DIY Projects

When I first moved to a small flat by the coast, I wanted my bathroom to feel like a gentle reminder of the sea — calm, textured, and a little wild. A full tile overhaul wasn’t in the budget, so I experimented with a pebble backsplash: tactile, inexpensive, and full of seaside character. If you love that coastal look but want something affordable and achievable in a weekend (or a few evenings), here’s how I make one that’s durable, kind...

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I love projects that take something ordinary and quiet — like a wine bottle tucked on the recycling shelf — and turn it into an object that brings light and personality into a room. This glass bottle pendant light is one of my favourite quick upcycles: you need just one drill, a piece of plant wire (or copper wire), and a little patience. It’s affordable, low-waste, and makes a wonderfully warm, imperfectly handmade light for a kitchen...

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I love the ritual of gift giving — the choosing, the little note, the moment someone unwraps something that’s been selected with care. Wrapping, for me, is part of that ritual. Recently I’ve been trying to make that moment even more thoughtful by eliminating single-use wrapping paper and instead using scarves, kraft paper, and foraged decorations. Not only does this reduce waste, it creates a beautiful, tactile presentation that tells a...

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I’ve always been a bit sentimental about my jumpers — especially the wool ones that feel like a warm hug on grey afternoons. Over the years I’ve chosen repair over replacement whenever possible, and visible mending has become my favourite way to give a beloved wool jumper a new life while making the repairs part of the story. In this post I’ll share the tools I use, the techniques I reach for most often, and how to make a visible mend...

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I moved into my first period home with equal parts excitement and trepidation. The sash windows, high cornices and original floorboards felt like pure character, but I quickly learned that decorating and renovating older properties comes with its own set of challenges — especially when it comes to paint. Choosing a low-VOC paint is one of the simplest, most meaningful ways to protect the health of your family and the integrity of historic...

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I love a tiny balcony — the way a single pot of herbs or a trailing fern can transform a narrow strip of outdoor space into a calm, green retreat. When floor space is precious, vertical planting becomes essential, and a macramé plant hanger is one of the simplest, most charming ways to lift your plants into view. In this post I’ll show you how to build a macramé plant hanger for tiny balconies using tools you probably already own. No fancy...

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I love a good autumn wreath. There’s something so satisfying about gathering treasures from hedgerows and lanes — crisp oak leaves, curled beech, seedheads, and little pops of colour from berries — then arranging them into a cosy, natural circle for the door. Over the years I’ve learned to make wreaths that feel abundant and seasonal, but that also last without relying on floral foam. In this post I’ll share my favourite foam-free...

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I’ve been making beeswax wraps for years — testing ratios, trying different oils and fabrics, and learning what keeps them soft and flexible instead of brittle and cracked. I make them for my kitchen, for gifts, and to replace cling film whenever possible. Below I’ll share the exact method I use, why each ingredient matters, and how to troubleshoot common problems so your wraps stay pliable and durable.Why beeswax wraps (and what keeps...

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I started bokashi composting in my tiny London flat because I wanted a low-odour, fast way to divert kitchen waste without hauling bags to a council green bin every week. If you're short on outdoor space—or have none at all—bokashi is one of the simplest, cleanest systems I've found. It’s compact, tidy, and forgiving. Below I’ll walk you through how I do it, what equipment works best in a small home, what to feed (and what to avoid), how...

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I love simple, seasonal dye experiments that feel a bit like slow alchemy — especially when they use things I’d otherwise compost. Recently I’ve been playing with dyeing linen using onion skins and black tea, deliberately skipping chemical mordants so the process stays accessible, low-waste, and safe for a small kitchen setup. Linen takes dye beautifully and its natural texture gives a rich, lived-in result that I always find...

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