This day I love.......: inspiration

Next week sees the last half term holiday before the kids break up for Summer. It will be the last school holiday before my youngest daughter starts school full time in September. She is really looking forward to school starting and I think is already on countdown to the holiday to be over and school to start.

We usually go on holiday over this May Half term, but with the arrival of Little man are currently saving up for a holiday next year instead. We are however planning on taking a short break in the UK and are really looking forward to it. It will be our first time away as a family of 5, and an exciting adventure for Little man.

If you are planning a holiday in the UK, you might wish to draw some inspiration from two amazing projects I have been delighted to be a part of. The first is from Parkdean and is 101 little things. The 101 little things draws ideas of things to do with children across the UK. It is a fantastic list and full of inspiration. The second is a project from Hatchbag and is Best of British: 101 Ideas for Having Fun with the Kids. This is another fantastic collaboration which is sure to give you plenty of inspiration of keeping the children entertained during the holidays.

We do have quite a lot of activities planned next week, and all the girls after school clubs are still running even though it is half term. We are therefore going to be very busy and having a lot of fun. I want to practise our den building skills too, in preparation for #denday which returns this year on the 17th and 18th of June.

Last year the girls took part in den day for Save the children at school and their imaginations created some fantastic dens. We were on holiday and built our den in the garden of the villa. It was a lot of fun to do and really used our imagination to build one not at home. Whilst the event is a little later than last year, we are still planning on having a practise next week. Any excuse to build a den!

Do you have any plans for half term?

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As 2015 draws to a close I am reflecting on the interior design projects that have been completed, those that are still to be done this year and those that will be completed in the future. The arrival of Thing 3 in the early part of 2016 has of course altered the course of our interior design projects and plans but nevertheless we have still accomplished a fair bit.

My main aim this year was to design a luxurious feeling bedroom on a budget. I originally planned the room with walk in wardrobes but after several design consultations this had to be changed. It was decided that this would simply make the master bedroom too small, and now as I reflect on this decision I can honestly say it was the correct one to make.

Our master bedroom has been completed transformed and you can read about the transformation here. One of the biggest transformations in the room is the wardrobes, which I still look at and admire. Every time I walk in the bedroom I feel proud that it is my room. From the gorgeous super king size bed to the beautiful blind. I love every part of it, and cannot wait for the paint to arrive so I can finally complete the room.

The only part of the room I did not change was the lights. Whilst I put new bedside lights the main feature light stayed the same. It is part of the plan in 2016 to change the light to a new one and we are currently drawn to the Artemide collection. For now though the light will remain as is.

As Thing 3 will be making their appearance in the New Year one of the rooms originally not due for a transformation now needs to be converted to a nursery. The main aspect of the room to be changed is the flooring. Currently there is a very dark carpet in there which to be blunt is horrible. I really want to put some laminate down as it is much easier to keep clean with a baby. The paint has been chosen and all the furniture is ready to go in. All that is missing is soft furnishings and blinds. There is not enough wall space for curtains so it has to be a blind.

On the list for this year, although it may now be pushed into next, was to refresh my eldest daughters bedroom. Her room was one of the first to be decorated. The furniture is fine but the walls really need a new coat of paint. Her eczema is also triggered by dust and so one of the biggest changes I want to make in this room is the flooring. Again taking out the carpet and replacing with laminate which I hope will improve her skin. The final change in her room is the light. She still has the same lamp shade she had from a baby and she could really do with something more modern. I am currently looking through the collection on Lampcommerce to find one for her.

Next week sees perhaps one of the final interior design projects of 2015. The front room is finally going to be decorated after living here for three years. The paint and wallpaper have arrived and this weekend the plasterers are coming to fix the damaged ceiling. I am really looking forward to this transformation and finally making the front room ours. The long term plan here is to add a log burner. The previous occupier had one in but replaced it with an electric one to sell the house. The log burner is on the top of my wish list at the moment but it will probably 2017 before we save up for one.

The girls are very lucky that they have a playroom. When Thing 3 arrives I can see us spending a lot more time in here and I would like to brighten the walls up with some new paint and a feature wall. This is another plan for early 2016.

Before finding out we were expecting Thing 3 we had planned to do our en suite and main bathroom in 2016/2017. However we have had to put this plan on hold. This hasn't stopped me planning, designing and day dreaming about a new bathroom. I have many boards on Pinterest full of ideas and inspirations for a new bathroom and en suite, although many of them are secret at the minute.

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There’s nothing more satisfying than decorating your little one’s bedroom and then seeing their face at the end. Your child’s room should be a space that they love being in. A space where they can explore, play and learn. Decorating your kid’s bedroom is no easy feat, however, especially if you’re stuck for ideas. Here are some creative ideas, to start you off.

