Make an entrance

I recently wrote a feature for Notebook – the Sunday Mirror’s magazine – on how to recreate the look of this gorgeous green leafy hallway. It’s a brilliant modern-meets-retro scheme that would work in a living room or even a bedroom; and I love it so much I thought I’d share it with you, too.

The wallpaper used here is Paradise Feather by Little Greene, £137 per roll. It’s not cheap, but it is beautiful, and as you only really need to paper one feature wall with it, it might just be worth splashing out for…

However, if you really can’t stretch that far, Amazonia Citrus wallpaper, £30 per roll from Arthouse.com (below) is a good, far less expensive alternative…

And here’s how to recreate the rest of the room:

Hallways can be useful spaces – not just somewhere to pass through. Turn yours into a place to relax by adding a mini sofa or armchair in glamorous leaf-green velvet, to pick up the colour in the wallpaper (below left: Lulu 2-seater sofa in Flanders green £599 Made.com; below right: Ritchie mini sofa £299 Made.com). Accessorise with plain green rather than patterned cushions for a feeling of cal

Use your wallpaper to cover just one wall, or one side of the hallway, and paint the other walls a gentle off-white (Rolling Fog Pale 158, £21 for 1L, by Little Greene has been used here) to prevent the pattern overpowering the space.

Use plants as ornaments – particularly trailing ivy, punchy blooms and leafy foliage. Think outside the box when it comes to containers – put a pot inside an old birdcage, or arrange flowers in an antique garden urn, to bring the outdoors in. Below, LtoR: Lumio stool £64.69 Maisonsdumonde.com, Tall metal urn £38 MiaFleur.com, Ivory metal birdcage tealight holder £17.75 MelodyMaison.co.uk:

And also: Tukang antique green midi birdcage £65 Puji.com :

Continue the back-to-nature theme with warm wood – on the floor, stairs and furniture. If your floorboards are beyond repair, cheat with engineered wood flooring or even hardwearing laminate – perfect for high-traffic areas like hallways, it’s come a long way since the 1980s and can look incredibly realistic.

Update a cheap junk shop mirror with gold spray paint, such as Rust-oleum Elegant Metallic Gold, £9.49, Amazon.co.uk. For a professional finish, mask off the glass first with newspaper and Frogtape (£4, Homebase), then spray the frame with several light coats, letting each one dry in between. Below: Florence mirror £75 Ayersandgraces.com:

Mix old and new styles of lighting for a stylish, eclectic look – but stick to a colour theme (gold works well here). Hunt for fabulous ornate light fittings in antique shops, then get an electrician to check them over and update the wiring for modern use. Below left: House Doctor Molecular ceiling lamp £189 Ovohome.com. Below right: Boheme 2-light wall bracket £84 Darlighting.co.uk:

A sideboard isn’t just for the dining or living room. A great way to make use of otherwise dead space, it’ll provide extra storage as well as a display area on the top. Use yours to stash anything from books to shoes. Below: Randall sideboard £449 SwoonEditions.com:

And the finishing touches: Fejka artificial palm £20 Ikea; Parrot ornament £12.99 HomeSense; Photography book storage tin, £19.99 Oakroomshop.co.uk:

Things are looking up

The kitchen ceiling before

The kitchen ceiling after!

When we first moved into our house seven years ago, it was a chintz palace. Everything was bright yellow and blue; there were frills everywhere; and the shell-shaped bathroom sink was very special indeed. Slowly, we modernised, but on a shoestring budget, which meant the faux-beamed artexed kitchen ceiling had to stay. I painted the beams black, and replaced the cast-iron chandelier with a row of spots, but frankly, it was still hideous. And gloomy.

So, when we’d finally saved enough to give the kitchen a little facelift, the ceiling was the first thing to get sorted. We couldn’t afford to redo the layout, meaning there was no room for fancy light fittings, so we decided to go for low-fuss spots instead.

But how easy is it to get a whole new ceiling and put in new lights? Surprisingly easy, as it turns out. Here’s how…

First, our friendly builder, Neil, built a frame a few centimetres lower than the old sagging ceiling. New lengths of wiring were joined to the existing central light fitting; then plasterboard was then screwed into the frame to create a new, flat ceiling.

The wooden ceiling frame

Plasterboard in place

Neil then spread a thin layer of plaster over the board to make it smooth; painted the ceiling; then drilled holes for the spotlights:

Plastered and ready for painting

Painted and holes drilled

Finally, an electrician fitted the spots. We wanted good quality fittings that would look unobtrusive, but which would make bulb-changing easy, so we went for these brilliant recessed White Gloss Twist & Lock Fire Rated Downlights, £5 each, from FirstChoiceLighting.co.uk fitted with long-life LED bulbs (also from First Choice Lighting):

Fitting the spots

The spotlight in place

Extra safe (because of the fire rating), you simply twist out the bulbs when you need to change them. We wanted fittings flush with the ceiling, but if you’ve got more room to play with, they have a HUGE selection of modern lighting fittings – for all rooms in the house – that look a million dollars but don’t cost it.

And here’s the finished ceiling! The building work and electrician cost £350, and the light fittings themselves came to just £40 for eight. Honestly, it’s made SUCH a difference. Even my other half, who said he didn’t care about the old ceiling, loves the fact he can now see what he’s cooking. It’s like a light has been switched on (erm, because it has!).

New ceiling lights off

New ceiling lights on

What do you reckon? Have you completed a long wished-for yet simple project that has transformed your home? Let me know in the comments below or email me at thetreasurehunteruk@gmail.com – I’d love to see your photos!

Going green

A while ago I tested travel beauty products for a national newspaper. My favourite? The Green Balm, an ingenious – and very cute – calming balm from MOA (Magical Organic Apothecary).

It contains completely natural ingredients such as yarrow, tea tree oil, beeswax, plus coconut, sweet almond and soy bean oils, and smells DELICIOUS.  I now carry a little pot around with me as it has so many cunning uses, including (deep breath):
– helping heal cuts, grazes, blisters and burns
– treating insect bites
– soothing dry and itchy eczema, psoriasis and rashses
– soothing chapped lips and coldsores
– a sore throat gargle
– calming shaving rash and keeping newly-tattooed skin infection-free
– fighting athlete’s foot
– helping fade stretch marks
– nourishing dry hands, nails and cuticles
– removing eye makeup
– using as a hot-cloth cleansing balm
Phew!

What’s more, despite looking and smelling uber posh, it’s a bargain. A lipbalm-sized 15ml pot for your handbag costs £4.99 or you can buy three for £11.50 in a sweet little tube; a larger 50ml jar costs £12.50; and a large 50ml jar plus bamboo face cloth costs £17.50, all from www.Moa.London

I know it’s supposedly FAR too early to think about Christmas yet, but it makes a fab, and unusual present. I’m getting my order in this week…!

 

 

Spot the difference!

I’m a cleaning product junkie. My under-sink cupboard is crammed with mysterious potions, and I love a good browse of the Lakeland catalogue. But if I had to choose just one product to beat them all, it would be the sexily-named Kilrock K2R Stain Remover Spray.

Seriously, it’s a miracle worker. No matter what you’ve spilt on your top/jeans/skirt, this handy little spray will remove it.

You simply spritz it all over the stain, where it quickly turns into a white powder. Leave it sitting there overnight (ideally for 24 hours), then brush off any excess powder (don’t worry if it looks like the stain is still there) and pop your garment into the washing machine as normal. I’ve used it on oil, fruit stains, makeup, curry, balsamic vinegar… you name it, it’ll vanish.

It’s saved so many of my clothes (not to mention my kids’ tops). It’s even removed seemingly-indelible stains that were over a year old.

As well as washable fabrics, it’s also designed to remove marks – particularly oily ones – from dry-clean-only fabrics, and non-washable upholstery. You spray it on, leave it to work, then firmly brush it all off.

It’s £4.80 for a can on Amazon.co.uk (where it has some very impressive reviews), and I guarantee once you’ve tried it, you’ll be back to buy another!

 

 

 

 

The Friday Find: The pina things in life…

The ‘it’ fruit of the summer, the pineapple, isn’t going anywhere just yet. I’ve spotted chic black pineapple-shaped pots, sparkly cushions, and even metal pineapple bookends at the Autumn homeware preview shows.

But if you want a subtle way to try the trend, look no further than this brilliant gold pineapple necklace from HEMA (my new shopping crush).

Studded with tiny diamantes, and on a decent-length chain, it’ll make any ordinary t-shirt, jumper or sweatshirt look that little bit extra special, without going OTT. It looks expensive, but here’s the really great news – it’s just £4. I know, £4!

Quite frankly, I can’t think of a single reason not to buy one, or even a pear, sorry, pair…

Like this? I’ll be posting more fab finds on Instagram. I’m @Woodyjen and you can follow me HERE

 

 

 

Clock this baragin!

A few weeks ago, I visited one of the country’s biggest B&M stores and wrote about it for the Daily Mail (you can read it here).

I confess, I’d never been to either a B&M Home (huge warehouse-like stores selling thousands of products) or a B&M Bargains (the smaller high street version) before. And I LOVED it! It’s a bargain-hunter’s paradise. You really can buy anything there, from food to furniture – and it’s all an absolute steal.

