Helping Aussies save on stylish home makeovers during a tough economic climate …

November 1, 2024 by Hayley Leave a Comment

by making the most of Black Friday sales!

With Black Friday around the corner, everyone is looking for a bargain to finish off their renovation or take advantage of the sales to give their home a makeover before Christmas. There are a few key things to consider before the sales arrive, and trust us when we say preparation is key!

Is it just a flashy offering, or a genuine bargain?

Many brands will be advertising sales all month long, so it’s a good idea to understand what their standard prices are before getting bamboozled with crazy discounts. Remember, some places that have higher discount offerings, might not always be the cheapest in the end. But they’ll certainly take advantage of people looking to impulse buy without thinking past the flashy offering, particularly during the madness that is Black Friday.

Where are the true cost savings?

Australian’s are savvy shoppers, and right now we’re all looking for ways to create a stylish home makeover during a tough economic climate. A home renovation isn’t something you want to rush or fail to put proper thought and research into. It’s your home after all, and you want your investment to actually stand the test of time.

When it comes to an element such as window furnishings, did you know that you can save money right off the bat by looking at DIY options? DIY doesn’t mean that you’re sacrificing on style or quality, in fact quite the opposite. When not needing to pay for a specialist trade to come out to measure or install, you save straight away.

You also want to make sure you’re looking at a good quality product that you won’t need to replace or send to landfill, and a brand that will stand by it. Tuiss Blinds Online for example, offer a free, 5-year extended warranty on all of their blinds, shutters and curtains. They also offer a SureSize Measuring Guarantee to give you peace of mind for a stress-free measuring experience, replacing the blind should any of the measurements be incorrect.

Look for brands that you can trust

An important step is to look for customer reviewed brands, not just the brand themselves telling you that they’re amazing on social media, but reviews from real life customers who have bought, installed, and experienced the product in their home. ProductReview.com.au is a great place to get this information. Tuiss Blinds Online has nearly 6,300 unbiased reviews, with 97% of those reviews being positive. They’re also a five-times Product Review award winner, backing the business for their excellent customer service, easy to install blinds and perhaps most importantly, great value for money.

Be clear on what you want to buy, before getting caught up in the sales

A good idea is to work out exactly what you need before the sales. In terms of window furnishings – are you looking for automation? Energy saving solutions to bring down your power bills? Exclusive designer brands without a hefty price tag? Or even no-drill blinds suitable for a rental property?

You might start by making a checklist of your needs in a particular room, and then work out which products match those needs. Consider all aspects of the functionality, as well as the aesthetics of how a product will make your room look and feel.

The next step is to finalise your fabric choices. This one requires some planning ahead to make the most of Flash Sales. Order your free fabric samples ahead of key sales periods, to give yourself time to choose your favourite and ensure it works with your interior colour palette. You want to be 100% happy with the colour and texture, rather than making a rushed decision during a sale and then regretting, or needing to replace the items because they just don’t work in your interior. Tuiss will let you order up to 10 free fabric samples at a time. Then you might bookmark your favourite product page so you can head straight there when the sales are on!

Get your measurements ready to go

With handy step-by-step guides on measuring, the Tuiss website will ensure that you have checked, and double checked your measurements so that your blinds and curtains will be spot on for your windows. If you’re still hesitant, don’t forget that they offer a SureSize Measuring Guarantee for peace of mind.

Having your measurements confirmed and ready to go means you won’t miss out on the quick Flash Sales or Bonus Offers if you can’t find your tape measure, or need someone to give you a hand. Preparation is key, remember?

So, we’ve worked out which products you need, selected your favourite fabric, confirmed all the measurements and even bookmarked the website. The next thing is to keep an eye on socials or the newsletters to see when these sales go live!

We’ve got something special for you though. Tuiss have shared their secret – they have sales running for the entire month of November! And as their regular prices are already lower than competitors, the sale prices are a proper bargain! There will be various time limited bonus offers throughout the month too, so get ready and make sure you don’t miss out!

Tuiss. Blinds online, made simple.

www.blindsonline.com.au

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blindsonline.com.au

Instagram: www.instagram.com/blindsonline

Lily Pad Love

March 7, 2024 by Hayley Leave a Comment

I discovered NooK last year when I was looking for an alternative to the never ending fort building from my budding architect son.

He would collect all the cushions and blankets from every room in our house and then stretch and pile them over chairs and tables. No matter how many times I put them all away, the fort would be built again by the end of the day.

In the quest for more order to the chaos I found a practical solution that met our requirements for fabulous forts, but also for other play based activities, extra seating and a spare bed for sleepovers. We got an Original NooK and it has been wonderfully adaptable, useful and fun, especially for movie marathons, gaming days and sleepovers.

Which brought me to the next NooK necessity in our home … The Lily Pad

Versatile Seating
Versatility is one of the most important factors I consider when purchasing large items for my home. I love hunting down pieces that are flexible, comfortable, durable and easy to maintain and if it happens to be extremely good looking, that’s even better!

