Tuesday 13 October 2015

Tales From The Far East


Mimi here!

Now, I loves to shop. Like, mega style. Think of that one person you know (we all know one) who shops all the time. Is always wearing something new. Is always coming home or coming into the office with bags and bags of goodies at lunch time. That person to whom you often say, “Nice top/jeans/bag!” and they reply with, “Thanks it’s new”. That person is me. Hi there.



I know where I got my love of shopping, and my love of a bargain, from; my Mum! We affectionately call her Bargain Betty. Always kitted out in chic, stylish ensembles, she has a keen eye for unique, versatile, flattering, fashionable, yet age-appropriate clothes and pairs them with eye-catching jewelery, shoes and bags. And ALL at a fraction of the price it originally retailed for. Whether she needs a top at £2 or not (true story), or whether I need a pair of ankle boots reduced from £15 to an ACTUAL pound (ALSO a true story), Betty can sniff out a bargain at 20 paces and is mighty proud of it. Why pay more, right?

Now, being the busy little bumblebee that I am, I do a lot of online shopping. I wholeheartedly appreciate the sheer convenience of being able to buy online. Sometimes, just looking at a store's new arrivals can help me figure out what I need in my wardrobe, what I need to get rid of, or what sort of look I might go for if I have a particular occasion coming up. I research. Then I buy.

Isn't it strange how there are now shops online that don't have a physical presence on the high street? I am of an age where I remember the pre-online, pre-mobile phone days. Online shopping is great for getting your size in an item that wasn't stocked on your high street, but more and more I find myself buying from retailers that don 't actually exist as physical stores. Trippy, man.


I buy A LOT from H&M and Sports Direct (due to there usually being a discount code or online offer available) and more so from MissGuided and Forever21 also. But it is my love of fashion from the Far East, and their ridiculous prices, that I am going to write about today.

Ladies, welcome to the world of what I like to call “the random Chinese shop".

My first ever armchair-to-overseas purchases were from sellers in China on eBay. I bought a few tops here and there and my experiences were generally a hit or a miss. A great fitting find here, a cheaply made disappointment there.  But the prices were SO GOOD that anything I bought that wasn’t up to scratch was put down as a relatively cheap learning curve.

That is why, my friends, I have shopped til I virtually dropped in these Asian online stores and came up with a guide for getting a great deal on a great item without getting stung by the various pitfalls. Yep, I did all that shopping just for you. You can thank me later.

Rule 1: Know your measurements

What is the circumference of your waist? Where is your waist? Nobody know? I want you to get yourself to your local shop and purchase a measuring tape. Then take that measuring tape and wrap it around various key parts of your body:

  • Your waist (about 1-inch above your belly button)
  • Your hips (your widest part)
  • Your bust (straight around your front over the nipples 

Take a note of what they are EXACTLY in inches AND in centimeters (because the rest of the world likes centimeters). Make a note of it somewhere you can access easily, like on your phone. The reason? Because when it comes to buying in “the random Chinese shop” you CANNOT rely on the sizes stated.

WHY?

Did you know the average Chinese woman has a 34A bust, is about 5 feet tall and weighs about 8 and a half stone.  This average woman may be considered an Asian size Medium. The UK average is a UK16…see the difference? An Asian size Medium is like our size XS-Small in many cases. Most Asian stores online provide a size chart for this very reason where it will provide measurements in centimeters usually. There is usually always some variation, so if you are just fitting into a cute dress based on measurements, go for the next size up…you can always have it altered (which leads me to my next rule)…

Rule 2: Be prepared to Get Your Clothes Altered

I would imagine that there are very few people in this world who are a true size “anything”. With sizes varying so much between shops, it can be very hard to buy something that fits PERFECTLY. It’s always better to overestimate your own measurements and order a size larger from these Asian shops because measurements can vary so much. A lot of what I have bought has been slightly too big, but is easily rectified with a trip to my local seamstress. I tend to go to the same one because they are quick, cheap and do a fabulous job (big up Sew Quick in Bellshill). Yeah the top you want to buy is £5 including postage…but spend that extra £5 and get it tailored to fit you properly…it certainly won’t look like it cost you a tenner.

