Corking ‘ell my room still sucks - One Room Challenge - Week 4
Hey Hey,
How’s your month zooming by? From where i’m viewing, this month is in some sort of hurry. I’ve barely had time to blink and drink a glass of wine ant yet we’ve already stepped passed the half way mark of the One Room Challenge. Have you been enjoying the journey so far? I have and haven’t all at the same time, i’m excited to have a proper wellness space but getting to that goal is a massive slog off.
Are you wondering how we even got here, head on to catch up on the first 3 weeks. Here.
Shopping for supplies like a woman on a mission and other weekend antics
Let’s get started on week 4. How about we return to last Saturday when I got to pick up the supplies including Tribal Wallpaper and eco paint? Life on Saturdays is more hectic than weekday commuting, this whole ‘click And collect’ lark, as efficient as it is, had me zooming from Penge to New Cross Gate via a stint at my allotment. I was on a mad mission but I got loads bought, and little physically done to the room.
I won’t moan that shops in this day and age still close at 1 p.m. on a Saturday since I think TLC Direct are brilliant. Need a socket, switch or some other electric gadget? They probably have it. I got my electric socket up to date with USB connections at a sweet price and no elaborate packaging that needs a hacksaw to break into. Don’t you hate how hard it is to open packaging these days?
Don’t look up the ceiling is a mess
I can tell you that work is FINALLY on the way. Woo hoo! And it had to start from the ceiling, the messiest job to get done that I really couldn’t put off anymore. Here’s how it’s done:
Remove hooks and other things attached to the ceiling.
Start stripping the offensive wallpaper off with a scraper while competing with yourself to tear off the longest piece.
I think the neighbours want to punch me over this makeover. Ok, so it’s not like they know what I’m doing BUT the banging, clanging and deliveries may be a giveaway. 3 am had me vacuuming woodchip wallpaper grit off the floor. Of course, I was trying to do it as quickly as possible and keep the noise down, especially as I have more deliveries that the neighbours likely have to sign for. For the sake of this One Room Challenge finishing on time, I need their cooperation. But guess what happened? The hose got clogged up mid vac. Just when they thought the stupid o’clock noise was over, I had to restart.
Work until the early hours on a school night, knowing that you have to get up for work in a few hours.
Look at the pile of mess on the floor, happily triumphant and then realise you have to pick all that mess up.
Even if I was at a point of hanging the wallpaper, I’ve been waiting for the glue to arrive anyway. Another hurdle get over to maintain eco friendliness is sourcing the AURO glue, the all good natural and no toxic alternative. Another supply which can’t be picked up in any ole DIY store. Although I like to use local or small independent companies as much as possible, unfortunately I had no choice to compromise this time and run to the likes of Amazon. One website was broken and I couldn’t spare a decade for it to load. Another had no glue in stock. Shame! I’ll be sure to give a bit of a review of the paste once i’ve used it, i’m hoping it goes a nice job but you never know until you try.
While we’re talking about the mess on the floor, let’s talk flooring!
You may have noticed I’ve avoided chatting about flooring over the last 3 weeks. That’s because I have been in two minds abut what to do with my flooring situation. One minute i’m thinking jute carpet but the budget would’ve blown right out the water.
Just because non toxic and vegan living is on the menu for the bedroom, style matters too. A textured jute rug will totally work against the cork flooring.
I’m so hot for this patterned jute rug it’s a damn shame! But it has a wool content to make the beasty . Ugh!
With all the rugs have I looked at, at least triple figures, you know what I’ve noticed? The number of retailers who suck at labelling their products. Seriously, describe what you sell. I’m going to need you to tell me basic info like the size, the colour and its material make-up at all times. Small, medium, and large really mean squat. I don’t know what that’s about, just stop it. And there lies my midi rant for the week. Forgive me and join me to the next segment.
The hunt for cork flooring. Oh boy!
I’ve been wrestling with myself about what to do in terms of the floor. The piddly excuse for carpet is so done for and the concrete below is a no-go on the comfort front. Carpet is generally a choice between chemical-ridden plastic and made from animals wool. Another no to stay on the right side of vegan and humane living. What became feasible was either jute, seagrass or coir, or cork.
Cork is hella popular over in Portugal and has come such a long and more up-to-date way since being this peeling mess of ugliness. I’ve actually quickly liked the material for the last few years but haven’t used it all too much in design projects. Well…….it’s gonna be all over the floor before this challenge ends. YEP, I went with cork because I have no desire to get on my knees with the roughness of coir digging in or endure the carpet fumes and failed delivery dates. I’m in a rush, and need a quick solution for the health of it, so cork is it.
“What’s you feelings about cork? On trend or something you’d never install in your home?”
BUT, finding a supplier had its issues. 3 times I emailed one retailer for a quote, one reply and a lousy one at that later, I was done. I can’t even get a reply let alone make a purchase. Finally I found a company that have way more sense and obviously like to sell their stock of cork so guess who took my money? All ordered and ready to eventually be fitted, although let’s be honest. It will at this point be taking up another corner of the house. The house which is now filled with cardboard boxes and packed up belongings.
Making tassels without hassling any animals
Going for a vegan friendly and non toxic environment isn’t without hassle, so making my own tassels were easier than sourcing them in the colour combo to match the room.
You know i’ve been excited to use the tencel yarn since it arrived from the mainland Europe? Well I made tassels and i’m so deserving gold star to getting crafty. Ok, they are so easy to make and they didn’t take long either but I’m pretty chuffed not to have forked out for expensive ones made of fabric trimming i don’t care for. It literally only took two bundles of yarn and my arm to made. I love how soft they are, luxury i’m telling you.
I have zero clue what tassel making equipment consists of so I used a pen. It worked, I’m pleased.
The malachite beads that I ordered haven’t arrived yet, so I tested the colour combination with a necklace I got from a charity shop. It got Mr’s approval as he rates malachite as one of his favourite stones. Yep, design happiness into the small details to reflect who you are.
What’s next on the wellness bedroom agenda?
Until this ceiling arrangement is done, nothing else can really happen wall-wise. No wallpaper or anything, so I better pop off here and get to it. The now-stripped ceiling needs prepping for paint. Once the paint gets done, light oh glorious light can be installed. Who can’t wait? Jecks can’t wait. Stay posted as by next week, week flipping 5, big changes should have happened and I'm excited to reveal more.
What needs to happen by week 5?
Get all the prep work done to the ceiling, which should have happened 2 weeks ago. ARGH woodchip
Quit being indecisive and pick a rug to soften the floor.
Paint the ceiling after patching up all the unleavened plaster.
Choose art and get photos printed for frames
Start getting the wardrobe areas wallpapered and prepped for storing clothes in style
Wallpaper the walls like my life depended on it.
Once again I must share the epicness of the other challengers because they’re too good not to mention. Hop on over to and get inspired www.oneroomchallenge.com/orc-blog
“ORC MISSION STATEMENT
The One Room challenge™ will provide participants with a supportive, enthusiastic forum in which to share the process of transforming a room. The ORC is not a competition, but rather a celebration of creativity, inspiration, and original ideas. Welcome!
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