So I normally share my clothes shopping habit however my shopping habit doesn't stop there. You could put me in a supermarket (especially foreign ones, I love foreign ones) if there were no other shops and I would still be happy! The hunt for a bargain mainly drives the habit. Winter months I do tend to hibernate a little, especially after Christmas so I've been focusing on lots of little homely updates. This post is just a little idea a friend had for my fireplace that has cost me minimal yet made me love it - when I previously did not. I've never had a fireplace and have wanted to rip my gas fire out since we moved in 4 years ago. Several different logistical reasons stopped us and after painting the surround when we first moved in, I still kept looking at it in disgust.
The sample |
I looked at fully opening up our chimney and putting a log burner in - my end goal, but a costly one. At well over £1500, this was not the house we wanted to spend that kind of money on. So my friend suggested tiling over the marble surround. Back in December I found a tile I loved but as always, you've guessed it, I wasn't happy with the £70 price tag to do it. I searched and searched and waited a little longer. £30 later, they were mine!
My husband and I are no DIY experts, we avoid it if at all possible but when it saves us a fair bob or two, we are always willing to try. This wasn't the easiest thing to do (and only my hubbies second ever attempt at tiling - the week prior was the bathroom!) and required all our hands to keep them in place whilst placing the next ones up etc (they slid a little!). There was a reason my girls didn't play in the playroom that day - that marble run came in great use! We used normal tile adhesive after scouring the marble and left the first lot to set over night.
The jug was £1.70 from Homebase and the pot from Ikea £1.90 - not sure what I'm doing with this yet, it's just very similar to my wall colour so I had to buy it! |
By night my candles are lit and lights twinkling |
There were a few other samples I had ordered to try, this one being one of them. My husband came up with the idea of backing this with some felt/padding......hey presto, some new coasters! So yes, at 45p a tile, I've ordered a few more!
A little random post from me but if you have a fireplace and you don't like, for minimal spends there are ways to change it. I also ordered some more fake pebbles from ebay (mainly due to my youngest nibbling them as a baby) which were £10. The cream grout was £5 so for £45 my fireplace is now a lot more pleasing on my eye.
Wow that looks amazing. Just goes to show if you have the eye, you don't need to spend a small fortune x
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna. Don't get me wrong, I would love to use the chimney and put a real one in there, just can't justify on this house :( x
DeleteWhat a fantastic idea Natalie - I love it!
ReplyDeleteJane xx
My Midlife Fashion
Thank you Jane, am very pleased with the end results considering what I've spent!x
DeleteLove this post Natalie! I've done all my homes on a budget (too busy spending the money on clothes previously and now the boys cost a fortune - so I have to be thrifty).
ReplyDeleteI love the tiles on the fireplace - they have a touch of the Moroccan about them. Very cool.
Yep, thrifty all the way! Thank you, they do don't they?! x
Deleteit looks so pretty, you have had the cold bug too haven't you? it does seem to make to everyone 'nest', mine's lasted 3 weeks and the house has never looked better (although I look like death warmed up).
ReplyDeleteYes, tonsillitis but think it's more the darker months and I've actually used the fire more than ever this Winter. x
DeleteThat's sensational! I'm hugely impressed because the true DIYers say that tiliing is the hardest job of all to get right. Hats off to you!
ReplyDeleteOooh really? Now I'm even more pleased with it !!x
DeleteWhat a transformation. Huge pats on the back for you and Hubby. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen x
DeleteLove it, but I always loved it beforehand too xx
ReplyDeleteAh thanks, someone had to I guess! x
DeleteWhat an ingenious idea and so professionally done (I especially like the use of the marble run!) It looks fab! x
ReplyDeleteHats off to the husband - he has had some praise for it, must stop now! Don't tell my girls about their marble run.......x
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