Handmade, upcycled, and the perfectly imperfect always draw me in. I can’t resist a story or something made just for me with love.

The skill of makers fascinates me, so inevitably handcrafted things find a special place in our house. There’s been a lot of chat about Danish hygge this season and taking pleasure in life’s small moments.

A few simple new additions to our handmade home have helped us to cherish the little things this year.

The curtain call

After eight years without proper curtains or blinds it seemed like a small landmark to finally be able to shut out the dark. A starry sky is undeniably magical, but without curtains the reflective blackness overwhelmed the kitchen and filled it with echoes.

Made to measure by the very talented Sarah Alford of Sarah Jane Interiors, curtains and blinds transformed our living space adding warmth and texture. Sarah’s roman blinds and eyelet curtains brought our home to life with substance and weight, the soft grey tone of the material framing our light, Scandi-style living space.

Instead of retreating from the dark, we now have a place to celebrate with friends or enjoy a slow Sunday cuppa in the winter months. Our very own slice of hygge heaven.

Dressing up

Nothing says cosy country kitchen to me quite like a rustic Welsh dresser.

Found in a Monmouth antique shop, it’s more of a ‘to do’ upcycling project. I’d always intended to paint it but fell for the faded and silvered wood instead. From the bent and battered brass handles to the rusted hinges, every detail is comfortably worn.

Turning the tables

The perfect kitchen table is a thing of dreams. Candlelight, good food and great company. A busy meeting point for visitors and family.

Our simple scaffold table and benches were made by volunteers at the wonderful Bristol Wood Recycling Project, which is a self-financed, not for profit social enterprise and cooperative. The project operates as a timber yard, a wood waste collection service and a workshop.

Made to our own size and finish the table and benches are full of character. Technically you should wax or protect the surface, but we love the natural wood so much that we’ve not got round to it yet.

A handmade home celebrates the skill that goes in to making ordinary and extraordinary objects. Life is bigger than ‘things’, but we try to make sure that we appreciate what we do have.

Warmth to wrap up in, sit by or draw around you. Twinkling, soft candlelight. Natural materials and bringing the outdoors in. A way to find beauty in the ordinary.

Do you love all things handmade too? Feel free to give your favourite craftspeople a mention below. 😉