All posts filed under: Saving Money

We have carpet!

Published by Karen Knox

Can you believe it was this time last year that we started our loft conversion? How quickly have the last 12 months gone? We finished the staircase earlier this year and finally got the build signed off in June. Phew! But the one thing we still hadn’t managed to sort (afford) was the carpet. You can see in the image above where the old box room wall and door were as our old, battered carpets were a kind reminder of the house’s former layout. Luckily for me, Flooring Megastore were happy to work with me to re-carpet our stairs and open plan landing. Whoop! They stock an enormous range of flooring (carpets, vinyl, laminate, engineered and solid wood) including just what I was looking for. Associated Weavers Lochay – Fossil I opted for Associated Weavers’ Natural Wool Collection in a warm stone shade. I wanted something with grey undertones for more of a Scandi vibe. Especially as the space it was being fitted was all white and birch, birch and white. It’s 50/50 wool and polyester, so, super hardwearing …

My Top 10 Brass & Gold Pendant Lights (for under £250)

Published by Karen Knox

Ceiling pendant lights are one of the items I spent the most time searching for. The choice our there are the moment is completely immense. However, it’s still not easy to find affordable, statement lighting. And when I say statement, I mean, something that’s big enough to take hold of that space above your head. Gild Hall Hotel – NY For a 2.4m high ceiling, you want something at least 35cm diameter, preferably 40cm. For a 2.6m ish ceiling go up to around 50cm. Any higher you’re going to be looking at around 60cm +. The grand/er the better really, especially if you have a ceiling rose. Fitting a crap, piddly light into a beautiful, period ceiling rose is just rude. In my opinion of course. But these big statement lights can be so darn expensive. And a lot of my clients (like me) don’t have that kind of money, so finding something for less than £250 can be a real arse. So I thought i’d show you my top 10 finds over the past couple …

My “Go-To” places to shop for interiors online

Published by Karen Knox

Today, i’m sharing with you guys the places I ALWAYS go to when looking for pieces for projects. I’m sure you will have heard of most of these websites, but for those who struggle to find new places for interior inspiration and find themselves getting stuck in the “Next, M&S, John Lewis loop”, here are my top ten online spots. Nine times out of ten, I find what just what i’m looking for from one of these ten places. Lets go. La Redoute I don’t think i’ve done a project in a long time that’s not had at least one piece from La Redoute. A really good place to take a look for pieces of furniture, soft furnishings, rugs, accessories… They ALWAYS have a sale on, so you should be able to get at least 25% off most of the time. If you can wait until a BH Weekend, then they have been known to knock off 40%. That’s when i’ve filled my basket! Maisons Du Monde These guys have only just started advertising in the …

Let’s talk about Next…

Published by Karen Knox

I tend to dip in and out of Next. They have had bursts of genius in their homeware department… which tends to come and go, so it’s always pot luck whether i’d find something of interest. Antler Light from Next used in my Eclectic Living Room Project Next have certainly stormed into 2017 wearing their best pants, giving us some SERIOUSLY good interiors inspiration. Some of it I want right this minute. And I think you might too. Come see. Spheres 6 Light Brass Pendant Light – £130 Oh my actually bloody hell what??? Can you see this? Yes, it’s from Next. And it will sell out. So if you like it, flipping buy it now. At £130, this is a steal when similar chandelier/multi-arm lights are selling for £500+. Palm Tree Table Lamp – £60 It’s so cool. Not too crazy. A great way of adding a subtle touch of personality and fun to your bedroom or living room. Evelyn Pendant – £35 Oh this is just ridiculous. £35? They may as well be giving them away. How …

Ikea 2017. What’s caught my eye?

Published by Karen Knox

Ikea have a habit of dropping little gems into their range without you even noticing. Some pop in and out of stock before you can say Billy Bookcase. I remember tweeting Ikea ages ago asking why they didn’t have a “What’s New” tab on their website. A page you could jump straight onto to see what treasures had arrived recently. And do you know what? They’ve flippin’ well got one now, so i’m taking full credit, everyone. You can thank me later. It’s here: New So here are some of my fave pieces that are indeed new for 2017. Stuff I would quite like to have for myself or put into projects. Come see… LIXHULT cabinet, £29 I actually already have one of these at home. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRF7JOuAeRT/?taken-by=makingspacesnet That didn’t take long did it? PS 2017 Storage Cabinet, £55 and Table Lamp, £25 More from that range below… PS 2017 lighting range from £19 – £69 FJALLBO Shelving Unit, £75 with the new HEKTAR Floor Lamp with 3 Spots, £49 GRENO Outdoor Cushion, £9 OSTLIG Plant Pot, …

