Shall I paint my kitchen cupboards?

Our kitchen at present

Last year I posted a before-and-after of our kitchen, when we changed the walls, the floor and the handles to update the look of our maple wooden country-style units. It's fine the way it is really, but the kitchen is still not our taste. We would go for a contemporary look, rip it all out and start again, but at the same time, the kitchen is of good quality and made of solid wood, so it doesn't make sense to replace it with something that may be modern in style but made with mdf (unless you spend looooads of dosh). So. I'm thinking of painting it. What do you think? Good idea? Or daunting prospect...?

It's probably wise to read up on it and search on Youtube for some How-To videos, as the last thing you want is to make a mess of it...! I do love the look of those white cupboards or even soft grey. And we've got the handles already. And a lovely big cooker. We would replace the worktops too, perhaps real stone or wood - depending what colour paint we'd go for (and price!). And perhaps add a kitchen island to increase our 'chopping space'.

If any of you has experience with this, please share it! Keen to hear your thoughts.

Emily Walker's home, www.housenandhome.com

Gypsy style home decor

I have always been strangely attracted by the gypsy lifestyle. The old-style caravans, the women with their long skirts, black hair, big earrings, the mysterious eyes. And the music. Whenever I hear a violin or accordeon playing gypsy music, I am touched by it. Even in the middle of a busy shopping street I will stop and listen. I don't know what it is, but it feels familiar, as if I'm somehow connected. Who knows... Maybe I'm just a romantic with a love for history and traveling.

Anyway, back to interiors & junk! ;-) As I'm traveling myself this weekend, not in a caravan but by plane and high-speed train to the Netherlands (I know, VERY gypsy-like, eh?), I thought I share some travel-themed ideas with you. I came across a nice blog (interiordivine.blogspot.com) and found some inspiring images around the 'gyspy' theme.

interiordivine.blogspot.com

Jeanne Bayol

I love folkloric, bazaar-like interiors and the work of French designer Jeanne Bayol just makes me smile. Jeanne shares my fascination with the gypsy lifestyle and passionately restores and sells all kinds of gypsy caravans in The Provence. You can order your own one on www.les-verdines.com

For some great 'gyspy'-like music that makes you instantly happy, go and download some tunes from 17Hippies or Orkestra del Sol.

from blog.mydeco.com

How to turn your leftover drinking straws - and boxing gloves - into a chair

Now THAT's what I call recycling. Got more tennis balls than you can throw a racket at? Why not make a chair out of it. Don't know what to do with that stack of magazines? Paste it onto a chair! What about those boxes of drinking straws leftover from your garden party? Well, you get the idea. That 'Argument chair' made out of boxing gloves actually looks rather comfy, but sort of gives the phrase "giving a kick up the ass" a whole new meaning.

http://www.scottjarvie.co.uk/clutch.html

http://www.hughhayden.com/

A creative use of your comic books...papered onto an old chair

http://www.yoming.fr/

Mike Tyson's favourite seat?

Can't decide what fabric to go for? Here's the solution: patchwork upholstery!

I have recently been looking for the perfect fabric to recover an old chair, but...there's just too much choice! I love simple, sophisticated linens in greys and browns, but I also adore bold, colourful, flowery, glittery, embroidered, oriental, silky and velvety fabrics - Designer's Guild, JAB, Harlequin.... However, I came across the ideal solution; the fabulous creations of UK designer Kelly Swallow: patchwork chairs! Don't you just love these?

Her website says: " ...A swatch of vintage fabric is a little piece of history..." That's my girl.

kellyswallow.co.uk

A wee update since last year...I got married!

Apart from just being busy with work stuff... I also got married this year (yep!) in sunny Greece and it was so wonderful. We stepped away from the traditional wedding ideas (of course!!) and made it into a laid-back, colourful, happy occasion with lots of personal touches and creative ideas. Fits in nicely with the blog theme, so just thought I share some pix with you!

Oriental parasols and paper fans to keep us cool...

DIY buttonholes!

placement pebbles (heart-shaped, found on the beach!) and plastic lace on top of pink wrapping paper for the lunch tables

Taking over the village...

We borrowed a vintage VW beetle from a local lady to take us to the Town hall

Me and my colourful Dutch friends

Before & After: Project Front Garden

The front garden has had its long awaited make-over last year. Concrete slabs, tired tarmac and a tiny bit of lawn have been replaced by a new path, gravel, plant beds and evergreen shrubs. Low maintenance, we hope... These are photos of the work-in-progress, plus two at the bottom of what it looks like one year later... can't believe how quickly plants grow!

Today! See how big the plants have grown in one year!

The most recent photo, taken today!

Now, where was I...

Hello there! Anybody out there?

I have been so busy in the past year that I had to stop blogging for a while - as you have probably noticed! Sorry dear followers for not having been in touch - sorry! Hope you're still there! (Are you?) As I have settled now in my new job (project manager for an audience development agency - helping cultural organisations attract more people) I hope I can also finally devote some time again to my passion...junk & interiors. Hope you're still with me!