Kitchen Reveal: Our Dream Hamptons Inspired Shaker Kitchen

From dull and dated to our dream Hamptons inspired shaker kitchen - we're sharing our full kitchen renovation process with appliance details, finishes and everything inbetween. Take a look at the before photos in part one.

People often say that the kitchen is the heart of the home - and for me, that's definitely true.

For me, there's nothing better than a kitchen and dining room filled with loved ones. Whether it's a catch up over coffee and cake where the house is filled with laughter, or a birthday celebration where lunch spills over into dinner and the evening is finished with cake. 

So far, I've showed you the before part of our Hamptons Inspired Kitchen Renovation - and now I get to share my favourite bit.... the after.

This kitchen was a huge project. It took months of time and lots of planning - and there were plenty of tears along the way - and whilst we can't share it with loved ones during lockdown, it's ready and waiting to share with friends and family and we have plenty of seats around our table.

So let me finally share the kitchen with you! >> 

Our Hamptons inspired Kitchen Renovation - Part One!

This post has been a long time coming - and may just be the most requested post of all time, but I am finally sharing our kitchen renovation with you - from the very beginning right through to our shiny new kitchen!

But before we can get into the new, we've got to start with the old.... and when I was writing this post and putting it together, I realised that I really needed to break it into two parts before I broke your computers with an overload of photos and videos.

So let's jump into it >> 

We Bought a House - and there's a rollercoaster story behind it!

Incase you missed the news on Instagram and Facebook – WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!

And ohhhhh is there a story behind it. 

You see, the story doesn’t even start with the house we bought… it starts with the house next door… and you better strap yourself in because you’re in for one seriously bumpy ride.

Here’s what happened >> 

10 Plastic Free Swaps to Make In Your Bathroom

Join the War on Waste with these 10 Plastic Free Swaps to Make in Your Bathroom. From zero waste options to environmentally friendly alternatives, there’s something for everyone with bamboo toothbrushes, beauty recommendations, skincare musts for those with acne prone skin and more!

Click to Pin this Post on Pinterest!

This is a sponsored post for Boo Boo Brush, in collaboration with Brand Meets Blog, 

however, as always, all ideas and opinions are entirely our own!

Last year, I did a post with  7 Plastic Free Swaps to Make In Your Kitchen that was so much more popular than I expected - so it seems like many of you are also on a mission to reduce your use of plastic (and waste in general).

I have to admit that I never really used to think about just how much plastic I was using in my bathroom... so when I decided that I wanted to intentionally reduce our household waste and use of plastic - the bathroom was one of those places that needed a lot of work. 

Toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, skincare products, sanitary items, q-tips - the list of plastics goes on an on... and if you think about them, they're all things we throw out often too - but don't worry! I've got a list of 10 simple swaps you can make to reduce your use of plastic... and you won't even miss their plastic counterparts.

In fact, there's actually a few swaps you'll want to make ASAP because they look so much better/will benefit your skin/hair etc.

So let me share them with you! >> 

How to Make a Cosy Reading Nook in Your Home

If you know me, you’d know I LOVE books.

With bookshelves stuffed full of rainbow coloured books and a reading list a mile long, it was only natural that my home office was designed to be both a work space and a cosy reading nook.

It is seriously my favourite place in the whole house - and since I did a little redecorating this weekend, I thought I’d share my tips for creating the perfect reading nook!

So here are my top tips for creating an extra cosy reading nook! >> 

Easy DIY Canvas Quote Art + A GIVEAWAY!

This post is sponsored by Canvas Champ.

I spend a lot of time in my office, so I'm always on a mission to make it as inviting and functional as possible. The reason I choose to work from home over my actual office, more often than not, is simply because I feel so much more motivated when I'm in a space that I love. 

That's why I love redecorating and filling my office with the things that make me happy. From stacks and stacks of books (my office book collection is currently sitting at 289 colour coordinated books) to cute little trinkets, lots of live plants and quotes to remind myself of throughout the day. 

But finding that perfect quote print is often hard... sure, I could go to a store and buy a cheesy art print... but do I really need to remind myself to BREATHE or is seeing the world RELAX really going to make me relax? And is reminding myself that I'm beautiful really going to decrease my stress levels when I've got deadlines looming and clients calling me incessantly? Probably not.