What I really liked though was the homewares section. Yes, there were the cushions, kitchenware and picture frames you might find in any high street shop, but there were also some brilliant designer-look bits at frankly criminal prices. Think mirrors with straps, copper cutlery, wire storage baskets and several amazing clocks. My favourite was this cool wall clock, above (available with either numerals or lines on the face). Not only does it nail this season’s copper trend, but it costs just £4.99. Yep, a fiver. Unbelievable!

Here’s the numeral version next to an almost identical Karlsson one, which costs £68 from Idyll Home; and an Acctim one, £40, from Debenhams. Can you spot the difference? Tricky, isn’t it?!

From L to R: Copper clock £4.99 B&M; Karlsson copper clock £68 Idyllhome.co.uk; Acctim copper clock £40 Debenhams

So, if you haven’t already paid a vist to a B&M Store, I think it’s, ahem, time, you made a special trip! Race you to the tills…

 

The Friday Find: All the fun of the fair-y cake

Why display your cupcakes on a boring old plate or cake stand when you can pop them in a ferris wheel instead?!

Not only does this fairground-inspired cake display gizmo look fun, but it actually turns and what’s more, it’s just £4.99 (nope, that’s not a typo, it really is under a fiver).

Great for a child’s party or, erm, just a treat for yourself. You could even spray paint it a different colour or add ribbons or pompoms if you were feeling particularly fancy.

Available in-store at Home Bargains (www.homebargains.co.uk)

 

 

Down with the kids

The summer holidays are in full swing, and if you’ve got kids – of any age – that means you’ve got a dilemma.  What on earth to do with them now that school’s out, the playgroups are closed, and you’ve got six or more weeks of empty days to fill?

The answer, my friends, is to get yourself down to HEMA (or shop online here). My new favourite place to go for brilliant, bright, bargainous bits’n’pieces, it’s a treasure trove of a place for kiddy craft bits, stickers, paper, stampers, paint… you name it, they have it. And all for just a few quid.:

Take the amazing glitter foam alphabet stickers above (£2.50 for a massive pot); or the fun ink stampers below (£2.50 for a big box):

Then there are these animal-shaped foam stickers (£1 per pot), which my toddler LOVES; big packs of coloured paper, and this fab air-dry modelling clay (£1.50 a pack):

We had hours of fun with the modelling clay, making ‘energems’ from Power Rangers Dino Charge, which we then painted with sparkly nail polish (not a Power Rangers fan? Try pressing leaves into a rolled up piece of clay, cutting round them and leaving them to dry to  make little trinket dishes instead):

HEMA also sell pavement chalk in a handy reusable storage box (£2), which keeps my two happy for hours in our garden, and went down a storm at our recent summer street party:

Ooh and they also sell fab pineapple or camera-print tin suitcases for your kids to stash all their crafty bits in, for just £2.50 each:

So, if you’re stuck for something to do with the little ‘uns this summer, take a tenner and load up your basket in person or online. And if you’re on Instagram, tag me in (I’m @woodyjen here), and show off your goodies with the hashtag #HEMAhaul.

Happy holidays!

 

The Friday Find: Cactus makes perfect

I’ve mentioned before (here) that I’m a huge cacti fan, so I’m glad to see they’re sticking around interiors-wise. And the latest cactus-shaped items to catch my eye are these quite frankly awesome glossy ceramic cactus pots, from Howkapow.com.

Designed and made in Amsterdam, and complete with hand-painted prickles(!), they’re ideal for storing jewellery, cookies, stationery… you name it, you can pop it inside.

The small (17cm tall) version is £12.95, the medium (19cm tall) version is £18.95 and the large (23cm tall) version is £24.95.

Available to buy now, if you want one, I’d look sharp if I were you, as they’re bound to be a succulent – sorry – success!

The Friday Find: Look sharp!

Why have a small, boring pencil sharpener when you can have one shaped like a robot?!

Pop your pencil into this friendly fella’s mouth, turn the handle on his back, and he’ll happily chomp away, storing the shavings in his tummy to be emptied later.

Not only does he do a great job, but he looks amazing too. And the best bit? He’s just £3 (yep, three quid!) from Tiger Stores (www.tiger-stores.co.uk), so I recommend you pop one in your basket… sharpish!

The Friday Find: something fishy

I spot so many amazing things on my window shopping expeditions and in my day job is as a lifestyle journalist, that I’ve decided to start sharing them with you regularly. From great gifts to beautiful bits for your home, I’ll post up my finds on Fridays, so you can think about treating yourself at the weekend…

Today’s ‘Friday Find’ are these fun retro-style fish vases from The Contemporary Home (www.tch.net). Based on original ‘gurgling fish jugs’ from the late 1950s, they’re almost too pretty to put flowers in.

The large one is 30cm tall and 20cm wide and costs £33; and the small one is 24cm tall, 17cm wide and costs £18.

If you’re feeling really flush, you could ahem, splash out on a pair!

The Friday Find: Drop-down-gorgeous origami shades

Oh wow, how lovely are these lampshades? Combining two of my favourite things – origami and bright colours – they’d look amazing either on their own in a bedroom, or in a row along a hallway.

By stylish interiors brand Wild & Wolf, and made of hand-folded paper, you can choose from four retro hues: Alena (English mustard) £34.95, Zodiac (goldfish orange) £44.95, Caspian (Swedish green) or Nuvola (French blue) both £39.95.

They come folded flat in a colour co-ordinated box, so would also make a great gift:

Get yours at Redcandy.co.uk before they sell out!

The Friday Find: Throws of passion

I spot so many amazing things on my window shopping expeditions and in my day job is as a lifestyle journalist, that I’ve decided to start sharing them with you regularly. From great gifts to beautiful bits for your home, I’ll post up my finds on Fridays, so you can think about treating yourself at the weekend…

Last week saw the sad news that the department store BHS (www.bhs.co.uk) is in administration and likely to vanish from our high streets forever. The homeware and lighting departments have some great stuff, and it’ll be a shame to see it go.

So, this week’s first ever Friday Find has to be from BHS. I popped in there at the weekend to check out the discount event currently taking place… and fell in love with this ‘Purple multi coloured woven throw’.

The original price was £30, but it’s now been reduced to £24, and the pix don’t really do it justice – the zingy colours and chunky knit wool make it look a zillion times more expensive:

It’s a decent 157cm x 152cm and would look great in any room in the house – or even outside to keep you snug while enjoying a cheeky evening drink or two in the garden.

The store that’ll change your life (or at least, your shopping habits)

In case you missed it, last week was ‘National Stationery Week’ (yes, I know, there’s a ‘week’ for everything these days). Having been a stationery geek ever since I first collected novelty shaped erasers at school, I decided this was the perfect excuse to treat myself to a few extra office essentials. Ahem, well, if you can count beautiful gold notebooks, stylish pens, quirky sticky notes and glass mason-type jars for making my pencils look pretty as ‘essential’..!

And my shopping destination of choice for these goodies? Not Paperchase or some trendy stationers, but HEMA, an amazing shop stuffed with everything from stationery and craft materials to kitchenware and food, makeup and jewellery. Originating in the Netherlands (where HEMA is a household name), it’s a mini department store with a difference – everything they sell is designed at their Dutch headquarters and is well-made, simple, good-looking… and great value. Think the marketplace section at IKEA, crossed with the jaw-droppingly-low prices of Tiger Stores.

The shelves of my local store in Bromley (above) are groaning with gorgeous, quirky and bargainous bits that you won’t find anywhere else. On my last visit, I had a gift voucher to spend, and quite frankly, it’s a dangerous place to let someone like me loose. The jars pictured at the top? They were just £2 and £3 each; while the pens and sticky arrow notes below them cost 75p each; and the notebooks were £2 (spotty) and £3 (faux leather cover).

It’s also a brilliant place to shop for presents, and my new go-to destination for giftwrapping supplies. Just check out these shelves:

For example, this amazing geometric wrapping paper below was just £1.50 a roll; the handy gifting stickers £1.50 a pack; the fun mini bunting £2 (which would look great wrapped around plain giftwrap or brown parcel paper); and the matching washi tape £2.50:

The cards are fab too, and very reasonably priced at between £1 and £2.50. Check out these lovely modern designs:

 

There are five HEMA stores in the UK so far (in London, Kingston, Birmingham, Stansted Airport and Bromley), but if there isn’t one near you, don’t fret – you can buy everything online at  http://www.hemashop.com/gb/ (delivery is £4 to the UK).

What are you waiting for? Load your baskets now!

Parrot fashion

Sometimes it’s possible to take life – and work – too seriously. The tropical trend is going to be huge news this summer, so why use a boring biro when you can use a pen with a cheery carved parrot or cockatoo instead?

These bright little birdies are £3.50 each at Sass & Belle (Sassandbelle.co.uk), and there are four designs to choose from.

I’m going to tweet – sorry, treat – myself to the red parrot. How about you?

 

WIN! Tickets to the Ideal Home show

 

The house next door to us is having a complete makeover, and as part of it, the owners have just installed full window shutters both in the living room and the bedroom. They look GORGEOUS and they’re making me deeply regret choosing curtains in my own bedroom. Bright and clean and the perfect blank canvas for loads of different colour combinations, shutters may not be super cheap, but when you consider the cost of made-to-measure curtains (not to mention the cost of dry cleaning them), they’re actually a sound investment. Not only do they look stylish, but they’re uber practical too, working as the modern (much nicer) equivalent of nets, keeping prying eyes out, but allowing the light to filter in.

