Showing all posts tagged sponsored

In Interior Design, Reviews / Sponsored

New Suite Virgins

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on 1 Comment

Here is something you don’t know about me…. I’ve never owned a brand new sofa or suite. Seriously!

The first home Roy and I moved into came furnished with an old Chesterfield suite (Looked nice but was damn uncomfortable!). We then inherited some soft squishy blue sofa from family and later a gorgeous oak framed set that lasted us years but died spectacularly when I sat my large pregnancy bum down on one end and it conceded defeat and collapsed (not my finest moment).

After that there was the orange duck filled suite (never again, those damn feathers got everywhere), a catalogue fake leather thing which I’m not counting as new as it was so naff and broke (yes broke) within a week. Now we have a quite nice honey coloured suite that I got in a house clearance sale for £60 but would have paid £300 for easily.

There you go, my somewhat murky sofa past. What we have at the moment is actually ok but I really am looking now for something that fits the room and the family properly. It may be my Yorkshire roots or frugal mindset but I do balk at the idea of paying out for brand new when I know I can get cheaper. The difference is of course that if I want quality I am going to have to pay for it.

Having not really done the whole suite browsing thing I’ve been quite surprised at how reasonable a suite is nowadays. When we first moved in together a brand new suite was a luxury that we just couldn’t afford. HelloSofas for example have a wide range of sofas which tick all of our boxes and won’t have us eating baked beans for the next twelve months.

Being a new suite virgin however I am asking for your  sofa wisdom. What is your top piece of advice for choosing a suite? We have no pets but do have two small monkeys, Roy and myself to seat. I’d love to hear what you think the must do and must not do points are when sofa shopping, particularly online.

sofa

 

Photo Credit

*Remuneration has been received for the writing and posting of this post yet the content is my own and true to my own thoughts, feelings and experiences.

In Interior Design

Window Coverings

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

I’m a firm believer in the fact that if you don’t dress your window right that you won’t feel the room is ever complete. This is where I am at the moment. As regular readers will know we moved in October last year and since January have been trying to get the house the way we want it. So far so although we have plenty of things left to do.

Next up we really need to look at our windows. Being an old house we have 1) LOTS of windows and 2) Different shapes and sizes. Oh what fun! As yet I’m undecided as to whether web-blinds, nets or window film is best for us.

Window Film
In our previous home we used window film to create privacy, eliminate nasty nets and still allow the light in. Originally we had decided that we would use the same again however our front window is a big bay window and even only using film half way up (I.e. above nosy passer-by level) the cost is going to be prohibitive. While the film for the old house was great for stopping any and all gawkers it did mean that I would have to run upstairs if I want to be a nosy mare myself as I couldn’t see through the film and in this house I wouldn’t be able to have a quick nosy around the curtain to see who is at the door. I was thrilled with the effect at the old house but I’m not convinced it will work here.

Also, our windows here are all big sash windows which mean when open then film won’t do a thing for privacy.

Our lounge window complete with window film over at the old house. Looked good but I'm not sure it will work here and besides, Roy said he'd divorce me if I made him use the stuff again (it can be a bit of a pain)
Our lounge window complete with window film from Purlfrost over at the old house. Looked good but I’m not sure it will work here and besides, Roy said he’d divorce me if I made him use the stuff again (it can be a bit of a pain)

Nets
Don’t get me wrong, nets are fabulous for ensuring some aspects of privacy. Nowadays there are so many different designs and types that creating a style that is suitable is easy. We currently have nets in the lounge which “will do” for now however they are starting to fray and I can’t have frayed nets on display to the neighbours! The added bonus of course of nets is that they are so cheap. I think we will have nets in our bedroom as we have two sash windows we have open at night yet the front of our house is overlooked so I’d like something that lets the breeze in and the spectators out.

nets

 Blinds
I’ve never had blinds. They aren’t as cheap as nets however look like, certainly for the lounge window, to be the right solution. My big bug bear (remembering that the front of the house faces the street) is that Roy and now even 6yr old Kieran regularly close the curtains when the TV is on or the computer so that they can block the sun out and reduce glare. This drives my batty for some reason! I really dislike curtains closed during the day, don’t ask me why, it just bugs me. I’m guessing that if we had vertical blinds installed it would please everyone. I’ve had a look online and there are some lovely designs available which will do the job yet not “spoil” my vintage-style lounge.

I’m still uncertain as yet which way we’ll go. I think I’ve talked myself out of film this time so perhaps a mixture of nets and blinds as appropriate. What do you have? Do you have blinds and if so do you find them easy to clean and look after? Can you think of alternatives that won’t cost me the earth? I’d love to hear from you with window dressing know-how as at the moment we are still at the drawing board.

 

 

*Written in collaboration with the mentioned business yet true to my own thoughts, feeling and experiences.

All original content on these pages is fingerprinted and certified by Digiprove