'We had unique idea to store all our kids' toys – it was seriously game-changing'
A mum shared how she wanted to make some extra storage space in her children's room, so rather than buy some boxes to put their toys in, she decided to put a hole in the wall. But she did warn others it may not be possible for them, if they also wanted to try the same thing.
Laura Avery, who posts her house renovation pictures on Instagram as @theaverycottage, shared "there was a lot of prep that went into this build," urging people to not "try this until you have verified that you are structurally able to, and add a pony wall".
She explained: "We gained so much space for the room with this built in! All our kids' toys are stored in there, and we don't have chests and bookshelves in the room."
Over the top of the video, she wrote: "Maybe instead of shelves for toys we should cut a hole in the wall and put them in there. But make it pretty."
The video showed the whole messy process, with ripping everything out, painting it, and adding the drawers where items could be stored.
She then showed a before and after – and the results were amazing. It gave so much more space than the room had previously.
In the comments, people said it was "genius," with another writing: "Our walls are sloped and angled just like this in our upstairs, with no storage. This idea would be so great!"
One woman wrote: "I'm lucky enough to now own the house my granddad built. My girls' bedrooms, which were my mum's and aunt's rooms, have built-ins like this.
"They each have 9 LARGE drawers with an open shelf above. Plenty of storage for teen wardrobe, keepsakes, toiletries, even their extra sheets and towels. Storage like this is amazing. Highly recommend!"
"Why make shelves when you can just make holes?" a mum joked.
Somebody else complimented: "Literally amazing! I'm always looking for ways to build more storage, while maximising space."
For those wondering what a pony wall is, which Laura mentioned, it's also known as a half wall or knee wall, is a short wall that does not extend all the way from the floor to the ceiling.
It is typically used to divide spaces within a room, provide support for countertops or railings, or create a visual separation without completely closing off an area.
Pony walls can be found in various places in a home, such as between a kitchen and living room, along staircases, or in bathrooms to separate a shower from the rest of the space.
They offer both functional and decorative benefits by defining areas while maintaining an open and airy feel.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
13 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘I could barely get a day's worth of stuff in it': Concerns raised over reduction of bin sizes in Co Antrim council
Concerns have been raised by Co Antrim residents over a planned reduction in the size of black bins in the local council area. The change to bin arrangements in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Council area will see traditional black bins replaced with smaller versions. It is being billed by officials as a way to assist and actively encourage households to take part in recycling. However the move has sparked frustration among local households, who feel as if they have been left in the dark ahead of the roll out of the scheme in September. One resident of the area – Laura Moreland – said: 'We were supposed to be told three months ago, but were only informed this week.' 'Most of Newtownabbey voted for it, so Antrim has to get it too.' Laura added: 'Ballymena had those smaller bins, and now they are getting their old ones back. 'My bin would be full all the time. If I had any more rubbish, I would have to take it to the skip myself. 'I could barely get a day's worth of stuff in it. They [the reduced bins] are the size of boxes.' As part of the change, Antrim and Newtownabbey Council is holding 20 drop-in information sessions across Antrim, Crumlin, Randalstown, Templepatrick, and Toome, starting Monday, 4th August. The council said these are to enable residents to drop in and speak to council staff about the new scheme and to allay any concerns or queries they may have. The new wheelie box recycling scheme is being rolled out in September. A spokesperson for the Antrim and Newtownabbey Council said: 'With the increased collection of recyclable materials through the new scheme, households should notice a significant decrease in the waste they are throwing into the black bin. 'Council Waste Officers are also happy to assist any resident with their queries or concerns, including offering a house visit. Residents can contact the Council to ask for additional support as required.' 'The Council has adopted a policy that supports households that require additional capacity, for example, requests for additional bins will be considered for larger households or households with medical waste or nappies,' added the council. 'Approved residents will receive two 180L black bins to accommodate additional capacity requests made through application to Council. All households can also purchase additional recycling or organic bins to assist with any additional recyclable or compostable waste they may produce.' The council spokesperson also added that this change is necessary to meet their 'ambitious waste recycling targets (70% by 2035) set out in the Climate Action Bill for Northern Ireland'. 'The Council is rolling out an increased capacity of 180 L, weekly collections for recyclable materials to all households in the legacy Antrim area,' they added. News Catch Up - Friday 1st August 'The weekly collections, combined with the size of the container and increased opportunity to recycle materials that currently cannot be recycled in the blue co-mingled recycling bin, means households will be able to recycle even more materials and will generate less non-recyclable waste. 'Instead of reducing the frequency of black bin collections, the Council will be introducing new streamlined bins on a continued fortnightly collection. 'The change is also following Government policy direction to collect recyclable materials separately, so that we can maintain a high recycling quality and ensure that over 75% of our materials can be recycled locally, boosting the Northern Ireland Economy.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Poached eggs are simple to cook if you use one kitchen item instead of a pan
