News / DIY Shabby Chic

This weekends work...

I was asked by a lovely lady to help transform her dining room furniture. These chairs had already been some upycling before getting to me. The chars originally had an open style back - the client has had this set for some time and wanted a complete new look. She had them re-upholstered locally with a gorgeous teal fabric, they filled in the back and added stud-work to finish off the look. They turned out fantastic. Time for a lick of paint to freshen them up - that is where I come in :)

Before

The client wanted a nice modern clean look with a bit of texture to the finish - Chalk Paint is the obvious choice for this type of finish. Handpainted using Antique White chalk paint by Annie Sloan for the chairs, table legs and surround, finished off with a high gloss varnish for the table top. This dining set has been completely transformed and re-loved to be enjoyed for many more years to come. Take a look at the after shots below.

After

Whenever I've gone quiet on social media and my blog it usually means I'm up to something in my own home. This time is no different! We've had to get works done in the house (damp coursing, fully rewired - the joy of an older house!) so while it was already a mess, I started uncovering this beauty of a floor in my kitchen! I had no idea it'd still be good under all the thick layers upon layers black paint. Lots of work to go, but I do love a challenge! 

We used some fairly potent smelling paint stripper - caution and lots of ventilation and a mask is advised! Our house is an old Victorian redbrick oozing with old world charm and loveliness, however being 120 odd years old, in places the paint is 120 layers thick! This floor was no exception, and again because of it's age we needed to be careful with sanding as there was a risk of old paint containing lead, and being our kitchen floor, with an open shelving style galley kitchen - it would not be a good environment to have tiny lead particles floating around in. I am also fairly sure that the final coating of paint was an industrial style garage floor paint, quite the mess to remove. It was black, layered on until all definition between board was lots and scuffed to bits, never looking clean and very dark in an otherwise bright kitchen. It had to go.

I have always wanted a painted wooden floor, and although my head says to varnish or stain to a darker wooden finish (after all it will help to hide some of that dirt amiright?), alas the heart wants what the heart wants. Painted floorboards are notoriously not as hard-wearing as a good old fashioned varnished one, and although this will be quite a high traffic area I'm still going to give it a whirl. This will only be a temporary solution until we save to get something else, and is our first house after renting for many years so its great to be finally about to do what we want with our own home. Those trusty converse have seen quite a few upcycles in their time! Check back in to see the progress. Wish me luck!

Upcycles often present themselves in the strangest of places and ways when you least expect it! I bought this fab second hand farmhouse style table for my own dining room. I had big plans to paint the legs and stain the top to a classy dark  oak colour. I want to add different coloured painted chairs eventually (when I find the right ones!). 

I collected the table from a lovely guy who helped load it into the van too. When I got it home and lay the table top against the wall with the underneath facing up I couldn't believe it, the underneath of the table was even nicer than the actual table top!  The before pic below is the table top as it's meant to be - a varnished pine finish, and then assembled with the underneath now as the top.

I love the rustic look and this has it by the bucket load, and was completely unintentional! What a happy little accident. It took a LOT of sanding to get it to a level and useable finish but I have completely fallen in love with it.
After an intense sanding (that I'm still not the better for) and sealing with a matt varnish to protect it, it now has pride of place in my dining room. Now that is some looking at things differently!

I actually decided against painting the legs entirely - once the top was finished, the wood just looked so lovely all rustic and worn so I left it as is, for now at least! :)

Table top before (the lighting was terrible!!)

Table top after

I am completely obsessed with The Great Interior Design Challenge!! I love seeing how each designer interprets the clients ideas, but especially love the upcycle challenges set each week by the judges. The designers are given a random selection of items to create something unique for their room.Take a look at some of the amazing things people have come up with here.

New product - These adorable mini canvases have just the right amount of vintage style with vintage floral design, hessian background and butterflies cut from a vintage book. Used either inside the bedroom or playroom on on the door to let everyone know who's room it is. Please get in touch for customisation - on the online store now. You can get yours here. 

Tis the season....for craft fairs! 72 frames, one boot! Lots of making going on in preparation. Delighted to announce The Makery will be at this years Dublin Christmas Flea from 9th-11th Dec in Point Village North Wall! Pop on down and say hello, and support local traders and crafter's.

I'll have some great upcycled and unique Christmas gifts available. I can also take orders before then for collection at the market. Pm for more details. It's going shaping up to be a great market, all indoors too in case the weather isn't great. 

Busy few weeks ahead! Game on