Gold Rush: Bargain Shopping for the Master Bedroom

Or "HOW I SAVED £790 ON A COUPLE OF LAMPS"...

Ok, so I was never going to actually buy the £408 lamps from Anthropologie, let's not be silly here.

But I did see them on the website and clicked the image because I wanted to see how much they were.

When I saw the price, I pretty much had a small panic attack and quickly closed the page before my heart stopped beating in my chest permanently.

Yes, you have read that correctly.  £408 for one lamp.  Or £816 for the pair. 
Not that you couldn't have done that math yourself because you are a clever 
bunch but why do math unless you absolutely have to?

I tried to forget about them (they'd have been too big for the room anyway, I consoled myself) but I did quite like the colour, the glass and the lovely fat bulbous design of the base and so it was saved into my 'see if you can find a MUCH cheaper version' folder in my head.  That particular folder is bulging at the seams at the moment but every once in a while I find something that fits.

And that something was two of these little beauties.

Ok, now I realise it's not EXACTLY the same as it's a bit smaller (which suits the space better) and it doesn't go in quite so thin at the top but at £13 per lamp at TK Maxx*, one doesn't complain about these things.

(UK = TK Maxx ; USA = TJ Maxx - same store, weird no?)

I've been meaning to replace the lamps on either side of the bed for a while and when I was taking these pictures I realised I've never actually shown the bedroom before.  There are definite reasons for this.

The biggest reason is because we've done so very little in the room.  Here's a before from when we moved in. 

The pinky-brown colour was re-painted pale grey (in fact, we just used the leftover paint from the living room) and the chimney breast was stripped of the wallpaper.  All this was done within the first few weeks of moving in as a stop gap.

Here's what it looks like with the new lamps in place.

Note the completely empty (cheap & nasty) bedside tables.  
No styling was completed for this post so apologies.

We're looking at replacing ALL of the furniture in the room.  This includes the bed - we're going to be upsizing to a King size bed because we really need more space (a tufted headboard is featuring quite heavily in my dreams).  The wardrobes (not shown) are pretty awful as they are just cheap this-will-do-for-now items that W & I had in our own places and we just stuck them both in the same room and painted them the same colour for some consistency.   The bedside tables need to go as well.  I bought them for £10 each from ASDA, painted them white and replaced the handles about 6 or 7 years ago.  I had never intended to keep them this long and yet, I still have them.  How does that happen?

We also want to add some seating, likely in the form of a small antique sofa or a chaise lounge.  We also need to get new curtains for the two windows on the opposite wall.  The current ones don't even match each other and don't hit the floor which is why they aren't shown either!  The likelihood is that all these purchases won't happen until we've got the spare cash so it'll probably be a while before we can really tackle this room.

So that's why you are only seeing the bed bit and the rest of the room will have to be saved for another day!

Clap on!

Clap off!

Clap On! Clap Off! The clapper!

Oh are you guys too young to remember that advert?  Well, let me enlighten you.
(Geddit?? EnLIGHTen? Oh I kill me.)

Ok, I don't really have a Clapper, I just thought it was funny.

So anyway, yeah there's the bedroom with the new table lamps.  I think the size is quite good for the room although the shade is a bit too plain.  Me thinks some zhushing may be in order.

Again, empty bedside table.  
Must find pretty things for top of (cheap & nasty) bedside tables 
if only to detract from their cheap nastiness.

The duvet cover was purchased about 8 weeks' ago from B&Q for £22 for the set.  It's cheap but I liked the colours.  I don't want to purchase any expensive bedding until we get the new bed so this'll do for now.  The small cushions were sewed by me to match the bedding (probably cost about a fiver) and the white fur throw and pillow I've had for years.

Here's a closeup of the metal Fleur de Lys mirror over the bed.  I got it from Really Linda Barker a good few months ago in one of their sales for £18.95 so another bargain item.   

Pablo as per usual sees the camera and immediately thinks he needs to be in the pictures.