As one of the big trends in interiors at the moment, shutters are set to feature centre-stage at this year’s Ideal Home Show, which runs from 18th March to 3rd April at Olympia in London. It’s all down to Thomas Sanderson – experts in shutters, window and conservatory blinds – who are the main sponsor of A Traditionally British Home, one of the full-size show homes at the event, styled by Linda Barker.

And to celebrate, they’re offering five lucky Treasure Hunter readers a pair of tickets each to visit the show. You’ll get to tour every room of the four-bed house to see the latest trends and colour-schemes, and get lots of inspiration from seeing Thomas Sanderson’s energy-saving shutters and clever automated window blinds in situ. Oh, and you’ll also have fun touring all the stalls and stands, watching demonstrations and doing a fair bit of shopping. My idea of heaven!

For your chance to win a pair of tickets, send me an email at thetreasurehunteruk@gmail.com with your name and postal address (to send the tickets to if you’re a winner); or tweet me @WoodyJen with your email address.

Winners will be drawn at random on 13th March, and the tickets will be sent out before the start of the show.

Good luck!

PS: To find out more about Thomas Sanderson’s beautiful window shutters, conservatory blinds and window blinds, visit www.thomas-sanderson.co.uk/ideal; follow them on Twitter @tsblinds; or follow their Pinterest boards at  https://uk.pinterest.com/tsblinds/

 

Hang it all!

Back in May last year, I posted about lusting after a pegboard for my home office. A cross between a pinboard and a shop display board, pegboards are essentially flat bits of wood with holes in them, into which you push small pegs or clips to hold or hang stuff from.

Traditionally used to organise tools or products in shops, they’re now making their way into our homes and being used to tidy up stationery, craft supplies, jewellery and even kitchen bits…

You can make your own (and the talented Christine over at Sewyeah blog has an easy tutorial) but if you’re lazy/busy like me, you can buy one ready-made. Block Design (Block Design) have a good selection, in white, yellow, blue or printed with a world or UK map design, priced from £25 for a mini board to £60 for a large one.

I went the lazy route and bought a large white one, above, and I LOVE it! It makes me feel super-organised just by looking at it.

My top tip if you have a lot of stuff to hang is to make your own pegs. The boards come with a few, and you can buy extras, but they’re not cheap. I just got a long piece of dowel rod from B&Q for a couple of quid and chopped it into inch-long pieces with a hacksaw. You could paint the pegs if you liked, but I’ve left mine bare (as I say, I’m lazy!).

Feeling inspired? Here are some other ideas for using your pegboard:

Above: Monochrome peg board by Fabricpaperglue.com

Above: Workspace pegboard by Thedesignfiles.net

Above: Craft room pegboard by Craft-o-maniac.com

Below: Yellow peg board by Block Design

 

 

Thinking a-head

Vases are a great gift when you’re unsure what to get someone. After all, everyone needs them, and you can never have too many.

But if you’re giving someone a vase this Christmas, why not make it a bit special. Say, a vase in the shape of a polar bear or koala’s head?

These ceramic vases aren’t particularly cheap at £35 each (from Graham & Green), but they are AMAZING. Plus, you can almost guarantee the recipient won’t already have anything like one already.

Depending on the design, they’re 15-19cm high and 12-20cm wide, making them a fairly decent size. What’s more, they’re actually really versatile. Yes, you can use them for flowers or foliage; but they also work well for bulbs; or as a quirky pen or pencil holder; or somewhere to store your makeup brushes…

In fact the only problem with them that I can see is that you’ll have problems deciding which friendly little fella to go for!

Glamorous Gifts

I’ve recently completed one of my favourite jobs ever – compiling this year’s Christmas Gift Guide for Glamour magazine (the UK edition). Visiting all the Christmas preview press shows, making a virtual wishlist of what to include, and gathering together over 1,000 amazing gift ideas before making the final edit… it’s been FUN.

The results of all this hard work (well, someone has to do it…) are in this month’s issue of Glamour, with the December 2015 cover date. A fabulous 94 presents have made the cut, spread out over eight pages and grouped by colour – and there really is something for everyone, and every budget. Regular blog readers will know I love a bargain, so while the posh brands like Mulberry are in there, there’s also plenty of surprises for those of us with teensy budgets.

I won’t spoil it for you, but here are a few of my favourite products that feature in the guide (below). And if you need any more inspiration, I’ll be sharing some of the lovely bits that didn’t make the mag over the next couple of weeks!

Above: You Rock cushion £12 Tesco; Swedish dala horse necklace £25 RosieWonders.co.uk; Copper bear cookie cutter £2.50 Sainsbury’s; Pear trinket pot £18 Oliver Bonas; Tristan the T-Rex toy £15.21 Amazon.co.uk

Cutting it fine

Silver coloured knives and forks are so 2014 (apparently). This winter, the most stylish tables across the land will be laid up with gold or copper cutlery instead.

But you don’t have to, erm, fork out millions for it. Previously only available in the chicest of boutiques for eyewatering prices, the high street has caught onto the trend and made it far more purse-friendly. For example, the ‘Midas’ cutlery at the top of this page is a bargainous £20 for a 16-piece set from George at ASDA; while the lovely copper effect set below is £32 for 16 pieces from Next:

This  ‘Glamour’ gold set from Argos is £34.99 for a generous 24 pieces:

Or, if you want to go a wee bit more upmarket, this weighty gold ‘Liberty’ set with tactile rounded handles is £75 (for 16 pieces) from Marks & Spencer:

A prickly subject

It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas in my book. And top of my list for Santa this year? One of these A-MAZING cactus vases.

In gorgeous green glazed porcelain by artist Marie Michielssen, they look fantastic on their own or grouped together, and personally I don’t think you need to put flowers in them.

The smallest size costs £16.95; the medium is £34.95 and the large is £54.95 (I know, I know, not cheap – but they are things of beauty) from one of my favourite online stores, Howkapow. They’re also available – for slightly higher price tags – at the Conran Shop, Trouva and Notonthehighstreet.

They’d make a fantastic gift, so go on, grab yours while they’re still in stock. I predict a, ahem, spike in sales as soon as Christmas shopping season starts officially…

It’s party time – excellent!

How sweet is this little fella?! With his glittery feet, he’d make any cake he stood on look special. He’s part of a new range from designer Lola Beau, available on her website (Lolabeaudesign.co.uk) and at brilliant new party store Candle & Cake (Candleandcake.co.uk). He has some cute little friends too:

I’ve been reliably informed that party accessories are the next big thing – from cute hats to pretty napkins and out-of-the-ordinary balloons, partyware is becoming cool again. I can totally see why. I could spend hours browsing all the amazing stuff on the Candle & Cake website. For instance, check out these clever colour-in party cups (£3.45 for eight); Mini glitter party hats (£6.99 for eight); and Chevron party bags (25p each, available in loads of colours):

Then there are these cheeky cat napkins (£3.99 for 16), which would be great for a Hallowe’en party – or indeed, any kind of party:

And hands up who remembers tie-die balloons from the Seventies? Well, they’re back! These are £4.75 for ten. There’s more glittery fun to be had with these unicorn cake toppers £3 for six; and you can get packs of 25 funky straws for £3.49:

I also love these pink and gold geometric party cups (£3.99 for twelve – six of each design) and matching party bags with seals (£2.75 for ten), which are a billion times nicer than ones you can get on the high street:

Plus you can decorate the room as well as your tables with these honeycomb geometric decs (£8.50 for three) and tissue paper pom poms (£7.50 for seven, one of each colour):

Finally, I’m a little bit in love with this amazing Giant Rainbow Foil Balloon, £3.50 (below), which can be filled with either air or helium. Party on!

Shop back in time

In my day job as a journalist, I get to meet some really lovely, interesting, talented people. One such person I’ve had the honour of getting to know is Carla, who, until recently, worked in the press office for a big high street department store.

Carla has amazing style, a magpie’s eye and a canny knack for spotting a bargain. She’s also obsessed with the 1950s, and now her love of all things retro has led to her branching out and setting up her own online business, Carla Collects, selling brilliant mid-century finds – my favourite era – at refreshingly reasonable prices.

In her etsy shop (at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CarlaCollects) you’ll find everything from true vintage to kitsch, including jewellery, fashion, decorative bits, ornaments, kitchenalia, toys, and haberdashery – you name it, she’s probably got it. And if she hasn’t, she’ll happily seek it out for you if you put in a request.

What’s more, she also upcycles furniture and makes soft furnishings such as cushions and chair covers too. Phew!

So, whether you’re looking for a vintage tea set to give as a wedding present; an outfit-transforming retro necklace; or a 1960s teapot shaped like an owl (you never know!), I’d recommend taking a look. To give you a taster, here are some of my favourite pieces on sale at the moment. Everything here ranges in price from £6 to around £22 and is a one-off, so if you spot something you like, you’d better be quick!