“But hey, you can just return the item if it doesn’t fit and order the next size up, why err on the side of caution” I hear you cry. Well…

Rule 3: Returns and Fraud

As a rule, eBay has the most reliable system for returns and exchanges because any shops are bound by eBays rules and agreements. If a store gets a bad returns reputation, they will not fare well on eBay, plus I think eBay protects it’s buyers from any tomfoolery.

For example, I bought a bikini from an Asian shop and it arrived. Unfortunately the bottoms fitted and the top was mahoosive. Like, unwearable. So I contacted the shop and asked about their returns process. Helpfully, they said that it would be less hassle for all if they gave me a partial refund and I just kept the top that didn’t fit. So, I paid £6 for a bikini, got £3 back and spent another £6 on a second bikini in a smaller size so I could get a top that fit. I then listed the too-big top and the too-wee bottoms separately to sell on eBay for, yep, £3 each.

NO MONEY LOST.

And no postage costs in returning items either because I didn’t need to return them. This has happened to me a few times and it’s great when it does. It’s even happened when I have been dissatisfied with a product and have wanted to return it. I even received a full refund AND got to keep the item. I think it’s generally just so much hassle to send and receive items from overseas that companies are happy just to make you happy.

I have, however, been burned.

I bought a number of gorgeous dresses (our Kennedy Cupcake polka dot dresses to be precise) from an Asian eBay store. Weirdly, the dresses were MASSIVE (very uncommon) so I had been left with a size small and medium that could be worked with, but a large and XL that were unwearable and unalterable. I contacted the eBay shop and asked to return them (the dresses were around £20 each). Unfortunately the company’s return postage policy was so expensive (tracked to China was going to cost me £40) that it was simply not cost effective to return them. So either way I was out £40 whether I sent them back or not.

Great.

The company didn’t make this explicitly clear on their page and experience has taught me to ask about returns if buying something more expensive from an Asian online store in future.All’s well that ends well though as I managed to sell both dresses on to very happy people, for the price I bought them at.

The second time I (kinda) got burned was when I purchased from an Asian store called SheIn.

I LOVE SheIn. Like, really LOVE IT. The stuff is quite cheap, they have a great selection and actually the quality had been pretty decent so far. Their measurements are accurate about 70% of the time though, which has meant items have arrived that I would like to send back.

I done a quick Google search (“SheIn + returns) and found that many people were extremely dissatisfied with their returns efforts. SheIn  have a very swish online system where you can log your return before you pop it in the post, but many people had said that their items never arrived at the other end and that they were left with no item and no refund.

Pants.

Luckily I haven’t fallen victim to this and have just decided never to return to them. Anything I buy that doesn’t fit, can’t be altered or gets put on eBay or given/sold to a friend. I did buy a dress once that was so short my PANTS were visible, so I contacted them and told them their pictures were not accurate representations of the item. I also told them that I was reluctant to send it back to them because of the poor reviews I had heard. They apologised and gave me a full refund and a discount code for my next purchase. DONE. HOW NICE.

***TIP: Fancy a wee £ or ££ off your order with them? Add items to your SheIn basket then close your browser. I can guarantee within 24hours they will send you a discount code. It MAY say 30% off…it’s not. But it’s still a couple of quid off. ***

The moral of this story is basically to be wary. Do a quick search of the shop name and “scam” afterwards and see what comes up, or look up their eBay feedback. This will also highlight any fraud issues too. Read into their returns postage policy and confirm it with the seller. If you are not into their policy, be sure you really want what you are about to buy, or be prepared to buy two sizes.

Rule 4: Be Sensible

With any online shopping be wary of what you are buying. If something looks not quite right, it probably is. For example, I saw a gorgeous dress on SheIn and wanted to buy it...

