Yesterday we gave back the keys to our city centre flat in Manchester. A place we were lucky enough to call home for two years.
It was our first home together and somewhere I feel truly honoured to have been able to live.
And whilst it was by no means perfect, as is the case with many a rented property, it was a place we loved to live in. We loved, learnt and grew together in this flat, kicking off our relationship together in a big and rather fast way.
George and I decided to move in with one another after just 3 months of being together … WOAH there! Fast I know, but it just felt oh so totally right. It all fell into place in a “it’s meant to be” kind of way and the flat found us, rather than us hunting out somewhere to live.
George and I are both quite impulsive; We viewed the flat and snapped it up in the same evening, having been the only people to ever lay eyes on the new, refurbished mill.
And whilst many people doubted us, and whether it was in fact too fast, we eye rolled our way into our first home together, knowing that this was right for us.
Since then we’ve grown up together, we’ve fallen more and more in love and we’ve collected a heck load of crap. Our one bedroom city centre flat quickly became too small for the two of us, who were paving our way in the world, trying to develop, run and in some respects start our own businesses.
Our flat was our home, our sanctuary and our little haven away from the hustle and bustle of city life, but it was also our office, my studio and often a junkyard for samples for me and alcohol for George, who, without our little flat would never have moved to Manchester and would never have opened Jimmy’s, see what I mean about things being meant to be?
We have a lot to thank you for Finlays Warehouse. And whilst you provided us with absolutely NO daylight, got dusty quicker than anywhere I’ve ever lived (thats city life for y’all) and we outgrew you quickly, you were the place where George and I fell in love and you’ll always have a place in my heart.
I hope I’ve not made you all VOM with the soppy feels but honestly this is such an emotional time, our little flat means so much to me and although I’m thrilled to have my own property and to have more space than ever before, it’s extremely bitter sweet to leave Finlays Warehouse.
So now the love-in is over, I thought it made sense to chat a little bit about how we decked out our home over the past two years.
You'll know it well if you follow me over on YouTube, but for those who are new around here (hi!) reclaimed wood furniture filled our space whilst we injected colour through our eclectic artwork collection, which consisted of both music and fashion with lashings of colour. Textures and prints were provided through our choice of soft furnishings, I'm an absolute sucker for a cushion, whilst windowsill's and side-tables were scattered with nic-nacs and candles aplenty.
Framed photographs, polaroids and photobooth snaps littered each and every surface; whilst Edison bulbs, fairy lights and neon signs provided the cosy lighting to an already insanely cosy home.
The calming influence of plants was exactly what we needed with our hectic lifestyles, despite the dark space not being the best environment for them. However, they’re alive (and now thriving in the insanely bright natural light of our new home) and they provided me with more joy than they’ll ever bloody know.
It was the perfect city centre pad, lived in by two fashion and music loving twenty somethings. And whilst, in some respects we've grown up and our interior style has changed, I'll always look back at our home, with all it's colour, it's texture, it's vibrancy and it's love, with such fondness, I wouldn't change a single thing about how we made that flat our home.
So with that and with our first chapter having come to an end, I wanted to take some final snaps.
Granted they were taken a few weeks ago, before packing hell commenced, and admittedly they're a little dark and rough around the edges, but that’s exactly what our flat was, dark af, with V little natural light, even in the middle of the day, and it was for sure a little rough around the edges, but we loved it whole heartedly.
I wanted to share some images of exactly how we left the place, our final few weeks in there, for us to be able to look back on and perhaps even to offer a little home inspiration also? These snaps, I feel truly reflect exactly what our flat was to us, it was a complete amalgamation of our two personalities, coming together to create a haven for one another. It was cosy, it was cluttered, it was colourful and clashing, but it was ours.
Farewell Finlays Warehouse, you’ve been bloody fabulous and you will be ever-so truly missed. Thanks for allowing George and us to grow together and for providing the perfect location to start our lives together.
x M
P.S I’ve also shared a little flat tour on my channel too, which you can see here if you so wish.
Your little den was beautiful, and so filled with love. We’ve just moved into our home and at the moment its bare and needs an injection of love like you place.
Petite Side of Style
Ahhh thank you lovely one!
