Soap Daze Workshop - #SpotlightSouthWest

Living in Devon has many plus points, not least the wealth of talented artisans, crafters and independent businesses who live and work here.  One of those people happens to be my good friend Sharon Mitchell who owns the successful business Soap Daze.

Devon County Show

Despite having lived in Devon for over 25 years I have only been to the Devon County Show on a handful of occasions.  

DIY white stool makeover

Although I no longer paint or renovate furniture for a living, I still enjoy an occasional project.  When I saw two badly decoupaged wooden stools in a local Devon charity shop I knew they would be a quick and easy DIY painting project.

the white approach online shop

Returning to work in a "proper job" leaves me very little time these days to indulge my passion for bargain hunting and tracking down stylish affordable items for the home.  When I do find something and post it on my social media, I am often asked where or if it can be bought.

March #Stylewise

I'm busy with real life at the moment, lots of follow up appointments with the husband and blogging is perhaps not a regular as it should be.  

Winter Preparation - House and Garden

So Summer wasn't all that this year and now that its officially Autumn, its time to start thinking about cosying down for the colder months.  If you are anything like me,

Boot Sale Treasure

Hubby is working today and I needed the car, so what else is there to do after dropping him at work at 6am, but pop along to the bootsale at Matford in Exeter.

March #StyleWise DIY Artwork

For this months #Stylewise post I decided to have a go at some DIY Art.

British Gypsum - Rooms Made for You Event

Its always a buzz when that special invitation pings into my in box.  I recently had that pleasure when an invitation arrived to The Shard in London courtesy of British Gypsum who

The best friend gene

My whole life, Christmas has been about children (the easy part) I excel at "doing" Christmas.
 New year on the other hand is about adults and friendship. These days (screeches to a halt) not so much.

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. 

IKEA in Exeter

Many, many years ago whilst serving in Germany I came across a store which was way ahead of its time in terms of design and product innovation called IKEA.  You could shop for everything you needed for the home, following a pathway around the shop past every kind of room design and fill your basket to overflowing with affordable homewares and gadgets you might not really need or even know what they were for but they were cheap and looked good.

About 20 years too late for me, IKEA it seems is finally coming to Exeter.  There was a time I would have been ecstatic about this, no more long drives down the M5 to Bristol or Birmingham to shop this iconic brand.  These days my taste has evolved and I prefer to spend my hard earned cash more wisely and buy sturdy, solid wood, usually, English made items I can lovingly restore to fill my home with one off unique items.

It occurred to me that instead of fighting the inevitable exodus of customers from my little independent shop, I embrace the Aladdin's cave of ideas and items IKEA has to offer.  So off I popped to Pinterest to get a bit of inspiration for just what you can achieve with a bit of imagination using items bought from IKEA.

Metal mesh lace planters made into  wonderful downlighter lamps.

This style of bookcase is always available at IKEA and very affordable.  Pop it on its side, upholster the top and add some feet and you have a bench seat which is not only attractive but comfortable and practical too.

Always lots of plain wooden furniture at IKEA perfect for painting and decoupage.

Chairs like this are perfect for this imaginative transformation

 

The vidja lamp perfect to add silhouettes to.

Just a few examples of what a little imagination can do.   So I say bring on the IKEA store !  I look forward to trawling their goodies and if you have a piece of furniture you would like me to transform for you, please do get in touch.  email info@thewhiteapproach.com  

Original piece of art GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the beautiful coastal community I live in and to cheer everybody up with this awful weather and strees many people are suffering, I have decided to have a giveaway.

 I am really excited to offer this wonderful piece of original artwork by the very talented Linda Bartlett who sells a selection of her coastal themed work in my shop.  Linda is inspired by the beautiful seaside towns and villages of Devon and Cornwall.  Each painting is unique with its own individual design, colours and features.

The piece measures 12 inches (31 cms)  by 16 inches (41cms) and is painted in oils (I think)
Worth £100 it can be yours !

 All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is one of the below. 

Leave a comment below

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Giveaway closes on Tuesday 25th February at 4pm.  Open only to entrants from mainland UK only (sorry).

Winner will be picked by a random automated selector.

Good luck and Thank you.

Karen

The winner of the artwork giveaway drawn from all entrants on the blog, facebook and twitter is Kerrie Louise Preston.

Congratulations Kerrie, its a wonderful piece.  Please contact me with your address details .


         

This giveaway is now CLOSED

Thank you to all who took part.

Karen xx