Something about the photos was putting me off though. They were quite grainy and you couldn’t see the model’s face (it had been cropped). So what did I do? I put on my Mac, got out my pencil and went all Columbo up in their grill. I saved one of the photos and done a Google Images search (go to Google Images and click on the wee camera logo on the search bar…you can attach an image and search for other instances of THAT image on the web…also handy to find out if anyone is catfishing you online). Hey presto what did I find but that the photos had been lifted from ASOS. The ASOS dress (the brand was Chi Chi London) was much more expensive, which made me question whether the product listed on SheInside was going to actually be anything like the one pictured.

I decided against it in the end. If there is a lack of images or the images are poorly lit/too cropped/grainy or appear overly edited, so a quick search and see what comes up.

SheIn also has a helpful feature which encourages buyers to post photos of themselves wearing their items along with their own sizes and the size they bought in order to help people decide if they like the item or not. It helps you actually see what it is like on a real human being. They have also started featuring a “catwalk” for some of their items, meaning a video plays of a model wearing the item. I therefore tend not to order anything from She Inside now that doesn’t have a couple of photos next to it of regular folks who have bought the item. The reviews also allow people to state their dress size etc. and whether the item was true to size or not. HANDY.

Rule 5: Be Prepared to Wait

China is like, far away. Don’t know if you knew that, but it’s like, ages away. All of Asia is actually, so don’t order stuff and expect it to be here in a week, a fortnight or even a MONTH. eBay sellers tend to give an estimate of when an item will arrive and some online shops provide tracking information but not all do (SheIn do and it’s actually pretty good). If in doubt, check out the FAQs of a seller or contact them and ask their average delivery times to your country. I have often forgotten I have ordered stuff and been very surprised when it has arrived 7 weeks later.

I must say that She Inside tends to post quite quickly, and I have received items within 1 week in the past.

So, if you have scrolled past all of the above information in a bid to read some handy conclusions, here they are…

PROs:
 Cheap clothes
  • Online shopping (can be done while in the bath)
  • Some stores offer discounts
  • Some stores offer customer reviews
  • Some returns advantages (50% refund and let you keep the item)
  •  

CONs:
 Delivery takes an age
  • Quality can be a hit or a miss
  • Returns can be extortionate and unreliable
  • Detective work needed to suss out legit-ness (totes a word)
  • We haven’t even STARTED to think about the potential ethical issues involved in some companies. As far as I know, SheIn are an ethically run organisation.
  • ADDICTIVE
  • People asking you where you got your cute top / jeans / coat. HOW. ANNOYING.



Thought I would share some photos of just some of my purchases from SheIn so far that I have been happy with. Now go buy yourself a tape measure and HAPPY SHOPPING!


Soup Bag, £12.62 SheIn


Red lace dress, £15.17 SheIn. I had it altered at the waits- was too big. 

Black & white Breton-style dress, £17.90 SheIn (had the dress altered at the waits, too large)


Dress £15.47, SheIn. I had the straps shortened 'cause I'm a shorty. 

Blue floral playsuit, £14.04 SheIn (was a perfect fit)

Two-piece set, £11.39 SheIn (was a perfect fit)

Top, £9.36 SheIn. Best buy by far. Looks and feels great, true to size and had many compliments on it. 



 You'll notice everything here is under £18. Natch.

:)




Friday 28 August 2015

Mimi and Weesse's TOP TIPS for Paris



Last weekend we had the pleasure of travelling to one of our favourite places on the planet for the third time- Paris! Treating our gorgeous mum to a girly weekend for her up and coming 'special' birthday, we aimed to cram as much possible in to the 3 nights and 3 days to ensure mum got to do and see all the highlights. 


As we'd both been before, we had a few ideas of how to get around and make the most of our time effectively. Our plan (hugely orchestrated by Mimi!) worked a treat and so we thought it may be useful to offer up our TOP TIPS to anyone planning a trip to Paris in the near future! 


