The dream of recycling an antique sewing machine base

I recently came across a very inspiring article on creative ways of recycling an antique sewing machine base, and ever since I’ve been obsessed with the thought of investing in one of these and making it into a vanity table – similar to the one in the above picture.

I already have an antique Singer sewing machine with the typical swirly iron base back home at my parents’ house in Sweden, but it’s a bit tricky to get it shipped over to England. Plus, the one I already have is really valuable to me with it having once belonged to my great grandmother, so I think I’ll just get my hands on a random one locally that I can experiment with and place in my dressing room.

My ideal dressing room would have lots of teal decorations as this gives a bit of a bohemian or almost oriental vibe. I’ve got a few decorations of this colour already, but would really like to go all out teal, mixed with shabby white and metal.

The focal point of the room would obviously be the upcycled sewing machine vanity table, but the rest of the room would all match, including bedding, lanterns, organiser jars (great for makeup brushes), etc. 

My dressing room isn’t actually a dressing room, but it’s simply the spare room in the house which is for guests. Therefore, it’s tiny and most of the space is taken up by a double bed. Very annoying!

My dream would be to have a single trundle bed in the guest room/dressing room. One that won’t take up much space, that has a pretty frame that matches the style of the room, that you can make up as a sofa during the day with the help of cushions, and that you can easily fold out into a double bed if needed. Something in line with the above trundle bed from Bedz ‘R’ Us would be absolutely ideal!

Just imagine this! Although, with some teal details thrown in the mix. I’d be in heaven!

I definitely need to get myself on Gumtree or Ebay soon to find an antique sewing machine base – I can’t wait to start my next project!

(I just need to convince the man in the house first… or do I?!)

Bunk beds, and why kids should share a bedroom

There seems to be a baby boom going on amongst my friends at the moment, and a lot of them are already on their second or third child.

This also means that some of them are outgrowing their houses, meaning they have to be a bit more creative with the lack of space.

Many parents think their children should have one bedroom each, and I completely agree with that – at least once the children are a bit more grown up. But whilst they’re still young they probably won’t mind sharing a bedroom with their sibling, and in my opinion this is a nothing but a good experience. Children who share a bedroom will learn how to share toys, and will learn to respect their sibling.

Myself and my little sister, who is 2.5 years younger than me, shared a bedroom when we were little, and I didn’t move into my own room until I was about to turn 7. It was not that I was afraid of sleeping alone or anything, but it was just so lovely having that sisterly bond. 

We used to have the coolest bunk bed, similar to the one above from Room to Grow, painted in lilac and with curtains for the lower bunk. We would lay there on a night and whisper and giggle, and sing all the Disney songs we knew. Oh, memories! 

Nowadays, more than 20 years later (God, I'm getting old!) there are so many more options when it comes to bunk beds, and parents can be really creative with their kids' shared bedroom. There are bunk beds with a corner angle, with an extra trundle bed underneath for additional night guests, with built-in desks and drawers, and even themed bunk beds of all kinds!  

 I mean, who wouldn't want an awesome London bus bunk bed to sleep in?!
Can I get one in grown up size? ;)