Upcycling with Sophia: The Serial DIY’er

Sophia’s Victorian home is ever-changing, all thanks to her DIY skills. Having done up everything from ‘meh’ cupboards to outdated stairs, Sophia has all the tools, tips and tunes up her sleeve to get you up and DIY'ing.

Here, Sophia will guide us through the nitty gritty of DIY’ing and what makes it a rewarding challenge. Read on to discover the inspiration, motivation and process behind Sophia’s DIY projects. 

Mixing traditions and trends

"I don’t know if I can define my style, as it's definitely still evolving. I’d say it’s fairly classic, without being too traditional and formal. I also like to think there are a few elements that are a bit more on trend. I would hope that I still love everything in our home for years to come. 

When it comes to upcycling pieces, I try to stay sympathetic to the age of our home by adding complimentary details, such as pine moulding or brass handles."

Sophia (@1894home) chose BEZEL Grooved Knobs to give her cupboard a makeover.

A simple statement

"I was immediately drawn to the BEZEL Knobs. I wanted something simple, but impactful. These are just a bit bigger than you might expect and the fluted sides bring so much interest, whilst the clean lines give a real understated look. I also love that the fluted sides echo the fluted design I’ve created on the doors."

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Watch Sophia (@1894home) transform her ‘meh’ cupboard into a masterpiece.

Inspiration galore

"Instagram is a fantastic source for inspiration and ideas and there are lots of great accounts with fab upcycling ideas and hacks. Here are three accounts who are full of ideas that you may not know about: @va_va_room, @after_the_fire_2018 and @our_bears_home."

Self-esteem-boosting projects

"Sometimes you just can’t find that furniture piece that's in your head, or something that’s the right size, or within your budget. For that reason, I find it super satisfying to create something myself – it's a real self-esteem boost."

Measure twice, cut once

"When tackling an upcycle or hack, don't rush in to it. Take your time, try and visualise how something will come together, or draw it out with a pencil on paper. The popular saying is that one should "measure twice, cut once". I like to measure a few extra times, just to be safe! Things don’t always go to plan, but you can always count on wood filler to be your friend in these situations."

A cuppa and some buttons

"Very apt for this blog, but I do like a cup of tea during the down moments ☕. I am however terrible at making tea, so it’s always better when someone brings it to me! I also love to sneak in a little chocolate button or two."

Geeking out on podcasts

"I do like the radio on while I’m working! I’m also partial to a podcast, including anything from comedy to More or Less (one for my fellow geeks)."

A big thanks to Sophia for joining us for a TEA BREAK. What'll her next DIY project be? Well, there's only one way to find out — follow her renovation journey at @1894home.

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