PS: Bought something from the lovely Carla? I’d love to see it! Tweet me your finds @WoodyJen

Making an entrance

I have no problems with yellow. I just don’t want a yellow front door. Yet, for the last five years, that’s what I’ve had – inherited from our home’s previous owners. Every time I put my key in the lock, I silently wished it looked swankier, but there was always something else more urgent that needed doing.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I ran out of excuses. In  a Twitter chat with Phil Spencer (yep, him off the telly), I sent him a photo of our house and asked him whether I should paint the door red, purple or green. Wise Phil said he liked purple, and suddenly I found myself dusting off my paintbrush!

Here’s what the door looked like beforehand…

And here’s how it looks after its purple facelift..

Not bad, eh? As well as giving it a paintjob, I also swapped the gold door furniture for silver; ditched the chintzy house number; removed the totally unnecessary black iron gate (which has ripped many a coat over the years!); and added a fun geometric doormat (just £7 from B&Q). To finish off, I cleaned and repainted the porchway with white masonry paint, to make everything feel fresh and new.

Fancy giving your door a makeover too? To choose the perfect shade, I recommend going to the Valspar paint counter in your local B&Q. They have handy free little tester cards in hundreds of shades, so I grabbed one each of all the purple ones that took my fancy. Paint can look VERY different in different lights, so they have clever little lightboxes where you can see what your choice would look like in daylight, under an energy saving bulb, or under a ‘normal’ bulb…

Having said that, I wouldn’t rely on this alone. I strung my cards together and took them home – the ones I thought I liked in the shop looked completely different when held up against my front door at various times of day. I also carried them with me for a few days and whenever I saw a purple door I liked, sneaked up and held the cards against it (luckily no-one saw me or they’d have thought I was a bit mad). My final choice, the rather excitingly-named ‘Cloak of Midnight’ looked far darker in the shop than it does in situ. I’d probably never have chosen it if I hadn’t taken it home first.

My other tips? Splash out on a brand new brush, and choose a nylon-bristled one for a smoother end result. Oh, and go for a satin finish paint. Most people traditionally choose gloss paint for a front door as it’s hard-wearing; however it takes about a zillion years to dry, and the shiny finish can sometimes look a bit old fashioned. Matte paint, on the other hand, looks more modern but scratches easily. Satin is a happy medium – it gives you that matte look while being far more durable.

Happy painting!

PS: If you do decide to enhance your kerb appeal, I’d love to see a picture, so please message, email or tweet me at thetreasurehunteruk@gmail.com or @WoodyJen

Hot stuff

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. When I make toast, I like to grab the slice out of the toaster as quickly as humanly possible, so that the butter goes all melty when I spread it on top. However, this impatience usually means I end up burning my fingertips, flinging molten-hot toast around the room, and swearing a lot.

So, I am totally OBSESSED with my new Pebbly toaster tongs. Made from flexible (and environmentally-friendly) bamboo, they’re perfectly thin and long enough to get even the trickiest slice of toast, piece of bagel, English muffin or pancake out of your toaster easily and without sustaining third-degree burns – or damaging the metal element inside the toaster.

What’s more, they have a magnet cunningly built into the brightly-painted handle, so you can stick them on the side of your toaster when you’re not using them. So simple, yet so clever. Seriously, at just £4.99 from Amazon.co.uk (or £5.50 from Divertimenti.co.uk), you’ll wonder how you lived without them!

Nice ice, baby

Mmmn ice cream! Now, not only can you stuff your face with it, but you can decorate your home with it too! I’m more than a little bit in love with this tasty cushion from George Home (George.com) – and at just £7, it doesn’t cost much, ahem, lolly either!

And it seems ice cream and ice lollies are a bit of a mini trend right now. I’m also rather fond of this slightly more expensive Margate cushion, £38.50 by Home Slice at Notonthehighstreet.com…

…and these fun accessories too. From left to right:  Cornet ice cream bean bag by Woouf £147 at Cuckooland.com; Newgate Ice Cream Cone Wall Clock £35 Red Candy; and Ice Cream Door Stop £8.99 Gettingpersonal.co.uk…

…Finally, if you’re having a summer party, how cute would these honeycomb ice cream decorations (£4.99 for three, from Candleandcake.co.uk) look hung in groups around your garden?

Kitsch’n’chic

People can be a bit snooty about shopping for homeware in supermarkets, but quite frankly, they’re missing out. George Home at Asda (and at George.com) in particular has some brilliant accessories at the moment that are bright, quirky and absolutely BARGAINOUS.

I’m particularly excited by their Farm Fresh kitchen range (in the photo above). With retro styling, eye-popping colours and purse-friendly price tags, you could go wild in the aisles and still have plenty of change left for your weekly food shop.

My personal favourites? The cockerel tray £5, Rise & Shine mugs £5 for a set of four, Polka dot cake tins £7 for three and the wooden utensils £2 for three:

Also worth popping in your trolley is the Jones Lemonade bottle clock £12 (looks designer but is waaaaay cheaper), and the Milkshake tea towel £2:

Let it rain

We’ve recently had a new lawn laid, so I’m OBSESSED with watering plants at the moment. But indoors, you don’t want – or need – to faff about with a giant watering can. Instead, how about this nifty little gadget? Called the Rainmaker, it’s an ingenious little cloud-shaped gizmo that screws onto the end of any ordinary water bottle, allowing you to shower your plants with a burst of rain-like droplets.

Just £8 from the The Science Museum Shop, it’d also make a great stocking filler for a green-fingered friend or family member (if you’re thinking that far ahead!)

Anything flamin-goes!

Above: Domingo the Fabulous Flamingo ornament, £49, Rockett St George

Last year, it was all about owls. But this summer, the birdie to watch is definitely the flamingo. Quirky, fun and unashamedly pink, flamingo-themed homewares are, ahem, flying out of stores. 

You don’t need to go overboard – just a set of fairy lights here or a cushion there will bring your room bang up to date and make you think of summer.

Here’s my pick of the best flamingo products to feather your nest with…

Below: Garden flamingos £30 per pair The Contemporary Home; Sommarfint glass 50p Ikea; Embroidered cushion £8 Tesco Direct

Below: Shower curtain £15 Habitat; Lampshade £44.52 (various sizes and matching accessories available) Georgia Wilkinson; party lights £14.95 Dotcomgiftshop.com

Below: Flamingo duvet set £25 (and all other accessories) Very.co.uk

Throwing in the towel

I read a survey yesterday which claimed that one of the secrets to happiness is having clean sheets. I’d also like to add fluffy towels to that list.

Sadly though, unless you have bajillions of pounds to spend, most ordinary towels only keep that spa-style softness for an indecently short time, quickly turning cardboard-like after just a few rounds in the washing machine.

Which is why I was so excited to hear about Tesco’s new Hygro towels (bear with me here), which boldly promise to get softer and fluffier the MORE you use them. Apparently made using a special spinning technique that creates a hollow fibre; they trap and ‘pillow’ air during tumble drying to make them thicker and more absorbent after just three washing and drying cycles…

So, I tried them. In the name of scientific research, I took ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos (below) next to a ruler; firstly straight out of the packet, and then after three washes. Not being the world’s greatest photographer, the scale is a little out, but the difference on the ruler is clear to see. Still lovely and soft, the towels have indeed ‘grown’. Impressive eh?

Not a fan of this lime shade? No problem! They come in 20 different colours including grey, hot pink, red, purple and blue; and cost between £1 for a washcloth and £9 for a bath sheet from Tesco.com/direct and instore. At that price, why not give them a try and conduct your own experiment?

It’s in the bag

It was my birthday the other week (21 again, lucky me!) and this year I got a pretty amazing present – a GORGEOUS handmade leather old school-style satchel – pictured above – by British brand Zatchels (www.zatchels.co.uk).

In fab-smelling bright yellow and 13in across, it’s big enough to fit all my work bits and bobs, and goes with almost everything. There’s only one downside – it’s so look-at-me stunning that people keep stopping me to ask where I got it!

Usually, satchels like this are mega expensive. I’ve wanted one for ages, but it’s only now there’s a whopping 50% off on the Zatchels website, that I could justify asking Mr Treasure Hunter for one. So, instead of a purse-scaring £86, a satchel like this will set you back a slightly more reasonable £43. Not bad eh?

They come in several sizes, a dazzling array of colours (including traditional brown and oxblood red as well as metallic hues), and you can choose extras such as back straps and hidden poppers under the buckles. And if satchels aren’t your bag (ahem), there are lovely leather saddlebags (for £30 instead of £60) and bucket bags (£23 instead of £45) too.

Go on, bag yourself a bargain today!

Copper load of this!

From high end stores to the high street, copper accessories are EVERYWHERE right now.

H&M Home, Habitat and Sainsbury’s have all got some lovely pieces, but my favourite find of the moment is this Cleo pendant shade from Dunelm (buy it here), with its designer looks and bargain £19.99 price tag.

It’d look particularly good in a hallway, letting maximum light shine through, and casting cool geometric patterns on the walls. And if you’re feeling really flash, why not make a feature of the lightbulb too and fit this fab Retro Bayonet Faceted Light Brown Bulb, £4.99, also from Dunelm (buy it here)?

