Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Unpacking (Plus: New Homeware Purchases!)


HI. How are you? How was your weekend? I've *almost* gotten my head above water now after our big move on Sunday.

It was crazy: our movers were 45 minutes late, but we managed to get almost everything outside ourselves. We had to rent an extra van because all of our stuff didn't fit into the movers' van (!!!) and had damp experts come over to the house yesterday to carry out some repair work but they splattered plaster EVERYWHERE (note to self: speak up next time someone's doing something in your house without putting dust sheets down first!). Finally, we had a leak before our boiler failed at about 6 p.m. before - basically - I was in hysterics to a plumber over the phone. So, yeah, I'm totally taking to this new home ownership thing like a duck to water. NOT!

But in general, everything is really exciting and new. And I unpacked/bought some fun things over the weekend, including (clockwise, from top left):


- this amazing super kingsized bed and mattress from Warren Evans. It's like ... I can't even describe it. It's heavenly. If know (or have met!) me or John, you'll know that we're not the tallest people in the world, so this bed means we can properly starfish to our hearts' content! Reunions in the middle are rare and shortlived at the moment, because we're too lazy to move!

- this sweet sake flask from Daiso in Canada, which we bought around Christmas-time, not knowing if we'd have a new house or not. I couldn't resist it not only because it was so cheap ($2!), but because I thought it'd make a lovely little bedside vase as well. I vowed not to unwrap it until we purchased a home, so I kept it in its bubble wrap all this time!

- this luxurious three-wick candle from Rituals. Amazing. It was the first thing John unwrapped when we moved in! Its light, subtle fragrance gently scents the bottom floor of our house and promotes a sense of calm while I try to locate random accessories and makeup in our living room filled with cardboard boxes!

- this gorgeous antique table we bought from Fandango Interiors on Cross Street in Islington two years ago. I never appreciated how beautiful it was in our old flat because the room it sat in was so small and dark. Now, the light streaming in from our living room windows makes the detail stand out.

Yesterday, I also managed to do a quick, supermarket sweep in H&M Home and came out with these:


I've seen the wire baskets in other blogs and magazines and have been wanting them for a while, plus I love the jar for putting cotton pads in and the marble dish for all my bobby pins (that's "kirby grips" for you Brits!), which get lost ALL THE TIME. On the floor. On the kitchen counter. In between sofa cushions. In the shower.

Triumphs included purchasing a bespoke wardrobe from John Lewis for under £500 (yes, really! It exists!), a Dyson vacuum cleaner (YOU GUYS. Those things are POWERFUL.), and customizing and installing a roller blind for the master bedroom, which we were really proud of.

We are so boring.

What are you up to this week? Something fun, I hope!
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28 comments

  1. I'm so excited for you! I love all the sneak peeks – everything looks absolutely beautiful so far. Can't wait to follow along as you decorate!

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    1. Thank you, Robin! Taking so many cues/inspiration from you. Must send you an email ASAP about your move too! xo

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  2. Yay to your new house and unpacking! Can't wait to see more of your purchases and perhaps a glimpse of your interiors once you've settled. Exciting times!

    I'm glad someone calls them bobby pins other than me. And I spot a delicious Diptyque candle there, too!

    Honey x The Girl Next Shore

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    1. THANK YOU, Honey! Haha yes ... I can't wait to have some of the rooms "done" so I can actually snap some photos of the interiors! We don't need any major structural renovations, thank goodness (knock on wood), but are having fun putting our stamp on it in terms of flooring, walls, curtains, etc.

      AND YES TO BOBBY PINS! I refuse to call them anything else! I need to light that Diptyque candle ... have been resisting until now, but there's no holding me back, haha! xoxo

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  3. Great picks!!! I had no idea H&M did home goods O.O Have made mental note. I don't think I'd leave the house for at least one whole week if I had a super kingsized bed. I'd just roll back and forth, cackling like a maniac. Can't wait to see how your home transforms!

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    1. HAHA, guess what I did this morning Gianni ... yup, reached my arms out as far as I could and cackled like a madwoman.

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  4. It actually sounds amazing to be honest with you, Jaime, it looks amazing. I love your pictures, and it sounds like you're getting it under control. Gotta hit bottom (aka hysterics) before you start soaring (aka decorating) xx Good luck!

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    1. Thank you so much, Sarah Elizabeth! Haha, I think it was just a long day yesterday. :) xx

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  5. Congratulations on the house move although you have my sympathies on the dust sheet issues, recently had our kitchen redone and there's now a paint splatter on my lovely carpet!

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    1. OH NO!!! That's so annoying! I don't even know how you remove paint from carpet! Yikes.

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  6. Ah, you're not boring! I think it's cute. So happy for you to be settling in to your new home! Looks lovely from what I can tell. :o)

    V

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  7. Kirby grips??? Add it to the list Jaime! (Love the baskets.)

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  8. Everything looks beautiful! Exciting times!

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  9. Oh I love all your H&M things for the house! And that 3 wick candle sounds fabulous as well. It's always so stressful to move - I hope all the unpacking is going well!! xxx

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    1. Thank you, Miranda! H&M has the most amazing things at low price points ... I was grabbing at everything! We are *slowly* unpacking ... it's hard because three of our four rooms are being decorated at the moment and our wardrobe is being delivered next week, so everything is still a bit of a chaotic mess! But thank you for your good wishes xxx

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  10. There were always going to be a few bumps at the start Jaime and I'm sure there are more to come, but it will be SO worth it in the end when everything looks how you envisioned :) I absolutely ADORE your new antique table. So exciting! Lots of love, Andrea xxx

    Andrea's Passions

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    1. Haha, absolutely! John and I were laughing more than anything else about the boiler, etc ... such typical homeowner stuff! we're getting there. So nice to see you next week and I can't believe our dinner is next week -eeks! xxx

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  11. We have a king size bed only because it was a hand me down from my in laws and I am so dreading the day we have to go back to a queen! I am short and I love that I can be in the middle of the bed and be like on a raft as no part of me is touching a side!

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    1. Ack, just saw this, Bailie - sorry for the late reply! I know, I'm short too and having a super king is like sleeping on a giant cloud! So nice.

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  12. That £500 bespoke wardrobe from John Lewis is about to make me cry! I just priced up a wardrobe, nothing seriously flashy from IKEA and it's costing me almost three times that price! Damn you, Australian dollar!

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    1. Oh no!!! I was talking to a Kiwi friend this weekend about how expensive IKEA is in NZ, which is crazy to me. There must be other options though, no? We were very surprised about this wardrobe from JL. It's supposed to be delivered on Wednesday, so we'll see how it goes!

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  13. 'We are so boring' made me laugh. I bought my first flat last summer and I'm now jealous of my friends who own Dyson hoovers. They just sound SO good. I sometimes vacuum with my (completely below average) hoover and daydream about owning a Dyson. See, now that's boring.

    x

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    1. That's so amazing, Charlene! Belated congratulations - you must know all about the excitement I'm feeling right now! Haha, the Dyson only has FIFTEEN MINUTES of usage time after charging. FIFTEEN. John just told me we have to get a "supplementary" hoover. WTF?!? x

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  14. Scurmptious! I wish our place was as Pinterest-able (even without packing boxes!)

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    1. Haha, you're too sweet! I wish. It's just nice to have white walls and bright natural light to take photos against for once!

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