Wardrobe to Armoire




Last year hubby and I made a long trip to North Devon to collect two wardrobes I won on Ebay (that is another story in itself).  When I laid eyes on this one I knew instantly I wouldn't be selling it.  It was perfect for us to transform into the French style Armoire with chicken wire I had been coverting for some years.

I think it turned out pretty well.



I gave hubby the job of taking the door panel out and putting in the chicken wire. 







Huge drawer at the bottom for storing all sorts of useful bits and pieces.  Sorry couldn't take a pic of it open as it is full of unattractive bits and can't possibly photograph them on om blog !




Hubby put two large shelves in to give me lots of room to store my vintage china.


Unfortunately I can't find my before picture I took of the wardrobe, but here is the picture as it appeared on Ebay.  


Looking forward to filling it up with wonderful white vintage finds. 

Decorating the hallway (again)





I love white, all the rooms in my home have white walls but about 6 years ago I saw some stunning wallpaper in Laura Ashley called Summer Palace.  It was on 70% reduction so I snapped up all the rolls they had left in the bin and hurried home to tell hubby he had some decorating to do.  You can see it in the staircase makeover HERE .

Six years down the line Summer Palace has become really popular and the final nail in its coffin to keep it in my house, was when I saw it decoupaged on a piece of furniture in a shop !  Sorry hubby but time to decorate the hallway again.  Luckily he agreed as the paper was starting to look a little grubby and faded.



On a trip to B & Q to buy paint supplies I noticed some beautiful, bright paper on sale. Again massively reduced and also the final batch as it was going out of production.  Yippee, not only reasonably priced but also hopefully never to be seen again for sale so I won't have to suffer seeing it decoupaged somewhere (I hope).  The only problem was it would mean I would have to also re-paint my beloved pink stairs !






I found this mirror at the vintage trading company in Exeter.  A large gilt piece, I painted white and lightly distressed.  Looks perfect.




I painted the chair in a dip dye style.  I recently painted a dressing table for a customer in a similar style and loved it so much I have decided to paint a few more pieces.







Love my hubbie's attention to detail in how he matched the wallpaper up round the corner.



Sorry about the quality of the photographs I really do need to save up for a proper camera and stop using my phone !

Made.com

I am always on the lookout for companies who support independent designers and sellers.

One of my favourite online sites is Made.com who make it their business to cut out the middle man ensuring the best prices are available to the customer.  They do this by having no physical stores and by grouping together online orders every 7 days.  The orders are then placed with the maker/designer to go into production and therefore only making what is required.  Its a great idea and ensures the customer gets the best possible price for their piece.

You can normally save upto 70% on the high street retail value and the even better news is they currently have a sale on !

Some of my favourite pieces at the moment are :

Fonteyn Drinks Trolley  Today's price £169 - Regular Price £239 - High street price £395



The Bowie Table Lamp Today's Price £49 - Typical high street price £373




Kitson stools x 2 todays price £99 - Typical high street £320



I am looking for something a bit special for my hallway.  Think this might be on the shopping list, I love the industrial look of the Starkey Cluster Pendant light.




oh and just in case you were wondering, no this is not a sponsored post.  I am popping it on my blog because I just simply love this company!

Back to Grey (or thanks for the free paint Helen)

One of the perks of people knowing I upcycle and paint furniture is I am often offered items they are throwing out and on one occasion two massive pots of virtually unused paint !  The paint in question is not your ordinary everyday kind of paint.  Oh no!  Its the top of the range Dulux Trade Diamond Matt in the colour of the moment Dove Grey.  This paint has superior durability, covers like a dream, as hard wearing as they come, can be wiped clean and most  importantly has a matt finish. (so works well if you like a chalk paint kind of finish).

Normally out of my price range I was thrilled to receive the paint from the very lovely School mum friend and set to work immediately on dark wood items that needed a solid undercoat.  Just about to start a commission for a customer, it was also a perfect colour for the job!

Once I completed the commission and still only halfway down the pot of paint ! (goes a long way does quality paint) I looked around for more items in my own home requiring a lick of paint.  With the twins away at Grandma's and No 1 son away on his holiday in Turkey, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to do some decorating in the house.  Time to change the staircase (AGAIN).

AFTER




Newly painted staircase.  Intend to put the stencil back on them again and still toying with the idea of putting a white stripe up the centre but I'll wait until hubby finishes the new wallpaper before I decide.  Also think I might fill the very tall wall with bits and bobs I have collected on my thrifty travels.

Next I headed to the bedroom to start on the cupboard which houses my linens and has stared accusingly at me for the last few years.  A lovely piece of stag furniture in its day it just had to have a paint job I'm afraid.

                                                                               BEFORE



 AFTER




 Sorry about the dress dummy, I use her to display clothes I sell online and she wears this beautiful silk nightie and dressing gown to remind me to try and stick to a diet for my holidays !


 I even found these gorgeous grey candles on a recent (rare) trip to Ikea.




I am really pleased with the result.  It still needs a bit more wax and a buff, but thanks to Helen's paint it transformed this piece of furniture and really brings the rest of the bedroom furniture together.

 I picked this rocking chair up at a bootsale last year for £10.  I nearly passed out when I saw it and virtually ran over to the stall holder.  I have done nothing to it except clean it and absolutely LOVE it in all its chippy grey painted glory.



Found the grey slip ons in the Next sale for £14.  Not normally a shop I go into these days, but was pleased I did on this occasion.




Mirror found on Ebay about 6 years ago.  Paid very little for it.  Grey and white designer throw on the bed purchased for £30 from TKMaxx.  Silk (look) curtains purchased for a song in the sale at Dunelm mill.  Bedside cabinets found in the recycling centre, pair for £10 and painted in Helen's perfect Dulux paint.

There you go, amazing what one tin of paint can do.  Thank you again Helen ! 


The Dressing Table

When one of my favourite customers sent me some photographs of a dressing table and bedside tables she wanted painted I couldn't wait to get my hands on them.  The dressing table was a 1960's  G Plan with great lines, if a little time worn.  The customer had a great idea for how she wanted them painted and if I say so myself, I love how they turned out.


                                                                              BEFORE









AFTER




















The combination of the customer's colour choice of grey and yellow really worked well against the unpainted wood.   I especially love the part painted drawer handles and legs, really brings this piece right upto date.

The customer was thrilled with the end result and so were we.  I fully intend to paint more pieces in this way.

The bedside tables