I hope you enjoyed my reveal of my newly improved dressing room! As I said in that post, one of my favourite additions to the room is the larger and prettier vanity. My previous skirted vanity was very small (only the width of the shelving units) and wasn’t practical any more – I needed something I could spread out on whilst doing my face in the morning!

If you’d like to make one yourself, here’s how we created mine. (Or you can pin the image below for future reference!)
 

 

I started off with this incredibly detailed drawing that would make most engineers blissful in it’s accuracy. It’s like AutoCad – you can practically reach out and TOUCH it, can’t you?!
 
 
 

 

 
I know, I know. The pretty paper is just a bonus. Ahem.

Anyway, we started off with the same leftover doors that I used for the top of the chest of drawers, cut to the correct width. We then drew two quarter circles on each side using my large round photography reflector as a guide (any really large circular object will work fine), making sure they met at what would be the top of the vanity to create the curved shape.
 

 
Wayne then took his router and cut it to shape…

…and then used a belt sander to smooth out any uneven edges.

It was the turn of my newly most favourite stuff in the world. The marble patterned sticky back plastic. We essentially used the same method as the top for the chest of drawers with one change.

That rounded edge is a little more challenging to get a nice tight fit so we used a hair dryer to warm up the plastic making it more pliable. This allows it to be stretched around a curved edge and gives a much smoother finish. (This was my idea and I’m rather proud of that because it’s usually Wayne who comes up with the genius ideas so I thought I’d blow my own horn..errr hair dryer with that one.)

The top was then just affixed to the original brackets (like these ones) that held the old vanity top. You can see the reason why that skirt is necessary – it hides all manner of cords and appliances. Oh and for the fire-safety conscious, no, that extension lead is no longer hung on the radiator, it was off at the time. 

The next step was the full pleated skirt. I purchased 2.5 meters of a lovely shimmery golden-brown fabric that looked a bit like pulled silk for £8/metre from Terry’s Fabrics which is about 2 minutes from my home (convenient). It looks like a plain brown fabric in the photographs but you can really see how it shimmers in this picture taken right in front of a window where it really catches the light.

I ironed the fabric and then measured the distance between the bottom of the vanity and the floor for my height and then added on 4cm (1cm to fold under the cut edge, then another fold of 2cm for the bottom hem and 1cm allowed at the top where it would be stapled to the underside of the vanity table) to get the finished height. This left with me a 2.5 metre long piece of fabric just slightly taller than the height of my vanity.

Once cut for the height, I folded it in half length-wise and cut it to get two panels of equal length (so 1.25 metres long for each panel). I simply hemmed each panel on the 3 cut sides (I left the top unhemmed as this is where it would be stapled). The reason there are two panels is so that you have an opening in the middle to access whatever you are hiding underneath the skirt. I’ve overlapped them in the middle so that the gap isn’t visible unless you open it (seen below, apologies for the dodgy grainy photo).

I then climbed underneath the table and staped like so… this looks horribly confusing but I’m going to explain it.

On each panel, you want to staple one end to where your skirt begins and one end to where the skirt ends (being sure to overlap the ends of the two panels in the middle). You then want to find the middle of each panel and staple that directly between your two end staples.

Each panel is much longer than the width of your table so in order to get that full pleated look, you need to continue doing this – I call it dividing and conquering.

You find the middle of the fabric between the staples and staple it directly between the two staples either side. The loose fabric will very quickly start to pucker and you just continue stapling, halving your excess fabric and stapling into the centre of your previous staples until the gaps between where you’ve stapled the fabric become so small you can’t see them any more.

You don’t need to be perfect with this – I very much eye-balled it and it came out fine. Witness my rather haphazard stapling style underneath…(in my defence, it was dark under there – this photo is with flash).

It sounds complicated but it couldn’t be easier. I had a full skirt in less than an hour.

The length of the skirted part is around 1.2 metres and so I used 2.5 metres of fabric to get this fullness (so around double the length). If you want an even fuller skirt, you can go up to 3 times as long as the length you are ‘skirting’ (yep, totally a word in this context). If you want something less full, then obviously go to 1.5 times the length and so on.

I really love my new little vanity but really this is something you can fit in the corner in a bedroom too if you had a little bit of space – the footprint is quite small but you get quite a lot of space on top and room underneath for storage. And it was actually quite inexpensive (It cost just £34 in all and that gave me enough fabric for the pelmet too). I’m considering adding some hooks underneath for all the paraphernalia that hides below!

Is this a DIY you might try?

Don’t miss a thing!

Oh and don’t forget, there’s still time to vote for my little splodge on the interwebs in Amara’s Interior Blog Awards 2014 in the DIY category! Thank you to everyone who’s already voted, it truly does mean so much to me!


