Design Dilemmas
Episode 9: This week, read on to find out how to get a high end kitchen look for less, painting cupboards, living in a house that you can't afford to do much to plus panelling and dado rail tips.
This week, I have been trying to be organised. Yes, yes, I try to do this every week and every week, I fail miserably. Well, not miserably - I don’t really care that much - but I don’t succeed in ticking all off the to do list which is quite annoying. But recently, I have had a major win in the kitchen in relation to food organisation. Sick of finding out of date ham, half drunk bottles of three week old wine, cardboard packaging sealed to the fridge shelves and old yoghurts at the back of the fridge, I cleaned it out a few weeks ago and decided that from now on, I would try and be more Marie Kondo so I jumped on to Amazon (forever lining the pockets of Jeff Bezos, sigh) and ordered some ‘organisational boxes’.
I have to admit that the results have been quite staggering. I barely recognise myself; the children are astounded by the easy access to the Dairylea Dunkers and the fact that they can pull out a box of grated cheese without scattering it like confetti across the fridge. A Lazy Susan renders their Heinz Tomato Sauce available at all times and the Pepperamis are neatly stacked IN THEIR OWN BOX. Even the cupboards have felt the benefit of my new fancy ways. Need a cereal bar? No longer kept in the cardboard boxes, they are lined up in a plastic tray for easy access. Muesli is decanted into tall storage; the very best in Lidls cellophane packaged pain au chocolate and croissants (okay, we haven’t managed to be that eco worthy yet, bear with) now reside in a jaunty basket. Even putting the shopping away is more fun. I still might end my weeks with half the list still unticked, but at least my jars are stacked on a multi layered extendable cupboard shelf.
Right, back to your dilemmas and this week, we’re kicking off with wallpaper, paint, dado rails, ceilings and coving - what should we paint? What shouldn’t we paint? And more importantly, does it matter that much? Kitchens are key this week too - painting cupboards properly and how to get the high end look for the beer budget (I have PLENTY of tips for this one, people). What do you do when you buy a new house that you can’t afford to do up yet but can’t live with it the way that it is and finally, panelling - is it going to ruin your walls and rip all the plaster off?
You can READ ON by becoming a paid subscriber which means that not only do you receive four free posts a month but also a minimum of four EXTRA posts a month (including a weekly Design Dilemmas) plus Chat threads so you can join our blossoming community and exclusive discount codes which are just for you. Plus, for a limited time, if you take an ANNUAL subscription then you will receive a FREE copy of my book, Resourceful Living, via the joy of Royal Mail. I would thoroughly recommend it.