http://homerestyleruk.blogspot.com If you would like to read my blog, which is all about interior and home decoration, where I share with you ideas & inspiration with the aim of making our homes more beautiful places to live in, please click here.

Thank you!

For all the latest blog posts full of wonderful ideas & inspiration for making our homes more beautiful places to live in please visit:

http://homerestyleruk.blogspot.com

Thank you, see you there soon x

To find out all about a fab vintage fair that is happening in Exeter this weekend please go to http://homerestyleruk.blogspot.com/

Woo hoo! Devon Life magazine has asked me to blog on behalf of Devon Life for www.greatbritishlife.co.uk.

So to keep up-to-date with even more of my latest ideas and inspiration to help you transform your home please visit;

http://devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk/community/blogs/entries/katey-korzenietz-of-home-restyler-from-exeter/id/437/

Check out the most stylish tableware of the moment
http://homerestyleruk.blogspot.com/2011/07/mustard-on-your-plate.html

For the first in an ongoing series, please click here to read about some inspiring thoughts on making your own curtain tie-backs..

http://homerestyleruk.blogspot.com/2011/07/make-your-owncurtain-tie-backs.html

Well who'd have thought it, home restyler recently styled a retro style campervan shoot at Bigbury & not only is one of the best shots (taken by Sarah Lauren Photography) on the COVER of Devon Life's July 2011 issue (out now) but home restyler herself is in the shot - eek!

"What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?"
A Midsummer Night's Dream, 3. 1, W.Shakespeare



To mark Midsummers Day today, I am so excited to share with you a selection of photos taken recently at a Midsummer Night's Dream themed bridal shoot, which was styled by home restyler and shot at Great Fulford House, Dunsford, Devon.

Written in the mid-1590s, probably shortly before Shakespeare turned to Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of his strangest and most delightful creations. If you have ever read the play I am sure you will agree that the photos taken by Sarah Lauren Photography have captured all that the story stands for about love, magic and dreams.

To view the photos please click here

To keep up to date with the home restyler blog from now on please visit

http://homerestyleruk.blogspot.com

Thank you!

Things have been so busy of late that I haven't had a chance to upload the latest before and after shots to the home restyler gallery. So please excuse me and accept my apologies by way of presenting you with some shots of a complete re-design and re-style of a 4 bed house. The house was outdated, in bad taste and in desperate need of revival, so home restyler took on the challenge. To see what we did to the main rooms downstairs please go to http://www.homerestyler.co.uk/before-and-after-shots%282417661%29.htm

Thank you!

I was thinking about how the interior of your home can affect your mood and wondered how we could all make changes to our homes that would appeal to all five senses. Here are some of my thoughts;

SIGHT
Colour is THE main way of transforming the mood of your home. Whether you want to create an uplifting, wakeful area that will energise you or a restful, relflective area in which you can relax, colour is the key ingredient that will drive it. What works for one person won't neccessarily work for others so tune into your inner palette and choose colours that suit you best. If you're not sure about the colours you like most, try experimenting and hang a wallpaper sample to a wall or paint it and see how it makes you feel. Once you know what you like you can start to experiment and as long as it makes you feel happy then that is all that matters.
Image: www.fotolia.com

TOUCH
Texture has a huge impact on the look and feel of a room. By layering various textures you can change the image a room projects. I am a lover of change and think it is important to change textures as well as colours with the change of season. You can do this through the use of cushions and throws, swapping heavier wool and fur in winter for linen and lighter cotton in summer. Moving personal objects and accessories from room to room within the home will also create a new look and won't cost a penny.

Image: www.teixidors.com

SMELL
Your home is your kindgom and in it you can create your own positive environment by dispersing smells that stir the emotions and thoughts. Again I like to have smells that go with the seasons so at this time of year light and fresh scents work best. You can add smells to your home in so may ways be it with scented candles, fresh flowers, or incense but also by using scented washing liquids and draw liners. Freshly baked bread, a basket of seasonal fruit (mmm strawberries & peaches), bunches of fresh herbs, ground coffee, cinnamon sticks...

Image: www.artisanbreadinfive.com

SOUND
Life is hectic, busy and often noisy but your home is your haven where peace can reign. So create a calm atmosphere around you with soft furnishings to mute  noise, ban all shoes and pad around in your socks and play music to fit your mood - or open the window & listen to the sounds of nature - if you're lucky enough to live somewhere the sounds coming from outside won't stress you out.


Image: www.bestgreenhometips.com

TASTE
Bit of an odd one when thinking about the style of your home, you may think. But hang on isn't your home where you spend time enjoying food and drink with family and friends, so surely this has an impact of your interior design. Linking back to the sense of smell, prepare food that floods your home with delicious scents and lay your table with pleasure. The experience of enjoying a scrumptious meal is heightened by how you style your table so spend some time thinking about creating the right mood when sitting down to eat.
Image: http://blog.stylizimo.com

All of this has made me hungry now!

