About

HOW A LOVE OF MOODBOARDS CHANGED MY LIFE.

 

In 2011 I sat around a table with two good friends and mulled over what my next career move would be. I’d always loved home interiors, and whilst a shop seemed out of reach, I’d recently discovered a love of blogging, so the seed was sown. I would create a home décor blog.

Love Chic Living was born a few months later and soon was nominated for an award. Over the next decade I would see how that café chat with friends completely changed my life for the better, forever.

Welcome to Love Chic Living. I’m Jen Stanbrook and I’m obsessed with home interiors. There I said it.

Seriously though, I have been obsessed with home decor for as long as I can remember and have created moodboards, scrapbooks and stockpiled cushions for decades. It’s a real passion and hobby which I spend a lot of free time researching (and doing!).

I’d discovered blogging whilst running a small franchise business when the children were little and enjoyed it immensely, so it seemed logical to combine the two loves.

There was a definite gap in the market for an information blog that offered attainable ideas, yet still seemed aspirational. So I built the first blog at night when my girls slept (they were 8 and 5 at the time) and after I’d run the day job.

I’ve never been afraid of working, and it took 6 months of working late into the night before I saw that it was a hugely viable as a business – and I could sell my part time franchises. My new life was up and running.

 

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

I turned 53 last year and in my working life I’ve had many careers. I’ve worked in food retail, owned a cleaning company, been a developer and Project Manager in an IT company and then run a small franchise teaching baby signing. Pretty diverse, right?

It’s all led me to this – the best job of them all. I’ve been a full-time freelance blogger and content creator for 11 years now and I wouldn’t change a thing. 

 

LIFE CHANGING MOMENTS

I’ve travelled Europe on Design tours. I’ve had a job on Live TV and worked with countless brands creating film and video. I’ve been on cruises, interviewed celebrities, run workshops, made adverts, and written for major brands in the UK and beyond.

The blog is one of the top UK home and interior blogs which is phenomenal and I’m constantly striving to make it bigger and better.

It has completely changed my life for which I will always be grateful.

Honestly, who knew a love for paint, cushions and wall art could bring me a whole new life experience

OUR HOME

My main aim is to always showcase inspirational yet achievable home interiors. I don’t want anyone to feel intimidated by creating a beautiful home, I want you to go away from here feeling enthusiastic and motivated to create the home of your dreams.

I’m also very keen that our family homes should be practical and inviting, yet still look stunning. Your home doesn’t need to be boring just because you have children. 

I live in a 130 year old Victorian semi in the East Midlands with my husband, two daughters and our rescue cat. The house has worked hard for us in recent years, when we all worked from home in the pandemic.

In 2016 we converted the loft into a spacious main bedroom with en-suite. We renovated the kitchen, created our very useful dining room/den and made the tiny box room into our office.

Attic conversion bedroom
Jen is sat in a new desk chair at a home office desk, in a black and white check top and black trousers. She is smiling

SUSTAINABILITY AND CONSCIOUS CONSUMERISM

It’s important to talk about sustainability within the home and my stance on this. We all have a responsibility to shop carefully for our homes, to be mindful of the volume of pieces we buy and to select the right kind of home product.

Whatever your price point, please buy responsibly. Bring only things you really love into your home, try not to discard things and replace simply to follow trends and buy better quality that lasts longer. 

From my personal perspective, I do get given lots of pieces in my work. I donate unused gifts and homewares to charities, friends and family. Nothing is wasted. 

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

Stay in touch and be part of the 3k people who subscribe to my weekly newsletter. I’ll send you latest trends, tips and advice for creating your own beautiful home. 

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    Blog Awards badge for shortlisters 2017
    VuelioTop10Badge2018
    VuelioTop10Badge2016
    WINNER BiB 2014 STYLE

    1 Comment

    1. Pingback: Speedy Spotlight: Jen Stanbrook's Love Chic Living - Cision UK
    2. Diane Brook
      October 16, 2022 / 10:50 am

      So happy to have found your blog and I love the competitions you are offering… I’ll be back!

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