Furnishing a retirement unit for my Mother in Law

Hello! It’s been a crazy few months for us (actually a tough year) but I think we are finally coming back to a steadier pace of living. Phil’s mum has moved down from Dubbo and has been with us for a while. We recently found her a retirement unit in Strathfield and I furnished it as she wanted a full change from her old pieces, to leave her old life fully behind. 

The stand out piece is this buffet I found for her. You won’t believe the before photo. Paint and a little inspiration make a huge difference.

And here is the before: 

The middle door was actually a fixed panel so it makes it very hard to get things in and out so I just removed it all and filled all the holes.

For Beth’s bedroom she downgraded to a king single and luckily I had a large vintage bed head that fit perfectly. Jonty has been using this in his room unpainted for a while but he wanted to have no bed head so everyone was happy. A customer has given me the chair a few years ago and I had the beautiful bedside in my inventory.

I found Beth a lovely dining setting that she was happy to take unpainted. The upholstery was in beautiful condition and her favourite colour, green.  I also got her two vintage velvet tufted armchairs and a little nest of tables to use as a coffee table. I painted grain sack stripes on the nest of tables 

Here are some photos of it all together :I also bought her the throw and the pillow on the bed as a house warming present.  We also had new carpet laid and the walls painted. 

Yesterday I finally finished the last piece which was a beautiful footstool ottoman so Beth can rest her legs and feet sitting in the armchairs. I painted reupholstered and made a slip cover and I am so thrilled it turned out so well. My first time making bias and piping. 

Beth loves all the pieces and all the old ladies in the home keep coming into her unit to admire it all. She’s so much happier and that’s a relief for us all. 

What do you think? Love to hear

Fiona xx