There is something so satisfying about breathing new life into old and redundant objects and what could be easier than spray-painting something to transform it from useless to fabulous. Armed with a can of Plasticote and without getting too carried away, why not dig around in your attic and garage to find a little re-design project to work on. It's both cheap and quick to inject colour and style into something you thought was once drab and defunct.
The Plasticote website (www.plasti-kote.co.uk/) is packed full of decorating tips and advice and features some great before and after shots of items their designers have transformed. Here are a couple of their inspiring ideas;

Storage Tins - keep hold of old biscuit tins and other tins you receive over time & paint them to match your kitchen decor

Before                         After

Girls Bedroom Storage - transform a plain white chest into a bright, funky storage unit to match your colour scheme

Before                        After

To get a different perspective on your home, if you have children ask them what they think a happy home is and what it is they love about where you live. The answers they give you will give you a fresh look at your home and how it works for your family. You never know your little ones may provide you with some rather useful and insightful interior inspiration!

Meeting new people is brilliant. They bring a fresh perspective on things you already thought about and inspire you to think about things you never had before. Last weekend I met a couple who have major, grand-design plans for re-designing their existing house, and with a view like the one they have overlooking the Teign estuary, who wouldn't want to build four storeys of glazing! On the drive home I started thinking about my life-long dream to build my own home. Ok so not literally, I wouldn't know where to begin with blocks and cement but to get the ball rolling again and put out the feelers. Did you know that last year 50,000 self build homes were completed, which is greater than the number of new properties actually built by commercial housebuilders. So what's stopping me becoming number 50,001.... apart from that elusive plot of land...

home restyler's passion for colour was further ignited this weekend when I came across Scottish textile designer Fi Douglas' homewares brand Bluebellgray. Fi handpaints colourful floral designs before printing them onto natural cottons and linens to make cushions, wallhangings and lampshades. home restyler's favourite piece from the current collection is the beautiful tumbling watercolour flowers Meadow wallhanging. It is a stunning, unique way to add a splash of colour to your home.

For more information and to buy online go to www.bluebellgray.co.uk 

Just perfect. Wasn't it? This weekend I mean. The weather was just perfect. It was only when we'd devoured all of the bbq'd meat and drunk a lot of crisp, chilled Picpoul de Pinet (courtesy of Naked Wines) and darkness crept in that I had to go on a frantic search for all of my lanterns and outdoor candles and wished I'd prepared it all earlier. Oh well, it wasn't long before everything was in place and the relaxing could continue. So I thought today I'd inspire you to dust down your candleholders and lanterns, if you haven't already, and show you some of what home restyler thinks are the best buys out there at the moment.

Nordic House has a huge selection of lanterns and candle holders on offer. From big stainless steel lanterns to rustic painted metal candle holders with heart cut-outs, there is something to suit everyone's taste. http://www.nordichouse.co.uk

Habitat's Bridget multi-coloured fairy lights is a fabulous, vibrantly coloured, beaded-necklace-inspired string of led lights that will bring colour and light to your patio. http://www.habitat.co.uk

Garden Trading has some elegant spike bamboo lanterns in two different sizes, which you can dot around your garden to add a serene glow once evening sets in. http://www.gardentrading.co.uk 

Here's to the start of a long summer of evening alfresco dining, long may these sunny days continue!

I'm very excited and pleased to tell you that home restyler has been quoted in the latest issue of Exeter Living magazine (issue 104) within the Spring 2011 interiors section. I am sooo delighted to be able to share some of my tips and advice for how to inject some of the latest trends with the magazine's readers and hope that this is the start of a new and exciting relationship with the title and those who read it. For those of you who can't get hold of a copy click on the image below and take five minutes out of your day to read all about vibrant rainbow hues, bold florals and retro 50s prints. Enjoy :)

If you are up-to-speed with the latest interior trends, you will certainly know that the 50's retro look is well and truly in. home restyler is not one for being a slave to fashion trends however adding a little of what's hot is definitely the way to go to keep your interiors up-to-date. And, if it can be done on a budget then it's even better! One quick way to affordably give your kitchen an instant retro look is to buy some Mibo stick-on-tile tattoos. Once applied these decals are water-resistant so they are perfect for kitchen or bathroom walls. At £12.50 for eight (15cm sq) you can soon remove them, as they can be easily peeled off, if and when you choose to follow next seasons' trend.

...haven't you??

