a GlossyBox a few months ago, in fact I think I may need to purchase the full size at some point soon. Another great addition to my skincare routine has been the Clarins Addition Concentre Eclat aka DIY fake tan for your face. This stuff is ideal for me as I have complete control over how much you mix in with your moisturiser and therefore how brown it makes you and I'm typically paranoid about fake tan on my face. 
Inside the right hand door I keep the few perfumes that will fit in these narrow slots which in this case includes a couple of travel size ones; Ralph Lauren Big Pony Collection for Women No. 2 and American Eagle Aerie. Then I also have a couple of my more special perfumes, Orange Blossom and Pomegranate Noir from Jo Malone. These were both a gift last christmas and I tend to save them for special occassions.  
Onto the main part of the cabinet... yet more perfume; my newest one - Coco Mademoiselle and Acqua di Gio. I love to have my perfumes on hand in the bathroom as that way I never forget to put one on in the morning! Then on the right I have R&B hair moisturiser from Lush which I love to run through my hair when I get out of the shower to give it a little life. My most recent purchase is the Body Shop facial buffer. And of course, hiding in the corner is Matthews hair wax. 
Last but not least the upper section... I have one of the worst immune systems of anyone I've ever known so taking daily multivitamins and cod liver oil is a must for me hence why I have it on hand in the bathroom - that way I can never forget! Then we have my daily body moisturiser, the infamous Dream Cream from Lush, and Matthew's face wipes and of course our toothbrushes! 

Although this may not have been the most interesting post I wanted to share with you how I've tried to maximise this very awkward cabinet filled with low shelves and narrow door slots! We both have countless other products stored away throughout the bathroom so I'm looking forward to moving somewhere that I can finally find one storage option for everything!