REAL HOME MAKEOVERS

Turns out paint by numbers is surprisingly relaxing. Who knew. I’m definitely not an artist. But I can colour in. Here in Valencia there’s always something that needs doing, so sitting still isn’t exactly my strong suit. I figured this might force me to stay in one place for a bit. It actually worked. ☺️ It also combines two of my guilty pleasures. Keep watching to the end, and you’ll see why. I may have accidentally given myself a craving. I blame the painting.

It wasn’t quite as quick as I make it look here, but editing this reel definitely took longer than putting the wallpaper up. Piece of cake. Would you give peel-and-stick a go?

This dining room was designed to keep the heat out, which also makes it pretty dark, so I brightened it up with Shoreline Fan in Champagne wallpaper (gifted) by Wild Palace. I’m never going back to glue. Peel and stick is just too easy. The wallpaper was custom-made to my wall, the quality is amazing and the service impeccable. For the first time ever, my old wallpaper came off without a fight, and because the new wallpaper was so easy to install, the whole makeover was done in no time.

Since there was paint left anyway… it was cloudy outside, sat on the sofa, looked at this wall and thought fookit. Two hours later a totally different look in my Mediterranean living room.

Spanish rustic homes are built for the heat. Thick walls, tiny windows… great in summer, but it does mean the inside can feel quite dark. My bedroom in Valencia is north-facing and the cooler, darker tones didn’t help, nor did the fact that it was starting to look quite tatty. ⁣ Warmed up and brightened the colours, and that alone changed everything. Same room, completely different feel, keeping the Mediterranean charm. It’s the power of colour.

Part 2 and the final reveal of our downstairs loo. The fugly ancient tiles are gone, covered with decorative Beal Mortex stucco, and I painted the top in Sombrero Tan by Histor, inspired by golden hour on my Spanish terrace. Makes sitting there feel a little more dreamy. Still very much the original loo under an 1890 staircase, just with a bit more charm now.

Downstairs loo reno almost done. Those awful tiles are finally gone, skimmed over with decorative plaster and it’s completely changed the feel.⁣ ⁣ Just the top section left to paint and I’m stuck. Thinking warm, golden hour tones rather than anything too safe. What would you go for?⁣

Only your bestest friends, the ones you’ve known for about a hundred years and who also run home accounts, truly understand the excitement of a seasonal rug swap. No need to wait for the inevitable husband eye roll this time. 🙄 Just getting it done. 👊🏻 Spring refresh. Diesel tried to help too. Completely useless.⁣

Fill up the pot with cardboard (or whatever else to bulk it up) and cover with a flat section, a layer of gravel on top, done. Only slight downside is that I’ve already had to tell people not to water this olive tree. Apparently it looks a bit too real.⁣