There are times you make things which have a purpose and are useful and then there are times you make things purely for the fun of it. This DIY definitely falls into the latter. Now our collaboration with Dulux is almost over I thought it was time to make some mess! For the last few weeks I’ve had the chance to experiment and see how far I can go with our tester pots. I’ve found a way of marbling and used paint on materials from glass to fabric (come back tomorrow for that) to dyeing plaster. It’s been enlightening for… Read More

A few days ago I wrote in this post about how I use each Christmas as a dry run for the day I finally have a home with a big dining table. When the day finally arrives when I’ll be serving the turkey (and the nut roast) I am going to be so practiced the only thing I’ll have to worry about is  or at least that’s how it goes in my head. I’m not traditionally a hostess kind of person. I love entertaining and cooking for people but it’s not on a regular basis. In fact I find it… Read More

This might be stating the obvious (I’m going to do it anyway) but I love Christmas decorating. It’s like accessorising for your home, with added fairy lights. But as Coco Chanel said “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.” This mantra can be applied when it comes to making your home magical over the festive period. It’s a delicate balance. You don’t want to keep your decorations too sparse, because where’s the fun in that! But add that one garland too many and it can all go from enchanting to overwhelming… Read More

Does anyone else have a collection of 500 candles they never light? Just me? Come on, don’t be shy! I find that candles are one of those luxurious items I always buy (with the intention to enjoy) and then get stored away for that special occasion. Well, what’s more special than Christmas? I will be making sure I make the most of those chilled, dark evenings with twinkling candlelight instead of relying on artificial lighting – which we all know is not great for our sensory overloaded brains. I’m proposing more candle lit meals, games nights and late night conversations…. Read More

We can’t do 12 Christmas DIYs without talking about the dining table. Festive food is such an integral part of celebrating the holidays. It’s a chance to enjoy preparing a feast in the kitchen instead of those quick dinners we’re used to. It’s a spread that brings family and friends together around one table. And when they do make life easier with a seating plan! Giving your guests designated places to sit helps avoid those awkward moments shuffling around the table (we’ve all had them). Instead assign everyone their seat with these birch slice name place settings. You can buy… Read More