Just in case you haven't why not treat your mum to a home restyler gift voucher? Not only will it look like you have put a lot of thought into how to repay your mother for all the amazing things she has done for you throughout your life but it will also put a smile on her face to know that help is on hand to help her create a perfect look for her chosen room or indeed the whole house!

Gift vouchers are available for any value, so that they can be used in part-payment for a restyle. Or even better, a gift voucher can be purchased for any service that home restyler offers. Why not take a look through our services, choose one which you think your mum would like most and let home restyler arrange an initial consultation at your mother's home. home restyler will then get in touch with you to disuss the cost of the project and we can take it from there.

Go on, add a little restyle to your mum's life!

Hardwood flooring is manufactured from timber and is popular both in commercial and in residential properties. If you are considering fitting or replacing hardwood flooring this quick guide provides you with all of the basic information you will need to help you choose the right type for you.

Hardwood Flooring Types:

The first consideration when choosing hardwood flooring is to select the right type of flooring technology to suit your requirements. They might look the same, but not all hardwood flooring is the same. There are two types; solid and engineered.

Solid hardwood - This is flooring made from complete wood, hence the descriptive term ‘solid’. The appeal of using solid hardwood comes from its reputation as being extremely strong and offering a serviceable lifespan of up to 100 years. However, in some cases, solid hardwood may not be so practical because in hot conditions certain solid woods tend to expand and in cold conditions tend to shrink.

Engineered hardwood - Using modern technology, engineered hardwood flooring is made from wood mixed with plywood and MDF. The appeal of using engineered hardwood is due to its ability to withstand temperature fluctuations. Unlike solid hardwood, which has a natural propensity to react to temperature changes by shrinking (in cold conditions) and expanding (in hot conditions),engineered does not.

Hardwood Flooring Coating:

The second consideration when choosing hardwood flooring is the coating which will cover the floor. The right coating will have an impact on the lifespan of the floor and how well it complements the interior design of a room. 

Practical reasons - Coating is meant to give the floor the desired finish as well as provide some protection from minor damage. If the floor will be subjected to high levels of foot traffic, let’s say in a kitchen for example, a double coating is recommended, as this will fade less quickly. If the floor is likely to have direct access to the sun during large parts of the day, a UV coating should be considered.

Decor reasons - It is now possible to apply a coating to match your flooring to the interior design theme within your home. Until recently, the technology to colour wood flooring didn’t exist and consumers were pretty much limited by the natural colour range of wood. Now, however, some suppliers offer bespoke colouring for wood flooring, so you as a customer have a much wider choice. This process is achieved by colouring the coating of the floor as opposed to the wood itself.

Hardwood Flooring Environmental Responsibilities:

We have one planet with limited resources. It is our joint responsibility to ensure that wood is sourced from sustainable forests, where trees are replenished thus reducing our foot print on the forests around us. Read the ethical statement of the seller before purchasing your wood flooring. You should also ensure that the species of wood you have chosen is not on any endangered list. One way to do this is to visit www.iucnredlist.org   (the red list of threatened species). If you have selected a common species for your flooring, such as Oak or Walnut these will not be on any list, the red list is useful if  you decide on a more exotic species. 

Article written by the team at Wood and Beyond for home restyler.

http://www.woodandbeyond.com/

I'm currently window shopping for bright, new, eye-catching door knobs and found these absolute gems. Porcelain dot & flower handles by Danish ceramicist Anne Black come in small, medium & large and in 10 colours. They are priced from £8.75 at www.95percentdanish.com (a great all things Scandi website). I was looking for knobs to use on a set of drawers but these are so fab I might just pop some up on the wall and use them as hooks instead.

"Rainbow, rainbow, it's a rainy sunny day". A rainbow has to be THE best thing about rain, well, only on a sunny day of course, but let's not get all scientific about it.

I just LOVE colour! Don't you? You know, when you see a host of bright colours together and you just have to break out in a smile. And what a smile I had on my face when I saw these incredible bright things;

Sitting pretty- in 1957 Italian modernist designer Gio Ponti designed one of the most elegant and lightweight chairs for Cassina, the 699 Superleggera. Now these chairs are available in an updated range of colours, with padded seats whcih come with removable fabric or leather covers. From £714.00 they aren't within a lot of people's budget range, but hey one can dream. (cassina.com)

Let the light shine in - whilst researching new shutter designs for a client recently, I came across ShutterlyFabulous, a manufacturer of unique, custom made shutters that 'won't cost the earth' and felt like I had seen the most striking rainbow ever. Don't you think that these nursery shutters are the most vibrant, cheery and playful shutters ever?! Ok, so they may not be sleep inducing but so what, they make me want to paint & sing & make playdoh shapes hee hee! (shutterlyfabulous.com)