Identity Papers

Published by Karen Knox

Today’s post is all about independent wallpaper designer, Linda Hasking, also known as Identity Papers. Linda Hasking – Identity Papers Here she is, well, half of her. Linda’s story behind Identity Papers began with two hundred and twenty two photos. “Shots I took of every single object in my living room became my first wallpaper, Mi Casa Su Casa.” Mi Casa Su Casa That very first wallpaper design became the foundation for her brand. Linda views her wallpapers as a portrait, this design itself being a self-portrait. This idea of the self-portrait developed further, and now her photo-collage wallpapers can be custom made using your very own images. Mi Casa Su Casa – Monochrome Great idea no? A wallpaper you’ll see something new in every day and something that means something to you and only you. Miniature pieces of art for you to discover every day. Linda’s newest design, Woodsman 1 and 2 wallpapers are another prime example of her designing with us in mind. We all like to have something a little bit different don’t we? …

Where to start…? (a guide of what to spend your money on at home)

Published by Karen Knox

Happy January 2017 everyone. We made it! I enjoyed my week away from work, writing, interiors and all things loft extension, but it’s now time to crack on with life again. And i’m ready for it. It’s at this time of year, after taking the Christmas decs down and giving the house a good clean we start thinking about making home improvements and giving our homes a bit of love. My inbox has been rammed since December with people wanting some help, advice and design work done in January. Which is brilliant of course. Home Office in a Day My first day back at work in 2017 was a full house consultation in Manchester. The homeowner had been working really hard to save some money in order to give her family home, a lovely 3 bed, pre-war semi an update. When you’ve got several rooms to tackle, each room with its own issues and problems, it’s hard to know where to start. The last thing you want to do is go about it the wrong way, and …

#IKEAatmine

Published by Karen Knox

If you’re not familiar with at{mine} then you really need to get on board. It’s a place for interiors junkies to share images of their home, work spaces, beautiful rooms, vignettes, super cool styling and photography. It’s a real treasure trove of interiors goodness. You could easily lose an hour on there just ogling the most beautiful images. Each month, at{mine} introduce a different “Style Story” curated by a guest brand, designer, writer, photographer, interiors icon… and this month it’s Ikea. I’m sure you’re already aware how big a fan I am of Ikea. If you just search the word Ikea on my blog, there’s over 55 mentions. Not bad going Ikea, for a blog that’s about 18 months old. So what’s #IKEAatmine all about then? Show us how you live with IKEA: It’s the Living Room for October! IKEA UK in collaboration with at{mine} is introducing the brand new community hashtag #IKEAatmine. Every month we’ll invite you to share a different room/theme containing at least one item from IKEA using #IKEAatmine and we’ll feature …

Lighting at M&S – A/W 2016

Published by Karen Knox

A little interiors inspo for you today. All visual. No chit chat. Well not much. Whenever I say no chit chat, I normally managed to chuck a few words together and ramble on more than expected. See, i’ve already started. Let me show you my fave finds from M&S lighting department for this A/W 2016. I think you’re gonna like ’em. Madison Cluster Light Beautifully simple way of adding a touch of “boho glam” to your ethnic interior scheme. Doesn’t come with bulbs so don’t get caught out with that one. Add some to your basket. Mila Chandelier Wanting to channel your inner Abigail Ahern with an oversized beaded chandelier, but can’t quite afford the price tags? M&S are onto a “winner winner chicken dinner” with the Mila chandelier. At £299 it’s just about do-able, but obviously wait until one of their discount weekends where they offer 20% off. Don’t forget Topcashback too. If you’re savvy you might be able to own this corker of a light for about £220. Paloma Pendant Coming in three distinctive shapes …

The Drawing Room

Published by Karen Knox

I have news. News of the exciting variety. It’s about this room: I introduced this Edwardian property earlier this month. You can have a wee catch up here. Since then we have made massive progress with the renovation and re-design of this room. Huge in fact. The first bit of news is the wallpaper has been agreed. The feedback from the last blog post was fantastic. Everyone loved the wallpaper (how couldn’t they?) but there were some of you with reservations about it being on every wall. And I get that, it’s certainly a bold move. After a few days letting it sink in and letting them mull over it, they’ve decided. They’re going all out and have agreed to Ferm Living’s Lines wallpaper around the whole room. I am so excited, it’s going to look amazeballs. Pics courtesy of the homeowners Secondly, the homeowners have been super busy since moving in having already knocked a wall down upstairs (loving their attitude) and ripped the carpets up downstairs to reveal these glorious floorboards in their front …