1. Book an Apartment- As there were 3 of us, it worked out cheaper to book an apartment rather than 2 hotel rooms and we're so glad, as it really added to our quest to be all French-like during our stay.

 We booked with Cobblestone Paris Rentals and stayed in the Marais region in their super cute, very-French Le Classique du Marais apartment. 

 Wooden beams, terracotta tiled floor, spiral staircase leading to bedroom and etoile curtains and furnishings...this small but perfectly formed loft apartment was an ideal base for our weekend adventures and in an ideal spot (Rebublique metro station was two streets away). Free WiFi and calls to UK landlines and cell phones; kitchen equipped with toaster, fridge/freezer, hob, kettle, dishes, washing machine/dryer etc; bathroom stocked with shower gel, shampoo and towels......basically everything you could need. Having an apartment meant we could stock up on goodies from the supermarket round the corner (Monoprix) to rustle -up a yummy petit dejuner  and then sit each morning enjoying our boiled eggs and pain au chocolat planning the day ahead in our PJs. Super!





















2. Use the Metro- This is a super EASY, super CHEAP and a QUICK way of seeing all of Paris. You're best to buy a 'book' of 10 tickets at a time (especially if there's a few of you) from the machines within the stations. At only 14.40Euros (£10) the Metro is a sure-fire way of getting around on a budget and as long as you don't leave the station, you can change lines still using only one ticket per person, working out at a £1 a journey per person. Bargain! 

Mimi had downloaded the app RATP on to her phone which she used (with the help of a map of the city) for every journey we wanted to make. The app will navigate you on all forms of public transport. We never got it wrong once using the app. We always ended up where we needed to be and in record time. Ideal for cramming as much in to your days. 

The stations are well signposted and the metros themselves safe (like in any major city just be mindful of potential pickpocketing) and used by EVERYONE in Paris. They're open until 2 am and there's' a station on nearly every major street in the city.  We visited The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dam, Ile Saint Louis, L'arc du Triomphe, the Padlock Bridge, the Louvre, the Moulin Rouge and Disney via the Metro. 





3. See the Eiffel Tower at Night- Of course it's really impressive in the day, but our favourite view of this must-see attraction was at night and ON THE HOUR. The tower is lit at night but on the hour it twinkles and wow, what a sight that is! We got off at the metro station Trocadero (The Trocadero gardens and fountains are beautiful too!) and walked up the stairs only to be taken aback by the awesome sight of the Eiffel Tower right in front of us. Perfect spot for taking photos. 



 We also stumbled across a late-night outdoor Tango session. 20 or so couples gliding around in the dark dimly lit by the glow from the Tour de Eiffel. Outstanding! 






4. Eat in the Street cafes- Don't make a dash for nearest steakhouse, McDonald's or Hard Rock Cafe. Try dining where the locals go and you won't regret it. We had a gorgeous meal of sea bass and green beans at Le Cafe Rebublique just a stone-through's away from our apartment on our last night as we watched the world pass by.


We can also recommend taking the Metro to Pigalle and treating yourself to a salad at Le Relais Gascon




5.  Do Disney Cheaper- Book before you go. Attractiontix.com allows you to print off a voucher before you travel, to then easily pick up your tickets on arrival at the park. We made a saving £40 on each ticket.





6. See Paris from Above- Grab a coffee-to-go then head for the department store Galleries la Fayette and take the escalators to the roof top for the most stunning view of Paris! You'll find tourists and locals alike taking their lunch break as they soak up the sights, chilling on the sofas dotted across this artificial grass covered rooftop. The department store itself is stunning inside and adorned with floor upon floor of designer brands to drool over. 





Et voila! Our tops tips for now. We could give you some more but we feel these 6 are the BEST advice for getting the most out of your trip. 
















Aside from the above, my personal advice to you would be to get yourself a Mimi. She organises and orchestrates everything. You just need to turn up and enjoy! Thanks Mimi! 

