I TURNED MY HOUSE INTO A TEA ROOM

A BAND of amateur cooks are turning their hobby into new businesses - and their homes into tea rooms and restaurants. ANNA TOBIN investigates...

"I post about six months of Secret Tea room events at a time on my website www.bakelady.wordpress.com and I find i'm booked up within days," says Lynn. "i'm on Twitter too. My success is down to networking."Another great idea is to actually make the walls part of the theme by painting a mural of a garden! Garden scene wallpapers are also available through some online retailers if you prefer not to paint a garden onto the wall. A mural is particularly fun as it seems to really transform the room into a secret garden. Add to the magic by painting the back of her bedroom door or closet door like an old wooden door to a secret garden."I like the flexibility of running things from home. I don't think it would work as well in a conventional teashop. People like the idea of coming into someone's home, it's much more social because you have to chat to the others on your table. it's a new way of going out."The essential theme pieces to a girl�s room like bedding sets, pillows, floor cushions, and throw rugs can be located easily online, and shipped to you within a couple short days while you spend your quality time repainting and decorating. The Living Textiles and Bambury bedroom collections sold through The House Queen online has a few collections that work beautifully in a garden-themed girl�s room: Bambury�s painting fairy collection, Living Textiles� Bella Butterflies, and Living Textiles� Secret Garden collection. These collections include everything from wall d�cor, book ends, bedding sets, pillows, duvets or doona covers, and quilt covers, which are all accessible through The House Queen. You can use these products as inspiration pieces for colour and theme elements.There are other bedroom decorating ideas you can consider. If you don�t want to paint, you can choose to go with wallpaper. There are many from which to choose, and what you choose should be to your taste, but again, not bright or noisy. Look for something soothing, elegant, and easy on the eyes. You can find unique wallpaper designs by shopping around. You may not know what you are looking for, but don�t let that stop you. You will know what you like when you see it.

"I like the flexibility of running things from home. I don't think it would work as well in a conventional teashop. People like the idea of coming into someone's home, it's much more social because you have to chat to the others on your table. it's a new way of going out."

Author: ANNA TOBIN