Friday Faves

How is it the end of October already?! Seriously? I’ve spent the week planning features for November and I suddenly realised that my planner is about to run out of pages as well as the year running out of days (and once December starts that’s the end of the year with just a hazy month of fairy lights, parties and presents, right?). Anyhoo, I promptly put an order in for my annual Rifle Paper Co calendar – I chose this one from Papermash – and now I need to choose a new planner so I thought I’d share some of my favourites that you can buy right here…

Right, I’m focusing on making the most of the rest of this year and trying to slow time down a bit. Hope you’ve all had a good week and enjoy the weekend!

Katy x

Styling an Autumn table (and the perfect dinner party recipe)

One of the things I like best about the arrival of the colder months is the chance to cosy up indoors and enjoy long dinner parties with lots of candles, red wine and yummy food. It’s so lovely to gather friends and it is easy to make it feel special by making a bit more than the usual effort on styling the dinner. I have the perfect recipe for you to use for dinner parties, which will give you the extra time you need to prepare a beautiful autumnal table.

Styling an Autumn table | Robert Welch cutlery | Autumnal table with pumpkins, touches of pink and Eucalyptus | The perfect dinner party menu | Apartment Apartment

I’m a big fan of Robert Welch knives (remember this post?) so I was thrilled to be sent a beautiful new set of Malvern Bright cutlery that adds a touch of style to my table. I would always recommend investing in a set of good quality cutlery as not only does it look great but eating from it is so much more pleasurable. This limited edition 30 piece set is great value and you save £39 compared to individual retail pricing and it is completely dishwasher safe (a must for me).

Styling an Autumn table | Robert Welch cutlery | Autumnal table with pumpkins, touches of pink and Eucalyptus | The perfect dinner party menu | Apartment Apartment

To style my table, once I had decided on my cutlery, linens and glasses, I spent a few moments printing out the menu for the dinner but you could just add a simple name card. The pink of the glasses and the pink salt adds a bit of warmth to the table (you know how I don’t like dark colours so this is my nod to autumnal colours).

A very quick, easy and cheap way to add a bit of decoration to the table is to use a few stems of Eucalyptus, with the added bonus that it smells amazing, and a few gourds nestled amongst the foliage to add an autumnal feel.

Styling an Autumn table | Robert Welch cutlery | Autumnal table with pumpkins, touches of pink and Eucalyptus | The perfect dinner party menu | Apartment Apartment

I remembered that last week I found Jeska’s tutorial to gilt seashells and although I didn’t have time to do that I thought the shells would make lovely little pinch pots for salt and pepper.

Styling an Autumn table | Robert Welch cutlery | Autumnal table with pumpkins, touches of pink and Eucalyptus | The perfect dinner party menu | Apartment Apartment

I really like the simple and classic design of this cutlery range and it feels really good to hold, too. As an added bonus you get six free steak knives with this set.

So there’s my easy to style Autumn table and as promised, you must try out this recipe by Nigella Lawson for Asian flavoured short ribs: it tastes so good, can be prepared up to three days ahead of time and it is impossible to get wrong. Do it – your friends will love it! I’m looking forward to thinking of Christmas table ideas now using my new gorgeous cutlery.

Katy x

*This post was written in collaboration with Robert Welch.

 

Styling an Autumn table | Robert Welch cutlery | Autumnal table with pumpkins, touches of pink and Eucalyptus | The perfect dinner party menu | Apartment Apartment

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Made to Last

One of the things I have enjoyed most about starting a blog is discovering and meeting so many independent shopkeepers and makers. I love being able to introduce them to you as I know finding the time to source great products either for your own homes or for gifts can be very difficult for some.

Today, I would like to introduce you to Made to Last, set up and run by Joel who has kindly taken the time to answer a few of my questions about his online shop. I’ve also picked my own favourite products from the shop for you to take a look at. Over to Joel…

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1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and why you set up Made to Last?

I have been interested in the environment and the impact that we have on it for a long time. A particular incident that I always remember is travelling on a boat up the Amazon river where the boat owners used to just empty the bins over the side of the boat.

