I picked up this great birdcage wall hanging on special at Spotlight several months ago but it was only now that I had a chance to put it to use. I didn’t mind the idea of the bird image, but the style was a bit folksy and the cheesy poem was a dealbreaker.

I was considering having a mirror made to fit until I found this fantastic bird diagram (download it free from The Graphics Fairy). I simply printed it out onto nice textured watercolour paper and cut it to size, using the original backing as a template.

And here is the new birdie on the wall (which you can see more of here):

I’m loving how the expected image has gone from cutesy to quirky just by switching the style. 

Of course, you don’t have to be limited by the bird theme. Here are some more uses:

An Angel At My Table

Mirror
We all know mirrors are great for making a space seem larger, but sometimes you don’t want it looking too shiny and obvious. An age-tarnished mirror obstructed by a wire frame, though, will still bounce light around without standing out too much.

An Angel At My Table

Art frame
OK, so this is a similar idea to my ‘before’ but I wouldn’t rip these out as they’re much better quality than mine was.

Wedding Ideas & Inspiration

Seating chart
Peg up the table lists or individual escort cards to help wedding guests locate their seats.

Rockett St George

Photo holder
Display your family photos at home or your wedding.

  
Urban Outfitters

Jewellery rack
Storage that’s almost at pretty as the trinkets themselves.Sage, Inspired by Life

Card holder
Peg up your Christmas cards or postcards for everyone to enjoy.

Light by Peca | Rubber stamp set by Yellow Owl | Decal by Smiley Walls | Doona cover by Urban Outfitters |  Tea towel by Ferm Living | Wallpaper by Graham & Brown

I was working on a project involving a birdcage (come back tomorrow to see what it is) and it reminded me about all the cute birdcage-inspired homewares I’ve seen lately. I love the mid-century vibe of the bed linen and the abstracted concept of the light fitting. I’m not a fan of decals except in kids’ rooms like this adorable nursery.

Super bonus commenter points if you can come up with your own Catalog Living-style caption to that last image.

Typography coasters by Evil Mad Scientist | Bookmarks by Elsita | Jewellery tree by Bird of Play | Owl clock by Decoy Lab | Bird mobile by Petit Collage | Light bulb lamp by Suck UK

I’ve been in love with laser cut timber accessories ever since I bought the clock in our dining area. Here are some more fab examples, including one that you can make yourself (the coasters). The technique lends itself to flat, bold shapes, but 3D shapes (such as the lamp) and incredibly intricate detail of the storybook bookmarks can also be achieved.

Timber is a great way to warm up a room, and a laser cut wood item will add the lovely natural texture without looking too rustic.

Never mind the baby, I think it would be ME who’d be crying if this was how my bedroom looked.

The owners of the home (the creative couple at Rambling Renovators) obviously agreed that it wasn’t the restful retreat they needed as new parents, so they embarked on a much-needed makeover.

Incredible, right? I’m sure I’m not the only one who had to do a double-take to check it was the same room. There’s so much awesome going on I can’t decide which bit’s my favourite. The William Morris inspired curtains… the faux panelling… the capiz pendant light… all amazing features individually but it’s been brought together with such finesse too. 

Read the full story here.

Update: Rambling Renovators has added a tutorial to show how she achieve the panelled wall.

Today I’m excited to share with you the first of many DIY projects from our wedding!

I had bought jewellery and headbands for my bridesmaids and wanted a nice way to present their gifts the night before the wedding. I decided to make some jewellery boxes so that the wrapping was actually part of the gift. Remember how I lined the invitation envelopes with vintage book pages? Well I had some left over and thought I’d incorporate that to carry through the theme.

You will need:

• Wooden jewellery box (available from craft stores)
• Adhesive-backed felt
• Old book pages
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Mod podge
• Scissors
• Small screwdriver
• Glue stick
• Ruler
• Scalpel

1. Take a photo of your friend’s profile. Make it into a silhouette and print in the mirror image to how you want the final product.

2. Glue the silhouette onto the back of the book page.

3&4. Cut out the silhouette.

5. Unscrew the hinges of the box.

6. Paint the box and allow to dry. Attach the cameo to the box lid with Mod Podge and cover with as many coats as desired (more coats will produce a glossier effect).

7. Measure the dimensions of the inside of the box.

8. Cut felt to size.

9. Stick felt to the inside bottom of the box.

10. Continue until all sides are lined.

11. If the hinge holes have been filled with paint or varnish, use a skewer or toothpick to unblock.

12. Replace the hinges.

And there they are! Three pretty boxes for my three pretty ladies.

One of the standout stalls at Bowerbird Bazaar last week was Bride & Wolfe. Their intricate laser-cut plywood decorations would add a touch of whimsy to any room.

The product that particularly caught my eye was the rocking squirrels, shown above in lovely autumn tones. Turn it around, however, and it’s painted white for a more wintery or minimalist look.

I am taking some time off my regular blogging schedule during the final days before my wedding and while I’m on my honeymoon. Since you will be at home while I am having the time of my life, I have pre-posted some fun links and great guest posts to keep you entertained.

How incredible is this bedroom makeover? Not only did occupants Melissa and Chris manage to transform a rental basement into a bedroom that looks like it’s floating on a cloud, they did it all for under $100!

Find how the heck she did it here.

You could stand in the tissue aisle of the supermarket for twenty minutes trying to pick the least tacky box (hmm, dolphins or sunflowers?). You could have a nanna-style tissue box cosy (as a little girl I had one such item shaped like a bed, complete with quilting, lacy valance and even a timber bedhead − jealous?).

Or, you could dig up a rarely worn bangle (a heavy one will work best) and plonk it on top of your pile of no-brand tissues and feed through to make a dispenser. Bonus: since it’s out in the open, you’ll never unkowingly use the last tissue.

Unfortunately for The Man, I was going through a fuchsia and lime green phase before we moved in together. Add to that the white walls and lack of curtains and we didn’t exactly have a restful bedroom.

The feminine edge has remained (sorry, sweetie) but is now tempered by the dark brown walls.

We were also seriously lacking in the storage department. This chest of drawers proved just the thing, adding a mid-century modern feel while still tying in to the honey colour of the rest of the more traditional style furniture.

The dressing table actually belonged to my mother as a teenager. Much to her embarrassment now, she somehow convinced my grandfather to paint it green. Years later, she had it restored to its former glory and has been in my bedroom ever since.

As you can see, we didn’t change much in the way of furniture and accessories, so you can tell what a big impact a coat of paint, window treatment and a few finishing touches can make.

Many furniture companies will have you believe you must have a full bedroom suite with matching bedside tables.

Opting for non-matching bedside tables, though, will open up a whole lot more choices for you. If you’ve found an amazing table but you can only afford one, choose a cheaper basic piece for the other side. Or perhaps different tables will better suit the shape and size of the room. In fact, you don’t even need to be limited to a table at all. If you’re like us and needed to maximise your storage, opt for a chest of drawers or tallboy. On the other hand, if you’re a lamp-and-alarm-clock-and-nothing-else kind of person, a simple painted wooden chair will suffice. Bookworms will love a bookcase to keep their bedtime reading within arm’s reach.

Embrace the asymmetry and work out a combo that suits your room, needs and lifestyle perfectly.