Turn over a new leaf in the bedroom

All products in the above shot are from Marks and Spencer

The botanical look is huge news this Spring – gorgeous greens, fabulous fern, leaf and flower prints, lots of lovely natural wood and a splash of this season’s must-have metal, copper.

Marks & Spencer have nailed the trend with their showstopping Eve bedlinen (seen on the bed above, from £19.50). In grown-up green and black, it’ll make any bedroom look classy and is totally unisex.

Want to try the look above yourself? Here are my top tips:

• Take your inspiration from nature with fern, leaf, flower, butterfly and insect prints on bedding and cushions. Try (L to R) the Butterfly cushion £7 George Home at Asda; the Butterfly cushion £19.50 Marks & Spencer; or the Spring Butterfly Green cushion £6 Matalan:

• Black bedrooms aren’t just for teenagers. Create drama with a decadent feature wall painted in matte black paint. Just keep the walls, ceilings and curtains white, unless you like having a room so dark you bump into things in the night!
• Bring the outside in and use plants like accessories. Dot them around the room, in pots on the floor and from the ceiling in hanging planters, like this bargainous Riskorn planter £6, from Ikea:

 

• Go for pale, unpainted wood furniture to keep things looking as natural as possible. It’ll also help offset the dark walls and bedding. I like the copper details on this Range side table, £149 from Made.com:

• Create quirky wall art with artificial succulent plants. Glueing them in place would mean a replaster job when they came down, so attach a stick-on an adhesive disc plate-hanger (£1.64, Amazon.co.uk) to the back of each pot, and hang them from picture hooks or nails instead. These ones are £2.99 each from Dunelm:

• A desk lamp is the perfect alternative to a traditional table lamp as it allows you to direct light where you need it most. Choose one with copper details – one of this season’s hottest trends; it looks great with black and green. I like this wood effect desk lamp, £20 from George Home at Asda:
• Choose a lampshade in a natural material such as wood, raffia or wicker. The gaps in the shade will create a lovely dappled, forest-like effect when the light is switched on. Try the Mandy shade, £18, B&Q:

Are you sitting comfortably?

As regular readers will know, I’m partial to a bit of mid-century design, and I’m particularly fond of a bargain… but even I needed a little sit down when I saw the whopping price difference between these two equally gorgeous armchairs.

The one on the left (the ‘Ritchie’) is from the very lovely Made.com and costs £349. The one on the right (the ‘Ricardo’) is from my new favourite secret shopping destination for chair-buying, AtlanticShopping.co.uk and costs – wait for it – just £159.50. Crazy eh?

Not only that, but just like the Made.com chair, the Ricardo comes in teal, and also in beige too. Perfect for a living room or even a bedroom, at that price, I reckon it’d be rude not to buy one!

Doggy style!

Love or hate Cath Kidston, I defy anyone not to have a soft spot for her new ceramic range. There’s not a flowery pattern in sight – just good quality white china with a cute little white terrier called Billie sitting on top. I’m particularly in love with the butter dish, £15, above; but he also sits proudly on a single tier cake stand (£25) and two sizes of storage jar (starting at £15 for the medium, below):

And while we’re at it, I also have a LOT of time for Cath Kidston’s Cranham range, printed with a bright-coloured ric rac pattern. I’m obsessed with the milk jug, £8, below; and there’s a matching sugar bowl, £7; plus a rectangular plate, mug/saucer, egg cup and cake stand too. Yum!

Retro fabulous

Tesco Direct have been coming up with some fantastic homewares of late (see my bedroom makeover post from October here) but this season they’ve really outdone themselves. Their new Mid Century range combines two of my favourite things – bright colours and retro style – in one amazing new collection.

And what’s more, because it’s from Tesco, it’s absolutely bargainous!

Stand-out pieces include this designer-look Retro teapot, £10; set of espresso mugs with saucers, £12 for four; and matching sugar bowl and jug, £4 each…

…the covetable geometric and bird cushions, £8-12 each, plus the Miami occasional table in sulphur yellow, just £29 (the matching white coffee table is £79)…

…the tweet – sorry, sweet – set of bird cake tins, £10 for two…

…and the tactile red Palermo stacking chairs, £49 each; matching Palermo dining table (a steal at £149); and cheery yellow Thorpness pendant light £29:

It’s all available online at www.tesco.com/direct and instore from now onwards. See you at the checkout!

 

 

Let it glow

 

I’ve been hankering after a large circus marquee style wall light for a while, and once our loft conversion was complete, I had the perfect blank wall at the top of the stairs to hang one on. Thing is, these kinds of lights are usually so darn EXPENSIVE.

So, I was chuffed to discover the range of bargainous oversized vintage lights at chic online homes boutique Oliver Hayden. There are five designs to choose from, including a question mark, a ‘Get Lucky’ arrow, a ‘Sweet heart’ heart and a tattoo-style star, plus a smaller ‘Love’ heart:

At £45 for the large versions and £25 for the small, they’ll make a statement without breaking the bank; plus unlike other more costly designs which need to be plugged in with an unsightly cable, these use batteries and have a discreet switch at the side, meaning you can hang them anywhere.

Mr Treasure Hunter and I treated ourselves to the Get Lucky arrow light, which now hangs – slightly cheekily, as my mum has pointed out – just outside our new loft bedroom:

What I particularly like about it is that it looks cool whether it’s lit or not, and whether it’s day or night.

Fancy one of your own? They’re in stock now (buy the arrow light here) but do keep selling out. I’m assured Oliver Hayden re-stock regularly, but still, better get your name down pronto!

 

 

My latest project (plus how to be a baby whisperer)

Eagle-eyed readers will notice I’ve posted far fewer blog entries this month. That’s because I’ve been working on a little project… meet Baby Treasure Hunter!

Yup, having a new baby means I’ve been slightly busy of late, but I promise normal blogging service is now going to be resumed.

In fact, she’s helped me with this post!

Among all the lovely baby bits I’ve bought or kindly been given recently, I wanted to rave about one in particular. The Gro Hush is a cunning portable device that makes one of three white noise sounds (a heartbeat, ocean waves or rain falling on a tin roof) at the press of a button. You simply slip the oval padded cushion onto your hand using the elastic strap, then hold it against your little one’s head as you cuddle them – the idea being that the sounds, which are pitched at just the right volume, soothe and calm your baby when they’re fussy or having problems sleeping.

I liked the idea in theory, but having tried louder – admittedly less high tech methods – with my first child (like a vacuum cleaner and turbo hairdryer!), I was more than sceptical about whether it’d work. And, while the Gro Hush hasn’t been that successful at soothing my baby when she’s in full-on scream mode (to be honest, not much would), it has been an absolute godsend in getting her to settle down for naps or at night.

Not recommended for use in the cot or crib (supposedly in case the baby rolls onto it), I’ve been placing it on a shelf next to her Moses basket, or tucked behind her easy chair. She LOVES the water-on-a-tin-roof setting, and by the time it automatically switches off after ten minutes, she’s usually fast asleep. Fantastic!

I’ll give the last word to my little assistant. Here she is, giving a demonstration…

The Gro Hush costs £34.95 from John Lewis here, or you can find a full list of stockists here.

Sweet dreams!

 

 

Under my umbrella

It’s so cold, wet and manky at the moment, that it can be a mission just summoning up the energy to go outside. No wonder January is one of the busiest months for travel agents.

But if you can’t afford to book a holiday right now, or you can’t wait till summer to catch a glimpse of golden sands and blue cloudless skies, here’s another idea…

The quite frankly genius umbrellas from Where I’d Rather Be look like ordinary black umbrellas on the outside…

 

…but have beautiful panoramic photos of beaches, mountains, sand dunes and rolling hills on the underside:

So, when you’re trudging along in a downpour, all you need to do is look up, and you’re instantly transported to sunnier climes. Genius!

Available as a traditional hook-handle model for £29.99 or a bag-friendly folding version for £27.99, the umbrellas don’t just look cool, they’re quick-drying and wind-resistant, too. There are eight designs to choose from – including a mountain range design (below) for those who prefer snow to sand – but I’ve got my eye on the ‘Life’s a beach’ model (top).

Which would you choose?!

Yummy bunting

The homespun/Scandi red-and-white look is huge for Christmas this year, along with the idea being that you don’t have to spend a fortune on decorations. That’s all well and good, however if you’re not particularly crafty, handmade decs usually look a bit amateur.

Not so this friendly gingerbread bunting. So simple a child could do it, it looks really effective, and is perfect for stringing from a tree, mirror or mantlepiece (well, as long as you don’t hang it near toddlers or dogs!)

Using any recipe you like, just make a batch of gingerbread men biscuits, and pierce two holes in their tummies before you bake ’em…

…then, when they’re cool, ice them (although you can leave them blank) and thread red ribbon through the holes. Easy eh?!

For everything you need to make the bunting, such as cutters (£2) and grosgrain ribbon (£1.05 per metre), visit Hobbycraft

Baby, you can drive my car

Our son Sam is nearly three and, being a ‘big boy’, he really needs a ‘big boy’ car seat. But anyone who’s ever tried to buy a child’s car seat will know that there’s not a huge amount of choice out there – most are boring black in colour, and you often have to choose between one that clips into the ISOFIX points between the seats; and one that works in any model of car (but that may not feel quite as secure).