A' bientot! 

W x

Thursday 20 August 2015

Je suis d'emballage pour les Paris

Bonjour mis amis

We're Paris bound this weekend, treating our gorgeous mum to a girly trip to celebrate her up & coming 'big' birthday. Très excité! 

Cabin baggage only, we are having to be super ruthless when it comes to packing & only the MUST HAVES are making the final cut. 3 days & 3 nights & a shed-load of options....must stay strong; must not take it all! 

As it's set to be lovely weather-wise, lightweight tops, skirts & dresses are the order of the day, which actually makes for easy packing. Travelling in the winter & having to cram in chunky knits & heavy denim sounds like my idea of hell!

Without even realising, I've managed to put together quite a comprehensive colour palette of whites, blacks, khakis & burgundy. All of which go perfectly with the 3 (possibly 4!) pairs of tan leather shoes I've selected. A tan handbag for during the day & a clutch for evening will complete the weekend's collection.  


DAY (starting top left & going clockwise) 


Stripey Dress: H & M (last year). Here is something similar

Playsuit: H & M (no longer available). Here is something similar 

Black Wrap Dress: F & F at Tesco (last year). Something similar..

Camisole: F & F Tesco. Not available now but you may like... 

Skirt: H & M. Another version...

Polkadot dress: F & Fat Tesco. Still available in a different pattern...

Cotton bandeau dress: Primark (also available in a other colours ans prints)




EVENING (starting top left & going clockwise) 



White dress: Yumi (Uttam Boutique) at House of Frasers (last year): Here's something like it...

Camisoles: Primark (various colours available)

Skirt: an independent boutique in Ayr. Sorry!

Dress: H & M (last season) but here's a beaut... 


So there you have it guys. A capsule wardrobe for a weekend in Paris. Photos to follow of course....

Au revoir, Weesse x



Saturday 15 August 2015

Weesse has an EMPTY....or two...!



  By my own admission, I'm a tad unadventurous when it comes to trying new beauty products. When I find something I like, I'm monogamous and don't stray from the old faithfuls I've used for years. Boring I know but playing it safe saves el dinero and my time (precious as it is) which are both high on my priority list. 


  However if I happen to stumble across something new (post-severe procrastination (yup, that's me!)) and actually bite the bullet to try it out, I'm then keen to share my new-found loves with friends.....and that means YOU! Recommendations of products you've used and given the thumbs-up to from like-minded peeps can help to avoid wasting your hard earned cash on unused items that end up just gathering dust on your bathroom shelf-we all have 'em! So my EMPTIES (as in products I've finished and approved!) will be revealed, reviewed and then you can then purchase away if you fancy anything in particular. Boom, done! A public service, if you will! 

 A recent visit to the Kiehl's store in Glasgow opened me up to a whole world of skincare that I hadn't come a across before. Not that I've tried heaps of different brands or would say I'm particularly stuck on one specific make, I have for years been an advocate of Dermalogica products and if splurging on skincare, I tend to stick with them as I know my skin will always appreciate the TLC they afford. Having had two facials at Kiehl's Glasgow this year, I can safely say I've found another fave! 



  Post-facial (which was amazing!) the lovely Lisa at their Buchanan Street store, popped on some Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream in Natural  (available in 3 shades) so I could leave the shop not feeling too exposed (being make-up free!). I'm not someone who gets overly excited about BB creams as I never feel they offer enough coverage/cover-up but this lil' beaut has converted me. I used it everyday on holiday in Spain as opposed to my foundation and I was thrilled with it. Definitely doing what it says on the tin, it evens out your completion and with an SPF of 50, was an ideal choice for everyday wear abroad. I've now started sporting it at the gym (yes, I'm the girl who wears make-up when working out) in the hope that it's less clogging then foundation when getting a real sweat on. Will report back in due course as to whether it does the job or not. 