As well as that I have always been a cheapskate and struggled with value for money (I was on the cheapest boat available going up the Amazon). I love a bargain and have had my fingers burnt far too often as a consequence. A few years ago I made a decision to focus on value for money and buy quality products that will stand the test of time.

Additionally I have a background in marketing for retail online so wanted to marry these personal interests with my professional skill set. Made to Last is the result.

2. What makes Made to Last different to other shops?

Our focus on value for money is the key differentiator. All of our products show a clear price and a guarantee length from the manufacturer. By comparing the price with the guarantee length our customers can get a rough idea on value for money.

It is a new concept and some suppliers although selling amazing products on Made to Last are unable to give warranties to the length that they really know that their products will last. But they are slowly coming round to the idea and in a few years I think that the idea will really hit home as it helps both customers in terms of trust and also suppliers in terms of pushing them to make the best products – when they do they sell more.

As well as that we only sell products manufactured in the British Isles (including Ireland). This means that there are less taxes, less transport costs, staff in our suppliers companies are paid fairly and treated well. So through buying from Made to Last you can be confident that everyone is getting a good deal out of your purchase.

Made To Last | Apartment Apothecary

Top row from left to right: Cast iron casserole dish from Netherton Foundry, Hugo table light by Original BTC Middle row: Hill & Ellis professor bike bagBee9 drop leaf tablet desk, Utology desk tidy Bottom row: Hector small pleat table lamp by Original BTC, Cast iron cookware range from Netherton Foundry,  Albert peach cushion.

3. Why do you feel so strongly about British made goods?

The 3 reasons are:

1) Lower environmental impact through shorter distances between manufacturer and end user – we do not store the products – they go direct form the maker to the user.
2) Everyone in the supply chain being treated fairly.
3) I want to support manufacturing as I think that when people do jobs that involve actually creating something that another person benefits from, it makes them feel worthwhile. It is a shame that British manufacturing declined for many years – hopefully it’s revival will continue indefinitely.

4. How do you choose which products to stock in your shop?

We come across new makers and products in a number of ways, some through recommendations from our customers, in many cases the suppliers contact us and in other cases we research online for new suppliers and contact them ourselves. We then discuss with them which of their products will be a good fit for Made to Last and go from there.

5. Are you ever tempted to keep any of your products for yourself?

I have got a number of the products already – I have a chopping board from Rough Stuff Oak and some pendant lights from Mullan to name a few.

6. Where would you like to take Made to Last in the future?

A dangerously big question – I will try to keep it short….

Over the next few years we would like to develop the product ranges further, especially in furniture and as well as that develop the website and in particular the ease of customers finding the most suitable products for them quickly. This becomes an issue as we add more products. Long term, we would also like to open a showroom where people can come and see our products and try them for themselves. Finally – I am keen to do something about increasing reuse and recycling. I think that people are too quick to buy again rather than think about repairing. This will mean a lot of discussion and work with our suppliers in some cases but many of them already offer this kind of service – we just do not shout about it at the moment.

Thank you so much to Joel for giving us an insight into setting up and running an online store. I’ll take the whole Netherton Foundry range, please!

Katy x

*This post was written in collaboration with Made to Last

Kitchen storage solutions: clever Ikea hacks

As I explained last week I lost a lot of images from older posts whilst meddling with my blog design (ooops!). Therefore, I have been spending my spare time trying to upload the original images back into my archives and although a painful process it has been nice at times re-discovering posts I did a few years ago that I had forgotten about.

As it turns out, one of my most popular posts (it has been on Buzzfeed over and over again and pinned over 100k times – I know!!) is one about kitchen storage ideas and how I use the inside of my cabinet doors to give us more space in a small kitchen. Now, the photos are a bit ropey and the cupboards a little messy compared to how they look these days after my minimalism challenge but I thought you might want to see these ideas again if you didn’t see it first time round over three years ago…

Ikea hacks

1. Three years on I still LOVE this idea and it has helped so much in daily cooking and you no longer hear me scream “where is the f**king lid to this pan???”. Do it immediately if you haven’t already.