Pick & mix - and, finally, and no this wasn't just an excuse to go clothes shopping the other day, have you seen the variety of homeware offerings available at lots of major high street clothing retailers at the moment? Apart from the ususal suspects (Zara included) home restyler was rather impressed by some of the latest pieces by H&M. To continue with the theme, have a look at these fab cushions. At these prices (from £2.99)you really could have every colour of the rainbow! (hm.com)

Decanters are very 'of the moment' and whilst perusing Roost Living, which is a delightful online boutique selling stylish, functional and inspiring interior accessories for your home (all of whose products are carefully chosen from makers around the UK) I came upon this. It is a beautiful glass and bone china vintage decanter, which would look stunning arranged with other decorative pieces on a sideboard or console. At £82.00 is it a fair price, but if you want something cheaper, why not check out your local jumble sales, recycling depots and car boot sales where there are many gorgeous bargains to be had!

image: www.roostliving.com

If, like me, you often come across small pieces of fabric that are so gorgeous you just have to have them but have absolutely no use for, then how about this idea I recently happened upon. Little Pretty Studio (look them up on www.etsy.com) have created a range of hoop.de.doos, which are embroidery hoops covered in fabric. They can be simply hung on the wall as art or used more practically as noticeboards. So when you have the chance, drop by your local haberdashery shop or look online at shops like www.thehappycross-stitcher.com and pick up a few hoops (a 7" hoop will cost about £3.00) and put those pretty little pieces of fabric to good use. Ah, it's the simple things in life that can really make my day :)

Image: http://www.etsy.com/shop/littleprettystudio

Happy New Year to one and all! home restyler very much hopes that you enjoyed a magical Christmas and have had a chance to relax and gather energy to start the new year with increased vigour and excitement.

I recently came across a new design that I just have to share with you. Sometimes a new product comes along that seems to defeat all boundaries, and this certainly is one of those. The Sophie Mensen ‘Watertable’ is made to morph in shape, the slick sink is a pliable polymer that expands to collect the volume of water, continually growing as the basin fills. When the tap is off, the watertable is flat but as soon as water hits it, it expands. Incredible.

(images: www.trendhunter.com)

With the third week of advent officially started and the weather about to take a bitterly cold Artic-like turn again this weekend, I thought you may appreciate a delicious recipe for an alternative to the classicly festive mulled wine - Spiced Winter Cider. Combining cloves, apples, spices, citrus and dark rum this mulled cider recipe is impossible to resist on a cold December day. So light up the stove and get simmering.

Ingredients

This Sunday is the first advent so I hope you are all prepared with your four candles and some ideas for how to create your very own spectacular advent decoration. If not, here are some inspirational ideas to get your creative juices running. home restyler would love to see your ideas, so please send in photos of your creations and one random lucky winner will receive some delicious Christmas chocolates. Email your photos to contact@homerestyler.co.uk and inlude your name and postal details. Merry Christmas!

Images: livingathome.de, familie.de, wunderweib.de

Sometimes in life you see something that feels like it is calling out your name & saying 'you want me, you need me' and I never thought I'd say that I feel this way about a sink, but I do! PhilipWatts Design has created the most simple yet amazing range of nine solid colour, rotationally moulded in medium density polyethylene sinks. They call it the Glink. Bold bright solid colours: orange, red, pink, yellow, apple green, ice blue, dark blue, grey and white. Priced at £205.63. Ok, so it may cost more than just adding a few coloured tiles to your bathroom or beautifully accessorising it with brightly coloured towels and candles but come on, how unique and eye-catching is the Glink!

http://www.philipwattsdesign.com/cat-11-subcat-47-product-310

I don't know about you but I LOVE this time of year. Winter is officially here, bonfire night has passed so it is officially acceptable to start getting into festive mode and doing all things Christmassy (well it is in home restyler's house anyway! I'm already burning Frankincense & Myrrh candles, drinking hot cider punch and planning delicious treats to fill the month of December).So to get things going how about placing a festive mat at your door to welcome friends and family into your home? Not only is a doormat practical with all this blustery, wet weather but it's a delightful way to add festive decorative cheer right at your doorstep. There are some wonderful designs out there but my personal favourites are the 'Merry Christmas' doormat £16.95 from Dotcomgiftshop.com and Hearts & Baubles doormat by Gisela Graham £14.99 from GiftedPenguin.co.uk.

Ooh, I love it when the seasons turn & all of a sudden the air is crisp and cold. The fallen leaves are copper, burnt reds and browns. The clock goes back soon so darkness sets in late afternoon. It's time to light your candles, get some real hot chocloate simmering away on the hob and make your home all cosy. And what better way to warm up your abode than be adding all things wollen. Wool never goes out of fashion and is the perfect material to snuggle under or decorate with.

