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Lounge | Before & After, and finding the perfect standing lamp

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That beautiful capture of the pooch Frankie Blossom and I was snapped by the ever incredible photographer and gal pal Heather Liddell. All other photos by Blackbird.

Artwork by Blackbird | Couch from Big Save | Tassel Cushion by Blackbird, | Tweed Cushion from Jamie Kay | Cream cushion old Country Road | Sheepskin from Lapco | Hide on floor from Lapco | Coffee Table by Blackbird & Co | Marble Vase old Country Road | Candle by Curio Noir | Shibori Cushion by Blackbird | Day bed refurbished by Blackbird & Co, covered in fabric from The Fabric Store | Cane chair vintage, Thrift store find | Grey Rug, vintage off Trade Me | Leather Moroccan pouf from Let Liv | Rubi lamp from Let Liv | Linen Look curtains are DIY with Drop cloths from here  | Sideboard, vintage off Trade Me | Driftwood Candle holder by Blackbird

Nearly one year on, and it is incredible to stand back and see how much we have done, and how far we have come. With most of the major projects done, we have the hallway and spare room to go. Can you imagine, a finished house!?! Amazing.

So here it is, in all her white on white glory ( Sorry to all the unpainted wood fanatics,  she was a mess under there ) . We adore living in this space, even with a dirty pawed dog. The floors are in Resene white in Enamacryll gloss, which wipes up in no time. And the walls in my favourite Resene Black White. White on white really gives the most amazing canvas to display all your treasures on. 

Now for that lamp. After searching high and low and finding others too modern, too vintage, too small or big, I found her. Rubi, the standing lamp by leitmotiv from Let Liv. The perfect clean lines with a nod to mid century. Perfection. Tying in nicely with our absolute find of the year, the 5th Avenue couch in leather from Big Save. 

Yep, we are pretty chuffed with how she turned out, and we must’ve done something right cause we made the cover! 

You can read more about our lounge by grabbing a copy of the latest Homestyle Magazine

Until Next time

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Before & After | KITCHEN

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For those of you who saw the sneak peak, but didn’t see the February March edition of Homestyle Magazine, here is the final reveal of the Blackbird reno kitchen!

Although we were lucky to start with such great bones, like with the rest of the Blackbird Reno, the pennies have been tight. First things first we removed those hideous electric blue light shades ( in fact they came out the second I walked into the house ) and ripped up the faux timber board lino. Then off came the cabinet doors to be re painted in Alabaster by Resene and finished with our signature leather pulls. The new bench top was fashioned by my father out of Plywood. We bought a pre loved goose neck tap off Trade Me, Sink from the local wreckers yard, and tiled our own subway tile splash back. The fridge and dishwasher got a fresh coat of blackboard paint and the walls a bright white of Resene Alabaster. Up went the new lights and a few shelves ( thank you handy husband, I will keep you on. ) So after a lot of elbow grease and out of the box thinking we are done with the kitchen! Hooray!

Next stop Bathroom & Laundry!

Until next time

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ROUND UP | March

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I dont know where March went, but we are at the end of it.

Here is how my March went.

 

ONE  | Corners of our bedroom

TWO | Textures of my favourite tones

THREE  | Records are finally unpacked, Diana Ross you mega babe and one of my favourite covers

FOUR  | Making things for next issue of Homestyle

FIVE | Lines visits the bay

SIX | The best afternoon light and my Monstera

SEVEN | Sending out Blackbird goods

EIGHT | My girls & and afternoon of Rosè

NINE | Misty morning walks

TEN | Dip & tie DIY

ELEVEN | The long slog of the lounge renovations

TWELVE | Drinks at Monica Loves

 

Until next time

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MAKE IT | shibori dip cushions

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Even as winter rolls in, I am loving this summer shade of indigo. Injecting a little colour into my otherwise neural house is as easy as some beautiful linen cushions and a little dye.

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Here is what you will need : Two linen cushion covers – I chose euro size from Citta Design, one packet of Blue Jeans by DYLON Fabric Dye, snips or scissors, salt, string, a couple of buckets and rubber gloves.

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Taking your pre washed cushion covers, simply bunch through the middle and tie firmly with your string. Note : Any gaps in the string will let the dye through, also the tighter you tie it, the less dye that penetrates.

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Next,  wet the covers and ring out. This will create more of a gradual line, a dry piece of fabric will have a far blunter transition.

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Follow the instructions on your particular dye packet to mix your dye.

Next,  dip half your cover and allow to soak for 45 minutes . At this stage you can push a little more of the cover under the dye, and soak for another 10 minutes. Lift out and leave them to hang over another bucket with the undyed end at the bottom. Gradually your dye will seep down, the longer you leave it, the more dye fades over the white. Make sure you dry somewhere out of the sun. DO NOT take the string off until the fabric is dry!

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And there you have it! Fresh summer cushion covers all year round!

Until next time

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