Sunday 26 February 2012

There's No Place Like Home

I've been thinking recently of how easy it is to take one's own surroundings for granted.  Everyday life can become so mundane and repetitive that you tend only to see the same places day in day out, mostly the inside of your own home.  Now I'm nothing if not a homebird, but it's easy to forget what treasures are out there barely a stonesthrow from your own doorstep.

In view of this, on Saturday I talked the mister into an afternoon of lunch and a walkabout of our maligned but architecturally magnificent city


We had tapas, mmm!



We took a stroll up Bold Street, towards the famous 'bombed-out church' but not before stopping here.


Oh my!

They even sold these:-


The most apologetic of the boxed candie

Then we ambled around the Georgian quarter, admiring the architecture and the choice of photo ops.  So many fabulous doorways!







Saw this in the window of a trade union building, made me chuckle

Careful now!

All in all quite a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.  Was novel to see so many of the places that are often more recongnisible as filming locations.

What I wore:-

Peacoat: Next
Top: Dorothy Perkins
Skirt: C&A via Ebay
Tights: Primark
Shoes: Ebay
Tote: Etsy
Necklace: Charity shop

There's no place like home 


Lucy x

Friday 24 February 2012

Kitschen Goodness & Today's Outfit

You may recall I mentioned a few posts ago that my kitchen was in the process of being beautified.  Well, I thought I'd share the finished results here on my little blog.


When Mr N and I first moved in to our humble little abode nearly 5 years ago the kitchen was one of the main selling points used by the estate agents. The previous owner had not long had it fitted with very popular fake beech effect cupboards, with fake granite effect shiny work surfaces, beigey coloured lino complete with stainless steel appliances.  To top it all off, it was painted a kind of light to mid yellow.  Suffice to say it was HORRID!  Everything I hated and didn't want.  I'm sure it would have appealed to many a young couple buying their first home, it was functional, modern, and neutral (read: bland), but I just wanted something with personality. 



Unfortunately it was a brand new kitchen and there were more pressing jobs that needed to be done to the rest of the house so it took a back seat for 5 long years. 



I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  Even more so with how little it cost us.  The fake beech was painted over with plenty of undercoat and Ronseal cupboard paint in fresh blue and the horrid water stained lino made way for some Alice in Wonderland black and white tiles.  Add a couple of floating shelves from Ikea and we were good to go!

  

Unfortunately we couldn't replace the work surfaces this time around due to them not being a standard depth and therefore super expensive to have specially cut.   Fortunately they don't look quite as bad in the new set up.  I'll have to live with them and with the stainless steel oven and light fittings for a while longer.

I'll just have to add more kitsch




I'm still not sure where I'm going with the shelf arrangement.  It may take me a few tries before I'm completely happy with it.


I was surprised at how 1950's the end result was.  It wasn't really a conscious thing but I'm pleased with it nonetheless.  I embrace the vintage of most eras, but when it comes to interiors, the 1950's through to 1970's usually wins out.

I probably should have picked a pretty polka dot rockabilly number to pose in for my first kitchen outfit shots in keeping with the theme of the background but, well, I didn't.


I'm all about keeping it real :)





Top: Next
Skirt: vintage, charity shop
Witchy boots: Asos via Ebay

Wow, that was a rather photo heavy post wasn't it.  Hope you enjoyed your little peek inside my home.  I just love nosing around people's houses, one of my favourite type of posts to read!

Nearly the weekend - yay!

Lucy x

PS.  I'm up to 15 followers, I'm so chuffed! Welcome everybody xx

Monday 20 February 2012

Miss Shyboots

Many thank yous to the lovely Miss Simmonds who has nominated me for my very first blog award.

 
 
I am supposed to post 7 random things about myself.  For some reason I have found this task inexplicably difficult.  I find it difficult talking about myself at the best of times.  I started blogging purely as an outlet for me in my spare time.  To use as an online journal/scrapbook I suppose.  I never properly considered the prospect that other people would ever be interested in my life or what I had to say.  I'm still just figuring it all out I suppose.  To those people who have clicked 'follow' I am truly grateful and glad to have you!

Anyways, here we go:-

1.  I have never had my ears pierced.


2.  I spent my entire childhood fixated with finding other lands and would dream about Silky the pixie coming to take me on adventures at the top of the Faraway Tree.  There were also many failed attempts at finding Narnia at the back of my mum and dad's wardrobe.  I still find it hard to live in the real world and have a love/hate relationship with routine


3.  There exist somewhere several photographs of me jumping onstage and doing an impromptu dance with Dave Vanian of The Damned whist wearing sparkly tights and a Wonder Woman t-shirt


4.  I found out about 5 years ago that my blood group was B-.  I have since adopted this as my outlook on life!

source

5.  My favourite city in the world is Berlin.  When visiting the history and the haunted sense of place are still very much in evidence, and yet the people and the atmosphere are warm, friendly and so addictive.  I would happily spend the rest of my days there.


6. When I was 17 I had the biggest crush on this man

Source


Obviously I was ribbed mercilessly but my response would always be the same

"Only talent interests a woman of taste."
(From Amadeus)  

And really, how can anyone watch the clip below and not fall head over heels with the sheer comedy and linguistic genius on display?!


Long live Stephen Fry!

7.  I speak fluent Klingon.

OK that last one isn't true.  I started to run out of ideas towards the end!

At this point I am supposed to pass the award along to 15 newly discovered blogs.  I've cheated a little and picked a handful of newly discovered (by me) blogs and some longer established personal favourites.

dollycoolclare.blogspot.com
vintagevixon.blogspot.com
betteontoast.blogspot.com
yvettecandraw.blogspot.com
olgreeneyes.blogspot.com
factorymom.blogspot.com
powderbluewithpokerdots.blogspot.com
www.theenchantedhunters.com
mabicyclette.blogspot.com
emsipop.blogspot.com

Hope you don't mind ladies. 
I hope everyone's enjoying their week so far

Lucy x
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