How to Create a Vintage Industrial Look on Furniture…using Chalk Paint & Black Wax

August 9, 2016 49 Comments

I love it when the launch of a new product provides the perfect excuse to tackle a well over-due project. Such was the case with the release of Black Wax by Annie Sloan. Teamed with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in “Antibes Green” it seemed like the perfect way to jazz-up some blah file drawers I bought...…READ MORE

How to Create a “Vintage” Wire Basket from a Plastic Coated Caddy

July 27, 2016 22 Comments

I have a thing for old wire baskets. You? Well, if you do too it seems we’re not alone. Have you noticed how pricey they can be at old-wares stores and antique markets nowadays? Man! Anyhoo, after I shared this pic of Charlotte’s new bedroom shelves a few weeks back… …I received quite a few...…READ MORE

“New” Blue Cane Chairs…plus how to use a paint sprayer

July 18, 2016 60 Comments

Ever since painting my Chippendale desk chair….by hand…with a brush…over the course of several hours…a paint sprayer has been high on my ‘to buy’ list. Some of you may recall I have sprayed furniture in the past using our air compressor, though that big, noisy, heavy piece of equipment isn’t something I like to reach for too...…READ MORE

Re-Love Project…before & after

June 30, 2016 143 Comments

I’m so excited to finally share this! If you’re not new here, you’re probably aware of my involvement in the Re-Love Project and what it’s all about. For those of you who don’t know, in short it’s a Feast Watson campaign in collaboration with Salvos Stores which sees seven design personalities “re-love” a neglected item of furniture...…READ MORE

Acrylic & Brass Wall Shelves

June 20, 2016 22 Comments

I’ve been meaning to share this little project for ages. About six months back, I decided it was finally time to get something up on the blank wall above Charlotte’s desk. Initially, I’d been toying with the idea of a big chalkboard or over-sized art piece (like a vintage number chart or old world map)…...…READ MORE

How to Stain Timber | A Video Tutorial

June 2, 2016 37 Comments

If you’re a regular visitor here, you may have read snippets about this “secret” project. Well, a few months back I was lucky to be invited to take part in and style a professional video tutorial for Feast Watson! It was like nothing I’ve ever done…and I loved it! I can’t thank Feast enough for...…READ MORE

Ikea Curtain Hack

May 19, 2016 17 Comments

I know you guys think I’ve forgotten I’m supposed to be finishing the living-dining room makeover at my parent’s house, though I am still working on it…and it’s sooooo nearly done! One of the projects I’ve just crossed off the “to do” list is the window treatments. There are three large windows (one incorporating a...…READ MORE

Over-Sized Heron Art | Huge High Resolution Free Printable!

April 13, 2016 24 Comments

UPDATE I have created a second free large-scale download of a beautiful crane to accompany this heron for anyone who’s after two artworks. Find it here. After publishing the post about my DIY large-scale art a few weeks back, I received quite a few requests for a free printable version of my edited image. I...…READ MORE

DIY Over-Sized Art from a Free Printable…and the picture frame that made me cry

March 29, 2016 51 Comments

UPDATE You can now download my full-size, high-resolution edited heron artwork as a FREE printable here. Before I get into how an inanimate object brought me to tears, let’s talk about this artwork. If you’ve been following along with the living-dining room makeover at my parent’s house, you might recall I was initially planning to...…READ MORE

An Old Stool Meets a New Bread Board

March 14, 2016 32 Comments

Do you remember this charming antique piano stool? I picked it up a month or so back to use as a cute little side table in my parent’s living room. And, for obvious reasons, it was pretty affordable. I bought it for around $30 from eBay. A major flaw, like this annihilated seat, can seem...…READ MORE