Oh babes congrats on the move and enjoy making it a home <3 x
Love the way you’ve decorated the flat, I like the idea of taking photos in each city you visit!
http://fannyanddailybeauty.com
Thanks gorge! Ahhh yes we started that but it’s surprisingly SO hard to find photobooth’s in every city 🙁 such a bummer! x
This is fab Megan! I’ve loved seeing little snap shots of your flat on Youtube & Insta, it’s so beautiful and fun! Can’t wait to see how you put your stamp on your new place! x
holljc.blogspot.co.uk
Ohh Holly thank you gorgeous girl!
x
This flat is gorgeous, I’m sure your house will be just as fab! Are you doing any Christmas party wear blogs/vlogs this year? I’m struggling to find anything I like and it would be great to see your suggestions! x
Yes gorge, they’ll be tonnes of Xmas party things coming up very soon I promise! x
Woop, can’t wait! 🙂 x
Welllllll this was quite possibly the cutest blog post I’ve ever read! Absolutely loved your flat and how you decorated it but I know your new house will be abso-bloody-lovely too boo! Hope you guys are settling in okay!
Much love! <3
Hayley xo
http://www.frockmeimfamous.com
Oh youuu, thanks baby! x
This was such a beautiful little flat and it just oozed with charm. I kinda feel like I’ll miss this flat too, although I’m sure your new place is just as amazing xx
Oh Emma thank you!
I think we’re all going to miss it 🙁
x
I loved the interior and am both sentimental with you about leaving the flat as well as excited for you two to move into your new space!
Hannah | Wild At Heart
Oh babes wow you cutie! Thank you so much x
Your flat was so beautifully decorated – I watched the YouTube video of it too! Good luck with your new house x
https://emmaboughtwhat.blogspot.co.uk
Ohhh thank you Emma, means a lot that you read this post and watched the video too. xx
Goodbye cute little place!!! Hello new adventures! X
https://ainsleylouise.com/
Eee so excited for new adventures! x
I absolutely loved how you decorated your flat when I first started watching you on yt! I loved all the prints, artwork, framed photos and exposed bricks! I am sure your new home will be even better 🙂
But let’s talk a little about how you write: this post was so heartfelt, you used nouns and adjectives in a lovely way, it was probably one of your best posts lately (not that the others were bad, but this one felt special).
(P.S. I totally understand you about the lack of natural daylight: I live – because of uni – in a tiny apartment that gets a bit of sunlight in the morning and then nothing ?)
Ohhh Anna WOW that means the absolute WORLD, especially about my writing, means a lot babe! xo
Oh what a gorgeous flat! Getting a lot of inspiration from these photos – I’ve always found it a bit difficult to really make rented flats feel like ‘home’ and full of personality but you guys absolutely nailed it! Congrats on the home purchase, may it be as full of love and fun as the flat clearly was xxx
Ohhh thank you gorgeous, that is SO kind x
Your flat looks so lovely! I love all the little memorabilia, and I also love that you have so many photographs on show – that’s something I need to do more of too! Those photobooth pictures from different cities is an especially cute idea! xx
Laura // Middle of Adventure
Ahhh thanks babe!
Yes! I need to update the photographs now we have our new home and more surfaces to scatter photographs, it’s so sad that we don’t print photographs the way we used to! But I’m determined to change that next year.
Thanks for reading babe x
Everything about this post is beautiful, from the photos to the story of the love that you’ve both both grown. Please keep sharing what you want with the world because it’s very real and very cool. Love love love!
Ohhh Shannon, that means the absolute world! Thank you SO very much for being so kind and so supportive <3 x
I absolutely looove the way you decorated your house! It looks so cozy as well as being very personal to your style..love love love it! Can’t wait to see how you deck out your new one 🙂 xox
Oh babe thank you, means the world x
Absolutely loved seeing how your old flat was decorated – specifically the little hints of Manchester featuring around it! It’s so lovely seeing a fellow Northerner be proud of their roots! Xx
Faye | Female Original
Always babe! Mancs are the best 😉 x
I’ll have to disagree and say scousers are the best but you can have a close second ? Best of luck to you both in making the new place just as magical! Xx
HAHAHA cheeky 😉 Thanks beautiful girl x
Your place was so beautiful but I am glad that you have a new place to decorate:) Congrats beauty to a new chapter 🙂
http://www.ivanasworld.com
What a gorgeous flat! Love all the personal touches to it, the last image especially with the framed photobooth snaps is such an amazing idea! Love it! 😀
Congratulations on this brand new, exciting chapter of your lives 🙂
VioletDaffodils
xx
Please do more home based content!!! You have such a amazing interior style, and I’d love it if you’d share even a little of your genius and quirk with us!
Where dod you get your casa del chip print from im looking for something similar for our house?
Etsy x
YEARS LATER.. I’m dying to know a little more about that alcohol storage furniture piece you have in this post.