All posts tagged: saving money

Meet Ned

Published by Karen Knox

Ned Table Lamp – BHS Ned’s a lamp. A lamp from BHS. Yes. BHS. I’ve already written about BHS lighting. About how amazingly design led it is. And very affordable. “Ned table lamp is a mixed Antique brass and black task lamp. With an adjustable head.” If you’ve clicked to see how much Ned is, it says £50, down to £40 (at the moment). BHS are always doing flash sales and often reduce by a further 20%. This made Ned £32, with free delivery. £32 for a sexy antique brass table lamp delivered to your door. Amazing. I eagerly awaited its arrival as I was keen to see the quality. Does it look like a £32 lamp? And more importantly, does it feel like one? ie. Topple over when you reposition the angle of the lamp. I hate lamps that need assistance in standing up. So needy. Well it arrived yesterday and I’m so chuffed. It’s such a great piece. Looks good. Functions well and has a great weight to the base so Ned isn’t falling anywhere. …

Love Lighting

Published by Karen Knox

I want to show you the new ceiling lights that made the cut for the Sherwood Forest project. I love them. The clients love them. Everybody loves them! I chose three large feature lights to hang in this large open plan living/dining room. All for less than £150. I’ve been doing round trips to B&Q for endless pots of Valspar paint. So I had a quick peek at the lighting whilst waiting for my 46th pot to be mixed. B&Q = Winning! Melito Light Shades from B&Q For the living room, I needed two large ceiling lights, nothing heavy, nothing too structured but something that gave a soft, diffused light. The Melito feather light shades were perfect. The client’s love of taxidermy and Africana made these an absolute must. It’s like having two rather large bird nests hanging down from the ceiling and the light is just gorgeous. I also picked up a couple of Pendel ceiling lights from Habitat so I could get rid of the old white plastic ceiling roses (bloomin hate those). …

Mid Century Score – Pt 2

Published by Karen Knox

It’s been a good week for scouring and sourcing. The mid-century teak recliner has now travelled 100 miles to its new home. I actually rang to check it had made it safely as it looked a little precarious, a 55 year old chair strapped to a roof-rack. I would have shed actual tears if it had come a cropper. And now to Pt 2 of my mid-century scores. A teak industrial style desk which was quite literally “saved”. Black legs, original screws and bolts. Storage compartments and original drawer with drawer pull. I fell in love instantly. The shape, mid century line and simplicity was right up my street. The entire piece needed tlc and I cherished the thought of bringing this beauty back to life. The wood was not in fantastic shape, so it was all sanded back, danish oiled and then waxed. I find it all so therapeutic, seeing that teak glowing again. It would look fantastic in a vintage lover’s home. Some people may have decided to paint the whole thing, cover …

My Best Bargain Summer Finds

Published by Karen Knox

As mentioned in my last post, interiors is my fashion. I’ve got enough clothes to keep me dressed forever and I only ever buy a new pair of skinny jeans and another oversized top anyway. Blah blah…. I get my shopping kicks from finding funky new things to ogle at home. Working from home means I get to see my four walls A LOT. I like to switch things up a fair bit to keep my creative juices flowing and keep the house looking ff-fresh. BUT – this is always done on a budget. I’m not really into spending £30 on a vase that i’m probably going to want to change in a year or so. Finding cost-effective ways to spruce up your space gives me a real buzz. Take a look what I’ve found this summer so far…. Phrenology Head – £7 – Asda I am obsessed with skulls, heads, faces. They appear all around the house on cushions, art prints, my new drawer knobs in the bedroom, and a fair few of my oversized tops. I …

Interiors & saving money?

Published by Karen Knox

If you’re anything like me, then you probably have a list of bookmarks or Pinterest boards full to the brim with things you covet, need, admire. I’ve all but stopped shopping for clothes and shoes (well, shoes are still quite high up on the google list), my focus now is shopping for EVERYTHING interiors. For both business and pleasure. Finding pieces for clients can be more difficult than it sounds. Budgets can limit your options and you have to reign yourself in sometimes to fulfil the brief with the number of pounds available. I want to share with you some ways you can save money on that list that’s growing by the day. Whatever the price online is, you can get it cheaper. You just need to spend a few minutes changing the way you shop. 1. Sign up to the newsletter. You’re more than likely going to receive a discount code in your inbox within a week or two. Sometimes the next day. 2. Follow on Twitter and Facebook. You can get one off codes …