Luxe, low-budget hacks, with Melanie
Have you ever kept that tab open in your browser, debating whether or not you should cave on a high-end piece? Well, Melanie Lissack (@melanielissackinteriors) has been there one too many times, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. 
Melanie’s (@melanielissackinteriors) IKEA cabinet is transformed with our LUDLOW T-Bar Handles.
Say hello to Melanie's prized possession – her picturesque Georgian home. With pops of colour and carefully curated pieces, you'd never guess that Melanie transformed much of the house herself. As a talented DIY'er and blogger with an eye for luxurious interiors, we couldn't help but sit down and talk all things inspiration and motivation.A permanent retreat
"We’ve lived here about 8 years now - moving out of Central London for a quieter life and to live closer to family. Safe to say, it was the exterior of the property that sold it to us - it has huge curb appeal! It’s a brilliant house to live in and we are very lucky to own it. Every time I pull up in the driveway I always think: ‘this really is a cracking house.'"A creative pass-time
"I’ve always wanted the space I live in to reflect my style, even decorating the multiple rental properties that I lived in during my 20’s, but when we bought our first home that’s when my love of interiors and DIY really took hold. My husband worked away a lot back then, so I had lots of time to myself in the evenings and weekends to experiment with a paintbrush! I made loads of mistakes on the way, but I always got a massive kick out of the creation process and seeing the final result. If I get inspired by a colour or an idea, then I just have to give it a go."
DIY made high-end
"A lot of the time I DIY either because what I’m looking for isn’t available or I just can’t afford it! There really are ways that you can achieve a more bespoke look and you don’t have to be a skilled DIY’er to make things look better. Take the real marble top that I added on my unit – this makes the piece feel much more high-end, but it was an offcut that a worktop company sold to me cheaply, since it was just waste from a big kitchen project. Simply changing up the handles on an older piece of furniture makes a HUGE difference to the look and all you need is a manual screwdriver!"Sophisticated details
"I love the LUDLOW Handles because they glide in shape and have those perfectly rounded ends. They are a nod to the trend of arches and curves within interiors right now, without being too abstract. I also love the length of them – I chose the 280mm handles and I think they look so sophisticated."
Melanie chose our LUDLOW Handle to complete her newly assembled cabinet.
Tools of choice
"A must-have in my home tool kit is a builders level, alongside a long aluminium ruler. I use them in all my projects to get perfectly proportioned, straight results."
A cuppa on rotation
"I can never eat when I am in the zone, but I have tea on rotation: a strong English breakfast, Oatly milk, with bag in mug at all times."Inspo across the board
"I’m a big fan of being multi-platform — Instagram and Pinterest are a go-to, but I love to read blogs and I’m a subscriber to printed interior magazines. Three interior design accounts that I get most of my inspiration from are @anewday_interiordesign, @em.gurner and @fionadukeinteriors — they all use colour in the most exhilarating way. For creators, I love @frenchforpineapple, @andthentheywentwild and @lukearthurwells for the most innovative, interior DIY ideas on a budget"
Tunes for days
"Music is really important to me; I actually worked in the music industry for 12 years before I moved over into interiors. To be honest, I’m a die-hard Radio 6 music fan and only listen to that when DIY'ing or decorating! But my favourite artists at the moment are Baxter Dury, Fontanes DC and Wet Leg. I’ll probably also get into trouble if I don’t mention my husband’s band - he’s the guitarist and Bloc Party and their new album is released this month!"A huge thanks to Melanie for joining us for a TEA BREAK. Why not follow her renovation journey at @melanielissackinteriors?
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