Dear Cath,
So you are in Denver right now. That’s an extra two time zones further away – harumph. You have the Rockies, I have the Pentland Hills. it’s just not right.
I think the constant cold rain is making me grumbly. I’ll snap myself out of it by telling you about more of my artsy decorating attempts!
In our previous rented apartments it’s always been a challenge because you can only do so much, especially when landlords made painting verboten. It’s even harder when your flat/apartment comes with furniture. Here in our Edinburgh flat, I can’t paint the walls or the purple couch. Instead I cover the walls in tissue paper creations and style my book shelves! Extreme decorating this is not!
Covering all those books for my wedding really stuck with me. I’ve been hoarding recycling any large white newsprint I get to wrap all our thrift store books.
I don’t think you can get girlier book shelves, but I still like them. Hopefully Matt doesn’t mind. Doesn’t every man want a copy of Marie Antoinette’s dinner menu on display? Ask Troy if he feels you’ve been neglectful in this matter.
More wedding craft holdovers: tissue paper flower poufs! They are so good at adding color and making you think there is imminent partying about to happen.
I wanted to keep the palette in the bedroom pretty neutral so that Matt’s eyes can get a rest from the neon and pink everywhere else. I was looking for the perfect shade of antique-y tissue paper and that’s when it hit me: old sewing patterns! So I scooped some up (50p per used pattern packet) at the local charity shop and snipped them into flower poufs!
Here comes the neon! I’m slowly covering the walls in the main room with painted scraps, sketches and photos:
I made the confetti garland out of blue tissue paper and cut-up H&M bags: this season they are this pretty translucent aqua.
I’m still working on sketching notable Edinburghers. I only have Sir Arthur done. Next up? Robert Louis Stevenson. I like his lanky hair.
P.S. The “Best Mustache” prize actually goes to Matteo, but I’ll let Arthur think he’s got it.
I hope you are having fun, Cath! Miss you so much!
xoxoxx,
Lar
This looks awesome, for not being able to alter the paint or furniture too dramatically. You’re really good at portraits too, can’t wait to see Robert Louis Stevenson’s hipster hair.
~F
Thanks so much, Faith! If it turns out while, I definitely show off RLS and his hipster hair 😉
I love all of the garlands!! And paper poufs are a must 🙂
Totally agree, Q! They seem to be my fall-back project 😉
Ah, the tissue poufs! I snagged a beautiful citrusy orange one from a friend’s wedding recently, and it’s hanging from the ceiling of my closet now. Gives me a festive atmosphere when I’m getting dressed. I want to put up a little disco ball in there also, but I haven’t gotten one yet. I will, though. 🙂
Lar, I’m so impressed! I think I would have just put a blanket over the couch and called it a day. I love all of your feminine touches – surely Matt knows that he’s married to a super girly girl!
The H&M bags in the US are an uninspiring red on white pattern – nothing you’d be able to cut up into tassels. It’s almost not worth shopping at H&M in the states because they make everything so bland for our American tastes.
Denver is randomly rainy and the air is so dry here. As soon as the plane landed my hair became super static-y. It creates a whole new version of bad hair day. Hopefully I can get some good shots of the dress i’ll be wearing. love you! Cath
I love how you’re decorating your flat! It’s so creative and fun! I especially love the string of flowers over your bed.
Lar, Mr. Doyle is looking dappery cute there on your wall! I am so in love with how you’ve decorated your flat. Seriously! you can decorate mine anytime! I wish my husband would be OK with having flowers and poufs all over the house. He doesn’t like clutter, so I have to put all the “clutter” in my craft room. I am also super in LURVE with your clean and oh so chic shelf! You are just so magnificently talented, Lar!
♥ laura
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This is fantastic. You’re so good!
I love the girly girl look and the pic of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is hilarious. The covered books look is pretty neat. I’ve been looking at various ways to decorate and I’m in the market for a new bookshelf.