The Interior DIYer
Environmental Resolution

Secondhand baroque style mirror and console

Kijiji has fast become one of the most visited pages on my browser since moving to Canada [actually, since before we moved to Canada. I found our green chaise lounge and even our apartment on it]. More recently, one of the many things I’ve been looking for is a fancy mirror for our hallway. I came close to it a few weeks ago when I found a [proper] vintage ornate gold mirror with built-in candelabra’s, but at the last minute, the seller sold it to someone who had a car and could collect it themselves [welp]. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because just this week I found a baroque style mirror AND console table for half the price … 

Neither are antiques but TBH I don’t care too much about that stuff. Trust me when I say these photos don’t do either much justice. The mirror looks very plastic in the first picture, but it’s actually plaster and VERY heavy. The console table is solid but it isn’t marble; the seller was upfront about that and it’s not hugely obvious. And more importantly to me, it’s not something that bothers me. 

I was hesitant about hanging the console table here because of the heater in our hallway, but I mean, the heater is prettier than the storage heaters in our Dublin apartment so I’m not going to loose sleep over it. It’s a perfect spot for us to drop our keys, leave our laundry money and maybe a candle [because MOAR CANDLES]. I already have big plans for our little hallway and can’t wait to paint it [after the living room is finished being painted of course. I try to finish one project before starting another.]. 
Not bad for $75. 
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Felt ball bunting from Creative Tuesday

Shortly after Cora was born, a long time internet friend of mine Janine* of Made for Me Studio sent Cora the most adorable felt ball bunting all the way from New Zealand. It was made by Janine’s talented friend Lesley of Creative Tuesday, who makes a range of sweet decor for nurseries and children’s rooms. Sweet features from prints to mobiles to wall decals and of course, felt bunting … 

When we first got Janine’s sweet gift, I tried hanging the felt ball bunting in a few places across Cora’s bedroom, but as there’s only one wall to hang it on which is already quite full, it didn’t stand out as much as I would like. I took my time and thought about where else the bunting would look best. I then realised the best [and now most obvious] place was to hang it on the mahogany mirror in our hallway. It’s the centre of our apartment and so many times a day we hold Cora at the mirror and have fun giggling, making funny faces or waving to each other. Cora really loves the bunting and often grabs it, but it’s so long that we’re able to rescue it safely from her tiny grip fairly easily and with no damage done. 

What I love the most about our Cora’s new bunting is it’s decor that can be easily moved around our apartment and when we eventually move, it will be something we can hang anywhere. Plus, it brings some fun and whimsy to the rest of our apartment so all the cute isn’t just in Cora’s room.

Thank you again, Janine. It is the sweetest xx



*Janine and I have been internet friends since 2011. One of my earliest memories of Janine’s kindness was when I got two wisdom teeth pulled and  we shared messages as I recovered. Over the years we talked about so many things and across all the changes that happened in those 6 [!!!] years. Janine even offered for Robert and I to stay with her and her husband Mike [must not forget their fur baby Smooch] when we were thinking of going to New Zealand for our honeymoon [we unfortunately didn’t end up as flights that long scare me, but it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go]. 
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Not quite Home of the Year

In September of last year, an RTE researcher contacted me looking to have our apartment take part and be in the running for RTE’s Home of the Year for 2017. After much hyperventilating I pulled myself together, but I decided, however exciting it was to be asked, it wasn’t something we could do. At the very least, the show tours each home for roughly 10 minutes and as I later said to the representative, the camera man would pan our living room and filming would be done. It would take all of three and a half seconds to feature our apartment. Our apartment simply isn’t enough of anything. And TBH I didn’t know it I was up for scrubbing the entire apartment at 8 months pregnant, because there was no way I was going to allow a TV crew and judges into our home without scrubbing an inch off everything.

We had a lovely discussion, I thanked them many times and politely declined after explaining my concerns. As it turns out, we couldn’t have been featured in the end as we don’t own our apartment and that was one of the base guidelines in order to be featured.

It’s a slightly pointless blog post, but the truth is that I’m very proud of that offer and opportunity. Our home didn’t need to be on the show. Having been asked was more than enough for me. 
Happy Friday, homies x