I’m Mary, the heart and soul behind Spotted Magpie. I’m here to help you with anything you want to know about transforming your house into a home. I opened Spotted Magpie some 5 years ago with the desire to create beautiful everyday spaces.

The idea behind Magpie is that, like a bird, we collect things here and there to create our own unique nest. We normally don’t go into it with a big master plan - we pick up things along the way, we bring back souvenirs from when we travel, we collect mementos from our lives, and are given, for better or worse, things that reflect the taste of those we love.

Many of us look around our homes and wish we could make it brighter, or bigger or more contemporary.

If you’re anything like me, you want a home that is comfortable, beautiful to live in and that is welcoming and inviting for when friends and family stop by for a visit.

Let’s face it: interior design can be intimidating. It’s difficult to find the time and money to invest in something that will at least be semi-permanent in your home. Making decisions that you will have to literally live with is hard and daunting. What if you don’t like that wallpaper two months from now? What if someone spills chocolate milk on my new sofa? Will it come out? What if the colours I chose go out of fashion in a few weeks? Will my home look outdated? What if I move? Will I have to start over?! The questions keep piling up. No wonder you don’t know where to begin.

So naturally, many of us will reluctantly abandon the project and continue with our busy lives.

Others will seek “expert advice”. We have all had, or at least heard, those terrible horror stories about interior decorators. Some of them are snobby and think they have better taste than you, so they try to overrule every choice you make for their own. Others are never done on time! They practically move in, take over the process, your home and your budget. It doesn't have to be that way, after all it is your life and your home. So take charge and create your nest for your dream lifestyle.

The good news is that there’s no need to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Transforming your home into your own nest does not have to be a daunting, mind-boggling chore. There are simple things we can do to adapt your home into your lifestyle and make your living space your own.

I built the Spotted Magpie with the intention that it will become a community for people like me, who want a happy home that reflects what we value in our lives. Please join me in sharing decorating secrets, answering your questions and giving some of my accumulated expert advice. I want to hear from you and help you build your dream spaces.

In the meantime, please have a wander around our online home and tell us what you think. This site has been in incubation for quite some time and it’s a big part of the Magpie dream. Please click here to join our Magpie community. After all, birds of a feather must stick together!

All the best