  I have also been loving Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream. Despite the hefty price-tag, I feel that with this a little goes a long way and so it will last you a long time-an investment perhaps. It's lightweight moisturiser and smells divine and could be used as a night cream as it has anti-ageing properties. Go and test it for yourself (the staff at the Buchanan Street store are super friendly and helpful). A try-before-you-buy for sure. 







 



 I'm forever seeking out ways to help keep my make-up on my face for longer! After all that's where you want it be, right?! A while back I recommended Urban Decay's All Night Make-up Setting Spray (which I'm still using) but recently paired that end stage in my routine with a pre-make-up step-a primer! Specifically L'oreal Paris Infallible Mattifying Base  which I think is a perfect dupe for the Smashbox Photo-Finish Primer. The L'oreal version is a THIRD of the price, is 5ml bigger and has a similar consistency to it! I find it has been making it easier to apply my make-up too as it's super silky and helps to hold my foundation in place for longer. Go get it! 








 I am a big fan of L'oreal (have recommended their True Match Liquid Foundation before) so I'm not surprised that I recently discovered another favourite from them. I have been freakin' loving their Volume Million Lashes Mascara- like seriously guys, it's da bomb! Firstly, the stiff brush helps to separate your lashes as you comb through  the mascara (love!); it defines and lengthens with minimal application (love!); and it's not expensive (sold!). Again, in the past, I have touted Urban Decay's Subversion Primer/Perversion Mascara Duo  as a real fave of mine (which it is) but at a THIRD of the cost, the L'oreal mascara has to win. More pennies in your pocket to buy more lovely things! 






And that my friends is your wack (as we say in Bonnie Scotland!). I hope you find a new love in one or all of the above. I've certainly got a bit of repurchasing to do!


Comment below if you have discovered any gems recently! 



Peace out!



Weesse xx





Thursday 2 July 2015

GET SOME NUTS!!!!


 

Eating healthy is something I actually really enjoy. I'm not a fuss-pot when it comes to food, so I'm always happy to try new things and I aim to make my meals as healthy and nutritious as possible...as long as they're tasty of course. 

You may have read my post a while back about Hubby and I following the Weight Watchers program and having lost 2 stone, I can safely say it works! Super simple to follow & definitely a plan I'd recommend! 

However deciding to use the app to  log points & follow the plan rather than attend a weekly class, we feel, along the way, managed to isolate us in our weight loss journey.  Just over a year on, we have in more recent times felt a little uninspired when it comes to preparing yummy food that fits within our daily/weekly Pro-Points allowance. 

  We sussed out quite quickly when we signed up what we could make that would allow us to do the plan successfully and achieve & maintain our weight loss and then (to our detriment) literally rolled out those same meals week in/week out. As we didn't attend a class, we missed out on the recipes and the handy tips that staff and members share on a weekly basis and eventually started to feel that we were in a bit of ground hog day meal-athon. Cue boredom! 

We are both sufficiently clued-up on food to know the sensible way to follow a points system diet and thus, didn't aim to just eat our points negating the nutritional values of the foods we ate. However, in trying to stay healthy, stick within the points and get our fill, I (as did Rob) avoided certain foods for fear of going over my allowance, when really I shouldn't have cut them out all together as their nutritional benefits are pretty essential for the body. For instance, nuts. I know that most, if not all nuts are high in calories because they're high in fat (unsaturated fat, that is), so up until recently I pretty much ignored them. Grudgingly, I might add. Many types of nuts are a great source of vitamin E and fibre, as well as essential minerals, so eaten as a snack in their rawest form (not roasted or glazed) they are super at keeping you healthy and hunger-pang free. And this is where my more recent dilemma was. Did I introduce some nuts, hence reaping their benefits AND changing up my diet from the norm that I was starting to loathe but then risk exceeding my daily points for a snack or even worse, put on weight as I'd be taking in more calories? This is where, frustratingly I'm no expert when it comes to nutrition. I guess it was a decision I had to make for myself but I know any dietician would be screaming "EAT THE NUTS!!". Yes they have fat in them but it's good fat and so I did.......and low and behold, I've maintained my weight loss. Avacados were another ambiguous food for me-I recognised their health benefits but negated them for their high fat content. I eventually bit the bullet (or the Avacado!) & introduced them to our weekly fajita night & there's no going back now. They're so freaking delicious! 

