A painting weekend and a Slate Grey Dresser

It's been a big painting weekend at our place. My husband painted our son's room (same colour but a fresh coat) and I'm half way through painting my daughter's room (it was a dark lavender and it's a dark room so I'm freshening it up with Sleigh which is the same colour we have on our walls through most of the house except our bedroom. It already looks amazing. I'll post some photos once I've finished it.

I've also finished the french provincial dresser that has been siting in my carport since April  - It's now in our dining room and I'm beyond happy. I need to raise the Laura Matthew's painting that hangs above it and then I'll post some photos.

I have also painted 2 chests of drawers. The slate grey one below is already in my booth waiting to be sold. The other one needs one more coat and then waxing.

I forgot to take a before photo of this one but it was in a bad state - I needed to add some wood to the side to make it sturdy and also fix the drawers so they didn't slide too far back.

It's painted in a soft slate grey with a white trim around the top, then given a top coat of wax for a silky smooth finish.

I also dry brushed these 2 corbels to turn them into bookends. I also painted the lamp and it's twin that my aunt gave me. Originally one was green and one was white with a really bad distressing job. I painted them in the same colour my kitchen is painted (Colorbond Dune) and I love them now.

The bookends (and some lovely old books that were my mother's as a child)

Here's to productive weekends!
cheers Fiona

Another Child's Armchair

I don't have a before photo for this child's upholstered chair but it was pink corduroy which had seen better days. This is a little different in shape to the other chairs I have done and I found it a bit more difficult but I'm happy with the result.  

This is already up in my booth at Balmain Road Antique Centre. $225.  

 

 

 

  

 

White Cabinet

We're back from a wonderful week away skiing and other activities. The snow was fantastic but the weather not so good. Low visibility and very cold and windy. But we all had a great time and the kids picked up skiing very quickly. I wish I'd learnt as a small child! I felt very proud watching them woosh down the mountain with no fear! 

It's back to normal here now. Kids went back to school this morning after 3 weeks holiday and they were very happy to see their lovely teachers. After doing the reading in kindergarten, I finished a little white cabinet that will be for sale in my booth. 

It is solid timber with 2 doors and a shelf and one drawer. Original hardware.  Painted white, waxed and distressed.

and the cabinet before painting:

 

My heart is going out to the people of Norway as they deal with their grief. It's just not what you'd expect is it?

Fiona

My Booth at Balmain Road

A couple of photos of what's for sale in my booth at the moment. If anything catches your eye, let me know.

Have a good weekend!
Cheers
Fiona

White Nightstands

Despite it being school holidays I've managed to squeeze in some painting. I had to put a drop sheet down in the longeroom to paint these as it was too cold outside!

Very practical timber nightstands.  I like the little bookshelf bit.  Great for all those books that are piled next to my bed for reading.

  

 

 

and the before photos below:

(and thanks to Melissa for the cute lamp - and the antique white paint). I hope you've settled into France well now!)

cheers

Fiona

French Kitchen Inspiration

I have a couple of projects underway but nothing of my own to share so I thought I'd show some of the kitchens that I drew inspiration from when I was designing my own kitchen.

Unfortunately I don't have some of the sources for these photos as I'd saved them into a file on my computer long before I was blogging. If anyone has any of the sources please let me know.

I love the rangehood in this one

source

gorgeous industrial style cabinet

 

I found this photo below at Provincial Kitchens after I'd chosen my colour scheme but it was great to see that what I wanted would work! I spoke to Provincial Kitchens and they said this kitchen below has since been painted black! Shame really....

also from the above source

below is a bit more industrial - gorgeous lights and clock

The next 2 are so similar (although I'm not so much a fan of stools at island benches)

Love the rangehood below and those skylights/sloping windows 

Source above is possibly The Kitchen House I think?

Love all this crockery! 

Is this Martha Stewart's? 

And I love the beadboard on the rangehood below although I didnt end up doing this.  

See here for what I ended up with!

cheers

Fiona

Massive Leather Armchair

I picked up this leather armchair recently from a guy who had bought a 3 seater, 2 seater and this single. When they were delievered he realised the full set didn't fit in their loungeroom. So this is basically brand new.

It's extremly comfortable and in gorgeous condition.

For sale $250

You'll have to excuse the ugly photos!

Beautiful Vintage Oak Wardrobe

I bought this gorgeous wardrobe at auction a few weeks ago and was comtemplating painting it white but the oak is lovely ....and it's really massive and I wasn't sure how to get it home. So I put it in my booth, cleaned it and oiled it and thought if it didn't sell quickly then I'd bring it home to paint.

The kids and I popped into my booth today and it has sold which is kind of a relief! (I've got enough to paint in my shed already and it's school holidays so not much is getting done at the moment).

Hope you're all having a good week.
cheers Fiona

Vintage Day Bed Makeover

I bought this revolting old day bed at auction. With some white paint, a new mattress and some effort I've turned it into a gorgeous vintage day bed.

Now for sale in my booth.

Don't you just love knowing that things can be transformed with elbow grease and a little love!

Fiona xx

The Birdcage Bookcase

I found this cabinet on the side of the road a few houses up one morning after school drop off. I screeched to a halt and tried fitting it into the back of the car but it was too wide so on foot raced home, leaving the car in the middle of the road...and brought back a trolley to haul it home.  I put a new shelf in which was  a major drama and took half a day because of course the cabinet isn't totally square and it was all more difficult than I imagined.

Lara, the lovely woman who runs the Balmain Road Antique Centre, suggested I paint the bird and branches across the back (same as the one I did on the chest of drawers same as Miss Mustard Seed) . It really suits this cabinet because the dowel rods on the side remind me of a birdcage.

There are two holes on the back where TV cables were threaded through. I think these would work very well for placing a little lamp on the shelf.

This is already up in my booth for sale.

 

 

and before:

I love this piece - i am so pleased with how it turned out!

cheers

Fiona