That's why I love creating my own art pieces - and I wanted to show you how to make the EASIEST DIY Quote Art Prints for your walls - and also host an awesome GIVEAWAY! (Because who doesn't love the chance to win something!) 

So let me get on with the show and reveal this giveaway!

June Styling: House Plants That Are Hard to Kill + My Boho Inspired Office Theme

Another month - and another theme!

It's currently winter in Australia so I've been on a mission to make our house as cosy as humanely possible. Borrowing some ideas from my Hygge Home Decor Theme Ideas and Inspiration post last month, this month I've created a boho inspired theme that was created around my new plant babies!

You see, I may have a black thumb (and bad luck with plants) but I've found some of the easiest to care for house plants that I want to share with you - as well as give you a little tour of this month's theme!

So let me share what house plants are the hardest to kill - and some fun decor bits and pieces too! >> 

7 Plastic Free Swaps to Make In Your Kitchen

Psssttt: Reading this on your mobile? Scroll down and click "view web version" to see this post the way it's supposed to look! (that way you can leave a comment too!) 

Hello, my name is Kristy and I'm a closet hippie.

I've had a bazillion keep cups before cafes ever caught onto the idea that disposable coffee cups are an environmental nightmare.

I almost constantly having a drying rack sitting inside our house with beeswax wraps pegged onto it, drying.

I have a compost bin hidden around the side of our house that's pretty spectacular.

I'm a reusable bag fanatic (and will carry whatever I buy out of a bag if I don't have a bag/room to put the item in) and I'm completely and utterly dependant on my essential oils (and have been for years - so don't worry, you won't find me pushing essential oils on you because I have NO interest in pyramid marketing).

So, with the world thinking more and more about making better choices for our planet, I thought I'd share some of my super easy environmentally friendly kitchen swaps with you!

So let me help you bring out your inner hippie! >>

May Styling: Hygge Styling with a Pink, Gray and Metallic Theme

The temperatures have been dropping in Sydney lately. The fireplace is on in our front lounge room, the heating is on in the mornings and evenings and I'm finding myself putting on long sleeves instead of short and covering my freezing cold feet in socks and slippers. 

So what does one do when it's getting colder?

Why, if you ask me - the answer to that question is quite simple. You go on a hunt for ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL the warm and cosy things in life.

I'm talking cosy sweaters, new varieties of tea, slippers and when it comes to decor - that means blankets, warm lighting and a wintery colour palette.

So let me share my Calm and Cosy (not quite) Winter Theme with you! >> 

April Styling: Adding Colour and Personality with a Rainbow Theme!

It's no secret that I'm not a monochrome kind of girl. Whilst I do have a gazillion and one plain black t-shirts in my wardrobe, they're only there so I can add a pop of colour elsewhere. 

I definitely live life in colour (especially pink!) and that's why this month's decor theme turned out completely different to what I originally planned. You see, I started out wanting a book theme for the month - but that quickly turned into more and more of a rainbow theme as I gravitated towards all of the bright coloured things.

So let me share the details of this month's styling! >> 

How to Make a DIY Statement Pillow on a Budget (No Sew Option!)

I'm one of those people who goes into a store, knowing exactly what I want... but you see, that's not always a good thing, because often times, the store doesn't have exactly what I want. 

As I was pulling together my themed decor for this month (after putting away my Easter decor!), I decided I wanted a book related pillow. Something to add to my reading chair that was totally "me".... but do you think I could find it?!

Nope. What I did find, however, was a plain grey pom pom pillow that I loved - but felt was too plain... and then it hit me. Why not take the plain pom pom pillow and turn it into a statement pillow myself?

And thus I got to work. 

So let me share how to make a DIY statement pillow on a budget >>

How to Make Your Own Curious Easter Bunny Pots (An Easy DIY Easter Craft!)

If you've been following Southern In Law for a while, you'd know I love a good project - and this Easter, I may have the easiest project of all for you!

These DIY Bunny Pots are perfect for kids, school teachers, friends and family this Easter and are a perfect way to make a little treat just that extra bit special.

Best of all? They take just minutes to make and will only cost a few dollars. Even if you're a crafting newbie, I promise you can make this! 

So let me show you how to make them! >> 

March Styling: My Easter Home Decor

Hello, lovely ones! It's now mid-March and I'm back for another month of decor goodness! As I've done since I've had my new office, I've changed up my office decor with a new theme for March. 

