I can hear you already: “Your next project?! You’re not even done with the kitchen yet! What the hell, Kimberly?!”

Here’s the thing you should probably know about me if you don’t already: I am always in plan mode. Even if we are in the midst of a project, in my head, I’m 8 steps ahead and already thinking about the next one. While we were working on dining room over the Spring, my mind was on the kitchen remodel. In the planning stages of the kitchen, we started work on the back deck and pergola. And now that the kitchen is underway, my mind has shifted to what will follow. As you’ve probably guessed by the title of this post, it’s “the man cave”, aka the cellar.

The man cave with star wars inspired prints

I don’t really talk much about our cellar. It’s always sort of been ‘Wayne’s domain’ and so he tinkers around down there, changing things and adding things and then I stress how big our next project is and he stops tinkering down there, leaves stuff a bit unfinished and gets on with whatever is happening in the main part of the house. To be fair, it’s always been a little neglected and never properly finished.

The man cave with large black gaming chair

The last I talked about it, I’d gone away to visit friends in Dublin and he took the opportunity to rip down the dividing wall along the stairs to open up the space. Which, okay, that’s fine (it’s his space, right?*) but then he just left it like that. Hmm.

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*Okay truth be told, I was all WTF?! ARE YOU INSANE? to start with and then I realised what was done was done and yeah, it did bring a bit more of an open feel into the room so eventually, I came around to his side of thinking. Aside from the fact it still pretty much looks like that.

To be fair, I’ve kept him pretty busy in the meantime so it’s been ignored while we got on with higher-priority projects. Once the kitchen is complete, however, I’m bumping up this tiny room to the top of the priority list.

The man cave with star wars inspired prints

Now, when we first remodelled the cellar, going on nearly 4 years ago, I basically let him decorate it however he wanted to (MISTAKE #1). He didn’t really want too much input from me although I did encourage him to get a stylish futon so that we could use it as an extra bed for guests and he did pick out a set of three very cool limited edition Star Wars inspired prints. Since then he’s added a couple of extra prints but otherwise, the ‘design’ (I use that word very loosely) hasn’t changed much. I mean, even the cushions haven’t changed. I’ll admit, I don’t really spend much time down there because, well, it’s kind of ugly. (Sorry babe, I still love you.)

What it lacks in design, however, he’s made up for in terms of usability of the space. He added a radiator down there last year (under the window above) which significantly changed the feeling of the room in the sense that the humidity levels are controlled, it’s warm and comfortable and feels much like the rest of the house. It doesn’t feel cold or damp like a cellar at all. There’s a great big television down there which is perfect for watching films with big cinema sound. We’ve got a smaller room off this one which houses all our tools and things but he added a door last year to keep all of that out of site. The guy is good at DIY, don’t get me wrong here. He’s just not that good at design.

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But here’s the best news. He’s basically said he wants me to design the space. He’s pretty much giving me free reign (within reason) and he’s agreed on a few things that surprised me. After all these years, it seems he finally trusts my vision which is basically a huge compliment.

In my head, it was like all…

114990-annie-edison-dancing-gif-Imgur-vGYq

(Side note: What do you mean you haven’t watched Community?! First season starts slow but stick with it – it finds its feet quite quickly and it’s the weirdest, funniest show. Ken Jeong is hilarious. It’s on Netflix, get cracking.)

So, over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been putting together a design plan for the space. It’s not 100% there yet but I’ll be sharing it all with you soon. I wanted the space to be a bit more masculine, to make it feel cosy and like a snug little space (because that is in fact what it is – a little hideaway area in the house that you wouldn’t necessarily even know was there).

He painted the walls white because he thought it would make the room look lighter (MISTAKE #2) – which, of course, it never did. It just ended up looking a bit grungy and bland. So as a first step, we talked about what we wanted the room to *feel* like and I directed him here:

Remember my flowchart on whether or not to paint a room dark? This is how I convinced him the space needed to go dark.

Should I paint my room dark flowchart cellar

Yeah, this is a small room that’s got low light levels, low ceilings, used mostly in the evenings. We wanted the space to feel intimate and cosy and comfortable for watching films. So going dark was going to be the best way to get that intimate feeling in here.

