Hello & weekend project

Hello. It's been a while... How you're doing?!

I'm fine. The cats are fine. The chickens (yes, chickens!) are fine. The apartment too. And the garden... well, it's a process.

Bam. First picture I'm sharing over here of my new home that is not renovation or garden related (or taken from Instagram). And it's pretty bla, don't you think?!

Except of course for handsome Graham.

Anyway. This side of the bedroom and the entry to the bathroom never felt quite right. So this weekend I finally decided to do something about it. After one and a half years living here, it's about time.

But first let's take a quick tour.

Maybe it could be worse?! But I'm not entirely convinced either. The one thing I do love though is the tallboy. It's the TARVA dresser from Ikea, in case you're wondering.

Now what I really would like to do is rip out that bathroom and start over... But in the meantime a little pimping with some Farrow&Ball paint will have to do.

Enter my new favourite colour: India Yellow.

It's really hard to take a good photo, but - believe me - that colour is gorgeous: very safrony, very yummy. It brightens up that whole gloomy corner.

I'm also happy to have found a spot for that lovely macramé hanger I had squirreled away from last year's Ikea ANVÄNDBAR collection.

And while I was at it, I also switched things around on the other side of the dresser. Plant wise at least.

It's funny how my philodendron xanadu has gone full circle: from my old bedroom (look how tiny he was!), to various spots in my new home and now back to prime position in my new bedroom. 

Do you know what else is funny? The dresser isn't the only thing from Ikea here... The philodendron came from there, so does the curtain and the curtain rod (can't find it on their site anymore. Already discontinued?). And the macramé of course. Oh and the FLADIS basket... For a self-professed vintage queen I'm turning into quite the Ikea groupie...

Hhmmm now I only need to sort out the top of the dresser. I wonder what other people keep up there? I mean besides a sleeping cat and mismatched collections of boxes and ceramics. Suggestions anyone?!

A little of this, a little of that

Apologies for having gone AWOL for so long ! Although I've continued dabbling around the flat over the last couple of months, I just haven't been inspired enough to take pictures and document anything on this blog... Winter, the last weeks of school, sending out applications and going on interviews for an internship have drained me of most of my energy.

Ok ok, I'm gonna stop whining now and let you discover the changes - big and small - that have occured around here.

Yeah, I simply can't get enough of Jason Munn's posters ! And added a third one to the bedroom display. The Walkmen - fantastic band btw. Go check them out.

My neighbours can't no longer play peeping toms... I finally hung some curtains in the bedroom. Ikea ones, what else ?

And there's definitely some hippie vibe going on in the bathroom. Macramé and plants galore.

Of course, I also keep adding to the West German pottery collection. Now also taking over the kitchen window sill.

And last, but absolutely not least, let me introduce you to my newest 'roommate' - little Wally, who has been living at the Fat Cat residence since October. Hyperactive when it comes to playing, voracious when it comes to food, very shy when it comes to humans, she's been shaking things up amongst the cat herd...

Front Balcony

After numerous photos of the rear balcony, it's about time I show you the front one. If only to give me the final push to put in the finishing touches...


Old friends.

And new ones.

The other side, which obviously still needs some work.

Soon the big empty pots on the left will be holding tomatos and a pumpkin plant. And the wicker structure will hide a growbag with more tomatos and a cucumber plant.
And if you're wondering about the metal spiral thingy, I'll use it as a support for either the cucumber or the pumpkin.

Just to finish off with a nicer view. Happy weekend !!!

Now this...

... is what happens when you leave your seat for two seconds to get yourself a drink...

And btw, it's incredible how much everything has grown in just a month.

Beginning of April on the other hand. Everything looked still pretty dreary.

Now what about you (and your pets) ? Have you been fortunate enough to enjoy some sunshine ?

Going green - litterally !

This was a totally unexpected find. I was having coffee in an old café in Germany with the whole family and on my way to the bathroom, I spotted a collection of WGP vases on a window sill. I couldn't believe my eyes.

I chatted up the café owner and after some disbelief on his part ("What, you're collecting THESE ?"), he eventually agreed to part with this lovely green Scheurich vase for a mere 5 eur. Yes !

As you can see, the green collection is coming along nicely.


And so are the vegetable seedlings. Remember ? I sowed these just a month ago. Now most of them are already in dire need of being transplanted.
I started over the long Easter weekend with the tomatos on the left. But after pottering along on the balconies for two days, I ended up running out of compost. Sorry seedlings, you need to be patient for a little longer.

This weekend

I saw :


I planned ahead :

And I found :


I got this fantastic snail planter with my brother in thought. He's a keen gardener and, of course, as any proud allotment owner he absolutely HATES snails. Every year he's waging total war on them.

I'm thinking this might be the perfect tongue-in-cheek present for him. Hhmmm, or I might just keep this cutie for myself...

Spring ! I'm ready

And so is June !


Spring is finally in the air. And this time around, I'm in the starting blocks to make the most of it. I've been a busy bee; cleaning, rearranging and planting up my little rear balcony.

The herb 'garden'. My trusted parsley, rosemary and oregano (at the end) made it through winter once again. They're in good company with some lovely daffodils. And soon (I hope), they will be joined by chives and garlic chives, which I've sown just today (in that empty-looking container).



I used to have a honeysuckle in this corner, but it never did very well. It's now living in a friend's garden where I'm sure it will be much happier. Instead of the crippled honeysuckle, I decided to give a climbing hydrangea a chance. I chose a variety that is not too invasive, so it should normally thrive in a container. So far, it seems to be doing very well !

Last year, I went for only plants out here and got rid of my table and chairs. This season, I'm definitely planning to spend much more time out here. Thus the reappearance of some seating.

I'm attempting a little Ikea upcycling, as this bench is part of the famous Molger bathroom range. I'll let you know how it holds up to outside weather conditions. This is basically a free experiment - I already had one in my possession, but ever since it got banned from my living room (once upon a time, this bench used to hold my old hi-fi), it was just collecting dust in the cellar. It's the perfect size for my tiny terrace, so I thought it would give it a try.

Throw some Ikea seat cushions on it, and - pouf! - instant outdoor seating.


Like I said, June is already having a good time :-)

What about you guys ? Did you get to enjoy some sunshine yet ? What are you doing with your outdoor spaces ?

Rear balcony update

Remember this post six weeks ago ? Both the front and the rear balcony were still really naked.

Not anymore.








The vegetables are doing well. I have added some flowers (million bells and petunias). And the herbs are hanging in there (although I lost my thyme - as usual...).

Now fingers crossed for harvest time ! And that I finally find some decent & small outdoor furniture, that I can enjoy summer on my balconies.

Glimpses of the weekend

Is it weird to post pictures of the weekend in the middle of the week ?

Well, I guess I am weird then, or maybe really looking forward to the next weekend ?









On the menu from last weekend:

beautiful flowers on the front balcony

the hall getting whiter & whiter - under close supervision of Mr. Watson) !

Lots and lots of sleepy cats... including one asleep on my stretched out legs...