I have wanted to get rid of my bedside tables for FOR EVER now.  I talked about it nearly a year ago and discussed what I was looking for.

Here’s the criteria that my bedside tables needed to meet aside from me wanting to love the look of them:

  1. They must be within reasonable distance to me so I can pick them up myself, avoiding courier costs.
  2. They must be within my budget.  Budget as usual is pretty tiny.
  3. I would prefer them to be a matching pair.*
  4. They must contain only drawers and no shelves.  The reason for this is because I hate styling that bottom shelf because I never know what to do with it and we could use the additional storage.
  5. They must be wider, slightly higher and slightly deeper than what I currently have.  Do you know how difficult it is to style a bedside table when you only have enough room for a lamp, let alone anything else? 

*I was open to purchasing two different styles for each side and that was always a possibility if I came across two individual pieces that I loved enough (meeting the above criteria) and worked well enough together to not care that they didn’t match.

Had that criteria changed over the last 9 months?  No.  Have I been searching eBay endlessly for well over a year now looking for those magical two nightstands that would leap into my heart, mind and bedroom?  Yes.  Has my search through literally THOUSANDS of bedside tables resulted in anything that even remotely met that criteria?  No.

Frustration peoples.  Serious frustration.  I have looked at nearly everything that could be a nightstand too – bedside tables, bedside cabinets, side tables, small tables, small chests of drawers, African drums, old sewing tables, tree stumps, vintage, modern, mid century, Victorian, Edwardian, retro – you name it, I’ve considered it.  You can’t say I haven’t tried because by god, I’ve tried.  But it just wasn’t to be.

What it came down to is this.  I’m so sick of my existing nightstands and there was always one option that I knew would work.   It felt like cheating though because I really wanted something fabulous and vintage.  But those elusive fabulous and vintage bedside tables were not to be found after a year and a half of endless searching and these – well, here’s how these stacked up:

 1.  They must be within reasonable distance to me so I can pick them up myself, avoiding courier costs.  There is an IKEA store 15 minutes away from me.  Check.
2.  They must be within my budget.  Budget as usual is pretty tiny.  £20 each.  Check.
3.  I would prefer them to be a matching pair.  Easily done as they manufacture them by the thousands.  Check.
4.  They must contain only drawers and no shelves.   3 Drawers so plenty of storage.  Check.
5.  They must be wider, slightly higher and slightly deeper than what I currently have.  Check. Check. Check.

All signs pointed to IKEA.

And so, on a Bank Holiday weekend, I decided that Operation: RAST would begin.  I would go into IKEA, fighting off the crowds on a Sunday afternoon and I would emerge with my 2 RAST dressers, victorious.  Oh yes, I would.

I am pleased to say that I lived to tell of my ordeal.

Oh dear god, the SCALE of these is so much better.  So So So much better.  I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am with the size of these things and the difference it makes – even completely unfinished.

Here’s something I need to say right here, right now before you think it (cuz I know you already have).

Those lamps look like something Liberace would like.  I know.  I know this.  I just don’t have another set of lampshades and I didn’t get the chance to get to the shops this weekend to find another set that would work.

In fact, I knew they wouldn’t work.  But I wanted to demonstrate something.  That the scale of everything in this space is WORKING.  FINALLY WORKING.

The chests of drawers work perfectly against the scale of the bed.  They are a little bit higher than the bed itself which is fine as they aren’t uncomfortably high and work with the height of the headboard.  The width finally takes advantage of the width of the wall in it’s entirety.  The lamps are not so large as to overpower everything else on the tables but large enough to make a bit of a statement.  The bedside tables look a bit symmetrical but the small differences in the contents on the dressers keep things fairly interesting.  Success.

Here’s the story about the lamps.  I love my golden clear lamps – I really do.  But against the black wall, they were getting lost.  I needed something with a bit more PRESENCE.  So when I saw these puppies on eBay for a mere £8 for the pair that were less than 10 miles away, I decided to jump.  Well, not so much jump as bid, win and drive over to pick them up.

The original eBay listing.  Mismatched bulbs included.

They weren’t horrible but they weren’t working for me in their current colour.  But I liked their shape.  And so I took some gold spray paint to these babies in today’s sunshine.

So yes, the lamp shades are getting changed out.  But I do love my new lamp bases.

And I love the fact that I have bedside tables I can actually STYLE now.  What’s there now is entirely subject to change but of course, I had to have a play as soon as they were built – I’m impatient, what can I say.

The finishing of the bedside tables is of course, inevitable now so stay tuned for how they come out.  More to come on this one!

What do you think of my ‘in progress’ bedside tables?  Have you ever given up on a vintage dream and purchased new?  Want to have a guess with how I’m going to finish the chests of drawers?  I’d love to hear your thoughts ;)


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Unboxing my new card deck Daily Dose of Magic by my gorgeous bestie Victoria Jackson of @themanifestationcollective ! ✨

This is not an ad, I am just so in love with them, I wanted to share for my spiritual witchy friends out there 🥰

@thoughtcatalog

#witchvibes #spiritualjourney #carddecks #magicmoments✨
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. 🤩

For nearly a century, Le Creuset has been trusted for its superior performance, lasting quality and iconic design and the enamelled cast iron allows incredible versatility - not only can you use it with just about any heat source (from induction, glass, electric etc), you can also do everything from stir-fry to slow cooking to baking a cake in it and more. 

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?

#lecreuset #kitchendesign #kitchenstyling #kitchinspo #victorianhome #englishhome
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