Did you hear? Last month we moved into a 19th century cottage in the heart of Brighton. The house itself is small, tidy, minimal, and yet full of character. The location is ideal, while the area is quiet. In short, it’s our dream home!
Saying that, it has been a bit of a mission to settle in. We had A LOT of stuff. We also were missing a lot of essentials too. Having lived in multiple homes – some furnished and some shared – A & I had accumulated a lot of clutter, while also lacking some key items too. Now, after a few weeks in the place, it feels a lot more like home… And so I wanted to share our journey so far, and how we managed to source sustainable, in-keeping homewares while on a budget!
The Kitchen: My Favourite Room
A & I have always enjoyed living in smaller homes, saving a few pennies on rent while also not really needing too much space. This house may be an upgrade from our 1-bed flat, but it’s still small, with just the kitchen and living room on the ground floor, and bathroom and bedroom on first. The kitchen was also a step down from the kitchen in the flat. That said, this kitchen is my favourite room in the whole house! With wooden counter tops, a floor-to-ceiling pantry, and a gas stove, my inner chef is SO happy here!
For the kitchen, we brought our Prestige Eco Pots & Pans, as well as our vintage Dualit toaster we found on the roadside while living in London. Joining that has been our kettle – another item found on the street! – as well as an entire crockery set gifted to us by family.
Finishing touches have come in the way of the Ash Serving Board, kindly gifted by Natural Isle, as well as my trusty cream dutch oven, and handmade espresso cup. Natural Isle is my latest homeware find – a small independent curating British made sustainable items that are just gorgeous.
I also really like leaving out my Tincture London cleaning spray and refilled bottle of hand soap – these accents make the place look lived-in and loved.
The Living Room: A Room In Need Of Love
Onto the living room… Here, we have the pièce de résistance when it comes to second-hand furniture: our sofa, found on Freecycle! It took A & I over two hours to carry the sofa (in parts) from a neighbour’s to ours, but it was well worth the effort. That being said, the living room is still looking a little unloved. I’d like to invest in some cushions, throws, and extras to make the place feel more homely, while still keeping it a little more masculine and minimal. Time to consult my guide to ethical homewares? I believe so!
Two items that are making this room feel more homely are our House of Marley speaker, made with recycled materials, and this gorgeous Frankincense Incense and Holder gifted from Natural Isle. While we wait on new furnishings, at least the place can sound and smell like home!
The Bedroom: A Calming Space
Onto our bedroom, a room that feels cosy while still being quite minimal! I really like a tidy home – it makes me feel calm – and the bedroom feels both tidy and relaxing. It also helps that this room has an in-built, wall-to-wall wardrobe!
On the wall, I’ve hung my Matisse print (gifted by a good friend a few years ago) and placed our small TV at the foot of the bed. The monstera is a gift from another friend, a plant I love for its big expressive leaves. But my favourite thing about the room has to be the soft furnishings. I purchased my shell cushions* from MoiMilli, I small Etsy seller I found last year and have been a little obsessed with ever since! Perhaps some cushions for our sofa will be next…? And then of course, my trusty Luks Linen blanket, which I’ve used as a bed throw for a good few years now.
The Bathroom: Cottage Meets Contemporary
Finally, a quick peek in at the bathroom. I really love this room, almost as much as the kitchen. The large bath, rainfall shower, and clever storage spaces make this room the perfect blend of cottage chic with contemporary touches. It also makes me feel a little extra pampered whenever I do my skincare routine, including new items from Dr Hauschka (gifted), which has become a real favourite brand of mine this year. The cleansing milk* and shower cream* are particular favourites!
On the windowsill sits my cosmetic bag and travel bag, and the bright light pouring into this room makes it the perfect place to do my makeup. We also keep a few plants in here that enjoy the mix of sun and humidity, and I feel like it makes the room instantly more homely.
I’m so looking forward to making memories in this place. It’s only been a few weeks that we’ve been living here, but every day it feels good to wake up and follow old routines in a new home.
