Howchi Living: 2017

Monday, 15 May 2017

Quick & Easy Makeover idea for your home!

It's easy to neglect and become bored with particular pieces of furniture over time and when pieces start to show signs of ware and tare we tend to quickly think of ways to replace them- it seems easier, but costly too! If you're a fan of wood you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

Some pieces age really well with time and can further add character to your home. But there are some pieces that due to sun exposure, children, pets and just day to day ware, that can be left looking a little tired - draining the room from its beauty.

Different parts of the TV Stand have lost colour and look faded and scratches very obvious!

Extreme sun exposure has seen this reclaimed wood coffee table lose its color and life!

I love my living room but it does consist of wooden furniture that is looking a little tired. The open plan dining is not too far from sight and also features wood. I realised some pieces were in much need of TLC.

Problem Solved in just one step

I visited a trusted Furniture Designer/Retailer in Hong Kong known as Tequila Kola and discussed my issues. Before I knew it I had a repair guy at my door sanding down and re touching our much-loved pieces. I didn't have to leave the house or part with the items, and in a matter of hours I had a transformation that cost far less than the cost of purchasing or replacing a new piece of small furniture.

Carefully sanded back and re touched!

Care was taken with dining chair legs

Sometimes the change you need is simpler than you think. I really do feel these pieces are new again and can certainly feel the new energy around!

Tv Stand is now all one tone!

If you're looking at ways to reinvigorate an area of your home, drop me a note at melissa@howchiliving.com!

No more mismatched dining chair legs!

Wednesday, 19 April 2017

DIY! Easy steps to decluttering and organising the toys

It’s a small World

There is just one room and a ton of stuff

where a happy toddler is sure to have fun

though the play sets are wide and the action figures are high

It's a small person’s world after all …

Tired of toys scattered on the floor? Discover simple and cost effective solutions that will take care of toys, books and artwork!

If there’s one thing that will keep me tossing and turning at night- it would be being surrounded by clutter and mess. Since having a child I made a promise to never let the clutter of toys and little peoples items get the better of me.

Our current space is tight and temporary so I found these options for storing Toys, Artwork and Books a real hit in our home! This system works well and hasn’t taken the fun out of playing!

I didn’t look past Ikea for the storage system as I wanted something relatively inexpensive, and flexible in the way it served its purpose in our home. As a child I loved to categorise things whether it be my mothers pantry or my own wardrobe! So why not do it with toys!

Categorising toys by concept makes it easy locating much loved items and can make tidying up fun!

Individual boxes helped extend playtime as my child was learning to play one box at a time instead of being overwhelmed with one giant toy box. Besides it's much easier tidying up one box at a time!

Little people fit so much fun in one day including artwork and reading and the challenge is fitting it all into a home!

Here's an easy solution to storing artwork. Try using colourful or monotone frames of all shapes and sizes. This feature will add a unique and personal touch to a room whilst making it colourful and fun.

Picked up online is this four tier shelf and my son loves it as he can see his books face on! It’s the perfect height for little fingers and can moved around the home if need be as it is light weight too! The colours work well with the framed artwork in our reading corner.

I'd love to see your pics of your play room so get styling and send them through...

Wednesday, 22 March 2017

Lighten Up!

Never underestimate the impact of feature lighting and how it can simply create a gorgeous ambience in your home. Quite often it’s all you’ll need to complete the desired look you have in mind. From Narrow Hallways and small entryways to high ceilings and reading nooks ; lighting can be a real focal point or feature.

Here’s a few of my favourite new pendants, chandeliers and floor lamps from Timothy Oulton’s 2017 spring range. These standout pieces will add a touch of glamour and urban style to the right space and are guaranteed to be talking points over dinner.

LAVA Pendant

The Lava pendant is hand blown using an age-old technique. The irregular shape makes it unique and reminiscent of a deflated balloon. Each piece is truly an authentic one-off. I love that it is minimalistic yet playful.

MONARCH Chandelier

The Monarch is made up of recycled glass shards that have been randomly selected and polished by hand, and then tied to each end of a piece of wire. This piece is will add plenty of sparkle and glow above a dining table or island bench.

NIGHT ROD Floor lamp and Pendant

Truly a glamorous collection, both the lamp and pendant are suitable for those looking to add drama and charm to a space. The triangular shape of the prisms reflects and refracts the light on all sides in a shimmering dance of sparkle- Jazz up that living room with these two pieces.

VECTOR Pendant

The Vector pendant is handcrafted from a raw iron cage whose architectural shape conjures up images of rocket engines and the science of aerospace. Perfect for those trying to create a funky urban office space or if you want simply bold and beautiful!

GYRO CRYSTAL RECTANGLE Pendant

Possibly my favorite industrial chic piece of the season! This is truly a collaboration of mixing the old with the new! This piece boasts a framework of aged metal spheres fixed around a traditional Georgian style chandelier, whilst throwing in industrial accents into the mix to create a sense of industrial glamour. The rectangular form looks spectacular above dining tables or in hallways.