
You'd never know I live in a council house thanks to how good it looks – I shopped in IKEA & an Amazon tip saved me cash
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A MOTHER has revealed that she lives in a council house but nobody can tell because of how stylish it looks.
So if you're eager to give your pad an upgrade but don't know where to start, you've come to the right place and will need to take inspiration from this savvy DIY enthusiast.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
5
A savvy mum has revealed that she lives in a council house that is incredibly glam
Credit: TikTok//@crystal.jewell3
5
Crystal Jewell was able to decorate her home without breaking the bank
Credit: TikTok//@crystal.jewell3
5
She used budget buys from Amazon, Dunelm, IKEA and The Range
Credit: TikTok//@crystal.jewell3
5
People have since described her pad as "stunning" and "beautiful"
Credit: TikTok//@crystal.jewell3
Crystal Jewell, a 32-year-old mum-of-two from the UK, was able to transform her council house whilst staying on a budget.
Not only did she shop in The Range sale and nab bargain buys from IKEA, but she was also able to save cash thanks to a handy Amazon hack.
Posting on social media, Crystal gave her followers a before, during and after look at her living room overhaul, leaving many totally stunned.
Alongside the short clip, the brunette beauty beamed: 'POV: You live in a council house but you can't tell.'
At the start of the video, viewers saw the content creator rip off the dark wallpaper from the walls.
Just seconds later, the mother got to work on painting the walls, in an attempt to lighten the space.
Crystal confirmed that she used the Dulux paint in the shade Egyptian Cotton, which you can nab from B&Q, Screwfix and Wickes, from £23.
What was once quite a dark and dated space is now incredibly trendy and chic.
Crystal furnished the room with gorgeous cream sofas and added flowers and trendy black photo frames, which she got from B&M.
In the corner of the room is also a dining table and chairs, which thanks to Crystal's savvy idea, looks jaw-dropping.
My council gave me a house but it was covered in mould & missing floors - I made it a home with Amazon & Dunelm buys
Eager to reveal more on her purse-friendly project, Crystal told Fabulous: 'The table was £50 from IKEA - the dining chairs I already had but were old and worn out so I updated them with some chair covers from Amazon.'
As well as this, Crystal also revealed to us: 'All of the table decor was from The Range which I got in the sale, including the sofa cushions and wallpaper.
5
Crystal used chair covers from Amazon to give her dining chairs a glow up
Credit: TikTok//@crystal.jewell3
'Curtains were from Dunelm, £40 per pair, I bought two pairs. The nets are from IKEA and also the curtain pole.
'Everything had to be budget friendly. I absolutely love DIY and doing stuff on a budget and making my home cosy for me and my two children.'
Eight Easy DIY Tips & Tricks
The ultimate guide for homeowners and renters: DIY expert's lazy painting hack will make decorating your home much easier
Save time and money with this easy DIY tiling hack to transform a room in under an hour
Avoid these five mistakes in your next DIY project
Transform your kitchen with this renter-friendly DIY hack
Noisy neighbours? Here's how to soundproof a room
DIY expert shared her favourite strategy for painting around glass without tape
If you want to give your kitchen a fresh look, here's how to paint your kitchen cabinets
Five tricks to spruce up every room in your home for less than £5
DIY enthusiasts beam
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @crystal.jewell3, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 23,300 views, 501 likes and 23 comments.
Beautiful, nicely done
TikTok user
DIY fans were left gushing over Crystal's gorgeous home and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this.
One person said: 'Wow! What a transformation, all of your hard work paid off because your living room looks STUNNING!'
Most popular DIY jobs homeowners love to do Paint walls New carpet Paint fence Paint ceilings Wallpapering Paint skirting boards New light fitting Re-grout/replace bathroom tiles Hang curtains/blinds Paint/oil interior doors Paint a shed Paint stairs New plug sockets New hard flooring New front door Update kitchen sink Replace kitchen worktops Hang shelves Change/update doorknobs Paint/upcycle garden furniture
Another added: 'Looks amazing.'