If you're a fan of eggs this way, one expert said there's an easy method to make them perfectly The perfect poached egg is something many people find elusive. Getting the yolk cooked to a runny perfection and the white firm but not rubbery, all the while praying it doesn't fall apart in the pan adds a level off stress to what should be a simple meal. If you cook yours in a pan with boiling water, there is another easier option, according to one expert. And she said that you can ditch the pan and swirling water and instead make them in a common kitchen item which many of us will already have. Best of all, she said it takes two minutes and you will have the perfect poached egg on your plate. Cindy, a food writer and founder of Salt and Serenity, has shared that you don't need any fancy equipment to make a perfectly tender and unbroken poached egg, as it can be done in a microwave, reports The Express. She said: 'Poached eggs are not something I ever made at home until a few weeks ago. They always seemed so complicated to make. "Swirling the simmering water into a vortex and then gently lowering the egg into this seemed like a recipe for disaster. 'But then I started seeing people making them in the microwave all over Instagram. I wondered if it could really work." Cindy said it took her a few attempts, but now she has nailed it. She added: "It took me over a dozen eggs until I finally cracked the code! (a little egg humour there).' Making a poached egg in a microwave is surprisingly easy and only takes two minutes. The key is using a mug or bowl so it can easily keep its shape, and the microwave gently cooks it so you get a soft and springy poached egg without any fuss. Here's Cindy's guide to a microwaved poached egg. How to make a poached egg in the microwave You will need: One large egg 180ml of boiling hot water One teaspoon of vinegar Method To begin, boil a kettle. Pour the boiling water into a heatproof bowl or mug. Then, add one teaspoon of vinegar. You can use any vinegar flavour you like. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which helps the proteins in eggs bind together so they will keep their shape while cooking. Tap the egg with a spoon to crack it and add it to your heatproof mug or bowl. Cover the top with a plate and place it in the microwave at around 80 percent power to cook for 30 seconds. How long it takes to cook a poached egg will depend on the type of microwave you own, and you may need to experiment with the timing to discover what works best for you. Make sure to also not put the microwave on full power, as this can set the yolk too quickly and lead to undercooked whites. After the 30 seconds are up, take the egg out of the microwave and use a spoon to gently turn the egg so the yolk is surrounded by the whites. Then, simply cook the egg for 10 more seconds, and if it is not completely set, cook it at five-second intervals until it is cooked. Once the egg is ready, drain the water and place it on paper towels to soak up any excess moisture. You will have a springy and perfectly shaped poached egg that is simple to cook without any chance of it breaking apart.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Banish patio weeds in 24 hours 'permanently' with one kitchen item
Weeds can be a problem in any garden, as they can get into the cracks and crevices of your patio slabs, making them difficult to remove - but one woman has an easy solution Weeds, much like moss, can wreak havoc in gardens by invading the nooks and crannies of your patio slabs, making them a nightmare to get rid of. The battle against weeds can often feel like a losing one. Gardeners may spend hours on end kneeling down, clearing paths and patios of these pesky intruders, only for them to make a swift comeback. While white vinegar is a common go-to for tackling patio weeds, there's another household hero that gardeners can turn to, which is less likely to harm surrounding plants, flowers and grass. Instagrammer @thatmamarealtor, also known as Jessica Nakamura, swears by baking soda for the task at hand. She shared her technique in an Instagram video, which she captioned: "This is an easy way to permanently get rid of the weeds between your patio stones." It comes as a warning was made over savage garden invaders that can 'destroy' your plants Opening her video, Jessica said: "If you need a simple way to get rid of the weeds between your patio try using baking soda." In her clip, Jessica liberally sprinkles baking soda over the weedy areas of her patio and then sweeps it into the cracks with a broom. The following step involves dousing the area with water from a garden hose. Jessica asserts that within "24 hours", the weeds will be dead and can be removed "so easily" and "won't grow back". For those dubious about the effects of baking soda on their patio weeds, Jessica later returned to the comments section a month after to update whether the weeds had resurfaced and if the baking soda had impacted the adjacent lawn. She exclaimed: "One month later, patio is still weed-free and grass is still green." Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda proves to be a formidable weed killer due to its high salt content. When weeds are bombarded with too much salt, they can't survive, leading to dehydration and preventing them from regrowing, reports the Express. After the above-ground parts of the weed die off, it becomes a doddle to yank the plant out by its roots - significantly reducing the chances of it making an unwelcome comeback in your garden. While a heightened salt concentration in the soil can also spell trouble for nearby non-weed plants, this issue can be swiftly resolved with a good drenching or a downpour, which will rinse away any lingering baking soda. By using baking soda instead of white vinegar, gardeners can ensure that patio weeds are permanently vanished without the need for harsh chemicals that can damage plants and flowers.