I'm now more mindful of the nutritional value of certain foods and don't automatically rule them out because of their high points value (according to Weight Watchers). In order to stay on the wagon & be healthy (not just within target weight!) you have to be all about variety. Different combinations, textures & versions of your old faves will ensure a balanced diet is achieved & that you're not reaching for the nearest bag of chips through sheer frustration & boredom. 

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't Weight Watchers fault we fell into this food slump-it was down to a personal choice to rule out certain food groups purely down to their fat content. One must remember not all fats are bad & everything in moderation is not to shabby a motto to follow. We are now back to enjoying our healthy lifestyle & not beating ourselves up when we have a handful of peanuts! 

Peace out!

W xx 



Thursday 16 April 2015

DIY vs Stuff That!



 Each time I tell friends we are doing some home improvements, every single person says the same thing to me....  
'You're ALWAYS decorating!!!!!' 

And although I think it's a slight exaggeration, I guess in comparison to others, hubby & I choose to play at Changing Rooms a fair bit it would seem. We've lived in our house for 10 years & have decorated the living room 4 times and the kitchen 4-5 (One big overhaul post-flood & then several colour scheme changes over the years) which actually I don't think is excessive. A fresh lick of paint & new cushions on the couch is enough to transform your surroundings. Like with your wardrobe, your tastes are everchanging so it makes perfect sense to me to alter the colours & 'themes' of each room in the house through time.

 Hubby & I normally are very hands on & DIYers when it comes to decorating. Not that I love agonising over staying perfectly within the lines when painting an entire room with the tiniest brush to ensure precision but it's always made sense to us to just muck in & get the job done-although a few hours in you can bet we're both regretting it big time. I always assumed I could be costly to have a decorator in, however for the first time ever we recently decided to get a professional in to do the painting, wallpapering & glossing of both our living room & kitchen. This has afforded us the luxury of being able to ponder over colour schemes, soft furnishings & the finer details of how each space should look post-decorating. There's less chance of 
the novelty wearing off if I don't need to clutch a roller & don my painting clothes for 3 days straight, my back breaking throughout. Needless to say, I'm excited....and relieved! 


A few months back we decided to overhaul our bedroom which was crying out for a little TLC. I have a real love affair with grey (the hallway is grey, as will be the kitchen!). I don't know what it is but I really do love the 50 shades of grey that you  have to wade your way through in the shop to finally select the right one! Keeping it cool & light, we aimed at making the bedroom a minimal, bright space to chill out in during the day but then a cosy Inviting hub to curl up in at night. 


 


I absolutely love spending time in our bedroom now. It's my favourite room to be in. 

Paint: Dulux Chic Shadow 
Curtains & Metal tiebacks: Dunelm 
Photo frames: Ikea (wallpaper samples inside!) 
Bedding: Tesco 



 Our living room has been very green for the last 4-5 years with a busy, stripey featurewall dictating the overall theme of the room. It still looks pretty fresh actually & certainly not dated but I felt it was just time for something more mellow. 

 Opting for oatmeal, neutral tones this time, I want the room to feel spacious, bright but have a comfy, cosy feel to it like the bedroom. We're adding a coffee table which immediately changes the whole look of the room as it's such a large piece. 



 I plan to add lots of different cushions to our leather couches to give it the comfortable vibe we're going for & a new statement chair which I'm in love with (it actually inspired the whole look of the room!)


I picked a few ornaments fronTKMaxx the other day. It's such a great place for finding one-off, unusual pieces that will just finish a room. 





Wish us luck! Will post on the finished rooms asap! 

W xy