Here is a little teaser of something exciting that I am currently working on. Mood boards are often created as a basis for designing, ie- the research part. Once the designer and client have agreed with the theme/feel/look of the space, then the work begins! Design proposal, design documentation and design construction will take place one after another. So stay tuned!
When the husband wants something, he just has to say the word and then I’ll take care of the rest. This time he wanted an armchair, for more comfort.
I wasn’t exactly sure where else I could put this extra armchair seeing that our living room isn’t a big room, so I had to compromise some things and move around. The photo below was the old living room decor nook, where the floor lamp is. And this is where the new armchair will go.
So when we put the new armchair there and moved the floor lamp to the opposite nook (gotten rid of the magazine rack), the walls behind the armchair looked rather plain. I decided to DIY some art from the stuff we already had and picked up a couple of things from the junk yard. I got this timber tray for $2.50 each.
Above: Sanded timber tray (before)
Below: During the process of painting
The picture below are the 3 DIY wall art.
1- Exsiting Ikea MALMA mirror that I stencil and painted with a quatrefoil design.
2. Junk yard timber tray turned wall art – digital design print.
3. Junk yard timber tray turned wall art – hand painted.
For the quatrefoil mirror, I cut out a stencil and traced it all around the mirror with a pencil.
Then using acrylic paint, painted it with love and care.
Here is a close up of the timber trays, they are painted to make it look a bit rustic
As for art #2, Its a digital design art that I made in illustator and printed it out. I’m also selling it in my Etsy store.
The cushion was purchased online from eBay.
I have just recently launched my Etsy shop. I design modern and contemporary art prints for the home, suitable for adults & kids, some are Islamic based too. Below are just a few samples of what I offer. They are Islamic Kids Personalise Digital Art Print – Daily Prayer – 8×10 (20x25cm). You can customise the colour to suit your decor. I can even personalise them to add names, or if you want it in a different language…it can be done inshallah. Just let me know. Each print costs USD $12 (without frame). If you need it framed, I am happy to accomodate your needs. For more information, please click the images below or visit my Etsy shop.
This is our revamped side table with a quatrefoil design. Lately I’ve been into contemporary Moroccan latticework patterns. They are absolutely pretty! I’ll show a step by step on how to stencil this table. There are a couple of ways to do it, either paint it with your bare fingers (using a template or use a sticker stencil) I’ll show you the stencil way. First, get yourself an old table. We picked this up from an ad on Gumtree for $15.
I measured the diameter of the table and whipped up the patterns on illustrator. Feel free to download the pattern template here. I made it available in a PDF version so the vector works remain if you wish to resize it.
Then print it out onto sticker paper and using a stanley knife or scissors, carefully cut out the stencil template.
Give the table a good sand thoroughly.
Paint the base colour, I chose a light grey. Give it two coats.
Once dried, apply the sticker stencil. Press to make sure they are no bumps. And finally spray it white, two coats again. Leave it to dry for a day before removing the stencil.
Once you remove the stencil, sand the edges using a fine sand paper to enhance the edges and also to give it a rustic look.
And now we’re done!
Total cost of project:
Side table $15
Spray paint $3
Sticker paper $2
Final total:$20. An absolute bargain!
It makes for such a pretty indoor or even outdoor side table.
I swear every Eid is a rush. For some reason, all my raya(eid) grocery shopping, cooking and decorating happens the night before. Its strange considering I am quite an organised person. Must be all the excitement I guess. And as a Malay, I follow the way we celebrate Eid. We don’t only bake various cookies, we do a whole feast. Lontong, rendang, chicken curry etc… though I have to admit, this time I didnt do the whole shebang. One: I just don’t have much time with a 3 month old and a 2 year old and two: my aunty brought us heaps of raya cookies all the way from Malaysia. Yayness!
So it was around 10pm the eve of Eid that I went searching for a chocolate cupcake recipe online and found this. Its pretty similar to the ones I’ve made before and it tasted good. Suffice to say I slept at 3am after all the cooking and baking. But it was such a rewarding feeling knowing that you’ll be celebrating a beautiful occasion with your loved ones.
The tags are also DIY. And yes, I was up designing, printing, cutting and gluing these tags for the cupcakes and goodie bags. You can find them here, printable DIY cupcake flags and gift tags. For these specific ones (in this post), you’ll need to wait until I find time to upload them ;)
These cupcakes are for Aliya’s class. We celebrated with her little friends at Kinda. Oh it was so cute seeing them eat in mess.
RECIPE FOR CHOCOLATE CUPAKES
Adapted from My Baking Addiction with slight modificationsYields: 24 cupcakes
Prep time: 20 mins
Bake time: 20 mins approxIngredients
1 3/4 cups plain flour
2 cups caster sugar
3/4 cups cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup freshly brewed hot coffeeMethod
1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees fan forced. Line 2 standard dozen muffin trays with paper liners; set aside.
2. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Fold in slowly the dry ingredients into the wet. Then add in the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
3. Using a large scoop, distribute the batter between 24 muffin cases, filling each up to 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack and cool completely.
RECIPE FOR VANILLA BUTTERCREAM ICING/FROSTING
Adapted from Sweetapolita with slight modificationsMakes: Enough to decorate 24 cupcakes
Prep time: 5 minsIngredients
340 grams unsalted butter, softened and cut into cubes
600 grams icing sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extractMethod
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip butter for 5 minutes on medium speed. Butter will become very pale & creamy.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix on low speed for 1 minute, then on medium speed for 5 minutes. Frosting will be very light, creamy, and fluffy.
3. Use to decorate right away before it hardens.
