bedhead shelf

If I could make even slight structural changes to this house, I would build this in a heartbeat! It is so lovely -- a perfect blend of beauty and practicality. With these shelves, the bed doesn't need side tables. Plus, you can store all kinds of stuff there. Books, decorative objects, a clock, glass jars with plants...anything that is pretty  and useful!

The colours in this photograph are also lovely -- so pleasing and soothing, yet bright. It makes me happy! :)

transforming a closet into a book nook

How absolutely delightful is this? Now if only I had a large spare closet!

the no-shoes rule

One of the best rules we've instituted in our new home is taking off our "outside" shoes at the entrance and slipping into a pair of comfy "inside" slippers instead. It helps keep the house really clean -- something I very much appreciate at the moment because I'm doing the sweeping and mopping myself!

I've placed the shoe rack right next to the apartment's main door. The top shelf holds a bunch of house-leaving essentials (keys, pens, wallets, umbrellas, raincoat) and a delightful mint foot spray from Spa Ceylon, one of my favourite (albeit terribly overpriced) Sri Lankan brands.

The other racks are home to a whole bunch of shoes and sandals worn commonly by the husband and I. Honestly, this is one thing I'm going to ensure in any house I live in ever again. The floors look clean and the house feels far more hygienic -- I don't have to worry about germs hanging on to the undersides of my shoes spreading throughout the apartment!

make-up storage: getting innovative!

How lovely is this? What a great idea. Must try and find vintage containers and try this on my own dresser!

For now, I'm using handmade pen-stands to keep daily-wear makeup (see below). They work great and look rather pretty, too. (Picked up the blue one from Sri Lanka recently and decided not to take off the tag because I rather like it!)

Source for top picture: Interior Blueprint

the "good times" jar

Happy New Year!

Wishing the world a joyful, peaceful year with a great deal of development, progress and harmony.

My only real New Year Resolution is to do the below. We're calling it the "good times" jar! What will you call yours?