With Easter at the end of the month, I thought March was the perfect month for an Easter decor theme - especially as it gave me the perfect excuse to buy ALLLLL the cute bunnies.

So let me share this theme with you! >> 

The Time We Decided to Make a Bookshelf from Scratch

If you've been following Southern In Law for a while, you'd probably know that Jesse and I LOVE a good project. 

Whether it's a craft project, a DIY project or a home makeover, we tend to always be doing something. 

Why? Because I'm one of those people that doesn't know how to just relax and do nothing (I relax by doing things) and so I rope my husband into everything I decide to do 🤣

And a few weeks ago, that thing I decided to do was building a bookcase.... from scratch.... as you do. 

So let me share our story of that time we decided to build a bookcase >> 

February Styling: My Easy Valentine's Day Themed Home Decor

With a new month, comes a new decor theme - and I might have said this last month, but this theme may be my favourite!

Whilst Jesse and I may not necessarily celebrate Valentine's Day, it was the perfect chance to change up my office decor with a pink, red and love filled theme!

So let me show you how our February Decor Theme! >> 

How to Make String Art Using Recycled Wood (an Easy DIY Step-by-Step Tutorial!)

Somehow the first month of 2018 is already at it's end. I don't quite know how that happened - but I do know what that means... 

It's time for a new decor theme!

And with a new decor theme, comes a new DIY project! For February, I decided I'd go with a Valentine's theme. Because, whilst Jesse and I may not celebrate Valentine's Day, it was the perfect excuse to use ALL the pinks and reds and cute heart things. 

This month I knew I wanted to try a craft project that I'd never tried before. I'd seen string art all over the internet and always wanted to try it myself - so this month I bit the bullet and did it and I was super surprised by how easy it was!

So let me show you how to make your own DIY String Art, step by step! >>

January Styling: How to Create a Tropical Decor Theme in Any Room (On a Budget!)

Well hey there, lovelies! Happy Monday!

I thought today was the perfect time to share my January Office Styling with you - since last week I gave you the DIY Fabric Wall Hanging Instructions that I used to make the hanging on my peg board this month. 

After Christmas, my office felt a little bit bare after taking down all of my decorations - so I decided I'd start decorating each month of the year as well!

This post will be relatively short and simple - but I thought I'd share my tips for creating a tropical inspired decor look whilst also sharing some of the pieces used in the room that you might want to buy yourself!

So let me share my tips! >> 

How to Make a DIY No-Sew Fabric Wall Hanging

I love DIY projects and crafting and I also love decorating my home and office - so naturally, I love coming up with fun home decor DIY projects that I can use when I redecorate different spaces in our house. 

Lately, wall hangings have become incredibly popular and there's just something about them that I love. The problem though? Wall hangings can be pretty expensive - and it's often hard to find that perfect one that fits your decor theme, colour scheme or the space you're wanting to put it in. 

After searching high and low for exactly what I wanted (and only finding items that were the wrong colour, too big or too small, too long or too short and just not right!), I decided I'd try and work out how to make my own. 

Little did I know at the time that this would be one of the easiest DIY decor projects I had ever done. Seriously, it takes about 10 minutes to make a pennant and it will take you more time going out and sourcing the fabric than it will take you to put it all together.

So let me tell you how to make a DIY Fabric Wall Hanging Pennant >> 

Spare Bedroom to Home Office Makeover On a Budget (Room Reveal with Before and After Photos!)

Why hello there! 

You've heard me talk about my home office for weeks (because it was a big project and we started all the way back in September!) and you've seen glimpses here and there - but I thought today, I'd invite you into what has become my favourite room in our house - and give you the grand tour!

It's still a work in progress, however, why don't you come inside?

Mind the puppies, and let me show you around!

Here's a look at my new home office! >> 

Easy DIY Built In Wardrobe Makeover

Remember our Spare Bedroom to Home Office Makeover? If so, you'll remember the ugly built in wardrobe that was there.

Well now? That wardrobe is LONG GONE. 

It was ugly, impractical (the doors were too big so you couldn't access the middle section) and didn't fit with the look I wanted the room to have.... so I took it out!

Only, I couldn't take it completely out... you see, to the right of that wardrobe was an airconditioning vent - and if I ripped it completely out, I'd also have to patch the ceiling... so let me show you how I came up with a creative solution! 

Here's how we did our Built In Wardrobe Makeover on a Budget! >>