Project: Children's Room

28 August 2021

I have just finished the children's room. It ended up being quite a long job because all the window frames needed repainting, and the walls also had wood chip wallpaper to strip off first. I am so tired now but feeling much better for having it all done in here. They love it and the colour too!

It is a nice bright room with lots of windows and it is a bit bigger than the room in their old house.

This little mouse sticker was given to us for their new room last xmas by someone very dear to us who suddenly died. So it was very special to put it under P's new desk, and she even made it a little house...

I have had this table for half my life. It has always stayed with me through many house moves. I repainted it it for my daughter who is getting more grown up and has wanted a proper desk for a while now.

Some before and after photos... (I let them draw on the walls before painting)

It originally had wood chip wallpaper painted white and the woodwork was a cream gloss colour.

That electric stove is just for fun but it does produce a good amount of heat. I had it in my loft bedroom in previous house. The leaf garland was made out of gift tags from the lovely Hadley Paper Goods.

The paint I used was Farrow and Ball, Light Blue no.22

I'm so grateful to all of you that have been catching up with my progress via instagram, it has kept me motivated to keep going with this. So much support from strangers that I will always appreciate, thank you!

I'm planning on doing the bathroom next (when I have recovered a bit!)

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Shop update

24 August 2021

I took these photos today for my website. I'm not a proper photographer, so it takes me awhile finding the right light in my new flat. I had a bit of fun anyway. These new items are available on Only Through Shadows, they have actually been waiting for the shop for a couple of months whilst I have been busy moving and painting, so I'm pleased with myself for finding the time to get some images done.

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Project : Jewellery Studio

15 August 2021

My Only Through Shadows HQ! It has been a year since I set up my small business, in our old loft and greenhouse. When we moved out of our house last November, my new house purchase fell through and we had nowhere to live. Luckily, we could stay at my mum's flat whilst buying this place (which took 7 months!) so this really is the first proper workspace I've had in which to run my business (I formally left Rust last month). I worked so hard for this like my life depended on it, which oddly is literally true.

Thankfully, it has provided for us to live here, so I will continue to make things, swim in the sea, go for a walk and then come back and make some more, for the rest of my life, the end.

Ha that sounded extreme, but you know what I mean. The only problem is that it is a little isolating, so I will have to go out and learn Spanish or attend yoga classes, or a book club or something. Ideas on a postcard please.

One very proud (totally knackered and aching) business owner.

Luckily I have my sidekicks to entertain me most of the time, and they think I am one crazy pants mumma.

Haven't got any photos of the blood red flaking paint underneath the wood chip from hell, but I do have this one of the wall of boxes straight out of storage, which stayed there for a good few weeks whilst I drank tea.

Most of the furniture (excluding my jewellery bench) is from Ikea, what would I have done without Ikea? I shudder at the thought.

A very satisfying job, I bought these wooden magnetic knife holders (and painted them white because I am illogical) and mounted them on the walls to put my tools on.

(In the absence of a capable male, I have had to learn to use a spirit level myself).

So I have yet to start on the next room (the kid's room) and I can already feel my right arm moaning at the thought of that paint scraper. I'll keep you updated if you've followed this far.

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Project : Hallway

Our small hallway had the same treatment. Funny that it took me the same amount of time as the bedroom. The walls were even worse here, I'm grateful for Dulux Trade Emulsion which is thick as anything. Not the most interesting room I admit, but, it made so much difference to the whole flat as soon as I'd finished it. Lots of woodwork to paint too, took forever.

I bought a carpet washer and it was very satisfying! By the way, I'm not a carpet person, I always prefer floorboards. However as I think I mentioned before, it wasn't possible to pull up the whole flooring, and actually the children love the carpet. It has grown on me, and it feels so good to walk on.

I found that jute runner rug very cheaply (directly from Morocco as it happens!) and it is really good to walk on, like a mini massage, I look forward to my trips to the kitchen barefoot.

I put up some hooks for all our stuff. That redundant thermostat from older boiler is my hat hook. I will need to organise for it to be removed somewhen in the far future.

Also I had to hide the large fuse board that is so complex it looks like it could launch a shuttle in Cape Canaveral. To save paying a carpenter, I found this wooden radiator cover about the right dimensions. I'm so happy to have a very useful shelf (I will find a better mirror to hang above it).

Also I might start a new collection of Camping and Caravanning flags, although it sits on my conscience that I haven't actually toured Britain and gained them legitimately, I just like the graphics.