before and after.....

Ha! I haven't disappeared although most of you probably thought I had seen as though it has been so long since I last posted anything, I have been extra busy with new boilers, new windows, decorating, having sunny day fun and my mum is 67 and has osteoporosis, she fell in her kitchen and fractured her pelvis, broke her thigh bone in 2 places, shattered her knee cap and fractured her shin bone, she has been in hospital for a couple of weeks having operations and then went to a rehabilitation hospital where she left yesterday, she is now at home with lots of walking aids and hopefully on the mend. She has drove me nuts, I have been having terrible nightmares, running about up to the hospital which is an hour both ways on the bus and generally feeling tired out. That's mainly why even though I have been reading all your lovely blogs I haven't had the energy to update my own, but today is the day when things are not as hectic so I can bring you all up to speed. Big breath and relax......

Right so I'm not sure if you remember many moons ago I was decorating/doing up our lounge, well it's done at last, I love it, such a peaceful space, to read and knit. I have done before and after pics so you can get the idea of what a transformation it is: cast iron fireplace was definitely for keeps after the trouble we had putting it in!

after many hours and hard work and weeks of saving up it was finally ready....

Wallpaper from B & Q's Eco range - very tricky to hang, scratched really easily, paint by Crown's breath easy range, hardly any odour and very low VOC's. We used antique cream on the walls and cotton white on the woodwork. Went on really easily, would use again.

Black chandelier from B & Q half price in the sale, I made the curtains by using up some lovely thick upholstery fabrics with a edge border of brown satin and black flocked leaves. I made the tie backs with silver shot silk fabric and silver beads on chain.

Tom made the TV cabinet right across the bay window, using our local wood shop and FSC wood which they had to order in! underneath is a great storage area.




Cosy reading corner, armchair and sofa from DFS, the first ever brand new sofa I have ever owned, it was such a thrill when it finally came after 5 weeks wait, they really couldn't understand why we didn't want stain protection on it though, even after I had explained the chemicals involved and the health issues attached to them. It is a shame that the whole thing couldn't be free from chemicals, but you can only do your best I suppose. Blanket knitted by me, half finished, lovely and thick with 5 types of wool and size 12 bamboo needles.

Some soy candles, cosy cushions and pictures (made by me) and a lovely pure wool carpet, no stain protection on that either, we also have wool fleece underlay so that is as natural as it gets. I'm glad our formaldehyde laden laminate has been thrown out, the carpet is so warm on your feet.



Scrumptious chenille covers, the armchair looks much bigger in real life, how strange! Really good for falling asleep on!. Even though it took a while it has been really worth it, I have been given the incentive to carry on and do the rest of the house now.