A third commented: 'Beautiful, nicely done.'
Meanwhile, someone else cheekily asked: 'Wanna do mine?'
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
26 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Peaky Blinders creator to write next James Bond film prompting fan speculation
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been announced as the screenwriter for the next James Bond film and fans are hoping two stars will be in the running to play Bond. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been officially announced as the screenwriter for the next James Bond film, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed. The announcement marks a significant step in the ongoing reinvention of the long-running spy franchise. Knight's hiring follows the transition of creative control from longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson handing over creative control to Amazon, after the tech giant acquired MGM in 2022. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Knight shared his excitement: "It has always been on my bucket list and it's fantastic to be invited to do it, and I can't wait to get started." He continued: "I'm hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that's the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder." In June, it was announced that Dune and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve would be directing the project. The film will be produced by Amy Pascal (Pascal Pictures) and David Heyman (Heyday Films), both of whom are known for their successful work across blockbuster franchises. The producers have emphasised that casting for the next Bond will follow only after a director and script are in place. The question of who will step into the iconic tuxedo remains unanswered following Daniel Craig's final outing as 007 in 2021's No Time to Die. Fan speculation remains high, particularly after Knight's involvement, with many pointing to Peaky Blinders star Tom Hardy as a potential frontrunner for the role. Fans have taken to X, formally Twitter to express their thoughts on Knight writing the film, with many believing Tom Hardy will become bond. One fan expressed: "With Steven Knight writing the next Bond film, surely Tom Hardy or Cillian Murphy will be taking the role?" With another stating: "I hope Tom Hardy is James Bond, he would be incredible." Although others disagreed, claiming both Tom and Cillian are too old, as one said: "As much as i'd like either of them to take it, aren't they too old?" Knight is one of Britain's most respected screenwriters and show runners. In addition to Peaky Blinders, his other works include This Town (BBC), Netflix's All The Light We Cannot See and A Thousand Blows. He also serves as executive producer on Built In Birmingham: Brady and the Blues, a new docuseries tracking the transformation of Birmingham City Football Club, which now counts former NFL quarterback Tom Brady among its key investors. Knight is also involved in several different upcoming projects, including the long awaited Peaky Blinders film and the historical drama series House Of Guinness. His contributions to drama and entertainment were formally recognised in 2020 when he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the arts and to the Birmingham community - the setting for Peaky Blinders, which stars Cillian Murphy as hard-drinking gang leader Tommy Shelby.


The Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Sun
The rise of ‘SugarTok' where women ‘date' wealthy, older men and make up to £40k a year in a bid to pay off debts
SCROLL through TikTok and you can't miss the increasing number of young women flaunting luxury 'sugar baby' lifestyles funded by wealthy, older men. But is it a bit of fun, or something darker – and at what cost? Fabulous investigates… 5 5 Looking at the mounting pile of bills on the hall table of her student flat, Roxy* felt a rising sense of anxiety. Studying geography at university by day, her four-night-a-week bar job simply wasn't enough to keep up with the rising cost of living. It was a TikTok video that would open Roxy's eyes to the possibility of a controversial way out of her financial struggles. As she scrolled through the app one evening three years ago, the algorithm shared a video made by a 'sugar baby' – a young woman involved in a relationship with an older, wealthy partner. Showing off a £5,000 Chanel handbag, the petite blonde explained her flash lifestyle was all down to her 'sugar daddy', who paid for her company and lavished her with gifts. Searching #sugarbaby, Roxy was stunned and intrigued to see thousands of similar videos, with young women on luxury holidays, showing off designer clothes and revealing their bank statements – all paid for by their sugar daddies. 'I'd heard of sugar daddies, but had no idea this lifestyle had become so prolific among girls my age,' she says. 'There was this whole world out there of women leading amazing lifestyles, and although some did mention they were having sex, many seemed like they were just being paid and rewarded for their company.' With 314k videos on TikTok using the hashtag #sugarbaby and thousands more using #sugarbabyproblems, it's now a thriving social media trend. 