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Swoon Worthy
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Meet Kimberly
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Amara IBA19 Winner Home Styling
Vuelio Top 10 2020
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Ad (Press Sample) There are few kitchen products that are considered absolute classics but there is one that I have lusted after for YEARS and that is the utterly iconic @lecreusetuk large casserole pot. 🤩

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So, imagine my delight when Le Creuset got in touch to ask if I'd like to shoot their brand new colourway 🍑 Pêche 🍑 in my kitchen. I mean, there couldn't be a more perfect colour match with that juicy coral shade which if you've followed my account for any length of time, you'll know is one of my all-time favourites (not to mention that beautiful soft gold knob! 😍). The matching petite casserole dish and mugs are the perfect companions but you could easily mix and match this colourway with Le Creuset's other designs (Might I suggest the Sea Salt, a soft blue-green which would be gorgeous with Pêche). This new juicy summer shade is currently available exclusively at Le Creuset Official. I'd love to know which colourway is your favourite in the range?

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My little neglected makeup/dressing room has had a glow up 🥰

#swoonworthy #beforeandafter #dressingroom #makeupvanity #closetgoals
My new rug can't compete with that belly.

Rug is from @laredoute_uk (not an ad) not that anyone cares 😅

#kitchendesign
I've really loved making these pretty reusable Christmas crackers! I'm still in the process of finding cute bits for filling them but they'll definitely be a centrepiece for my table this year!🎄💕

Suggestions for what to fill them with coming soon!

(By the way, I'm not a skilled seamstress so I'm sure my techniques can be improved but just sharing what worked for me 🤗😅)

Let me know if this is something you'd try? ❤️

#swoonworthy #christmasdecor #christmascraft #diychristmas #diycrafts #easysewingproject
On 22 October 2022, I married my best friend! I can't believe it's been a whole year (and one day) I've been calling @2nilup my husband 🥰 We've been together for 15 years now and I simply can't and wouldn't want to imagine my life without him ❤️ 

#youandmeagainsttheworld #2222 

Photography: @violajayphotography 
Flowers: @primroseavenuefloral 
Dress: @camillawithlove
DIY REFILLABLE CHRISTMAS CRACKERS 🎄🎉

I've been thinking about making refillable crackers for so many years now - I just hate the waste the disposal ones create! So I'm so excited I've finally gotten around to starting this project!

I will be sharing more details on how to make them as well as ideas for what to fill them with too so stay tuned for more but in the meantime, what do you think? 

#swoonworthy #diychristmas #christmasdecor #christmascraft #easysewingproject #sustainableliving #ecofriendlyliving
Just wanted to introduce my latest plant baby in my dining room 🪴

It's from @botanique_shrewsbury and it's a Peparomia (I am probably pronouncing it wrong, I keep wanting to say
GUEST BEDROOM REVEAL 🌟

I decided on a whim, 2 weeks before we were expecting visiting family, that our guest bedroom was in desperate need of a refresh.

Well there's nothing like an impending deadline to light a 🔥 under my 🍑 and I managed to clear out the clutter, repaint the woodwork, ceilings and walls and hang wallpaper as well as restyle the room in one week 😅 (Meisha was zero help 😼)

I'm calling it Boho Vintage Victorian Grandma 😆

This wasn't sponsored in any way but the wallpaper and bedding is from @lauraashleyuk and the paint is @earthbornpaints Peach Baby - everything else I already had!

What do you think of the new look? ❤️

#bedroombeforeandafter #guestroom
#bedroommakeover
#beforeandafter
#bedroomdecor #cottagecore #vintagestyle #victorianhouse #ihavethisthingwithpink #bengalsofinstagram
🔥JOIN US ROUND THE FIRE PIT! 🔥

ad | One of my favorite things to do in summer is sit around the fire pit in the evenings with a cold beer 🍻 There's just something incredibly relaxing watching those flames and embers crackle, warming yourself up and taking the edge off falling temperatures as the sun sets!

Thanks to @homefireuk they've made the whole process incredibly easy and enjoyable with their Handy Firepit Bundle which include 2 bags of kindling, 2 bags of natural firestarters and 3 large bags of kiln-dried logs 🪵 for a really great price! 

No more standing around waiting for things to light properly or billowing smoke from wet wood, everything burns beautifully! ☺️ We literally sat around this for hours as the logs last so long, long after the sun set, just chatting and enjoying ourselves! 🥰🍻🔥

Do you love a good firepit in the summer?

#homefire #readytoburn #smokelessbyhomefire #heartofyourhome #logsbyhomefire #summerideas #firepit #gardenideas
San Sebastian photo dump - just a tiny selection 😄

We have had such a fabulous holiday to Basque Country - our first 4 days spent in the beautiful city of San Sebastian, land of pintxos, stunning architecture and some damn good wine.

