I decided not to give in to temptation this year. Instead, I just window-shopped for ideas. Then I got out the boxes and sorted out my collection of decoration bits & pieces. I chucked out those tacky garlands I bought in a mad state of mind years ago, together with kitschy things that I cannot imagine ever using again. Then I sorted the rest of them into categories of “useful”, “future maybe” & “amendable”.

The amendable ones are those that, with a little adjustment, can suit my theme. This year I’m doing a white Christmas theme, so I will paint & decorate the baubles with frosty & white paint, silver glitter, fluffy material etc. I’ve bought a basic wreath made of twigs – I will spray this with the frosty paint and decorate it with little crystal pieces. I’ll make some garlands based on the same theme and put them on shelves around my home.

I have lots of candles – I’ve already put them into simple glass containers (those 50p ones from Ikea). I decorated the outside of some with little glass beads-on-wire, others I half-filled with glass drops (from Ikea again) under the candles. I will display these on my fireplace mantelpiece, on my console table, in the landings etc – perhaps with the garlands wrapped around or in between them.

I’ll make other displays and installations – I’ll write about this later.

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I became a DIY'er because I had to - I just had enough of crappy builders. Most builders lie, they are inefficient, they don't do quality work - and they charge a fortune. So I decided to do things myself.

I've done many renovating, remodeling & redecorating projects - and learnt some lessons the hard way. I decided to set up up a web site to help others with their home improvement projects.

You can become part of the DIY community or comment here about why you're into diy. I'd really like to know.

I'd also like to know if anyone has met a decent builder - who works well, knows what he's doing, doesn't bullshit, does quality work - and doesn't charge an arm and a leg!

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It would be great to be able to find a reliable builder. But how? Are there any, anyway?

Those website giving “independent” reviews of builders are actually paid by the builders themselves, so it’s not in their interest to publish bad reviews about them.

Once I took the name and phone number of a few builders from one of these sites – the first one didn’t turn up to do the job, the second one wasn’t nearly as good as the “reviews by customers” indicated. I wrote to the website – they never published my comments.

Anyway, this is why I’ve become a DIYer!

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In this blog I'll try to give advice re DIY, decorating,interior design and more!

In the meantime why don't you check out the new online community of diy'ers?
Here you can network with fellow diyers, ask an expert a decorating question, read and submit home improvement tips or you can review tools & books and other products.

If you have some stuff around your house that you no longer need or want - why don't you sell @ the marketplace - FREE of charge! Alternatively, you might want to get a second-hand tool or piece of furniture - check out what’s available on the DIY market!!

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