Kitchen storage solutions using the inside of kitchen cupboard doors | Ikea hacks for the kitchen | Clever storage solutions for small kitchens | Apartment Apothecary

Screw these GRUNDTAL rails to the inside of your kitchen cabinets as the perfect way to store pan lids.

2. The versatility of these BEKVAM spice racks is great and we have three screwed into the back of our main food cupboard, which provides valuable extra storage space.

Kitchen storage solutions using the inside of kitchen cupboard doors | Ikea hacks for the kitchen | Clever storage solutions for small kitchens | Apartment Apothecary

Be careful to choose screws that are short enough that they won’t damage the outside of the cabinet door.

3. This is probably the image that has been shared most widely from my blog (shame it’s not aesthetically pleasing at all!). These KNUFF magazine files are a great way to add space for cleaning materials or we use them for cling film and foil as this frees up a whole kitchen drawer.

Kitchen storage solutions using the inside of kitchen cupboard doors | Ikea hacks for the kitchen | Clever storage solutions for small kitchens | Apartment Apothecary

Be careful where you decide to place these as if you want to store something tall in them you will need to mount them fairly low down on the door.

4. VARIERA shelf inserts are a great way of using wasted space in kitchen cupboards and they effectively double how much you can store.

Kitchen storage solutions using the inside of kitchen cupboard doors | Ikea hacks for the kitchen | Clever storage solutions for small kitchens | Apartment Apothecary

Such a simple way of adding more storage space.

Kitchen storage solutions using the inside of kitchen cupboard doors | Ikea hacks for the kitchen | Clever storage solutions for small kitchens | Apartment Apothecary

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Hope this is helpful for those of you who missed it first time round and if you do need more storage in your kitchen you really should try these ideas as they have made a massive difference for us and three years on we are still using all them.

Katy x

 

Selection of the best day beds

As I said in my nursery inspiration post, we definitely want a day bed in the baby’s room so I have started to have a look at some of the best options. There are a few reasons we have decided it’s a good thing to have in this room ranging from being able to house family members who want to come and stay, an extra bed for either Jules or I to escape to when the sleep deprivation gets too much, a cosy place I can nap and feed the baby and I think it will help make the room feel welcoming and become almost a second living space.

I have always, always wanted an Ercol day bed but it doesn’t quite fit our requirements that the bed be inexpensive and sleep two. It will just have to stay on my wish list for another few years!

Here are a few day beds that do meet our requirements but also a few others that aren’t quite right for us but may work for you…

Choosing a day bed | Selection of day beds | Day beds for a nursery | Apartment Apothecary

I’ve always really loved this day bed and it would work really well in the room but it’s just a bit too expensive for my budget. Two pack day bed from Loaf (they have a couple of other great options, too).

Choosing a day bed | Selection of day beds | Day beds for a nursery | Apartment Apothecary

I would loooooove to have this piece in my life and it would look amazing in the room but it doesn’t sleep two and it’s a bit too pricey. It’s definitely on my wish list for the future though. Day Bed One from Another Country.

Choosing a day bed | Selection of day beds | Day beds for a nursery | Apartment Apothecary

This is a good option as it converts to a double bed and I like the simple design and I could easily personalise the frame with paint. TARVA Day Bed from Ikea.

Choosing a day bed | Selection of day beds | Day beds for a nursery | Apartment Apothecary

My dream day bed – I will have it one day! You can buy one similar from Layer Home.

Choosing a day bed | Selection of day beds | Day beds for a nursery | Apartment Apothecary

A very practical option as it converts to a king size bed, it’s well priced and it has under bed storage, which always appeals. HEMNES day bed from Ikea.

Choosing a day bed | Selection of day beds | Day beds for a nursery | Apartment Apothecary

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It looks like there will be a trip to Ikea soon and as long as I’m treated to a hotdog at the end I’ll be happy 😉

Katy x