So, I was really excited to be asked to try out a new breed of car seat from trendy company Cybex. Winning rave reviews almost everywhere, the Group 1 Juno 2-Fix model (above, being modelled by Sam) not only includes a unique, specially-designed safety lap cushion, which works a bit like an airbag; plus extra side impact protection, but also comes in a whole host of cool colourways:

At £185, it’s not the cheapest on the market, but it will last from nine months to four years’ old (9-18kg, way longer than many other car seats) and what’s more, the lightweight design can be used with or without ISOFIX, meaning it’s great for taking away on holiday or using in Granny’s car when she’s doing babysitting duty.

So, what did Sam and I think? The seat was ridiculously easy to fit and took under a minute – you either clip it into the ISOFIX seats, or simply place it on the back seat of your car (below left). Then, once your child is sat down in it, you slot the safety cushion in front, and thread the rear seat belt through the slots in the cushion (below right):

While Sam took a bit of coaxing to try the new seat out, he could climb into it by himself, and soon got the hang of the ‘special table’ cushioned section. In fact, he seemed quite snug and cosy, as you can see below. My only reservation is that the lovely cushion with its fancy embroidery may not look quite so pristine after he’s rested his grubby paws on it a few times!

Now we’ll just just have to see whether he’s still happy in it after a three-hour trip to see relatives in the New Year. Fingers crossed…

PS: Cybex make other designs too, including two rear-facing designs, the Aton Q (below, left, from birth to 18 months) and the award-winning Sirona (below, right, from birth to four years), which, like other rear-facing car seats, reduce the risk of injury in a head-on collision by more than 80% when compared to a conventional forward-facing seat with harness. You can read more about them and several other cool designs at cybex-online.com

NB: Thanks to Cybex for providing the Juno 2-Fix car seat for Sam to try out!

 

Which is the more rein-dear?

What’s the difference between these two large silver reindeer tealight holders?

£99, that’s what!

Yep, the one on the left, from Marks and Spencer (here) is £129; while the one on the right, from Sainsbury’s (here) is £30.

Go grab that bargain by the antlers!

 

 

Branching out

Here’s a nice idea for an easy-yet-effective Christmas decoration.

Buy a pack of felt snowflakes, £6 for nine from Next (here), then hang them from a small tree branch you’ve painted with some white paint (any leftover white wall emulsion should do the trick).

You can then hang the branch from a wall, or stand it up, tree-like, in a jar filled with pebbles/screwed up brown paper/marbles etc.

Simple!

PS: Obviously, any decoration would look good hung like this, but keeping them all the same design/shape/colour will look the most effective.

Goodbye pine needles!

Real Christmas trees are lovely – the look, the smell… but they’re also a faff.

So, if you’re looking for an alternative, try this amazing light-up tree from BHS. At 50cm tall, it’s perfect for small spaces; takes just minutes to set up; won’t drop pine needles everywhere; will look good year after year… oh, and unlike the real thing, the cat won’t want to play with the branches.

Whether you stand it on a shelf, mantlepiece or table; or hang it on the wall, I guarantee it’s the coolest Christmas decoration you’ll see all year.

Get your Christmas Tree Light here for £120.

PS: It’s awards season in the blogging world again, and I’m very excited to be nominated in this years’ blogging Oscars, the UK Blog Awards – in both the ‘Lifestyle’ and the ‘Most Innovative’ categories. So, if you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I’d be honoured if you’d click on the below links and vote for me. Voting takes literally seconds – you just enter your name and email address – and would make me incredibly happy!
To vote for me in the ‘Lifestyle’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk-2/
To vote for me in the ‘Most Innovative Blog’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk/
If you only feel like voting once, please vote in the Lifestyle category. Voting closes on 3rd December.
Thank you!

In for a pound at Christmas

Check out these gorgeous supersized gold paper stars (above), which are perfect for hanging from windows, banisters or walls. You’d imagine they’d be fairly expensive….

…but nope, you can get two for just £1 at – whisper it – Poundland.

And how about this cool Scandi-style peg wreath for holding cards…

Yep, it’s just £1 too, at Poundland.

And this on-trend honeycomb tree, and set of red and white bells? That’s right, just one pound (and in the case of the bells, £1 for ten)!

Proving you don’t have to spend a fortune on nice-looking Christmas decorations, Poundland have come up with some corking bits and bobs to make your house look lovely. I also like this tasteful felt ‘Merry Christmas’ banner:

And this jewel-coloured tinsel wreath, tabletop tree and glittertastic baubles:

They also have some fab little metal tealight houses, in red and white, which would look amazing in a row on a mantlepiece; dainty felt snowflake bunting; and supersized paper stars in other colours:

In fact, I reckon, you could probably kit out an entire room for around a tenner at Poundland, and no-one would ever guess where you got it all from. Race you to the checkout!

All the decs in the room above are from Poundland!

PS: It’s awards season in the blogging world again, and I’m very excited to be nominated in this years’ blogging Oscars, the UK Blog Awards – in both the ‘Lifestyle’ and the ‘Most Innovative’ categories. So, if you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I’d be honoured if you’d click on the below links and vote for me. Voting takes literally seconds – you just enter your name and email address – and would make me incredibly happy!
To vote for me in the ‘Lifestyle’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk-2/
To vote for me in the ‘Most Innovative Blog’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk/
If you only feel like voting once, please vote in the Lifestyle category. Voting closes on 3rd December.
Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

Putting on the glitz

It’s almost December, so I’m going to get the ball rolling and start talking about Christmas. Every year, the shops are flooded with special ‘Christmas’ cushions – usually in red with festive slogans on – that are all incredibly cheery and Christmassy, but that also have an incredibly short shelf life. As soon as Christmas day is over, off they go to the loft/cupboard/blanket box for another twelve months.

Not so the sequin cushion. Nope, the sequin cushion – a thing of beauty – will look suitably sparkly all December; partytastic on your sofa over New Year; and if teamed with classy grey or white bedlinen, will give your bedroom a touch of glamour all year long.

The high street have cottoned onto this, and there are plenty to choose from at the moment. My two favourites are the silver ‘Glitzy’ sequin cushion, £12 from Isme.com (also available in red and black); and the on-trend copper sequin cushion, £12.99 from H&M Home (also available in pink and green), both above.

I’m also liking (from left to right, below) this ‘Luxe Large’ sequin cushion, £20 from BHS; this rectangular ‘Sequin Embellished’ cushion from Marks & Spencer; and this sequin number with a black background, £9.99, from H&M Home:

And if you love the idea of metallics but think sequins are just a little too bling…how about this fantastic metallic silver cushion from Tesco Direct, below? It looks uber expensive, but will set you back just £10. Who can argue with that?!

PS: It’s awards season in the blogging world again, and I’m very excited to be nominated in this years’ blogging Oscars, the UK Blog Awards – in both the ‘Lifestyle’ and the ‘Most Innovative’ categories. So, if you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I’d be honoured if you’d click on the below links and vote for me. Voting takes literally seconds – you just enter your name and email address – and would make me incredibly happy!
To vote for me in the ‘Lifestyle’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk-2/
To vote for me in the ‘Most Innovative Blog’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk/
If you only feel like voting once, please vote in the Lifestyle category. Voting closes on 3rd December.
Thank you!

 

How to get a whole new bedroom for just £150!

Argos is the store where you really can buy anything. It’s long had a reputation for practical items like kettles or washing up bowls – and at bargain prices – but it wasn’t necessarily the first place you’d think of going for great-looking interiors stuff.

Now, that’s changed. Thanks to a team of style-savvy buyers, the new in-house Heart of House range, and the addition of furniture and accessories from Habitat, you can pick up some fab homes bits that look way more expensive than their very reasonable price tags.

To prove this, Argos challenged me to revamp my main bedroom entirely with their products – and on a tight maximum budget of just £150. A boring blank canvas to start with…

…I wanted a fun, colourful scheme that would work with my existing charcoal grey world type map print from Bold & Noble (check it out here). So, to echo the global theme, I took a cheery grass green zebra cushion – just £12 – as a starting point, and based everything else around that.

Here’s the result:

It’s bright and cheery, fairly unisex (Mr Treasure Hunter hates florals!) and very easy to live with.

Want to recreate the look? Here’s my tips:

– Bring a monochrome scheme like this to life with just one or two punchy accent shades. I’ve gone for poppy red and my all-time favourite colour, grass green, which is big news for 2015, by the way!
– When mixing pattern, look for a common thread to tie everything together, whether that’s a shape or a shade. Here, the zebra stripes are echoed in the uneven lines on the duvet…

– It’s a myth that you have to spend a fortune on bedlinen. This ‘Dashes’ set is just £11.99 for a double duvet cover and two pillowcases, and looks way more expensive once it’s dressed up with cushions and a throw. Check out Argos’ other bargain bedding designs here and cushions here.
– Reversible bedding is a great idea, as you can change up your look in seconds. This set is white-with-black stripes on one side, and black-with-white stripes on the other.
– Forget white sheets – add interest with brightly-coloured ones instead, along with matching pillowcases. Here, I’ve gone for bright red.
– Hate your carpet? Give it a whole new look with an inexpensive rug. The one I used has a flat weave, is a decent 120cm x 180cm, and costs just £40. Argos have loads of other colours and textures too – check them out here.
– Desk lamps make perfect bedside lamps as you can direct the light exactly where you need it. The switches are also often more accessible than on table lamps…

– Look for quirky-shaped bowls to use as trinket dishes beside your bed for storing little bits and bobs like rings and lipbalm. The dish I used is actually meant for souffles or dips!