The most obvious use of the Lily Pad is as an informal seating option. When you pop it on its side, the wide panels and soft crumbed foam make it perform like a bean bag chair, ideal for creating a laid-back atmosphere in living rooms, games rooms, play rooms or any communal space. It’s the perfect spot to curl up with a good book or play games with your friends.

A stylish ottoman
The Lily Pad also works well in a more formal environment and makes a great coffee table replacement! At 40cm high it is the perfect height to throw your legs up. Add a tray and you have a spot to rest your cup of tea or add some styling to your living space.

This allows for a more formal look and with NooK’s focus on quality construction you know it will look right at home in even the most beautiful living space. For households with young children, this is a safe living room solution without sharp corners or hard surfaces to bump little heads!

Crash Mat Play
Flatten it back out into it’s Lily Pad shape and it’s a giant crash mat, perfect for throwing your legs up, laying back and relaxing or my kids favourite … using it as a landing pad for their indoor gymnastics!

I love that we have a space where the kids can run and jump and have a safe and comfortable spot to land. And that it still looks like a beautiful piece of furniture in my home – playful and stylish at the same time! It definitely makes burning energy much easier, especially on rainy days when the cabin fever sets in!

Chill Out Spot
Due to their size, the Lily Pad is 110cm in diameter, they make a great resting spot for little ones. Especially furry little ones, all three of our fur babies are battling it out to secure prime position on top of the Lily Pad – and we all know they always choose the comfiest spot in the house!

If searching for a smaller solution, the Lily Pad Junior at 90cm diameter can be a great option for spare corners – especially in a bedroom space – adding a versatile seating, reading and rest opportunity. In our house, there is always a person or a pet on our Lily Pad!

Adding Texture and Softness
Lastly, and beyond its functional uses, it adds colour, texture and pattern to our space. I chose a fabric that is neutral enough to work in our living space and bedrooms, but this can also be a way to introduce pops of colour to your home! Protective covers can be purchased if you are concerned about spills or accidents so you can feel confident your investment is protected.

Or pop an Outdoor Lily Pad in your garden space to create a perfect spot in the sun or by the pool where the UV stabilised and chlorine resistant fabrics will last through years of rest and play!

Quality Fabrics and Long Lasting Foam!
Quality and ease of cleaning was so important to us in welcoming a Lily Pad Cushion. With only the best machine washable, spot cleanable fabrics from Warwick Fabrics we knew this was an investment in quality. These Oeko-Tex certified fabrics are hard wearing and commercial grade that still feel soft and and snugly.

Using only GECA certified Australian Made crumbed foam, we know the Lily Pad is safe for our home and our family. In buying Australian Made we know that NooK products are certified to Australian Standards for safety and fire rating which gives important peace of mind.

So much more than a Bean Bag!
The Lily Pad is a touch of coziness that any house can benefit from. It will adapt to your needs now and into the future. Whether your children are on the way or growing up, or you want a spot where you feel like you’re floating on a cloud and escaping the everyday grind … then the Lily Pad is for you!

Swinging into Summer

November 5, 2022 by Hayley Leave a Comment

Is there anything more relaxing than lounging on an outdoor hanging bed swing in your own backyard?
When I found Cartia Collective all my dreams came true. I have wanted one of these beautiful swings for years, I have been begging my husband to make me one because I didn’t know where to buy one, until I found Cartia Collective.

Cartia Collective is an Australian business located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. It was born from a family project of building a swing for the kids, and has turned into a family business with happy customers Australia wide.

They have an expansive range of designs to choose from, or they can make your design come to life with their custom hanging chair builds. There is something for everyone.

I chose the Stravage Day Bed. This day bed has a truly unique design, you can flip the back over to face either direction. Perfect for someone like me that can’t decide which way I want to face. I can have it facing out to the pool and waterfront to take in the sunrise and watch the kids play, or I can flip it over to face our games room and enjoy a drink and chat to everyone inside.

Since I shared some snippets of our swing on my social media I’ve realised I’m not the only one who has held onto childhood dreams of backyard swings. I did repeatedly get two questions though, that’s why I’m here, to help you!

1. Where did you get it?

That’s easy … Cartia Collective.

2. How did you hang it?

Okay, the hanging chair installation is slightly more involved. There is a great guide here, but I am going to share our experience and how we hung ours.

Firstly, you need to work out whether your ceiling / roof is suitable to take the weight of the swing. There is a ‘roof suitability checklist’ on the website that will answer this question for you.
We have concrete construction, so I will share how we hung ours with a concrete ceiling.

Before we got any tools out, we marked out where the anchor points would go in the ceiling and checked our clearance around the swing, make sure there is room for it to move.

There are a few options you have to install your swing with a concrete ceiling, we used a Ramset DynaSet Drop-in Anchor. This expansion anchor requires a specific setting tool to ensure the anchor expands to its full extent. You will need to drill a hole into the concrete to a specific depth, remove all dust or debris from the hole, then using a hammer and your setting tool, drive the anchor all the way in the hole until it sits flush with the opening.

