Growing Spaces

DIY gutter herb planter with Gorilla Glue

DIY gutter herb planter with Gorilla Glue

One thing we’ve been wanting to do since we finished our big modern garden makeover at the end of the summer is to make use of the back of the built-in bench which is right next to our back door. We do have a wall planter on the fencing, but I fancied having a couple of herb planters closer to the door, filled with the herbs I use most often when cooking. I’ve used some offcuts of rain guttering for this DIY project, along with a pot of original Gorilla Glue. This super-strong adhesive will bond a whole host of different materials to each…

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What’s inside an interior stylist’s toolkit?

What’s inside an interior stylist’s toolkit?

A while ago, a friend messaged me to ask wha I keep in my interior stylist’s toolkit that I take with me on photo shoots. As I sent her back my long list of styling kit essentials, I thought it would make a great post on Growing Spaces, and so here I am, eventually sharing it with you. Not only is this a great checklist of things to take on a shoot, but everything in it is useful for small DIY or craft projects at home, too. The above is my current wish-list, including some of the key items I wouldn’t be without:…

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Getting organised for 2017 and a great giveaway

Getting organised for 2017 and a great giveaway

2017 sees a big change for our household, as I have a new job and will go back to work full-time after seven years freelancing from home. It feels like the right time – the twins are happy and settled at school, I’m keen to get my teeth into a new challenge, and the job I’m starting is flexible in terms of my hours and working from home. While I’m excited about this new chapter, I’m under no illusions that full-time working is going to be a bit of a shock to the system for all of us. I juggle…

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My 7 golden rules for an ordered (and happier) workspace

My 7 golden rules for an ordered (and happier) workspace

Getting my desk organised last week after the arrival of my new super-compact HP DeskJet 3720 printer prompted a massive sort out of the rest of my home office. I went through old files, binned bags of obsolete paperwork, moved furniture and generally tackled my problem areas – paperwork, reference material and office stationery – so that I could enjoy the benefits of a more ordered workspace. Just moving furniture gave the room an instant refresh – it’s almost like hitting a reset button. Other things I did: Finally let go of a load of magazines. They were all titles…

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Organised desk, organised mind: Maximising space in my home office

Organised desk, organised mind: Maximising space in my home office

  Space always seems to be an issue in my home office. The room isn’t tiny, but it’s not huge either, and I really struggle to fit in everything I need, despite being acutely aware that I’m lucky to even have a room at home that I can use as a workspace. I work from home, and it’s a constant battle to keep on top of the clutter. I’m one of those people who needs the space around me to be in order for me to be able to work productively. That well-known phrase ‘organised desk, organised mind’ totally applies…

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