Here at I Restore Stuff, we are all about taking old furniture and decor, and either painting, up-cycling, restoring or re-purposing these things to bring life into items otherwise destined for the trash pile. I get such satisfaction out of transforming junk and turning it into treasure, restoring an item to bring it back into a place of honour in the home, rather than relegated to the garden shed or the garage for some unknown destiny.
So, it was a pleasure to receive an invitation recently, to preview a new eBook, entitled, “Healthy Planet, Healthy People, Healthy Home”…
Meet Helen Edwards from the blog, Recycled Interiors
Helen is “a passionate and genuine lover of people and planet, an eternal optimist who has spent her life helping, nurturing and loving human beings, animals and our earth.”
Founder of a charity, one of Australia’s top bloggers, state finalist in the Australian of The Year Awards 2016 and the Telstra Business Women’s Awards in 2015, she describes herself as a “tree hugger”, a Mama of 3 gorgeous sons and wife to Mr Recycled. Helen’s goal is to help you to feel good about yourself, your home and your everyday. She wants to inspire you to think before you buy, reduce your waste and lighten your footprint on the planet, while you create a happy healthy home and life you can love.
I interviewed Helen with a few questions that I love to ask fellow DIY & up-cycling bloggers that I feature here on my blog:
I Restore Stuff: What is the biggest up-cycle or renovation project you have undertaken?
Helen: Probably my bedroom. I upcycled the colonial pine built in robes which are huge, as they go to the ceiling in our 1940’s house. I used chalk paint to create a shabby chic finish. I then used a lime paint to paint 3 of the walls in a soft grey and the gorgeous Woods wallpaper by Cole and Son, in the pale grey purple colour on one wall – which was my first time wallpapering! I also changed the bed head to a vintage iron bed head, added new pendants made by a young Aussie designer, and an eco friendly Aussie designed fan which is just amazing. 
I Restore Stuff: What is your favourite place to be?
Helen: Either our beach shack on Yorke Peninsula or walking in the Morialta Park near our house which I get to walk through every day.
I Restore Stuff: Do you have a favourite blogger or up-cycler that inspires you?
Helen: I am a big lover of Kirstie Allsopp and her vintage and handmade home, as well as “Kirstie’s Fill Your House for Free” programme. [Ed: *girly squeal* – LOVE Kirstie’s shows!!]
I Restore Stuff: Favourite product or tool at the moment?
Helen: I am a paint girl. I am really loving using the Aussie made Botanics range by L’essentiel and will be stocking this at Recycled Interiors very soon. It is an all natural mineral paint and gives a beautiful matte finish, but there is also a rust paint, crackle, hemp oils and waxes and a range of products for upcycling. [Ed: oh, gal after my own heart … paint products all the way!]
I Restore Stuff: Could you share one of your favourite DIY “tips of the trade” with our readers?
Helen: My biggest tip is not to worry too much about what other people think about your creations. You should treat your projects as a creative process and once you have a handle on safety and technique, focus on the art – go for it and create something you really love.
Helen has already had great success with a previous ebook entitled, “30 Days to a Happy Healthy Home” where she has fantastic tips for decluttering, rearranging, redecorating and reconnecting with what matters!
A new eBook! Healthy Planet, Healthy People, Healthy Home
Now, as in, THIS WEEK, Helen is excited to launch her latest ebook, “Healthy Planet, Healthy People, Healthy Home” – packed with loads of inspirational and sustainable living ideas. I was privileged to receive a copy of her ebook for review and was pleasantly surprised with all of the valuable content contained within its pages. All 230 pages to be exact!
The eBook is easy to read with beautiful photographs, and will leave you inspired with:
- Stories from a range of fabulous people about being more conscious of our planet, including Maggie Beer (Cook, Author, Gourmet Food Producer), Barry DuBois (Interior Designer/Master Builder/TV Personality) and Kate St James (Grand Designs Australia/Home Design magazines)
- Expert tips and guides;
- House tours; and
- DIY, upcycling projects & delicious recipes
Easy as One Two Three
This book is so easy to navigate and doesn’t have to be read from cover to cover to be enjoyed. You can quite easily jump to sections of particular interest to you, where each sub-heading contains an entire story or article in itself.
Divided into three main sections, the ebook covers:
- Design, Build, Decorate – Getting Started with a sustainable home project.
- Grow, Cook, Eat – everything from composting, to cooking and growing your own food.
- Make, Create, Do It Yourself – enough DIY project ideas and instructions to keep you busy for the rest of the year and beyond.
Helen’s ebook is being officially launched this Sunday – June 5th (2016) – which happens to be World Environment Day. Entirely intentional of course, as it fits so well with Helen’s mantra and the theme of Recycled Interiors.
If you’d like to grab yourself a copy of Healthy Planet, Healthy People, Healthy Home, it is available HERE.
Disclaimer: I receive no compensation for reviewing Helen’s eBook, other than receiving the book for free, for the purpose of a review. All opinions are my own.