Maxinebradystyling

12/10/2026

OMG! Having a perimenopause day, so this reel nearly didn't make it out of drafts. But here we are.

First, a sheer polka dot top from a vintage market, £7, which I think is a keeper. Then a red and blue striped top from Zara, £15, which needs its matching skirt, same print, before I can make my mind up.

So, this is a job for you, Vinted hunters. Find me that skirt and I'll give the stripes a proper verdict. Which top wins in the meantime?

09/10/2026

Has this ever happened to you? You spend months preparing for something and then on the day, it all comes down to a bit of luck and a lot of hoping. 🫠

That was me this week. My little Brighton terrace was being photographed for a national newspaper, and I can't tell you who for just yet. After months of hard work, a few meltdowns in my pyjamas, one panic-bought cushion too many and more rearranging than I care to admit, the day finally arrived. And I was still scrubbing the kitchen floor as the doorbell went. Obviously. 🙄

But you just push on through don't you. So I styled the rooms, second-guessed my outfit about six times, added the little touches that always make the difference in photos, and let a lovely team loose on my home.

And then something lovely happened. They loved it. 🥹

I genuinely cannot wait to tell you who it was and show you the full feature. It has been worth every single meltdown, and I feel a little bit proud.

Have you ever dreamed of your home being in a newspaper or magazine? Let me know below and I will share all my tips!

08/10/2026

Cooking for one can be an absolute minefield. Either you spend a fortune on ingredients you end up throwing away, or you have nothing in the fridge and it's toast again. 🍕

That's why I love this posh pizza. It costs about a quid a slice and feels like something from an artisan bakery. It's on permanent rotation in my house.

To make it, you'll need ready-made puff pastry. Pinch the sides, then slice and fry leeks with rosemary and layer them on the pastry. Add thinly sliced tomatoes, some olives if you want them, and feta. Don't make the mistake I did and use a feta-like cheese, as it doesn't go crumbly.

I'm sure I can put something other vegetables on here to jazz it up. What would you suggest? I tried peppers and that didn't work!

Cook for about 20 minutes and you've got a posh pizza which tastes even better the following day. Straight from the fridge, no plate needed.

07/10/2026

How to Furnish a Home on a Budget: 8 Bargain Hunting Homeware Tips to Try This Weekend

I love to furnish a home on a budget! I'm a professional interior stylist and I bargain hunt for absolutely everything, My own home, client projects, shoot styling, all of it. Finding a brilliant piece at an incredible price is genuinely one of my favourite things about my job, and it is a skill I have been building my whole career....

Interior stylist Maxine Brady shares 8 practical tips to help you furnish a home on a budget, with bargain hunting strategies she used to style her own cottage from scratch.

07/10/2026

It's giving Italian mob wife vibes, right? Did I actually pull this off?

This silk dress was £10 from a local vintage market. It's handmade, with the original 1970s cigarette burns, and it looks like it was made for me.

It's going to Crete for its first outing, and hopefully I can wear it this winter with boots, on the dancefloor.

So, is this a win or a fail? Polka dots, florals and all. Or will you be the one needing sunglasses, not me? 🕶️

05/10/2026

Life is so funny sometimes! 🙌🏻 if gives you want you need not what you want. And life gave me this house, and a bunch of lovely silly friends, and that’s all I’ve ever needed!

If you’re new here, then let me say Hi 👋 I’m Maxine, an interiors editor and stylist from Brighton. When I turned 40 I thought I had it all sorted. I was so smug!! A boyfriend, a new home and a puppy. Then life went wonky!!

Suddenly I was renovating a delapidated cottage completely on my own, during a a verrry bad break up (he tried to make a claim on my house despite not contributing anything towards it!) It was rough times TBH

But you just have to dust yourself off and start again, don’t you? Thank god for my friends, family and therapy 🙌🏻

Being single in your 40s sounds scary but it really isn’t. Do you know ant, apart from the break up and financial stress, it’s been the best time of my life. And let me tel you, if I can renovate a tatty old cottage on my own then so can you 💪

So…If you love colourful interiors, simple DIY and a bit of faffing around your pad, then you’re found your person. Make sure to follow along so we can be friends.

Let’s chat in the comments so I can say hello 👋 I’d love to know where you’re from, your age and hear about your situation as you’re not alone. Welcome to my home. 🧡

04/10/2026

ad | Tell me honestly: am I mad for considering cherry red cabinets, or should I just do it?! 🍒👇 

📍Save this post for kitchen inspiration.

After years of helping homeowners design their spaces as an interiors editor, I know firsthand how easily kitchen planning turns into decision paralysis. So when invited me down to explore the launch of their revamped Sussex showroom (celebrating their clever new online 3D design tool), I did my journalist research. 

The big background news? For 80 years, this Sussex brand manufactured kitchens strictly for large commercial developments. Now, they’ve finally opened their doors so the rest of us can buy direct.

A few standout details that stole my heart:

Real-life layouts: No dull, off-the-shelf displays. They’ve packed the space with clever ideas even I hadn't thought of like hidden walk-in pantries, built-in banquettes, breakfast bars, and a coffee station that has gone straight onto my personal wishlist.

Made locally & built to last: You can literally hear their carbon-neutral factory humming next door. Every unit is manufactured on-site and delivered ready-assembled to your door (an absolute dream if, like me, you refuse to decipher flat-pack manuals!).

Tested by the pros: Watching Master Chef 2018 champion put the island through its paces cooking live right in front of us proved these kitchens work just as hard as they look.

Make it your own: Digging into their huge sample bank and playing with their digital visualiser to mix and match door fronts and worktops became totally addictive. This is entirely how this vibrant red shaker design ended up living rent-free in my head.

Honestly, after experiencing the showroom for myself, my tired kitchen's days are officially numbered....ekk! 🤭

Follow if you’re in the middle of a big renovation or just daydreaming about modernising you tired cupboards.

Here’s how to check them out:

📍 In person: Paula Rosa Showroom, Lancing Business Park (just 20 minutes from Brighton)

💻 From the sofa: Order a free sample box straight to your door or map out your space using their free 3D design tool at paularosakitchens.co.

03/10/2026

These pancakes will NOT get rid of your chin hairs, but they might make you feel more human!

I’ve found that as I’m creeping into my perimenopausal era, what I eat really makes a difference to my sanity. The problem? I have a massive sweet tooth and genuinely love morning treats like warm pastries and thick layers of jam. Finding a healthy breakfast that still feels indulgent is key to keeping me on track.

Enter these oat pancakes (which are basically just elevated fried porridge). They are my ultimate cheat code to staying healthier, happier, and slightly less ready to explode before 9 AM. I make a huge batch, freeze, and shove them straight into the toaster to defrost whenever I need a quick fix.

Part of learning to fall back in love with cooking has been finding quiet ways to look after myself like this, zero fuss, no morning dread. 

I'm looking for easy recipes so send me your ideas 💡

02/10/2026

Straight back on vinted? 📫

01/10/2026

The one thing that no one knows about ny job but as an interiors editor, I’m rarely looking for huge homes. I’m hunting for small spaces just like yours. 👉

Anyone can throw money at a blank canvas, but it takes genuine creativity and gumption to turn a tiny space into something truly special that jumps off the pages of a magazine.

If you’ve ever felt your place was too small to be “magazine worthy,” I hope this sneak peek proves it is never about square footage, it is always about soul and clever design.

A massive thank you to Anna for opening the doors to her gorgeous pad.

I’ve already ordered tins of blue paint because I left that inspired! 🩵

Does this surprise you about what I am looking for? 👀