We also used a RUD Starpoint eye bolt. It threads straight into the DynaSet anchor. It has a ring that allows you to attach your split link and chain for hanging. The split link and chain was supplied by Cartia Collective.

Thread the chain through your rope to form a loop and hang it from your split link. Once the rope is hanging loosely, feed it through your chairs hanging point. You’ll need to temporarily support your chair to allow yourself time to tie the ropes. We placed 2 step stools under ours. Tie your ropes into a suitable knot, we used a basic knot and then looped the excess rope around the chair. You can get really creative here and tie all sorts of fancy knots, I might have to google something fancier!

This is not hard, but it does require a few tools and some basic tradie knowledge. If you don’t think you can do it yourself you can contact your local handyman or builder to install it for you. It is completely worth the effort to get it done right so you can enjoy your swing for many, many years. I hope to see my grandkids (no, I don’t have any yet) swinging on my day bed one day.

Our swing has completely transformed our outdoor space. I have tried a few different things in this area, everything from a table and chairs, to a sofa set, and nothing felt right. This area is visible from multiple spaces in our house and I really wanted it to reflect the style and aesthetic that we have worked so hard to achieve inside. Our swinging day bed couldn’t be any more perfect, the only problem is I’m finding it hard to get anything else done, it such a relaxing spot to sit and contemplate life.

If you need your own Australian hanging daybed or hanging chair this summer, get in touch with Cartia Collective, I’m sure they’ll help you find the perfect swing for your area.
Thanks Cartia Collective, We love it so much!

Hayley x

Our daybed was gifted to us by Cartia Collective. I chose the design. All opinions are my own. I would never install something in my own home that I don’t love. And I would not work with a business that I didn’t trust. I know most of you know this, but I just like to clarify for transparency.

Christmas at the Little’s 2021

December 9, 2021 by Hayley 3 Comments

This year has been crazy, and just like the rest of the world we decided to take the opportunity to do some more renovations on our house while we’ve been spending so much time at home. Having half the house under construction really hindered my Christmas decorating efforts. So, I focused on the one and only clean space in my home right now, our living room, which also happens to be my favourite room to decorate.

I can’t wait to share it with you as part of the #itsacolorfullifetour hosted by one of the most stylish gals around – Jennifer from Dimples and Tangles

IT’S A COLORFUL LIFE 2021 CHRISTMAS TOUR SCHEDULE

MONDAY:

Dimples and Tangles || Haneen’s Haven || Casa Watkins Living || Kate Decorates || Speaking of DIY || Joyful Designs Studio

TUESDAY:

Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss || Maggie Overby Studios || Pender & Peony || Serene & Co. || Zig & Company || SKG Designs

WEDNESDAY:

Home With a Twist || Southern Hospitality || The Pink Clutch || Diana Rose Spier || Carla Bethany || Blue Agate Abode

THURSDAY:

Our Fifth House || Southern State of Mind || Kaleidoscope Living || tatertots and jello || Mum Little Loves || Southern Nell’s Gracious Living

FRIDAY:

Join in the party on Instagram by posting your colorful Christmas decor and using #ItsAColorfulLifeTour!

See you there!

If you’ve found your way here from Jennifer Tatertots & Jello – WELCOME!

This year I decided to take my inspiration from the colour that keeps popping up everywhere in my house … green, I just can’t get enough of it lately. I didn’t stick to a super strict colour palette like I usually do, I bought the green baubles this year and then added baubles from past years in shades of brown, white and lots of metallics.

This was the first year I’ve had a flocked tree, I’ve wanted one for ages and now we are finally in our forever home I thought it was time to add one to the collection. I am completely obsessed with it, it has over 6000 lights and it absolutely glows!

Having a mantle is so fun to decorate, but if you don’t have one you can create the same vibe on a cabinet, sideboard, hall table or even on your bedhead, just get creative.

I had intended to keep the mantle very pulled back and neutral with just some garland and baubles, then I stumbled across these super cute stockings in the perfect shades of green and the prelit trees that look like they were made to go in my fireplace opening and it all just went downhill from there, Christmas exploded on my mantle.

The little houses are one of my favourite finds this year, they hold tealight candles and look very sweet with the candle light shining out their little windows.

Speaking of houses, this pale pink one makes a pretty centrepiece for some sparkly trees on my cabinet next to the fireplace.

I really love our Christmas decor this year, I think I say that every year, and I’m sure I’ll say it again next year, but for now let’s just enjoy one year at a time!

Pop over and say Hello to Lori at Southern Nell’s Gracious Living next and don’t forget to have a peek at all the beautiful homes on our #itsacolorfullife Christmas tour.

I hope you all have the most amazing Christmas!
I hope you are able to see your loved ones and squeeze them tight!

Merry Christmas from me to you, Hx