And here’s my shopping list:

Dashes double duvet set (double) £11.99. ColourMatch poppy red double fitted sheet £7.99 for a double. ColourMatch poppy red housewife pillowcases £2.50 for a pair. Habitat Zig zebra cushion s £12 each. Red cotton throw £17.99. ColourMatch desk lamps in poppy red £5.99 each. Green Habitat Orrell rug £40. Jones by Newgate Rise and Shine alarm clock £14.99. ColourMatch smoke grey cotton cushion£4.99. Denby cherry red flower ramekin dish £11.99.
TOTAL = £148.42.

 

PS: If you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I’d be honoured if you’d click on the below links and vote for me in the UK Blog Awards. Voting takes literally seconds – you just enter your name and email address – and would make me incredibly happy!
To vote for me in the ‘Lifestyle’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk-2/
To vote for me in the ‘Most Innovative Blog’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk/
If you only feel like voting once, please vote in the Lifestyle category. Voting closes on 3rd December.
Thank you!

Topper the morning to you!

The best night’s sleep I ever had was in a hotel in San Francisco (the Hotel Diva). The bed was so comfy it felt like sinking into a cloud when you lay down. So, what was the secret … in-house hypnosis? Nap-inducing drugs in the air-con system? Nope. A mattress topper.

My bed at home feels anything but cloud-like. Although it’s fairly new and gets flipped/turned regularly, my uber expensive mattress from John Lewis already has more ups and downs than Taylor Swift’s love life.

So, rather than spend another small fortune on a new one, I’ve opted for the San Francisco solution and invested in a high tech Clusterfull mattress topper from The Fine Bedding Company (£85 double or £95 kingsize, view it here):

The Rolls Royce of toppers, it looks like a thin duvet, with elastic straps at the corners to attach it to your mattress. It has lots of square internal pockets filled with ‘Smartfil’ fibres, which are apparently coated with a diamond-hard yet silky soft silicone, meaning they slide over  each other rather than getting squished together. The result? Supposedly super breathability (meaning you’re neither too hot nor too cold); snuggleability (!) and durability. The makers claim it’ll keep its soft, spongy plumpness for years.

 

This all sounds impressive, but does it work? In short, YES. Easy to fit, I was expecting to feel some lumps and bumps from the mattress, but the topper filled them all. Now, it’s like sleeping on an entirely different bed. I used to find it hard to get back to sleep if I woke in the night, but now I drop back off again as soon as my head hits the pillow. My only regret is that I didn’t get a topper earlier!

Fancy giving your mattress a new lease of life? Here’s my topper tips…

– Think about synthetic vs natural fillings. While you can get luxurious-feeling toppers stuffed with feathers or down, a synthetic filling might be better if you suffer from allergies.
– Look for pockets. In some toppers, the filling is ‘loose’, meaning it can shift around inside. Over time, this can make for a very uneven surface to lie on. Pockets mean the filling is distributed evenly throughout the topper – and it can’t move.
– Prolong the life of your topper with a mattress protector. Many toppers – including mine, even though the filling is synthetic – aren’t washable, so putting a washable protector over the top makes sense. I got the Spundown Mattress Protector, from £30. Here’s how it looks on the bed:

 

Right, after sharing all this, I think I need a little lie down. Sweet dreams!

PS: If you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I’d be honoured if you’d click on the below links and vote for me in the UK Blog Awards. Voting takes literally seconds – you just enter your name and email address – and would make me incredibly happy!
To vote for me in the ‘Lifestyle’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk-2/
To vote for me in the ‘Most Innovative Blog’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk/
If you only feel like voting once, please vote in the Lifestyle category. Voting closes on 3rd December.
Thank you!

The best slippers in the world (plus £5 off!)

Chuck away your moccasins! Sling away your slip-ons! Because I’ve found the Holy Grail of slippers.

Choosing the perfect slipper is no mean feet, sorry, feat. A good pair needs to be snuggly and warm, yet hardwearing and – ideally – look good too. Most of the slippers I’ve owned in my life only meet a few of these criteria – slip-ons look a bit grannyish; mules lose their shape; while furry ones are cosy but you wouldn’t want a hot date to see you in them. A few years ago, I was given a pair of felt clog slippers that ticked all the boxes. They were so comfy – with a hardwearing sole – that I once wore them out to the supermarket without realising.

When they finally died – after three years of wear – I vowed to buy more. Only thing is, I couldn’t find them… until now. Say hello to Haflingers – the slippers to beat all slippers.

Made of natural (and very toasty) materials like felt, wool, leather and cork, they’re available from Shoegarden.co.uk  and there are over 70 styles, shapes and colours to choose from, including nordic patterns, cats, cherries, flowers, chunky knits and stripes. Many have thick rubber soles – so you can nip out to empty the bins without taking them off – and you can chose either backless, slip-on or more snug versions with a lip at the heel.

I’ve gone for the Grizzly Classic Clog in green, which has a lovely Scandi-style trim, and a cork and rubber sole. They’re so ridiculously comfy they seem to mold to your feet, and I’ve already left the house in them twice by accident.

At £49.99 (prices range from £34.99 to around £59.99 depending on style), they’re admittedly more than your average department store-bought slippers, but considering they feel twice as snug and will probably last three times as long, they’re cheap at the price I reckon.

What’s  more, the lovely people at Shoegarden.co.uk have agreed to give all Treasure Hunter readers £5 off any pair of Haflingers – just enter the code TREASUREFOUND at the online checkout. Code is valid until 19th December 2014.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your hands on – and feet into – a pair today!

PS: Been converted to Haflingers? Send me a pic! I’m at thetreasurehunteruk@gmail.com

PPS:  If you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I’d be honoured if you’d click on the below links and vote for me in the UK Blog Awards. Voting takes literally seconds – you just enter your name and email address – and would make me incredibly happy!
To vote for me in the ‘Lifestyle’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk-2/
To vote for me in the ‘Most Innovative Blog’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk/
If you only feel like voting once, please vote in the Lifestyle category. Voting closes on 3rd December.
Thank you!

Let it glow

One of these on-trend letter lamps will leave your pocket a lot lighter…

Yep, the one on the left is £245 from Goodwin & Goodwin (get it here – also available in every letter up to Z), while the one on the right is just £30 from George Home at Asda Direct (get it here – unsurprisingly they keep selling out, so you may have to sign up for a restock notice…)

So, grab yourself an A-mazing bargain now!

PS: It’s awards season in the blogging world again, and I’m very excited to be nominated in this years’ blogging Oscars, the UK Blog Awards – in both the ‘Lifestyle’ and the ‘Most Innovative’ categories. So, if you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I’d be honoured if you’d click on the below links and vote for me. Voting takes literally seconds – you just enter your name and email address – and would make me incredibly happy!
To vote for me in the ‘Lifestyle’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk-2/
To vote for me in the ‘Most Innovative Blog’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk/
If you only feel like voting once, please vote in the Lifestyle category. Voting closes on 3rd December.
Thank you!

Grin and bear it

Why have an ordinary, boring side table when you can have a bear or a tiger?!

Perfect for holding up the bear – sorry, bare – necessities, such as a lamp, pile of mags, or just a cup of tea, these friendly fellas will look right at home next to a sofa or bed, and inject a huge dose of quirky fun into any room.

They’re a decent size (53cm tall and 33cm wide), and made of moulded resin.

Want to adopt ‘Tyson’ the tiger? He’s £125 from Graham & Green (here)…

 

…while ‘Benny’ the bear and ‘Petri’ the polar bear are both £125 each, from either Rockett St George (here or here) or Graham & Green (here or here):

PS: It’s awards season in the blogging world again, and I’m very excited to be nominated in this years’ blogging Oscars, the UK Blog Awards – in both the ‘Lifestyle’ and the ‘Most Innovative’ categories. So, if you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I’d be honoured if you’d click on the below links and vote for me. Voting takes literally seconds – you just enter your name and email address – and would make me incredibly happy!
To vote for me in the ‘Lifestyle’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk-2/
To vote for me in the ‘Most Innovative Blog’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk/
If you only feel like voting once, please vote in the Lifestyle category. Voting closes on 3rd December.
Thank you!

 

Please vote for me!

It’s awards season in the blogging world again, and I’m very excited to be nominated in this years’ blogging Oscars, the UK Blog Awards – in both the ‘Lifestyle’ and the ‘Most Innovative’ categories.

So, if you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it, I’d be honoured if you’d click on one (or both) of the below links and vote for me. Voting takes literally seconds – you just enter your name and email address – and would make me incredibly happy!

To vote for me in the ‘Lifestyle’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk-2/

To vote for me in the ‘Most Innovative Blog’ category, click here:
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-treasure-hunter-uk/

If you only feel like voting once, please vote in the Lifestyle category. Voting closes on 3rd December.
Thank you!