Until he realises, 'Hey, wait a minute. What we doing in the bedroom?  It's time for sleeping, isn't it?'

The Big Little Kitty Stretch.

About 20 minutes later, Senna  snuck in for a nap herself.  Must be good to be a cat.

So have you found any Anthropologie-look-a-like bargains lately?  Making do with lots of cheap bits and pieces until you can buy your dream bedroom items?  Does your dream bed feature tufting as well?  Or maybe it's a gorgeous four poster?  Or something else?  Any ideas of pretty things that can go on the bedside tables that won't be knocked down by the cats?  Do tell....

All images my own.

Sleep Required: Will Pretty Pictures Suffice For Now?

I have had a very very busy week. I've spent 11 hours in my car in the last couple days getting back and forth to our different offices around the country and the week isn't over yet.  Needless to say, this little girl is rather shattered these days so apologies that my blogging has been a little bit patchy this week and I haven't had the chance to catch up on everyone else's blogs.  Promise once things calm down I will fill you in on the kitchen progress, saving £874 on look-a-like lamps for the bedroom (I know, RIGHT?) and a few things that have taken my fancy this week as well as seeing what you all have been up to!

Until then, look!  Pretty pictures!!

 

Hope you are all having fabulous weeks and catch up soon my lovelies!


All image sources can be found at Redlilock's Pinterest

WTF Moment: Giant Stuff

Been a while since I did one of these posts but figured I'd share something that made me go, 'ummmm REALLY?'

These are supposed to be 'gifts'.

From the website:

"Make a pointed statement of gift giving with this authentically detailed 5½-foot version of a classic #2 Dixon Ticonderoga pencil."

"A unique gift for that newly graduated or retiring dental professional."

 

If someone gave one of these to me as a 'gift', I'd be sticking it somewhere else entirely. 

Your WTF moment brought to you from here and you can buy them for £250 and £175 respectively (god knows why you'd want to) here.

Delectable Decay: Castle Gibson Part Trois - Ruby House

This week, I've been utterly enamoured by the locations that Castle Gibson have on their books. Today, I bring you the last installment.

Ruby House is Castle Gibson's latest aquisition, a 5 story Victorian building with the same beautifully decaying walls and oak flooring as we first saw at The House Next Door.

I'll just leave you to quietly admire it's crumbled grandeur... 

Totally swoon worthy, right?  Mmmhmm.  I thought you might think so.

So now that you've seen the beauty that lies within Ruby House's walls, let's have a look at what's been done with this gorgeous space.  Bearing in mind that they haven't had the building very long, I couldn't find a lot of images taken in this location but I found two rather special shoots.

Now, it takes a LOT to make Amy Winehouse look pretty damn hot but somehow this backdrop just manages it.  The softness of the light tapers her harder edges and gives her a floaty innocence that I didn't realise was even possible.

Quite lovely, no?  I know, I was surprised as well.

The second shoot is much different.  The twins, Phoebe and Lydia Sorrel Lake, were shot by in-house photographer Molly Gibson.  The look is completely and utterly different.  It has a much darker feel and there's something almost sinister to it. 

Totally different, right?  But still very very cool.   I'm sure there are many gorgeous things in store for Ruby House and I, for one, see so much potential in this amazing space.

So how about a recap?

As a reminder, the first post brought you the faded glamour of The House Next Door.

The second post gave you a glimpse of industrial at it's fabulous best with MC Motors ...

And today we've had a look at Ruby House.

So which is your favourite?  And as a bonus question, if you could rent one of these locations for an event or photoshoot, what would you want to use it for?


All images Castle Gibson and Castle Gibson's blog.

Industrial Chic: Castle Gibson Part Deux - MC Motors

Well, as I promised you in my post yesterday, I have more dreamy shots for you thanks to Castle Gibson.  The second location I'm bringing you today is called  MC Motors, a 6000 square foot warehouse located in Dalston, East London.

