Monday, March 11, 2019

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



28 comments:

  1. Wow! You did a gorgeous job. I would love to have a beautiful room like that. She must be so thrilled and you've provide plenty of space for small treasures, which are always important. Just lovely.

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    1. Thanks so much, she has so many things she wanted to keep so I’m so glad the buffet fit it all! I was trying to get her they rid of heaps more but in the end it all looks good and makes her happy.

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  2. Fiona this is just beautiful and what a lot of hard work and thought has gone into making Beth’s new home such a lovely place to live in. Well done xx

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    1. Thanks so much Judy, it was so much work but I’m really glad she’s happy. Hope all is well with you xx

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  3. Hi Fiona,

    Just love it (and so does the darling dog). Great idea with the display cabinet, its got my little mind ticking!

    Best wishes,

    Suzanne

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    1. Thanks so much Suzanne it’s so different with the doors off isn't it

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  4. Fi what a beautiful thing you did for Beth, it look beautiful, warm and homely.

    Love Marie, your Dad has sent his own reply, we both know your work brings the wow factor and this time a whole unit full of WOWS

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    1. Thanks so much Marie I’m thrilled she loves it but we are still recovering from all the work :)
      Need a holiday. Looking forward to see you soon
      Love Fi

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  5. I've followed you for a long time however I think this is the first time you've ever put tears in my eyes.
    Beth is very fortunate to have you for a dil although I'm sure she was a wonderful mother to Phil.
    Beautiful family. xx

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    1. Thanks so much Carole that’s so kind of you. Thank you xx

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  6. Awesome result, lucky MIL!

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  7. Hi Fiona
    What an awesome transformation, beautifully elegant pieces.
    Love the colours, if you get a chance it would be good to post what colours you used, I’m sure I not the only who would find it interesting.
    Hope everything settles down.
    Best wishes
    Maria.

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    1. Hi Maria thanks so much, yes we are looking forward to a little holiday over Easter hopefully. The colours are all custom mixes and ones I’ve had matched from old french furniture, all ones I regularly use. Thanks anyway
      Fiona

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  8. Fi, a lovely story, thanks.
    I hope life has settled down for you all.
    Love dad

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  9. What a great effort you have put in Fiona. It all looks gorgeous and is a lovely set up for your mum in laws new home. How thoughtful you are
    J x

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    1. Thanks so much Julie, it’s such a nice place and good she’s living close to us. Much easier all round :)

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  10. What a lucky MIL��
    I'm sure she'll be very happy in her new home with all those beautiful pieces. The buffet transformation is stunning��

    Regards
    Sharon

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    1. Thanks so much Sharon, I’m thrilled with how the buffet turned out

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  11. Absolutely stunning. She is so lucky to have you and your husband nearby. I love it all - but those vintage chairs? Divine!

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  12. Such beautiful work Fiona , you are so talented. Your mother in law is a lucky lady,
    Juliet xx

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  13. Well done beautiful job.
    What a lucky mother in-law to have such a caring daughter-in-law.

    Margaret

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sorry if you have trouble commenting, you can always email me at lilyfieldlife@bigpond.com