Choose from small accessories like this gorgeous large candle ,embossed in a chunky knit style with leather wrap and heart charm, hand made by Bougies La Francaise (available from www.belier.co.uk for £33), lighting like the 'Granny' knitted pendant light by Pudelskern Design for Casamania (available from www.espacio.co.uk for £182.75) or larger items like the Rasta Pouf in marron glasse' wicker and marron glasse' leather by Arcadeavec (available from www.interdesignuk.biz for £452).

M&S has some gorgeous chunky knit cushions in various colours for £25 and John Lewis has some fantastic throws in various colours and sizes at various prizes. So, the choice is yours. But if you are going to make some hot chocolate, go the whole hog and use full fat milk - it really does taste the better. Oh and if I were you, I'd definitely make it a classic Hotel Chocolat one - delish!

For those of you who like to plan ahead, here are a few little nuggets of interior design information from Scarlet Opus at Decorex 2010 to keep you abreast of the trends that are expected in Spring / Summer 2011

- It's all about the 'happy ever after' feeling, hopefully post-recession. We think of reassurance, a sense of escape, fun, play & wonderment. How to we bring this to life? Through exaggerations of scale with oversized lace, ruffles & draping. Through fairytale subtext with corsages, butterflies and bows. And colours? Beautiful, feminie, hazy pastels along with faded and dusted pales, nudes and greys. How to bring it alive? Through painted furniture, 'vintage' pieces and soft, sheer silks, cashmere and lace.

- But if that's not your cup of tea, then how about the 'dark metropolis' trend that is also predicted? In opposition to 'happy ever after' this reflects dislodged, post recession apocalyptic predictions with an S&M, distorted Dali-like theme. Sounds somewhat scary, but what it is hinting to, is the idea of forbidden pleasures and dark desires. How does this come to life in interiors? Through smoggy greys, tar black, blackened metallics, corsetry, eyelets and laced up seams.

Talk about opposites but at least these trends offer something for everybody!

Whilst I assimilate all the info I gathered at Decorex 2010 (which was beautiful, inspiring and very interesting) I thought I'd mention the latest project I have been working on. A client commissioned me to create a new style for her living room and dining room, both of which have to be interchangeable. The brief was to design a modern yet classic and enduring look that would bring the whole of the downstairs area together, introducing colour and texture to a currently bare area that was lacking in style, feeling and and vibrancy. Well, a few weeks ago I presented to my client and she loved the new look I had created for her. She is now waiting for all of the furniture, rugs, lights and accessories to be delivered and by the end of November all of the window treatments will have been installed. So watch this space for the before and after photos...

home restyler is very excited about visiting Decorex this weekend. With 280 exhibitors plus 15 exciting feature areas there is going to be soooo much to see. From fabrics and wallcoverings , furniture and lighting to accessories and a whole host of inspirational seminars, home restyler is looking forward to reporting back to you with all the latest design & innovation. To find out more check out www.decorex.com. It's a trade only event though I'm afraid, so I promise to bring back as much inside info as I can ;)

I'm sorry it's been a while, but there's a lot going on for home restyler at the moment...more news to follow at a later date...

In the meantime however, I just had to share a tip for the latest accessory to add style, colour but most importantly comfort to your living room. Pouffes. Funny word. My Granny always had them dotted about the place and although hers weren't the most tasteful, they were so handy. Aside from the traditional square / oblong shaped box style pouffes, there are lots of interesting designs available on the market right now. From the beautiful classic pouffe Tesica by John Lewis (£119), the 3D Petal pouffe by M&S (£119) to, my favourite, the Designers Guild Moyka Pouffe in pink & turquoise stripes (£165 available from Heal's). When you've had a long day and want to out your feet up, what better than lounging on the sofa with one of these supporting your weary trotters!

Last week someone asked me to suggest an alternative room divider for a living space that is already quite dark. Instead of using a bookshelf, going for a standard IKEA piece of furniture or hanging a co-ordinating piece of fabric to create a dividing element why not stack up glass blocks. These blocks are often used when adding an en-suite to a bedroom as they allow light through but still retain privacy when using the bathroom. So why not use them downstairs? Glass blocks will provide an effective way to zone off a space but will allow light to stream through both sides. Problem solved. To find a large selection as well as all the tools you need to build your glass block wall check out http://www.glassblocksdirect.co.uk/ or http://www.simplyglassblocks.co.uk/ 

If the high street is anything to go by, Autumn is practically here. Shelves & rails are stocked with what we 'should' be wearing next season and apparently leather & lace are key themes. Well, interior trends often have parallels with the fashion industry and would you believe it but lace is back. Don't think frilly underpants, think more subtle and less intricate than traditional designs. Although home restyler is not an avid follower of fashion, sometimes it is good to nod to the latest trend and inject a little of it to add interest into your already stylish home. For some great ideas, check out Zara Home for lace-effect cushion covers, Next cream lace print duvet and pillow set and for some truly stunning wallpaper inspiration look at http://www.hermitageisahome.com/shop/lace/, ok it's expensive but isn't it gorgeous to look at!