And this is the colour that I’ve got my eye on…

Anastasia Benko's bedroom in Farrow & Ball Tanner's Brown

Anastasia Benko’s bedroom in Farrow & Ball Tanner’s Brown

It’s Tanner’s Brown from Farrow and Ball and it’s a delicious shade of brown with very strong red undertones.

Farrow and Ball Tanner's Brown

BROWN. I KNOW. What has happened to me? But this isn’t any old brown as you can see. It has richly hued undertones that change from red to purple to black depending upon the light. I still need to test it out on the walls but I’m desperately hoping it works. I’ll also be testing Brinjal (more burgundy) and possibly Pelt (more eggplant/aubergine) as well as Salon Drab (more grey/brown) as alternatives. You have no idea how relieved I was when Wayne said he really liked it. Whew.

Here’s another shot of that colour:

Phillip Goravan via House Beautiful

Phillip Goravan via House Beautiful

Gahhh I just love it!! *fans self* Oh and when I say it’s ALL going dark, I mean it – ceilings included.

Okay, moving on. The map mural is going as well, despite Wayne’s initial protestations. (He hates hanging wallpaper but thankfully, I quite enjoy it so he agreed once I said I would do the work! Ha!). The design was way larger than what we first thought and you can’t really see much of the map at all (MISTAKE #3) considering the whole of Europe is covered by the TV and well, it’s a rather insipid shade of beige which won’t really work with what I had in mind.

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I decided to start looking for a wallpaper that had a bit of movement without being overwhelming. It needed to have a good mix of warm and cool colours along with a bit of grey to pull in the sofa and the existing artwork. At the moment, I have my eye on 17 Pattern’s Cloudbursting in Peach (you can see some of my other favourites from them in my recent post). It’s so dark and broody, exactly the kind of thing I want down here.

17 Patterns Cloudbursting in Peach

Aside from the colour theme, I also thought about how to make the room feel a bit more intimate and snug. I’m leaning towards a few boho/woven style items which should soften the scheme and bring in a lot of texture for a decidedly cosy narrative. Wayne also wanted some areas for display for his collections (currently in boxes all over the place) so we decided we’ll need a small cabinet to go under the TV as well as a shelving unit.

la redoute woven chair

The chair I’m considering for the space.

The current black leather chair has been listed on eBay (£50 buy it now if anyone local is interested) because it takes up too much space and I wanted to find one with a smaller footprint. The one above could fit in perfectly. The copper side table will also be going (It’s lovely but doesn’t really work with the new design so I’ll probably list that on eBay too) and some of the other bits and pieces down there. We already chucked out the rug because it was so knackered.

There is still a lot to finish off before we get started on the fun part (the decorating!) – bits and pieces that just never got done or finished off, the stairwell wall repaired, the doors replaced, wires and pipes to be hidden, plastering, etc etc. So once the kitchen is done, we’ll be looking to start this project in the Autumn.

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I’ll be revealing the whole design plan with you soon but I wanted to share how I go about starting off the process. I consider how I want the room to feel once it’s finished, then I consider the lighting and size of the room and then I consider the requirements – what will happen in the space? How will it be used? What kind of storage requirements are needed? I do this for every room I design. The end result could look great but if it doesn’t meet your needs, what is the point, right??

I know the kitchen is still in progress but I just couldn’t wait to share a bit about this upcoming project with you. I’m kind of excited to be working on a design that’s going to be decidedly more masculine than my normal style but I’m always up for a challenge and hopefully, we’ll end up with a space that we both enjoy.

So are you as excited as I am about our next project? Are you also a plan-way-way-ahead type person? Ever let your other half design a room? ;) Go on, the comment box awaits.

 


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Swoon Worthy
The man cave with star wars inspired prints
The man cave with large black gaming chair
IMG_2771
The man cave with star wars inspired prints
IMG_2776
114990-annie-edison-dancing-gif-Imgur-vGYq
Should I paint my room dark flowchart cellar
Anastasia Benko's bedroom in Farrow & Ball Tanner's Brown
Farrow and Ball Tanner's Brown
Phillip Goravan via House Beautiful
IMG_2789
17 Patterns Cloudbursting in Peach
la redoute woven chair
IMG_7188
Meet Kimberly
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Amara IBA19 Winner Home Styling
Vuelio Top 10 2020
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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! 🔥

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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