'I saw these girls my age living lives of luxury, and I wondered where I'd gone wrong' Roxy was 21 when she first spotted the posts. 'Life was so hard at that time,' she recalls. 'I was living off pasta and beans, struggling to pay bills and working until 3am, then getting up to go to lectures. My mum helped when she could, but money was already tight for her. I wasn't able to buy new clothes or go on nights out. I was feeling increasingly isolated. 'I saw these girls the same age as me living a life of luxury, and wondered where I'd gone wrong,' she says. In 2022, at the start of her second year of university, Roxy signed up to a site where men are invited to bid for dates, after finding herself unable to afford the deposit for a new flat. 'That was the tipping point when I thought: 'Enough is enough.' I wanted more than life was giving me. 'The site popped up when I googled 'sugar daddies'. If a man makes an offer, you can accept, decline or counter. The money is exchanged on the date itself. There was no mention of sex and it seemed legitimate. It was just going on dates. 'I went on a few dates and, initially, men were buying me dinner and paying me around £200,' Roxy says. 'Most of them were in their 50s or 60s, but they weren't terrible company. We'd talk about their jobs and their hobbies and sometimes they'd kiss me on the cheek at the end of the night. It seemed like an easy way to make money.' One or two were 'creepy', she admits. 'I had one guy who kept saying: 'I'm going to stroke you now', and he would touch my back and arms. He hadn't even given me the money at that stage. I always met the men somewhere public, where I felt safe.' In three months, Roxy went on eight dates and made around £2,000. Then, in December 2022, she met Mike, a 58-year-old investment banker who said he'd struggled to hold down a 'proper' relationship as he travelled so much for work. After paying for four dates, he asked to make their relationship more permanent. 'I was worried,' Roxy admits. 5 'Did he want me to sleep with him? I wasn't sure how much 'sugar' I wanted to give. He'd already paid me over £1,000 in a month in cash. 'But I liked spending time with him, and he was clear that he only wanted one 'baby'. I didn't want to lose him. I agreed to go to Dubai with him and spent five days shopping and lazing by the pool. It was amazing and I couldn't believe I was being paid £2,000 to go on holiday. We didn't have sex. He was gentlemanly and considerate, and I had my own room.' Roxy isn't unique in having experienced the financial challenges of being a student nowadays. A recent survey by UCL revealed 68% of students can't afford course material. A separate poll found 67% sometimes skip meals to save cash.* Added to that, a recent study by and the Campaign Against Living Miserably found that half of young people feel pressure from social media to buy things or to look a certain way, and 43% spend more than they can afford to keep up with what they see on their feeds. Against this backdrop, it's perhaps little wonder that women like Roxy are being tempted into finding a 'sugar relationship'. Chartered psychologist Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley says: 'Social media doesn't just reflect culture, it creates it. When you're constantly exposed to images of designer clothes, luxury holidays and filtered lifestyles, it's easy to feel like you're falling behind.' She adds: 'If you're financially stretched and still working out who you are, the idea of being wanted and looked after can feel incredibly appealing. But what is never shown is the emotional cost, the power dynamics, the pressure to perform and the impact on your self-worth. 'Even if sex is technically consensual, if it's tied to financial support or a sense of obligation, it can leave people feeling out of step with their own desires. I've heard people say: 'I didn't really want to, but I felt I should.'' 'He said he'd up my allowance to £4,000 a month if I slept with him' It was following their Dubai trip that Mike first asked Roxy for sex, after giving her a £10,000 Chanel handbag. By this stage, they'd been 'dating' for three months. He was paying her £3,000 cash every month, as well as buying her fancy gifts, but said he'd up his allowance to £4,000 if she slept with him. 'He was much older than me and I hadn't slept with many men in the past, so I was nervous. But in many ways, I was happier than I'd been in years. I was doing well at uni without money worries on my mind, I got to go out and spend time with my friends, and he wasn't jealous or possessive, so I said yes.' Roxy describes the first time as nerve-wracking and says she just wanted to get it over with. 'Afterwards, I asked myself: 'Am I now the same as a prostitute?' But I decided this was different. We were in a relationship of sorts, and there are plenty of marriages where the men support the wives who stay home. I didn't enjoy the sex – I liked Mike but I wasn't attracted to him in that way, but I pretended to be having fun for his sake.' Roxy and Mike were in a sugar relationship for two years, sleeping with one another several times a month. 