So yesterday I popped into London (I’m calling it that as it makes me feel better, in reality it takes a couple of hours from our new house in the country and is hardly popping anywhere) to see the guys from B&Q.
Now, the last time I worked with them was at Christmas when I bought and decorated our tree from the DIY store. We had a great time and our Christmas decs were ace but this visit was to see what they’re REALLY all about. Of course, this is home Do It Yourself’! Of course, this is not something I am terribly familiar with!
But… We HAVE just moved house and have an awful lot of things to do. The previous owners left us with rather a lot of jobs and from holes in walls (that were hidden behind sofas) to leaky taps, broken skirting boards and every other little job you can think of, we have quite a bit to do. As well as all the making walls good and supposedly small jobs we want a new kitchen and bathrooms (yes, that is plural, you get quite a lot of toilets for your London money in Norfolk and on top of that we will be adding a FOURTH one when we do our loft conversion.
So much work. So much DIY. So much shopping at B&Q.
It was great to see what they showcased yesterday to give me inspiration. I find when going into store that I don’t tend to see much inspo and instead look dumbly at all the rows and rows of taps. I guess it’s a bit like that ‘vision’ Kirtsie and Phil talk of on ‘Location, location, location’. You have to see what there is and what you can make of it but just like when looking at houses which haven’t been touched since the 70’s and wanting to run rather than mentally knock down walls, at B&Q I see piles of wood, empty bathrooms suites and tiles in piles and that’s all. Yesterday they showed me the finish. The shine that I need to be able to think, oh, perhaps I CAN make that?!
And I’m not saying I can. Absolutely not. I don’t even know what our tools look like let alone how to use them but I loved what I saw and I want to give it a go too. So. I’m gonna!
They had decorated a bathroom suite using stencils and their new bathroom paint in colours to bring out copper accessories. It looked awesome and I’d never have thought of it. The kitchen and study area they had knocked up with bits of wood looked awesome and there was a box with a lid I almost stole! It would be a great thing to paint and keep things hidden in. They promised me a ‘how to’ guide so I thought, let’s do it. Let’s just try and I will!
A fun kitchen for students perhaps?!
This is the box, see it’s a bit big to have snuck into my bag but could I potentially give it a go?!
The two things I loved at the showcase the most however were the kid’s bedroom ideas and an outside trellis wall thingy (see, told you I haven’t a clue) which was painted with outdoor paint (there are actual paints for all different areas of the home, I’m sure you all know this but I only have for a couple of week’s so this is how DIY useless I am!) and it looked amazing with home-made herb baskets hanging off it. THIS is definitely getting tried by me. Oh goodness, remember I said TRIED!
The kid’s bedroom ideas are fantastic with lovely little floats shelves and glitter paint. Actual glitter paint! I brought three tubs of the pink home with me so that I can make F a feature wall next week. I am even going to try and make a floaty box shelf. Not exactly the same as in the pictures but something similar. The paint is a really subtle colour and the glitter isn’t at all in your face so I think I will like it but I’m sure F will be super pleased too. That’s IF I don’t muck it up. I’ve already kind of started on her room because I painted the inside over the stairs and otherwise useless part of her wardrobe with magnetic black board paint and it looks wicked, even if I do say so myself!
So, watch this space, I ‘THINK’ I can do it when I B&Q it but I’ll let you know shortly when I’ve actually given it a go. Using the B&Q ‘How To’ guides without any doubt!
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