After realising that the current layout of my house wasn’t working for me, I decided to move things around (again!).

One of my main gripes is the open living plan of this house. I’m much more of a separate rooms kind of girl so am finding it difficult to arrange everything to suit us.

Previously I was using one of the bedrooms as an office along with the boy, but it wasn’t big enough for the both of us (but mostly him and all his … stuff) to put it politely. I decided to vacate the premises as I’m someone who likes to work in a more aesthetic environment!

I always think a dining area should have a nice natural source of light, but where the previous owner had placed their dining table, it’s more of a dark corner of the otherwise open plan.

Before..

I’ve moved the dining area next to a large window, so I’m a lot happier with the new arrangement.

After..

The desk used to have a hutch and was beech laminate. I gave it a couple coats of ‘Whisper White’ and removed the hutch and installed floating shelves above the desk instead, it feels a lot more open and airy rather than a heavy piece of furniture.

This is the desk before (and in our old house)

After…

Before it became an office but after it became a new dining area…

And now, it’s new life as my office!

I think it makes more sense to arrange your house to work for you, instead of feeling as though you should work for it. And this is what works for us

I will update soon on the new dining area!

Linked at Funky Junk!

I’ve been wanting to make my entryway more inviting for a while now, but as I’ve had absolutely no budget to do so I had to get a little creative and shop the house!

Are you ready for my super amazing entrance, the first impression as you walk into my home??

SHAZAM!!

… I can tell you’re impressed and can’t wait to come in (if only to get out of the entrance quicker!)

As lovely as it is (cough), I really was hoping to create a slightly more welcoming entrance. The problem with this is the utter lack of room and that great hulking pillar that doesn’t seem to be contributing much (sure it may hold up the roof but still!) Having zilch to spend, I wandered my house and took bits and pieces from here and there to make it a little homelier…

Certainly a little more inviting and whilst not exactly ideal, it’s a definite improvement on a $0 budget!

I wonder if the fella would notice if that pillar just up and disappeared one day?

…

He might notice the roof caved in.

Just throwing this in for good measure. Once you start to shop the house, it becomes a little hard to stop. The wine rack and beach print has been replaced with my favourite mirror ever and a little extra bench seat.

Mind the dog on your way out. Lazy little mooch, I asked him to move but although those ears are perked, he chose not to hear me.

So overall, not a bad little makeover for what I already had on hand!

Let me just preface this post by saying I am in no way, shape or form any kind of gardener or landscaper. My ‘green thumb’ has killed many a plant in it’s time so for now, I’m probably safer gardening on Photoshop…

This is my backyard, it’s horribly barren and I’d really love to get in there with a hoe and some dirt but at the moment, finances just won’t allow!

I would like a wraparound verandah and french doors.. But again.. I’m dreaming because at the moment we simply can’t afford to.

Here is one version I came up with… A definite improvement, but still not ideal… At least I can play around without killing any plants this way