Murals

If you don’t have a lot of money to completely redo the bedroom, just stick to the walls instead. Creating a mural is a lot of fun and will transform the room in no time. You don’t have to be an artist in order to create something incredible. You can use stencils if you’re worried about what it might turn out like. You can also use wall stickers or wallpaper if you’re looking for an easier alternative. If you've got a bit more budget to use then there are companies who will make custom-made murals for you. Just pick something your child loves and transform their walls.

Themed Rooms

If you want to take that mural one step further, consider a themed bedroom instead. There are so many different things you can do with this idea - it would need a whole new blog post in itself! However, here are some of my favourites:

Pirate ship - Turn the bed into a ship and the rest of the room into the choppy waters. You can use wood and rope from reclamation yards, to keep the costs down.

Spaceship - Is your child more of a sci-fi lover? If so, a spaceship room could be their dream come true. You can use tin foil to wrap furniture and give it a space age look.

Princess castle - Pink walls, draped beds, and lots of glitter. These are the basic ingredients for the perfect princess castle.

Forest - You can create a mural of trees to get this idea started. Have stuffed animals hanging from the branches. You could even turn the bed into a tree house if you’re feeling adventurous!

The Furniture

The most important part of any child’s room is going to be the furniture. Seeing as that’s what is going to take up the most space! You could have plain walls and floors, yet create something amazing with the right accessories. There are some pretty amazing single beds for kids on this website that will get your creative juices flowing. Some of them may even tie in with the themed rooms above. A chest of drawers and/or a wardrobe is also a must-have. If there’s enough space, put in a little desk or reading corner. This will encourage your child to learn and read more. Which is never a bad thing.

Storage

Let’s face it, most of our children have a lot of toys. You’re going to want some clever storage solutions to keep them all out of the way. You can find plenty of little boxes and shelves that should match your new furniture or theme. Use Pinterest for inspiration, if you want to make your own storage.

Hopefully I have given you some food for thought. Even if you don’t have a lot of money to spend, you can make some pretty amazing changes in your child’s bedroom. Whether it’s a mini mural or a revamped themed room, your little one will be over the moon.

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Having just returned from Portugal I am feeling the need to travel again. I love discovering new places and learning new cultures. The girls equally seem to be bitten by the travelling bug and are already asking when can we go again.

I have been asking a few bloggers and friends to share with me their inspirations of places to visit next. One of my non-blogging friends wrote the following for me

Los Angeles

For me, Los Angeles is America’s greatest city. It has so much to offer travellers, no matter where their interests lie. The weather is always great so you can spend some time on the beach. It’s the homSorbet Pop Bowls - Set of 6, £39e of the film industry so you can visit Universal Studios and visit the iconic cinematic landmarks like the TCL Chinese cinema. And, of course, there’s the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

I had a great time visiting the Griffith Observatory. It’s one of America’s oldest and most iconic observatories, and it’s situated on the slopes of Mt. Hollywood providing amazing views of the city. Even this links back to Hollywood cinema though, as the observatory was the setting of Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without a Cause starring the one and only James Dean!

Barcelona

Barcelona is the heart of Catalonia on Spain’s coast. It is the home of European modernist art and architecture, so there are plenty of cultural activities to fill your time with. And because you’re by the sea, there’s lots of great seafood to sample. You can’t leave the city until you’ve tried some Catalan paella.

When we visited Barcelona we avoided the tourist traps that are dotted around the city and just explored it by ourselves and it was great fun. It has a reputation for being an expensive city, but if you avoid the expensive hotels and stay in an apartment from HouseTrip like we did, it can be cheap.

Milan

Milan is famous for a lot of things. From fashion to football, and art to architecture, Milan offers the best of them all. But let’s start with something that’s better than all those things, the food! You’ve got to try La Cassoeula while you’re in the city. It’s stew of meat and vegetable with a Milanes twist. Then there’s the great pasta and pizza to gorge on.

If you’re an art lover, Milan is the city for you. But the city’s, and possibly the world’s, most famous work of art isn’t found in a gallery, but on the wall of a refectory. It’s Leonardo Da Vinci, painted in the 1490s, and you have to book in advance if you want to see it. You should also visit the Duomo, the city’s Gothic cathedral is also its centrepiece.

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Tokyo

Tokyo is a city that is both traditional and strikingly new at the same time. It’s a bustling metropolis, and there’s always something for you to do. You can spend hours at a time and searching the back alleys, drinking in the small bars and sampling the local street food.

Strangely enough, one of the most famous landmarks in the city is a street crossing. You’ve probably seen the Shibuya Crossing before. It’s said to be the world’s busiest and widest street crossing in the world, and watching so many people pass over it is quite a sight to behold.

If you haven’t visited these cities before, they should be the next places you visit!

I would love to know your favourite cities or places I should visit next. Feel free to leave me a comment or if you would like to write a post email me thisdayilove@gmail.com

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