'I didn't tell my family, as I knew mum would be ashamed. I told her I had a boyfriend who came from a wealthy family. Even then she warned me to be careful. I confided in some close friends, who thought it was great – they didn't judge me at all.' Their relationship ended in 2023 when Mike moved overseas, but since then she's had two more regular sugar daddies. She is currently in a relationship with Paul*, 55, who she's been seeing for six months. 'Paul likes me to attend events with him and go for dinner after work. I haven't slept with him,' Roxy says. 'He buys me gifts, takes me away for weekends, and he pays my rent.' But dating coach Eimear Draper warns such relationships are fundamentally unhealthy. 'In a healthy relationship, there should be equality. That doesn't mean you have to earn the same, but there should be respect for what you contribute to a life you are building together. In a sugar-baby relationship, there is no equality. It's transactional.' 'One girl's sugar daddy paid for her New York apartment, but he wanted sex every night' 5 Former sugar baby Nova Jewels dated four sugar daddies in five years, earning herself around £40,000 a year. Despite making so much money, she hates seeing this kind of lifestyle promoted on social media. 'People don't realise how dangerous it can be,' says Nova, 29, from Dundee. 'Each time you get a new daddy, you have to do security checks, find out if they are legitimate and if the name they give is their real name. I have my wits about me. If I got the slightest inclination that something was off, I'd cut them off.' Nova understands why sugar babies would brag online. 'They can earn a mad amount of money, and I don't think people believe it's real until they experience it themselves,' she says. 'But it's not always as luxurious or straightforward as some influencers would have you believe. 'I often see naive women commenting on posts and saying they are going to do it to pay off debt or feed their children. But this is an adult industry. I knew one girl whose daddy paid for her to live in a multimillion-dollar apartment in New York, but he wanted sex every night. I don't think many people understand where the line is now.' Nova quit working as a sugar baby in April and now has a regular nine-to-five job in events. 'I've had a total turnaround,' she says. 'The money was amazing, though I never slept with my sugar daddies. It provided me with a life and money that a nine-to-five job would never have done, but it needed to stop. 'I definitely don't earn the same now, but I love the independence of having my own job and earning my own money. It's time to stand on my own two feet,' she says. Sugar relationships are not just attracting young women like Roxy and Nova. Sarah* is 50 and has earned over £4,000 since signing up to be a sugar baby in December last year. She was newly divorced and struggling to pay off £10,000 of debt she'd been saddled with in the wake of her marriage breakdown. 'I was sinking under the weight of the debt, which we'd had as a couple. We had to split it when we broke up, and we had two children to look after,' she says. 'My children are teenagers, so I am able to work nights in a supermarket, but it isn't enough. 'I signed up to a site and, within days, I had men offering me money to go on dates with them. I did worry I was too old and no one would be interested, but I had a lot of interest despite my age.' Sarah's first sugar daddy was married and, after several dates, she had sex with him, earning around £1,500. But he constantly pestered her, and said he wanted her to fall in love with him. 'In the end, I had to cut him off,' Sarah says. 'I kept on dating, but after that I did make my boundaries clear. I won't have sex with a sugar daddy again. 'Now, I mainly just have lunch dates and coffee with lonely older men. They just want some company and a woman on their arm. It's harmless,' she says. 'For me, it's just a way of paying off my debt. When it's done, I'll stop. There is no emotional connection. It's a way of getting my life back. 'No one knows that I've been dating sugar daddies. I'd be devastated if my children found out. It's not an example I want to set for them.' 'I have to look good for my daddies – I'm in the gym every day and I have my hair and nails done' 5 Now on her third sugar daddy, Roxy says although she felt financially pressured into the lifestyle initially, now she wouldn't change it for the world. She has come out of university debt-free and hasn't found the need to find a proper job, thanks to her 'income' of £3,000 a month from her relationships. 'My family think I do a bit of fashion work to earn money. I'm not flashy with it. Most of my stuff is understated and I never brag on socials.' 'I don't need to work,' she says. 'I do have to spend time taking care of myself, as I want to look good for my daddies, so I'm in the gym every day and I get my hair and nails done regularly. 'Of course, not everyone will approve of this lifestyle, but it's my life – you only get one, and I'll live it how I choose. 'I'd love to meet someone for a 'real' relationship one day, but right now that's not a priority and I'm certainly not looking. If it happens, maybe I'd have to give this up, but they'd have to be really special – or rich.'


Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Mariah Carey halts Brighton Pride performance for iconic on-stage diva demand
EXCLUSIVE: Singing sensation Mariah Carey has made her long‑awaited UK return headlining Brighton Pride, but she halted the show mid-performance to invite some very unlikely guests on stage Mariah Carey has taken centre stage at Brighton Pride this weekend, headlining the Pride on the Park event at Preston Park on Saturday, August 2, in a performance fans have been waiting for since her originally planned appearance in 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic. The global superstar, 56, famous for hits such as Fantasy, Hero and We Belong Together, has not performed in the UK since her Royal Albert Hall concerts in 2019. Her Brighton show marked her first UK performance in six years and one of only a handful of international dates confirmed for 2025. It comes after the US singer insisted that ageing 'just doesn't happen' to her in candid admission. As fans sang along in their thousands, they were surprised as Mariah suddenly halted her performance to ask some very unlikely people on stage. The American songstress told the crowd that she needed a 'touch up' before continuing with her performance. She then called for her glam squad and hair team to come out on stage do top up her makeup and bouncy curls. Speaking to The Mirror, a Mariah fan at Pride said: "What Mariah wants, Mariah must get. She called her makeup and hair team to the stage to touch up her hair and makeup. As she should, the queen that she is. "She was absolutely incredible and just goes to show that even though she's one of the biggest stars on the planet, she has no qualms about wanting to look her best - like all of us." Ahead of the event, Carey teased her arrival in a playful TikTok video, showing herself boarding a private jet in Paris wearing a sleek black Prada dress and Louboutin boots. She captioned the clip with: 'Nothing beats going to Brighton Pride!!', sending her fans into a frenzy online. Organisers hailed Carey's performance as a major moment for the festival. Brighton Pride's managing director described her as a 'global icon' whose appearance would be 'truly momentous' for the city's LGBTQ+ celebration. The setlist is a mix of timeless classics and tracks from her forthcoming album Here for It All, due for release in September. Crowd favourites include Fantasy, Emotions, We Belong Together and Always Be My Baby, alongside her new single Sugar Sweet. Fans have been ecstatic both online and in person. 'I booked my tickets months ago - it's the first time I've seen her live after 18 years of being a fan,' one attendee said. Another added: 'It's so important to see our legends while they're still performing. She was incredible.' This year's Pride event was expected to draw crowds of over 300,000, matching last year's record turnout. Carey headlines Saturday night, with support acts including Slayyyter, Loreen, Ashnikko, Bimini and Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge. On Sunday, the main stage will be closed by the Sugababes following the band's incredible reunion. And Carey's appearance was more than just a headline performance. It was a long‑awaited reunion with her UK fans, a celebration of her enduring music career, and a major highlight for Brighton Pride. For many, tonight is a stark reminder of why she remains one of the most celebrated vocalists and performers in pop history.