When I was a little girl I dreamt of having my own dolls house that I could decorate myself. Not all girls want everything to be pretty in pink. Whilst looking at the Great Little Trading Company website this morning, I came across this beautiful dolls house (http://www.gltc.co.uk/fcp/product/-/big_presents/Tea-Rose-Doll's-House/10000001503). Not only is the interior design of the house so adorable in Cath Kidston reds and blues, it gave me an idea. When you are looking to redesign a room and go around gathering swatches of materials and fabrics so you can pull your style togther (creating your own mood board helps gather your thoughts when doing this) you are often left with little bits and pieces that soon become redundant once you have made your decision. Why not use them to decorate a dolls house and create your own unique style? There are lots of plain wooden houses for sale on the market that are crying out to be restyled. What a brilliant way to create your own little stylish house and show off your inidividual style...and at a fraction of the price!

Oh. My. Gosh. Wall art cannot get any more incredible or unique than this. home restyler is truly impressed & so excited by Udesign (http://www.udesign.vizzondecor.co.uk/udesign/home.do). In three easy ways you can create beautiful, custom wallcoverings, that are as individual as you are. You can choose from over 3,000 professional design templates, choose from millions of stock photos or upload/create your own design to make custom wallpaper, canvas or wall stickers. There really are no limits...now, which room to do first?!

I don't know about you but I've got a whole host of boxes and bins around the place for putting old paper, tins, plastic... etc in. I always keep my eye open for a stylish yet practical system for storing recyclable items in but have never quite found the perfect solution. Then today I came across the Ovetto Recycling bin designed by the Interior Architect and Designer, Gianluca Soldi. It's a futuristic, egg-shaped looking pod that not only does meets the primary need of function as well as style but also educates users to respect the environment by helping them correctly dispose of waste and thereby making recycling a part of everyday life. The bin is divided into three compartments, each of which has holes for air circulation and comes in various colourways. Check out www.bodieandfou.com where it is being sold for the best price I've seen it at online yet. Go green in style!

If you were wondering why things have been quiet of late, it's because home restyler has been very poorly. Things are nearly back to normal so it won't be long before more fab hints and thoughts will be on their way! Watch this space for photos of home restyler's funky kitchen wall stickers...coming soon.

Many of us fall for simple, cheap storage / shelving solutions that are great for their purpose but that have no individuality. Take the IKEA Lack range for example; simple shelving but oh so boring. So why not use some of the rained off time we're in for this weekend, buy some funky wallpaper & cover your oh so average looking shelves. Quick, simple and very personal. All you need to do is measure up your shelf, cut out a piece of wallpaper the same size and glue it to the top side of your shelf and Bob's your uncle! There are 1000's of wallpapers you can choose from and you can either use the same as what you have hung on your walls or go for something totally different and totally statement. home restyler would love to see photos of your work so why not send them in to contact@homerestyler.co.uk and get your designs posted online.

I don't know if you agree, but often I come across pieces of furniture I fall in love with but once I find out the price I soon fall out of love again! However I've come across a great website www.loveyourhomeforless.com, which sells designer furniture for less. They don't have showrooms and manufacture in Poland rather than in Italy thus saving on overheads and production costs. They pass these savings onto the customer, which means those of us who like to watch the pennies can still afford to buy fantastic pieces but at much lower prices - hooray!

Some of us seem to inherit plates from grannies, some of us can't resist buying them if we see a pretty one when we're pottering around interesting shops. But once we have them what do we do with them? There's no point letting them gather dust on shelves or storing them away in cupboards. Why not use them to make a pretty display and one that is totally unique to you and your home? I saw this image on hello-tiger blogspot and so I thought I'd inspire you to create your own too. To hang them on your wall, simply make sure the rear side of the plates are clean and dry, buy some invisible plate hangers (available from John Lewis, good cook shops etc, they come in about 4 sizes and are about £1.50 for the smaller ones) and create your very own display.

If you like this idea and you're decide to create your own display, why not send in your photos of them and I will display the best ones on the home restyler website. Have fun!

home restyler continues to be so in love with wall stickers. I bought myself some for my kitchen recently and I just can't wait to get them up! You must ensure when adhering wall stickers to your walls that if you are applying them to a painted surface, that the paint has had at least 2-3 weeks to completely dry out, otherwise you risk them not sticking properly and peeling off within a while. I've only just painted my kitchen wall but as soon as I get the stickers up, I'll post a photo so you can see them - funky bright coloured circles, amazing! (I bought mine from Blik via www.notonthehighstreet.com)

If you're looking for some cute stickers for a little girl's bedroom check out Lollipop stickers from Marks & Spencer, they also have bedding to match. They are removable and for only £15 a cheap but impactful way to add colour to brighten up your little princess' room.

