Bathroom Update: My first DIY challenge

So the bathroom is midway through its makeover. For anyone on a budget, there is nothing more annoying than paying someone to do a job they don't do properly...

Above is the builder's attempt to do the sealant. Lumpy, thick and just so wrong. I mentioned in Post 1 that I was going to try and do some of it myself. I was thinking more along the lines of putting up a shelf or painting a wall, but my DIY skills were tested earlier than I thought.

I wanted to make the whole process as easy as possible. After a trip to Homebase I discovered a lot about sealant. Riveting? No. Useful? yes.

Not wanting to faff around with the big ones you put inside a gun, I found this Unibond Go, which has a nozzle already built in and is really easy to use.



Here's what it looked liked after I had scraped the first layer off - not a pretty sight.

 Me smoothing down the sealant with my finger dipped in Fairy liquid so it doesn't get stuck. Can you see the bath is full of water? That's another tip I learnt: Always fill the bath up before applying the sealant because the weight of the water can cause the bath to drop a couple of mm and break the sealant (like it did the first time).

So here are the results... I'm really pleased. It was so much easier than I had thought and it's always a good feeling to know you can do something that you would have paid someone else to do.

The only thing I would change if I was to do it again would be to use clear sealant around the wooden shelf as the white is a bit bright - but I think I can live with that.

Project Bathroom

It's been slightly longer than usual since have posted. This is because I have been chin deep in doing up my bathroom. It's tiny, minuscule in fact at 1.5 x 1.5m. Meaning basic things like finding a bath (ours is smaller than standard size) are more difficult with often pretty expensive, limited choices. And did I mention the nightmare of finding nice, small storage solutions to hide away all the bathroom clutter? And all on a budget, of course. 

Old bathroom, mid makeover

The only thing I was sad to see go: Our old original 1950s taps

The poor bathroom was well over due a makeover, but to be fair I was a little late on snapping these as some boards and the tiles had already been ripped off. But you get the idea, it was pretty chaotic. As you can see from our ugly toiletries basket and our broken towel rail, below, we had given up.

Our current storage solution

The broken towel rail

So I have been searching high and low and below are a few inspiration images of what I want it to look like (see more on my Pinterest). But is that realistic in such a small space? Stay tuned for updates on my attempts to achieve scandinavian minimalism in a mini space on an even minnier budget, £500 to be exact, which also means I will be doing some of the work myself.

Love these glossy subway style tiles and a chunky sink...

Love the large nails for towel hooks

Grey and yellow work well as accent colours in a white bathroom...

Monotone always works

I want a 'curated shelf' and might try dark green painted bath...

Raw looking wood against the crisp white works really well.

London Interiors: House Boat Living

Living in central London is fast becoming impossible on most people’s budgets, that is unless you live on a houseboat. Boat owners, illustrator, Sophie Jamieson and her boyfriend Kendall Gilmore, who works for the Department of Health live a 10 minute stroll from Baker Street station, on a peaceful stretch of canal, edged with a small houseboat community.

But what is the reality of living in a space that measures a mere 57’ x 7’? Where on earth would the average person store their life’s hoardings? We all dream of minimal living, but in this tight space wouldn’t most people get cabin fever?

Sophie and Kendall have expelled all musty, dingy houseboat connotations and created a homely but not cluttered vibe. Yes, there are lots of bits and bobs around but they are artfully placed, providing an insight into the people who live here.

It helps being one half illustrator and having a good eye. “When we moved in, the art and books went up first and the rest just followed” says Sophie. Stacks of books, from cookery to Harry Potter become shelves for teapots and jars.

Long and narrow, the boat is divided into 3 spaces: the sitting room and kitchen, the bathroom and a bedroom tucked away at the starboard.

It’s small, but in their case perfectly formed. In the kitchen, the red surfaces are lined with Kendall’s latest foodie experiment of pickling kimchi in jars. The kitchen surfaces are kept clear by nailing copper pots from Spitalfields market to the ceiling and suspending plants in handmade holders Sophie made by knotting twine, giving an outdoorsy feel. Herbs, picked from their little garden on the mooring, seasonal squash and pumpkins are hung on a crafted rope and leather shelf contraption.

The inside is white with popping postbox red cabinets, the end of one painted in handy blackboard paint. Monotone always works well with block colours and their tiled black and white floor is no exception.

“You’ve got to be clever when you live somewhere this small” says Sophie. The boat is peppered with evidence of Sophie’s frugal crafty skills. Wooden wine crates Sophie picked up from the local wine shop and painted white act as bookshelves and another crate, upturned hides essential items and is fashioned into a comfy seat with a hand sewn cushion. The portholes and windows are part obscured with little patterned curtains, more evidence of Sophie’s sewing ways.

Lighting? The amber glow of a wood fire stove keeps things warm and cosy, with olive wood collected from the local gardening centre. “We are deciding whether or not to burn it because it looks so nice all piled up” says Kendall. A string of festoon light bulbs from Lights4u.com keep the boat on-trend and they just won some long hanging naked bulbs on eBay – “don’t ask us how they are going to work” says Kendall. If what they have done so far to their meticulously decorated boat is anything to go by, they will find a way and it will be perfect.

See Sophie's llustrations here. 

Photos Sarah Fox

Christmas Tree Decorations

My tree!

Firstly, apologies for the major blogging break but to say things have been hectic the last few week is a vast understatement, work and looming Christmas have been all consuming not to mention my Mum has passed on the task of Christmas dunner to me and my brother. (She artfully placed Deliah Smith's Christmas book on the table in October as a constant reminder).

With all that, I still found time to decorate the tree. It has been chilling in the garden since I nicked it from my work Christmas party last year. The lower branches were turning brown so I re-potted it in this wooden barrel from Homebase, only £6.99 and brought it in from the cold.

Owl from a selection at Liberty

Every year I scout around the shops to find one decoration to add to my already bulging collection. Here's the best of what the shops have on offer this year. You might remember last year's red mini  from Liberty with the Union Jack flag that aptly celebrated my recent passing of my driving test and The Olympics. Well on this year's visit to the Liberty Christmas shop, I came home with this little owl.

For a minimal, Scandinavian feel, try Clippings, the design Junction shop. I want to wrap my tree in this handmade acorn garland. So what if acorns don't grow on Christmas trees? I reckon you can drape them around the house far beyond December too.

 Acorns on a string £15.75 Clippings

These festive heads designed by Alessi are a great option for the design conscious who finds Chrimbo vulgar and tacky.

Alessi £23 for 3

Paperchase have gone completely wacky this year with their kitsch Christmas collection. Look at this father Christmas on a jet ski, complete with dangling lights. I popped one in my basket for a my best friend's house warming present. 

Santa on a jet ski £6 or 3 for £12 Paperchase

And I treated our tree to the Hula Girl who has taken over from the fairy this year.

Santa on a jet ski £6 or 3 for £12 Paperchase

 Love 'em or hate 'em sprouts are a big part of Christmas. If you don't like them on your plate, why not celebrate the traditional veg by hanging one on your tree?

Sprout from notonthehighstreet.com £3.50

This tasteful bauble is the one for those not going down the traditional Christmas route. Or perhaps you travelled the world this year?

Globe £4.50 Oliver Bonas