 

 

The last unicorn

Now, I realise no-one needs a porcelain jewellery dish with a unicorn in the middle, but seriously, just how lovely is this? You can place chains and earrings in the dish part – so the unicorn is dancing in a sea of gold and silver; and pop rings on his horn.

At £9.95 from Sass and Belle (here) he won’t break the bank either. A lovely gift – although I bet if you buy one you end up keeping him for yourself!

 

Admit one (into your house)

Doormats, let’s face it, are usually pretty boring. After all, there’s only so much you can do with a rectangle shape. This rubber one, however, is thinking a little bit outside the box- and I think it’s pretty awesome.

In the shape of a cinema ticket, it’s perfect for a film fan (or anyone bored of run-of-the-mill mats) and shows guests you’ve got a sense of humour before they’ve even crossed the threshold. Just don’t be surprised if they start demanding a giant vat of Coke and a tub of popcorn.

Get yours from The Gift Oasis for £22.99 here.

It’s a mug’s game

Giving a gift with someone’s initial on always seems that little bit more personal, and over the years, I’ve given many a letter mug to friends (often packaged with a fancy box of tea or coffee) as a thank you or birthday present.

Thing is, these mugs usually cost around a tenner each. So when I saw these fab alphabet mugs from Matalan for, wait for it, just £2 each, I got more than a little excited. At that price, you could even splash out on a set of several for a family; or buy a pair for a couple.

Obviously the popular letters are bound to get snapped up first, so if you want one (or several) better get yourself down to Matalan or visit their website pronto.

PS: Love the idea but not got there fast enough? Oliver Bonas do almost idential alphabet mugs for the more pricely sum of £10 each, here. In fact, they have a whole range of alphabet stuff, from candles to washbags – well worth checking out.

 

From Catwalk to Cushion (part 2)!

Above:
FOLK Catwalk – Temperley London/Cushion – Matthew Williamson at Debenhams £28.
STRIPES Catwalk – Sass & Bide/Cushion – Ikea £4.

One of my favourite ever posts on this blog has to be ‘From Catwalk to Cushion’ (from September 2013 – read it here).

Earlier this month, I was asked to recreate it for Notebook (the magazine published with the Sunday Mirror) as part of their recent Homes Special. The idea was to find cushions that were inspired by the Autumn/Winter 2014 fashion runways.

Well, I LOVED researching this piece so much, I thought I’d share my catwalk/cushion comparisons with you. So here it is, ‘From Catwalk to Cushion’ Part 2. Enjoy!

GREY Catwalk – Christopher Kane/Cushion – H&M Home £14.99.
ROSES Catwalk – Giambattista Valli/Cushion – Wilko £7

METALLIC Catwalk – Antonio Beradi/Cushion – H&M Home £12.99
LEOPARD Catwalk – Sportmax/Cushion – Tesco Direct £16

COLOUR BLOCK Catwalk – Tsumori Chisato/Cushion – Ikea £7
FOXY Catwalk –  Dolce & Gabbana/Cushion – Dunelm £12.99

PURPLE Catwalk – Prada/Cushion – Wilko £8
INDIGO Catwalk – Temperley London/Cushion – Sainsbury’s £16

CHECK Catwalk – Tommy Hilfiger/Catwalk – Homebase £11.99
ZIGZAG Catwalk – Issa/Cushion – Zazzle £25.95

TWO TONE Catwalk – Emanuel Ungaro/Cushion – Very.co.uk £15
BLUE Catwalk – Richard Nicoll/Cushion – Wilko £6.50

WOLF Catwalk – Antonio Marras/Cushion – Tesco Direct £8
FURRY Catwalk – Prada/Cushion – Dunelm £7.99

EMBROIDERED Catwalk – Temperley London/Cushion – Dwell £49
BUTTERFLIES Catwalk – Valentino/Cushion – Marks & Spencer £19.50

Hallowe’en? Nailed it!

I’ve been invited to a last-minute Hallowe’en party, and with no time to prepare a proper outfit, I was in danger of looking like a party pooper.

Luckily, I’ve come up with a solution – pumpkin-themed nails.I plan to pair them with a black top and trousers – spooky eh?

All you need is some orange nail polish (mine was £1 from a local chemist) and a permanent black marker pen. Oh, and a steady hand. Simple!

 

 

 

Any excuse to eat cake!

A while ago I blogged about my amazing set of Orla Kiely cake tins – a set so gorgeous that months on, they still sit proudly in a stack on my kitchen worksurface, rather than hiding away in a cupboard.

Well, Orla has just released some new prints – available on everything from mugs to storage – and her cake tins have had a makeover too. What’s more, they’re just as AMAZING. At £37 for a set at John Lewis or Unique & Unity, they’d make a lovely gift and they’re fairly reasonable too, when you consider you get five.

I can’t think of a single better excuse to bake (or just buy) more cakes and biscuits!

PS: Not got room for five cake tins? Try the trio of storage canisters / caddy set instead, £25 from John Lewis (here) or Unique & Unity (here):

Bargain bedroom makeover

Kitting out a bedroom from scratch can be expensive – whether you’ve just bought your first place; have had an extension; are moving into new rented or student accommodation; or are simply giving a tired room a complete revamp. When you’ve got everything from bedding and cushions to accessories to think about, making somewhere look homely can mount up – fast.

The thing is, stylish, good quality yet cheap homewares aren’t always easy to find. Which is why I’m a huge fan of Tesco Direct‘s new homes ranges. The supermarket has really upped its game when it comes to interiors recently, and their collections for this Autumn/Winter are fantastic. There’s a contemporary country look with pale blue and natural wood; an Oriental collection with velvet, teal, hot pink and purple; an ‘Old Hollywood’ look with glamorous black, copper and gold; an update on the cosy cabin look with oranges and tartans; and my favourite, a monochrome Manhattan loft collection, with pops of red, black and navy.

So, when Tesco challenged me to make over the bedroom in my new loft on a budget, it wasn’t difficult. I set myself a budget of £350, with the aim of creating a bright, fun, friendly space where guests would instantly feel at home. This is the very boring room beforehand…

And this (plus the pic at the top of this post) is the room after!

I decided to stick to Tesco’s recommended palette of black, white, red and blue, as it’s easy to add to – or change – as time goes on.

My top tips for a scheme like this:

–  Boost the impact of a patterned duvet set by pairing it with co-ordinating plain coloured pillowcases and sheets.
–  A chair is a big-ish investment, but will give your room a really ‘finished’ look (and provide somewhere for guests to sit/lay their clothes).
–  Storage boxes are a great way to keep clutter out of sight – choose patterned ones that go with the decor.
–  Combine a radio and alarm clock to take up less space on the bedside table.
–  Make your own artwork to save money – I bought two plain white frames, and got a local framer to make a mount with four apertures, which I filled with Pantone postcards.
–  Follow the geometric theme through elsewhere in the room, for example, in the pattern on the vase, and on the chair cushion.

And my top buys? The geometric duvet set (which Mr Treasure Hunter wasn’t at all convinced about beforehand, but now loves); the handy – and bargaintastic – bedside lamps, which look way more expensive than their £15 price tags; and the stylish grey fabric retro tub chair, which at £119 is far nicer and cheaper than anything similar I’ve seen elsewhere (it comes in other colours, and if you’ve got the space, there’s a matching sofa for £169 too!):

If you want to recreate the look, here’s my complete shopping list:

Geo triangle duvet cover and pillow set, double (also available in single and kingsize) £15. Twin pack housewife pillowcases in red royal (available in other colours) £3. Brooklyn desk lamps in white (also available in chrome) £15 each. Arai cushion in red (also available in blue) £10. ‘No place like home’ cushion £14. Retro fabric tub chair in charcoal £119 (also available in red or mocha – and there’s a matching sofa in each colourway too!). Lightweight knitted pouffe in red (also available in chocolate, ivory, lime or pink) £40. View Quest mini DAB+/FM radio in red (available in many colours) £59.95. White vase £10. Space dyed throw in grey £20. Black & white storage boxes from £3.50. Basic photo frames in white (11″ x 14″) £5.60 – all from Tesco.
TOTAL: £335.65

I also added a couple of items I already owned: Red Tvis rugs £4.50 each, Ikea. Travel Europe print by Robert Crampton £26.99 for 61cm x 81cm (prices start at £13.99 for a 20cm x 30cm print), Allposters.co.uk, which was framed by a local framemaker. Pantone postcard box of 100 postcards £12.78 Amazon.

PS: If you’ve made-over a room on a budget, drop me a line at thetreasurehunteruk@gmail.com – I’d love to see some pix!

 

 

It’s about time

If you live in the UK, you’ll be pleased to hear you get an extra hour in bed next Sunday when the clocks go back.

Personally – although I reckon you never need an excuse to go shopping – I also think it’s the perfect time (sorry) to buy a new clock.

This Autumn, the most stylish ones by far are from Habitat, above, who have a huge designer-look selection at not too eyewatering prices.

I also really love this very stylish black and copper Acctim wall clock from Tesco Direct, £30…

…this friendly wooden owl clock from Next, a steal at £16…

…this Kaleido Geometric clock £25 from Hunkydoryhome…

…or this fun Milk Bottle clock £12 from Asda, which currently has pride of place in my kitchen: