Getting involved in this absolute cringe-fest of a trend 🤮 because I love nostalgia, but mostly because it perfectly proves my hypothesis that Aimee only gets hotter with age. 🔥
#howmanymonthshaveyoubeentogether #howmanymonthshaveyouknowneachother #howmanymonths
My dad, Alan, was one of those rare and excellent people. At his funeral, everyone had a story to share. How he’d helped them, fixed something, fitted a shelf, sorted a leak. He was always making, mending, fettling and tinkering away in his garage.
Since losing him, I’ve tried to teach myself so many of the same skills while renovating our home. And when I’m out there fettling, I often feel him with me. Standing nearby, offering quiet advice. Sometimes laughing with me at my mistakes.
The hardest part is not being able to call him and tell him everything. He would’ve loved to see what we’ve done.
My shed is now full of his old tools, and they’ve been absolutely invaluable. His tape measure, set square, jigsaw, knife, chisels, pliers, hammer, mallet, clamps… all still in use, all still helping. 🔨🔧🪛🪚🗜️🧰
So that’s why we called this page Fettle and Tinker.
It’s about fixing, making, figuring things out — and it’s a little tribute to my dad, Al.
~ Aimee
Ad | Sorry it’s been a while, we have been obsessively drawing kitchen layouts! 😆
When it came to planning the layout of our new kitchen, by version 10 we probably needed an intervention! 🫣 But a kitchen is one of the most expensive rooms in a home so we both really felt the pressure to get it just right, you know? 🤯
And while kitchen companies proposed some designs, they weren’t always the best for us. So it’s been invaluable having the @renovatewithreno app to use. We made several versions of our kitchen layout, trying small tweaks and some total rethinks. We ranked each design and the front runners started to emerge, so finally by version 16 we have a design we are really confident in. So, now we have our design - what do you think?
Our lovely friends at @renovatewithreno have kindly given us a 20% off affiliate code for our followers. Use FETTLETINKER to get started planning your space, if you’re designing a kitchen or any other project - it’s an absolutely invaluable tool!👩💻
ad | Throwing open the windows, letting the breeze billow through the curtains, happy plants with new leaves stretching out, sunlit corners, renewed energy, beautiful botanical scents of nature coming into bloom 💚 featuring the stunning Herbanum diffuser and hand wash from @verden.world 🌱
Life Lately ~ April
A month of Spring gallivanting with everything coming into bloom! 🌸 this month marking 4 years at No.5!
1. Chasing bluebells 📸 @galihrichardson
2. Unreal Hong Kong cafe brunch @hoko.london 🥢
3. Cherry soda date with this hot piece 🍒
4. Hired a poet to bottle a moment ✍️
5. Woodland walkies captured by @galihrichardson 🙂
6. Light jacket szn bb - photo by @galihrichardson 🧥
7. Blossoming babe 🌷
8. Garden centre weekends are the best kind 🌼
9. Suns out, garden sofa huns out! 🌞
10. This viral dumpling bake didn’t disappoint 🥟
11. Ideal Homo Show with these huns 😘
12. Made some serious bank selling our junk at the car boot! 💸
13. Squinty 4 year house-anniversary doorstop snap 4️⃣
14. Vitamin sea 🌊
15. Sandy toes in Dorset 🏝️
16. Just the best day 💙
17. Cutest pen pal parcel from @slowdownbabemail 💌
18. Girl dinners in full swing 🫒
19. Apple blossom peaking through the window 🤍
20. Tbf Q2 so far has been lush - photo by @galihrichardson 📷
After what felt like the lonnnngest winter, spring this year has been a total gift. 🌸
Each day we’ve been noticing so many little wonders - the light in the house is shifting, the shadows stretch a little longer, blossoming branches peek through the windows, and the neighbours’ front gardens are coming into colour.
We have been watching the magnolia tree, hearing the hum of bees again, noticing the dappled light tickling the bedsheets, blue skies with wispy clouds and late afternoon dog walks under the trees. The bluebells in our garden have returned, a quiet reminder of the April we moved into No. 5. 🩷
Everything is bursting into bloom and sorry, maybe I sound high but isn’t it…SPECTACULAR ? 🌸
We still pinch ourselves that after a hellish year of house-hunting and getting nowhere, we landed our dream home - an Edwardian terrace in north London. 4 years ago today, we turned the key to No.5 🔑 and felt pure joy as we stepped inside, knowing it was somehow all ours. Amanda saw the bluebells in our garden and cried. 😅 We had no idea how much we would do in these 4 years - it’s been one of our greatest projects building this home together…and it’s not over, there’s still more to come. 💖 This next year brings even more exciting projects in our house. Thanks for being here for the ride! 🏠
The Kitchen Extension Diaries: Project Notes - where we do a deeper dive into some of the details. Sooo you’ve probably never seen our kitchen up close like this because we do a very good job of hiding it! Now it’s time to come clean and show you the absolute clutter-fest of our space which has almost no useful storage!
So to say we are excited to design something that works for us and is easier on the brain - is an understatement! Eclectic is one thing, but cluttered isn’t good!
Embarrassed to post these photos but it will hopefully be a good laugh to look back on soon enough, when these days are behind us 🙏
Ad | Spring always has us craving a softer, lighter reset in the bedroom 🤍
We’ve swapped our bed skirt for a grassy green gingham and added this beautiful Clay Washed Organic Cotton bed linen from @naturalmatuk in the most perfect faded terracotta. It brings a warm, sun drenched feel to our soft pink space, echoing nature coming into bloom.
It’s not just the colour, it’s the feel we love. Made from organic cotton, it’s naturally breathable and temperature regulating, keeping you cool on warmer nights and cosy when there’s still a chill in the air, perfect for that in between spring/summer sleep. The tumbled, relaxed texture is beautiful and incredibly soft to the touch.
There’s something about GOTS and Oeko Tex 100 certified organic natural fibres that just feels better on the skin, creating a space that not only looks good, but feels soothing to be in 🤍
Cosy Bedroom | Spring Reset | Bed Linen |
