Green Mermaid Cottage

Most of my furniture come from charity shops, markets, Freegle and Facebook Marketplace. As usual I like the idea of recycling items, rather than buying new. I also think that these pre-loved pieces fit in better with the overall boho, eclectic decor that I have chosen for my house.  Learning to up-cycle these items, with chalk pa int for example, means that I can give them a new lease of life and surround myself with colourful pieces for a fraction of the price that vintage, wood furniture would cost in the shops.  Below are the steps that I follow when I source a new piece of furniture that looks a bit tired, dated and unloved to turn it into a new, bright addition to my home.  Preparing the item Clean item thoroughly. I use sugar soap or create a solution made of equal parts white vinegar and water  Fill any scratches or holes. I use   basic wood filler Sand the item. This helps take any sheen off and remove old paint. Always sand in the same ...

When I packed my bags to move into my new home I was amazed at how many cleaning products and air fresheners I was taking with me.  Bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaner, floor cleaner, window cleaner, bleach, drain cleaner... This would also create a lot of empty plastic bottles to dispose of once used. I was concerned as well that using air fresheners were really good for my health or the environment.  Manufacturers' clever marketing has convinced us that unless with buy multiple products for each room and purpose we must be slobs with unsanitary houses... Thankfully I learned that there are recipes I can use to make my own products with simple ingredients and that many of these products can be used all over the house.  GENERAL CLEANERS I have have several recipes for all purpose cleaners: 1- Castile soap-based cleaner : Ingredients: Castile soap, essential oil (I use tea tree or lemon) and water.  - Mix two cups of water with 2 tbsp or Castile soap and 10 drops o...

Once I had paid for the most urgent repairs to my House of Horrors and done as much DIY as I could to sort out the walls and flooring, I had nothing left to spend on making it look homely and comfortable.  I found being in the almost empty house incredibly depressing. Everything felt cold and dark. I really wanted it to reflect my personality and I dreamt of a boho, arty, eclectic and colourful haven.   DECORATING ON A BUDGET And so I turned to charity shops, markets, Facebook Marketplace and recycling apps like Freegle to try to furnish my home and improve the look of my garden on a small budget. I found that many charity shops sell furniture as well as clothing and objects. For example, I got a huge armchair and a beautiful recycled red cabinet from Emmaus Dover, a  social enterprise that supports local homeless people and help them develop new work skills.  I also found chairs and plant pots in skips that people were only too happy to give away. ...