Looks great - nice to see your igonred most of the anne twacky ideas ! But would suggest get way bigger pictures. I get mine from charity shops, car boot sales etc and paint the frames or replace the picture. You can knock up an abstract in two mins. Use any left over emulsion paint or buy matchpots to paint out the existing picture which gives you your background and paint a blob of colour anywhere on the canvas ( or whatever it's made of. ). If you are going to paint the frame matt is nice and I use clay based paint. I KNOW its expensive but it goes a looooong way and looks and feels mega. You may find some nice abstract stuff as well. For example I got a unframed canvas ( feels like canvas ) with nine squares on it all a different colour with contrasting, lit, light bulbs in each square. It was It was about 90 cm x 120 cm and I turned it around the wrong way. i.e so the bulbs looked to be sticking out rather than standing up. Very loud and brrrrright. Cost £12.00. I also go to local auctions. I cannot tell you the amount of things I have obtained from them for next to nothing. General household sales are the best for bargains. e.g. cabin trunk for £12.00, metal top hat box £8.00 both now painted. Few years back, I furnished a two bed flat with two receptions, kitchen and bathroom for £200. I like old furniture and I can also paint ! Therefore, it is my suggestion that you go for really nice wood or nice shape. Unfortunately, you don't usually get both together. I got a demi lune table really solid from a car boot sale for £4.00 also painted and looks good under the window. Mirrors car boots, auctions, charity shops and although there are not so many these days, jummies ! ( jumble sales ). Strange. I sense a big yawn coming on so I hope I did not bore you too much but your place has so much scope and did I mention Brick Lane Market, Portobello Market ? and every other London market. Also in Spain I got large white with blue roses on massive curtain for 10 euros way before the big rose thing became trendy. France is good for street markets. Good luck. Goodbye.

I never, ever change mine. I use a butcher block and a huge thick wooden cutting board, only taking care to keep my fruits from suddenly tasting like onions or garlic. Studies have shown that a wooden cutting board is naturally resistant to bacteria, so I scrape and then wash mine off with soap and water after use. All this absurd paranoia about cleanliness is the product of marketing, not science, and the supposedly more sterile plastic ones are actually much better petri dishes for bacterial growth, which is why they must be cleaned and disposed of regularly. Fine if you want to keep plastic cutting board manufacturers in China working, but not at all safer or cleaner.

You'll think this is really boring but my life changed completely when my cousin gave me the money to buy a washing machine and tumble dryer when I moved into my first flat. Being liberated from the launderette was a wonderful feeling that lasted for years; she bought me freedom. Otherwise, it's the thoughtful presents that stand out for me - not necessarily expensive but exactly in tune with me - and I include cards in the general overall term of gift. Carefully chosen birthday or Christmas cards are treasures - I love Indian elephants so elephant cards are a huge pleasure and, because my birthday is on 25th December, I love clever Christmas Birthday cards (not easy to find in the UK so I tend to get them from family and friends in America/Canada). It's not cheating (one card for two occasions); it's recognising the significance of the day to me.

You have a fairly small bathroom, which is why the tiles have been kept neutral and light. What's missing is some items that will pop. You could spring for a nicer sink arrangement. The cabinet around a pedestal was never a good look. Is there enough room between the bath and the opposite wall to turn the sink and move it towards the toilet to give you more worktop space and storage at the end of the bath? If not, keep the sink where it is, but use a vanity to look more fitted. The bath can be altered to provide more storage. Although this image shows open storage, you could have a panel front created with a drop down panel on a push fitting http://www.dovcorbathrooms.co.uk/blog/view/a-great-bath-storage-idea Changing the radiator to a heated towel ladder you will be able to hang colourful towels. Put up a hand towel bar or ring above the right hand side of the sink. Get rid of the toilet roll stand and hang the roll from a holder that matches the hand towel rail. Store extra rolls under the sink. Paint the long wall in one of the colours in the border tile, perhaps a richer beige. An interesting large mirror would visually widen the room. Alternatively, try a pale blue wall colour and richer mid blue towels mixed with brown towels. (this photo shows how sophisticated blue, brown and beige can be) [https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/sioux-falls-residence-contemporary-living-room-minneapolis-phvw-vp~15685118[(https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/sioux-falls-residence-contemporary-living-room-minneapolis-phvw-vp~15685118) There doesn't appear to be any lighting other than overhead. A light over the sink area would vastly improve that corner. The floor does nothing for the room. Why not choose a vinyl floor from Amtico or Karndean in a dark wood board effect? The tiles in your bathroom can be skimmed over by a professional fitter and the new floor laid directly on top. It would also be warmer underfoot. http://www.karndean.com/en-gb/floors/explore-by-room/bathroom.