The building has an interesting history.  The largest room was originally part of the school next to it and the smaller rooms were industrial units.  After being bombed in the war, a skylight was built, joining both areas.  Fantastically, the original Victorian street remains almost untouched below it.  Aside from the light that floods the space, the naturally dilapidated walls and various floor finishes are evidence of it's long history and create a worn, industrial vibe.

Add to that an amazing selection of props and old furniture, and anyone would be hard pressed to have a creative block in a place like this.

Industrial chic at it's best.  Drooling.

I love the giant letters and the soft faded blue colour of the walls in this space.

Recognise this space?  It was used in Dragon's Den.  I love the Opera House sign.

The chandelier and poster provide this room with an elegance 
in stark contrast to the aluminium lined walls and brick flooring.

I'm dying over those steel lockers.  Want.

Now that we've seen what's available, how about seeing how the space has been used?

I have to admit, my first thought when I saw MC Motors was, 'What an amazing location for a wedding...'

Well, I was obviously not the first to think of that...

Flowers and linens soften the hard edge of an industrial space.

I love the old sign and the flood light contrasted with delicate vines.

I'm kind of loving her dress as well.

I had to include this picture for it's sheer joyfulness.

And of course, those time-textured walls make a fantastic backdrop for a fashion shoot.

In the first, the hard edges of a rugged backdrop look perfect against the hard edges of the styling.

 

In the second, amazing ball gowns seem to flow seamlessly with bricks, concrete and wood floors.

Pretty amazing that the space looks entirely different from each photographer's perspective, isn't it?  It's probably why I love a bit of an industrial vibe so much - it really lends itself to so many different styles and can be dressed up or dressed down, looks beautiful against soft feminity and gorgeous in more masculine settings.   You almost can't go wrong.

I hope you enjoyed our little visit via Castle Gibson.  There's one more location that I really must share so if you've enjoyed it so far, there is more to come!

And now some self-promotion...

Hey did you know Swoon Worthy has a page on Facebook?  I thought it'd be easier than 'friending' me.  It's new so be a dear and 'Like' it so I don't feel all sad and sorry for myself that I don't even have 10 likes yet.  What if I stick out my lower lip, would that help? No?  Well, how about a cute animal picture?  How 'bout now, huh?  Mmhmm.

Please like Redlilocks Facebook Page or I will keep looking sad.

Now you wouldn't want the kittie to continue looking all sad would you?  Exactly.  Do the right thing.


All images Castle Gibson except kittie picture via pinterest.

*No kitties were harmed in the making of this blog post.

Faded Glamour: Castle Gibson

You may remember my post on Traffic People not very long ago.  The dreamy, partially crumbled sets juxtaposed with soft feminine frills had me reaching for my credit card because wow it was seriously beautiful.  And I was so happy to see that many of you felt the same!

Well imagine my surprise perusing the website of Castle Gibson (having stumbled upon it via a Facebook ad of all places) and in particular, a location set they call 'The House Next Door' in Stoke Newington, London, and realising that the interior shots for this particular house looked awfully familiar.

Remember this stunning screen?

Here's the room it sits in...

Remember the amazing wall in this shot?

Well, here's another glorious look...

The broken plaster and peeling paint of this shot?

Well, here's the whole shebang (complete with strange cardboard cutout man)...

And the dreamy staircase?

Here it is in all it's faded glory...

The utterly dilapidated interiors just add a whole other element to these shots I think.  There is a story here, or many stories I imagine, that each layer of wallpaper and each layer of paint holds in it's memory.

I love the way it's been weaved into the fashion shots to add a depth to each image - you wonder what she is thinking, what has just happened and why she is there... there is a certain beauty to the mystery and we are left there in the space, wistful ourselves, wishing perhaps for the back story or for closure or for something else, for something more....

Speaking of something more... In a coming post, I will show you more from Castle Gibson because I couldn't possibly fit it all into one post.  They really have some amazing sets and I'll share with you where and how those sets were used.  Would you like that?

All images via Castle Gibson.