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Incredibly Simple Homemade Soft Pretzels

Incredibly Simple Homemade Soft Pretzels

We are so over sourdough, at least making our own, but that doesn’t mean we are over baking. So what should we make now? After the 2020 baking obsession, we knew our fellow hipsters would be looking for something to take them beyond the realm 

Upcycle Clothing for Your Wardrobe With the Team

Upcycle Clothing for Your Wardrobe With the Team

Everyone understands the importance of a unique, bespoke piece. The joys of having one of a kind clothing can be surpassed by little else for the fashion forward. One of the easiest ways to achieve that is through taking the time to upcycle. If you 

How to Create a Gallery Wall That Will Brighten Any Room

How to Create a Gallery Wall That Will Brighten Any Room

We love a well curated Instagram feed, but nothing beats going old school and moving those colourful photos off the screen and onto your walls. And while minimalist décor is all well and good, bare walls can really be taking the trend too far. Why not create a gallery wall full of your favourite memories that is sure to brighten up any room and inject your own spirit into the space? You may have heard that gallery walls are out, but who really wants to follow the crowd. What is really out are basic matchy-matchy frames and photographs with no meaning cluttering up your sanctuary. Here’s how to create an eclectic gallery wall that is sure to transform your space.

Select your photographs

First step before you can start to create your gallery wall is to curate your collection for display. This is probably the hardest step, as you will have so many amazing experiences captured on film that you will want to share. The best way to narrow down your selection is to decide on a theme. For the hipster house this was simple. We love to travel and although we have been to some amazing places, we feel ourselves called back to South Korea and Japan over and over. So naturally we wanted to make these memories a focal point of our living room. 

Choose three standard sizes for your photographs; a small (8” by 6”), medium (10” by 8”), and large (12” by 10”). This will make it easier to get your photographs printed as well. The eye works best following a key colour in a triangular pattern. You will want to select three photos with the same key colour to print in the large size. For our wall we selected three landscape views where the sky makes up half the background and there is a gold tone located centrally. The sky provides a unifying theme and the gold moves the eye around layout.

Depending on the space you have for creating the gallery wall, you should aim to have Continue reading How to Create a Gallery Wall That Will Brighten Any Room

Simple Homemade Venison Sausage Rolls With Pork And Fennel

Simple Homemade Venison Sausage Rolls With Pork And Fennel

You know what they say…when in Rome make sausage rolls!  They date all the way back to the Roman empire but fit just as nicely in a modern day tea service. Here in the Hipster House, we prefer to use game meat when we can, 

No Pattern Simple Wrap Skirt

No Pattern Simple Wrap Skirt

Sewing should not be complicated. Here is a no pattern project that is extremely versatile and can be done at any craft level. I would suggest using a machine, but if you have patience you could also do it by hand. When trying to inundate 

Wild Venison and Squash Risotto – Easy Game Week Recipe

Wild Venison and Squash Risotto – Easy Game Week Recipe

Here at the Hipster House, we love to use game meat when we can. There are many great reasons to replace your favourite meat. Game is healthy, sustainable, versatile, and delicious, and this wild venison and butternut squash risotto is an excellent way of showcasing these aspects.

What is so great about game?

Without getting too in depth, as there are plenty of sources documenting the benefits of game meat, game meat are the most sustainable meats according to The Game Chef. As wild game is not farmed, they are free to roam and have a lower carbon footprint than traditional meats. The environments that wild game species depend on for food and shelter are often areas that are fragile and significant to other flora and fauna. Robert Gooch, from The Wild Meat Company, points out that these areas, such as moorland, act as carbon sinks and their presence of the game helps to ensure the conservation of these wild spaces. 

As a knock on effect of this, game meat is often locally sourced and supports rural communities. We can know the provenance of the game we buy. It is important to understand how your meat gets from the field to your table. In the case of this wild venison and butternut squash risotto, the venison was sourced from Hampshire Game, via Abel and Cole.

What can game meat do for me?

Besides being good for the environment, game meat is also good for our health. There is a myth that venison is just as bad as red meat, however Continue reading Wild Venison and Squash Risotto – Easy Game Week Recipe

Escape and Unwind in the Comfort of Your Home

Escape and Unwind in the Comfort of Your Home

Throughout this year, we (Cold Brew Kombucha and Retro Denim Jacket) have been missing our spa time. That simple escape to a tranquil zone where you can forget about work and the world outside, and just focus on your mental and physical well-being. Seeing as 

Creating Customised Cornhole

Creating Customised Cornhole

Cornhole is a classic summer game to bring together friends and family for some light competition. If you’re looking to purchase one, there is no need to spend extra money on an expensive unique set. You can easily work on creating customised cornhole boards.

Easy Furniture Upcycle

Easy Furniture Upcycle

Living in a time that lends itself to excess, there has a been a push to cut down on manufactured goods. There are ways to refurbish things around your own home. Tackling this kind of project can sound intimidating, but there is no reason to fear. You can do an easy furniture upcycle, so it matches your décor.

Start with some leftover furniture that needs a touch up and some new colour to match the room it is intended for. One of our pieces was a table with wood, the others were laminated MDF. The table needed a little TLC so loose pieces were glued and clamped to make sure it was sturdy.

sanded table

Step 1: Repaint

To keep it simple, we decided to use spray paint to cover the furniture. The laminated pieces do not need any paint prep. If it is wood, like our table, it needs to be sanded first so the paint will grab onto the surface. For the larger flat areas, you can use a belt sander to grind down the old paint. Anything the sander cannot accomplish you can sandpaper by hand. Once all the pieces are ready to paint, you can throw down a tarp and spray at least 2 nice and even coats. Use a well-ventilated area, and I would highly suggest wearing a mask for the fumes. We used the satin finish to create some contrast with the shiny top where we used Mod Podge.

spray painted furniture

Step 2: Create decorations

To make the decorations, our project used acrylic since we had some on hand. Acrylic applied directly to spray paint will crack over time since the spray paint is oil based. Continue reading Easy Furniture Upcycle