Ok, so this may be a bit cheeky, but if you're stuck for an idea as to what to buy your father or what your children could buy theirs, how about choosing something that you all can benefit from. Like the idea of something that makes your home a brighter and tidier place? Then why not buy him the funkiest coat hook ever. It may be a stereotype, but women are often heard moaning about 'picking up after men' so take some action and take a look at the classic Charles Eames Style Coat Hook.

Originally designed to encourage children to hang up all their coats, hats, toys, skates and rucksacks, the rule may apply to men too! There are many similar and cheaper varieties out there so pick one that suits your budget and everyone's a winner ;)

If you fancy bringing a bit of sunshine from the garden into your home, have a look at the new collection from Zara Home. To add a splash of vibrant summery colour to your bedroom they have a range of  bright yellow, pink and green bedding & throws. With double duvets costing from £19.99 and cushions at just £15.99 it would be silly not to at least have a look! www.zarahome.com (new collection).

home restyler's photo gallery has gone live today, so take a few minutes out of your hectic day & see the kinds of looks that home restyler could create for you. The gallery is more of an inspirational aperitif instead of a full blown three-course dinner, as the styles that home restyler can create are endless. So start there and if you're liking what you see then get in touch & let's see what kind of menu home restyler can design for you!

Hooray, finally the hot weather has arrived! This weekend will blatantly not involve anything to do with being inside the house so take the weekend off DIY chores (did I actually just say that?!) and when you go the supermarket to pick up your picnic essentials (obviously not forgetting the plastic wine glasses!) why not grab this funky picnic basket from Sainsburys for £29.99. It's made from a fab nylon Monsoon print in floral greens and blues and has all the bits you need to kit out four people for your outdoor feast (food obviously not included). Picnic-tastic!

I remember seeing a picture in a lifestyle magazine about eight years ago and loving the idea that lay before me. The idea hadn't occured to me before but totally appealed to my way of thinking and looked fantastic...

 Who says books should be arranged by topic or alphabetically? Colour code it all the way, not only will your bookshelves look neat and planned but they will look stytlish and extremely funky.

Sit back and see which colour your friends gravitate towards first... interesting huh?!

So, you've found an absolute bargain item you just HAVE to have, trouble is, it's a rather large kitchen dresser...and the cost of delivery just doesn't make it a must-have bargain anymore. Hmmm. Well, home restyler has discovered www.anyvan.com. It's a very clever site that links you with delivery providers that are already coming into your area. The bonus of hitching a ride with a courier already planning to deliver near to where you live isn't just the money saving itself but it also makes your purchase that bit more eco-friendly. What are you waiting for, go buy that dresser!

Ok, so I'll admit I do not have the greenest of fingers BUT I am a dab hand with a paint brush. So if   you aren't much of a budding garden enthusiast either but still want your garden to look fab, why not update it with a lick of paint. And at the same time, you could do your bit for the planet and use eco-friendly paint. There are a variety available on the market but one I brand I have recently come across is Earthborn Paints. Their proAqua Eggshell and Satin Varnish paints represent a new generation of water based wood finishes, ideal for your garden fences and sheds and with 36 colours, you'll be spoiled for choice!

If you find yourself forever scrabbling about to find a pen and piece of paper to note something down then why not make your own chalkboard instead. Much quicker than searching about plus once you've written your note you'll know where you've put it when you need to read it again later! And also, a chalkboard can be a real statement on your wall. You don't even have to just stick to classic black, as there are now various colours on offer.  So either paint a spare patch of wall, cut out your own shape & attach it to the wall or paint on random things like kitchen cupboard doors, boxes, the back of the loo door....

Here's how to make your own;

• If painting an existing wall or object, prepare your surface correctly. If you're making your own shape, draw it out on a piece of MDF (which is perfect due to its smooth, paintable surface, plus it is lightweight) and cut it out using a safe cutting method, sand edges and brush off dust
• To ensure an even colour sir the paint vigorously for a few minutes
• Using a brush, apply two or three coats (or more if using a roller). Make sure you allow approx. four hours drying time and check the paint is completely dry before adding further coats

• Your blackboard should be ready to hang / use after approx. 24 hours

To find your perfect blackboard paint, check out the likes of Marabu, Craig & Rose and Blackfriar as well as other manufacturers. Have fun!

