Wishes: For a place to call home

I think I first mentioned the begining of our search for a home back in Autumn 2012 and we've been looking ever since! I haven't bored you with shots of all the dreadful flats and houses we've visited in the intervening months, but suffice to say we have finally found one we love in an area we're excited about living in!

I just had to delete a paragraph that I had originally written back in 2013 when we had an offer accepted on a house and were going through the paperwork. Sadly, that place fell through and we went back to the drawing board. But finally, I have some good news to share - we have exchanged on a house!!! :)))) I'm a little superstitious about things and don't like to over think stuff, as I"m convinced it then all conspires against you! After our first knock with house number one we forced ourself to be really hard headed about house number two. I really haven't spent much time thinking about it, making plans for it and imagining our life in it. But suddenly, all that's allowed now!

It's a lovely house, liveable but with plenty of room for improvement, value-adding and DIYs! Can't wait to get cracking with the planning, designing, trial and error, testing, DIYs, renovations, painting, building, decorating etc. I am finally allowing myself to dream wild home dreams.....so watch this space!

It's ever so slightly terrifying! I am one part unbelievably excited - to have our own place where we can do what we want, make it how we want, fill it with the things and people we love, create a haven from the hectic world outside. But I'm also one part totally terrified! It's such a responsibility, such an expense and such a big and unpredictable liability. We will be responsible for forking out every time the boiler goes on the blink, if we spring a leak or if the tiles fall off the roof! :s London houses are pretty old too and that can have all sorts of complexities! Our place has seen some subsidence in it's long past, it's now been underpinned and no longer moving (thank goodness) but the thought that it could shift and move is difficult to comprehend. A number of the doors inside had to be planed to fit in door frames that are quite diagonal!! Eeek!

But all that aside, we are excited about a new start, by exploring a new part of London, our own patch. Excited about putting our own stamp on our small corner of the world to create a place we are proud of and can truly call home.

Fantastic Loft Living

I've always wanted to live in an ex industrial building, be it a warehouse, loft or other converted building. I dream of the high ceilings, airy spaces, giant windows and industrial features! On a recent trip to Sicily we were lucky enough to stay in a converted garage building that was along just these lines. In Giardini Naxos, the down-to-earth neighbour of lofty Taormina, this unique pad was our home from home for a few days. See what you think of my snaps:

Sun streaming in through the high level windows along the side of the garage building. The perfect way to wake up!

I loved the polished concrete floors, which reinforces the fantastic industrial feel. Lots of lovely features were scattered around like this solid looking chest and architectural plant!

Fabulous lighting throughout - but a complete mix. Great combination of exposed brickwork (swoon!) and cabling. Who doesn't love a great big red button that MUST NOT BE TOUCHED, but just screams out to be pressed! And I loved the lime green bathroom with the pendant lights.

Fantastic blocks of colour above and below in the form of the hot pink kitchen and bright sofas and green curtains!

Ingenious little coffee table on rollers fashioned out of a crate and topped with glass to finish it off.

A wicked work bench that looks like it's seen more than one lifetime of hard graft! There must be layers and layers of paint built up on that thing and real piece of living history.

And who doesn't need their own in house gym?! Okay, those didn't get a whole lotta use during our stay!!

So, what do you think? Is industrial chic for you? If so, you can get your little slice of it right here!

Knicker Elastic Everywhere!

We're experimenting in all corners of social media over here. Apparently, this is what all discerning bloggers must do! Though we never expect to achieve that status, we can give it our best shot! So, we are now fully up and running on various social media apps all over the t'interweb. If you're enjoying our musings on this blog be sure to check out knicker elastic elsewhere...

I am constantly experimenting with Instagram, I love how instant it is and how you're forced to select a single shot rather than a whole album - it means only the very best photos make the cut!

You can follow here to get directly to the snapwidget of my instagram account or simply follow @knickerelasticfantastic in your app. Happy instagramming!

But that's not it - we also have a facebook page. This is great for keeping folks updated when we've posted to the blog or got any gossip to share! Give us a little 'like' if you like what you see! :p

And last but not least is my Pinterest account. I love Pintrest, having a place where you can save all your favourite images, neatly categorised by subject or moods, to browse for inspiration when you're on the move. Nothing beats it! Have a little browse through my latest inspirations...

My new best friend: Bernina

I am a very lucky lady indeed and I am here today to introduce you to my new best friend: my sewing machine! I have been on the hunt for just such a specimen for MONTHS, possibly years and hey presto my clever mama and sister found just the machine for the job. On my 30th birthday (eeek!) I was treated to a surprise family party and presented with my very own Bernina. She's a beautiful Bernina in cream and moss and harks back from long before I was born! She is definitely considerably older and wiser than me and we think she is older than my mama! What a beaut'!

She has already proved her mettle - sewing through leather, denim and numerous layers of material. She's a solid workhorse made with Swiss precision and style. Her insides run as smooth as clockwork and she runs like a dream! *swoon* Is there such a thing as sewing machine porn? 'Cause if not I think I might have just invented it! :p

I have one hundred and one different projects and ideas running through my head that need a sewing machine. And I no longer have any excuses! So, expect to see lots of (super simple) sewing projects coming this way shortly! I shall start out simple for sure, but I have some ambitious plans forming in my mind for Bernina and I and I'm not one to shirk a challenge, so lets see where this next adventure take us!

Welcome Bernina and thank you thank you thank you mama, papa and izzy!

Gold Fever!

Olympic fever is all around us in old London town. It's hard to avoid, so luckily I'm 'well into it'! As well as feeling completely and utterly inadequate as all these over-achievers break records and win medals everyday you look, we have to admit to being just a tent bit inspired!

In honour of all the fabulous athletes jumping over poles, running around in circles and lifting heavy objects in our little old city, here are a few photos of our 'lympics so far.

Trooping of the colours in Horse-guard's Parade!

Glorious sunshine for China v Germany in the beach volleyball

Secret code - adds a bit of excitement (even if they do broadcast it to the opposition on the giant screens!)

Mid-point entertainment. Should def be a new Olympic sport of it's own!

The orbit in the Olympic park. Is that a giant helter-skelter?

Meadow and the stadium - the first time Stratford's seen wildflowers in decades!

The fantastic aquatics centre under the spotlight

The USA v Hungary in the women's water polo - not a game for the faint hearted!

One to dream of: The green bug

Minty green chairs and chunky textured white walls - a dreamy combination!

Industrial chic at it's absolute bestest.

From: vosgesparis