The home improvement journey continues! Today was dedicated to tackling those little jobs that add up to a big difference in the overall look and feel of a space. And of course, no DIY adventure is complete without a trip to B&Q (fun fact: the name stands for Block & Quayle, the company’s founders!).
First on the agenda: curtains! After scoring an amazing deal online (a mere 99p on eBay, thank you very much!), I proudly hung them using some handy curtain hooks purchased from B&Q. Let me throw in a bit of trivia here – pictures, curtains, and games are all “hung,” while people are unfortunately “hanged.”
Next up, let’s address that empty space to the left of the window. With a keen eye, you might have noticed the newly installed window casing. I tackled this project myself – cutting the miter joint at the top, measuring and cutting the length, then giving it a quick coat of emulsion as a base layer. All that’s left is a finishing touch with some gloss paint tomorrow.
Moving on to the fireplace, I applied the rest of the veneer. This will be revealed in all its glory tomorrow after the glue dries and the clamps come off.
Now, let’s talk budget. While some things require a trip to the hardware store, it’s amazing what a little resourcefulness can do! Remember those shelves I mentioned getting to work on? The planking for them came courtesy of my local Freecycle network, so they didn’t cost a dime!
Freecycle is a fantastic organization that promotes sustainability, and it’s a reminder that we can all do our part to recycle more – paper, glass, plastic, appliances – you name it. Let’s not forget that the planet’s future is in our hands. If something is no longer useful to you, consider giving it a new life by passing it on for free.
Today’s Costs Breakdown:
- Curtain Rail: £6.99
- Curtain (online purchase): £0.99 + £6.50 p&p = £7.49
- Curtain hooks: £2.48
- Window casing: £4.98
- Curtain tie-backs (online purchase): £0.99 + £2.75 p&p = £3.74
- Curtain tie-back hooks: £1.00
- Walnut veneer: £9.00
- Wood Glue (x2): £1.00 each = £2.00
Today’s Total: £37.68
Running Total: £274.12
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s update! I’ll be revealing the finished fireplace veneer and potentially tackling some more DIY tasks. Remember, even the smallest projects can make a big impact, and with a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can achieve amazing things on a budget.