Oh. Wow. I have just found THE most fantastic online rug shop. It is incredible. Check out www.wovenground.com. They stock absolutely every type of rug - all shapes, sizes, colours and styles... now you have NO excuse not to add some style to that bare patch that oh so wants to be loved by a delicious new rug!

Don't you just love bank holiday weekends! Homerestyler has had a busy weekend making lots of improvements to her own home. From stripping wallpaper on the hall, stairs & landing to hanging funky zebra striped wallpaper in the office...even with a small budget, big changes can be easy to make. Watch this space for photos of homrestyler's own home plus photos of homes she has worked on coming to the gallery soon...

So much for the offers on suncream at the moment, looks like we'll be needing wellies this bank holiday weekend! But instead of feeling glum about the rain, why not make the most of it and make some changes inside your home.

• Get hold of some photo frames in various sizes but in the same colour and use them to create a feature display on a blank wall.
• You could take some time digging out old photos that you'd love to have on display.
• Or cut out some images you like from magazines lying around and create a themed display for example flowers & plants, holiday destinations or just bright colour patterns.
• Go to your local DIY store and rip off some samples of wallpaper and frame those (choose ones that match your current decor).

The options are endless...see what you can create...

These days people are often talking about saving the forests and cutting down on landfill, but sometimes we just don't know how we can do our bit in what seems feel like a daunting and impossible task. So, if you're thinking about changing your home interior why not see how you can 'do your bit'.

• Instead of throwing out the old to replace with new, why not revamp existing furniture. Feel the sun on your back and take an old chest of drawers outside, strip it and paint it with a fresh colour and it will look brand new.
• Use eco-friendly paint instead of other leading brands. The quality is just as good and they are generally very competitively priced.
• Why not swap pieces of furniture and accessories with a friend - you can achieve a whole new look for nothing except maybe a cup of tea & a slice of cake ;)

If you're looking for a quick, easy and afforable way to brighten up some wall space, why not put up wall stickers. These are widely available online and no longer purely reserved for the kids' bedroom. Everything from petals to chandeliers, headboards to animals. It's a great way to add some personality to a room and unleash your inner-child!

For some inspiration why not have a look at some of these websites; www.supernice.co.uk, www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk and www.decosticks.com.

A quick, affordable and amazingly impactful way to transform the look of your living room is to pile on the cushions. Buy cushions in the same spectrum colours and play around with different types of designs & materials. One cushion alone can make a statement, but together can really enhance one another.

Lots of people try to copy the latest interior trends rather than trusting their own decorating instincts, only to realise that the look will soon be out of fashion. Instead you should trust your instincts when styling your home and don't let the latest trends dictate what you can and can't use.

If you're not sure if how to get what you like to work in your own home, then get in touch with home restyler and let's see what we can develop together. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved!

Ah, Spring is in the air, the sun is shining and well, it's time to do a spot of spring cleaning. Why not start out by clearing the clutter from your home, not only will it make you feel better it will also help you see your home in another light. If you need more reason to get rid of the clutter then see how you could benefit from a bit of de-cluttering;

• You'll uncover space you never knew you had
• You'll be able to find things again - hurray!
• Space around you makes space in your head, so helps you think more clearly
• Your home will look much more clear and organised thus helping you to feel more relaxed and calm
• Like I've said before - less 'stuff' out on display, makes for time saved on unneccessary dusting - yippee!

If you feel like you just can't face it alone, why not get in touch and see how home restyler could help you declutter and release undiscovered potential within your home.

The style and design of your home has a real impact on your daily acitivites and how you feel within it. Here is one very important tip to support the emotional aspect of your home and to ensure a good balance of comfort, function and style: 

Don't fill your home with lots of accessories. Keep objects to a minimum, choose a few statement pieces that reflect you and your personality. Complement them with the decoration of the room. And remember the less 'stuff' you have on display, the less you have to dust ;)

Floral patterns with big bold blooms are big for 2010. Large, contemporary coloured floral designs are all around, on everything from tea towels to cushions.

Check out Betty Jackson's multi-coloured Anemone cushion available from Debenhams for inspiration (now in the sale for just £18.40!)

Well, launch day has gone well and I have had lots of great responses, so thank you to all of you for your support.

Just to let you know, there will soon be a gallery of portfolio photos for you to browse through and see what home restyler has created to date... watch this space...

Welcome! Wilkommen! Bienvenue!

this is it...

...as I sit here and write my first home restyler blog entry, www.homerestyler.co.uk has finally gone LIVE. So if you've just landed on the site, please take a few moments to have a look around and see what you think of what I have to offer. Your thoughts and feedback are always appreciated, so please do drop me a line and tell me what you think. Also if you'd like to keep up-to-date with all things home restyler, then please join the mailing list to receive regular tips, hints and gossip plus the odd chance to win something fab!