#sansebastian #travelgram #photodump
A little kitchen reshuffle today so I thought I'd share 🥰

It's been 4 years since we created this space and it's still one of my favourites ♥️

#kitchendesign #kitchendecor #kitcheninspiration #kitchenideas #openshelvingkitchen #kitchenstyling
Ad 🩷 Before and after Deck makeover! 🩷

This little decked patio was looking worse for wear after a wet winter but @frenchicpaint came to the rescue with their beautiful Dusty Blush Alfresco Paint, perfect for all your outdoor projects!

The deck has been a few colours over the past few years but this is definitely the most fun and gives the whole space such a tropical vibe - even in Shrewsbury! 🏝️ 🦩🍹😄

The paint has incredible coverage and was so nice to use - I loved the tools they provided too, especially the oval brush which got into all the nooks and crannies easily!

Let me know what you think of the new colour! 

#frenchicpaint #beforeandafter #deckmakeover #gardeninspiration #gardeninspo #outdoorproject
So on a whim I decided to paint the bedroom pink yesterday 😅🩷

This room has been neglected for so long as I've wanted to fully redecorate for about 3 years now but there are always other bigger priorities or a lack of time/energy/money so I keep putting it off 🙃🙃🙃 (tell me I'm not the only one) but happily this didn't cost a penny as I used what I already had although it did take me the best part of a day!

I went through my paint stash and found that I had extra @coatpaints Percy from when I did the living room early last year -- well I'm not one to let something this good go to waste (honestly this paint is absolutely wonderful to work with and has amazing coverage) and my goodness it's just so pretty in here 🥰 I also moved my pink curtains from my office into here and the whole room just glows!

I might actually be able to live with the mural a little longer until the room gets the attention it deserves! Let me know if you like the change ♥️

*For those who are wondering, it used to be white walls and I had grey curtains! 😅

#swoonworthy #bedroomdecor #bedroommakeover #bedroomdesign #pinkpinkpink #pinkinteriors
A little photo dump from my recent living room shoot because I still love to dig into the details of a still photo 😄💕

#swoonworthy #swoonworthyscents #livingroominspo #livingroomdesign #photodump
ad How to De-stress at Home in 6 Simple Steps 😊

April has been #stressawarenessmonth and so I've teamed up with the wonderful @frenchbedroom to share a few simple tips in creating a cosy sanctuary at home!

One of my favourite ways to add a feeling of comfort and relaxation is with glorious touchable textures and the stunning Mulberry Silk ruffled cushion from French Bedroom not only looks spectacular but feels incredible too! Pairing this with other feel-good fabrics will add depth to your design and will beg you to sink in and unwind 😍

French Bedroom are also now stocking my own home fragrance brand @swoonworthyscents candles, adding another element of calm with scent to your home. I chose No 02 Sunday Morning for my living room with rejuvenating Jasmine and refreshing pine and lemon notes 🥰

Check out my latest blog post for more tips on creating a relaxing sanctuary in your home via the link in my bio!

#swoonworthy #swoonworthyscents #frenchbedroom #livingroominspo #livingroomdesign #calming #aesthetic #cottagecoreaesthetic
Who needs pancakes when you can have Lemon Drizzle Cake with Lemoncello glaze?! 😉🍋

I've had such a craving for this cake for a while so figured I'd make it today! This is a recipe from @bbcgoodfood and it's rather gorgeous 🥰

#baking #lemondrizzle #lemoncake #bakewithlove #shrovetuesday
Are you lucky enough to be owned by a cat? 🐈🐾

#bengallove #bengalsofinstagram #bengalcat #bengal #catsofinstagram #catlife
Finally managed to get the gallery wall completed in our hallway!

I couldn't have been happier with @violajayphotography capturing our little intimate wedding in October and knew as soon as I saw the photos I had to print them for our home! I admit, I've never been one to hang photos but it's probably because all we ever had after 14 years together was selfies 😂🤷🏽‍♀️ I'm so pleased we finally have some lovely shots of us together 🥰

Do you have photos of you/your partner/your family up around your home?? 🤔

#gallerywall #autumnwedding #hallwaydesign #hallwayinspo
✨These little vintage copper pans needed some TLC! ✨

After searching for a while for vintage copper pans, I found these on eBay - they looked quite grim on the ad but I knew they could be shined up nicely! A little @barkeepersfriend later (not an ad!) and I'm loving how they look in my kitchen 🥰

Let me know if you like the new addition ❤️

#kitcheninspo #kitchendesign #vintagestyle #kitchenstyling
Oh hey living room, nice to have you back ☺️

I always feel very ready to remove the excess of Christmas decor pretty much as soon as the 26th arrives but I've been later than usual this Twixmas as we've both been unwell the last couple weeks 🤦🏽‍♀️ Nevertheless, I've managed to get things packed away and I styled this little faux arrangement today for my coffee table so ya know, small victories 😄🙌🏽

#livingroom #livingroominspo #fauxflowers #coffeetabledecor