Gilly's Blog

Tell us a little bit about yourselves? I’m 24 years old and live in regional vic. I own my own beauty salon Steph Lauder Beauty, and I have become obsessed with renovating since doing up ourcottage_reno How did Our Cottage Reno come about?  The house was purchased back in late February 2020 after I had an inspection and fell in love, I could see the potential it had as soon as I stepped through the front door    What do you love about renovating and DIY? What I love about renovating and DIY is being able to see the change...

Leather is at its best when properly cleaned and nourished. Proper maintenance and care will extend the life and beauty of all your leather goods; from sofas and car seats to wallets, saddles, bags and shoes.   Cleaning Leather Whilst there are a number of commercial leather cleaners available, it can be easily cleaned using simple ingredients you are likely to have in your home already. Leather furniture should be thoroughly vacuumed before cleaning. Two easy cleaning methods: A mixture of vinegar and olive oil in equal proportions can be whisked together and used as a general cleaner. Ensure that...

Meet the two sisters, Kylie and Alicia behind the amazing brand Koko Collective. A brand focused on creating sustainable and ethical furniture for the home. Each piece is considered and handmade, creating a unique item for every customer. We had a chat to them about how they started Koko, what it's like working as sisters and there tips and tricks for running a business! 

Valentine’s first appeared in Bendigo as a furniture and goods store when Fred Valentine opened the shop on Queen Street in May 1947. Fred Valentine passed the business along to his son Allan, who ran the business with his wife Joy from Queen Street and then a new store on Hargreaves Street, which opened in the old Favalora family bakery at 369 Hargreaves Street in 1984. Current Director, Peter Valentine (pictured below) was raised around the business at its current location, and took over the reins from his father Allan in 2006. Newly relocated to View Street, the centre of...