From Shabby To Fabby!
I am slowly, but surely trying to transform my home from shabby to chic. I do like the finer things in life I admit, but I have never really been much of a homemaker (much to my mother’s disgust).
As a recent convert to radio 4 and someone who is rapidly approaching the big 40, my tastes have definitely shifted and I find I would like to be perceived by all but those that know me well, as a very together woman, as capable of whipping up a tray of cupcakes as I am of running up my own curtains and knowing one bottle of red wine from another. The fact that this is far from true is neither here nor there, I am very willing to ‘fake it till I make it’.
In reality I tend to leave a trail of chaos and destruction behind me and don’t really notice over much if things are getting a little untidy around the edges. Being somewhat spontaneous I never pass up an opportunity to go and do something exciting because ‘I really need to tidy my house’.
But by spying on friends who seem to have already ascended to the above (even if they are in fact, also faking) I take note of the items they have in their home that seem to give off the right sort of impression. The floral aprons, the vintage storage jars, the wicker baskets filled with well organised looking ‘stuff’ and I think that I really MUST do something.
Usually my musings turn to into panic about two hours before friends are due to arrive and I enter into a tidying frenzy because my house is a complete tip.
Fear is a great motivator and tasks that would normally take me ages to do, I suddenly find I have the energy to do in a flash. The downside is that post visit, I am usually left with cupboards bulging with random, rapidly shoved in items that I will struggle to find next time I need them. I’m still recovering from a friend helping herself to a bottle of wine out of my fridge and narrowly avoiding a blow to the head as its contents avalanched.
The last time this happened, I vowed I would become better organised. ‘Next time’, I said sternly to myself, ‘I won’t fear a knock at the door, I’ll be prepared’.
And so following the fine examples of my friends, I set about searching for ‘chic storage’. The logic being that rather than ramming things randomly into cupboards I could fill up some nice tubs with whatever is currently littering my floor.
I soon discovered there are storage solutions for almost every conceivable thing, from fruit baskets and sewing projects (?) through to kids toys (oh joy!!!), linen, laundry and even logs! A happy hour or two on-line later and with a bulging basket I realise that soon, I too could have a place for everything and everything in its place!
About the Author
Nicola Wilson works for East 2 Eden, UK based gifts, garden and homewares retailer. Visit www.east2eden.co.uk for special offers and information about the products they sell.
