Lavender and love

I took sometime out this morning to go for a long walk and think and to relish in how good life can be. To be grateful for small things, happiness and the wonderful people in your life. 

Especially when people so close to us are experience such tragedy. These NSW fires are so terrible and Sydney is clouded in a smokey haze. It's so hot today and I can't stop thinking about the people losing their homes and about the firefighters. How hot and exhausted they must be. Hoping rain comes soon but it's not looking likely.

My sweet girl has been having some major orthodontic work lately. She's a petite frame and her mouth is very small so she's got barbaric contraptions expanding her palette and pulling her top part of her jaw forward. She's brave and stoic but I know she's feeling fragile. When she was being fitted with a metal face mask the other day, I was asked to go settle the bill and I walked back into to see her with the contraption on her face and my face must have fallen as she brightly said "It's ok Mummy, it's really comfortable!" It isn't and she wakes every morning in pain but I love that she tried to protect me. Growing up a lot lately.

When I was out walking, I picked a little bunch of lavender to brighten up her day.

She understands that love often comes in small gestures

Like flowers tied up with string

We have another patient in the house also. Poor Charlie has to have a little dental procedure tomorrow requiring general anaesthetic. He getting some extra attention and cuddles today also.

Pooped after his walk

I'm working this afternoon on transforming a pair of pine bedsides with white paint. It's too hot to paint outside, I've got a dropsheet down in the lounge room.

Life is so full of both happiness and tragedy isn't it. And often from tragedy  really good things arise - strong communities, fresh beginnings, hope and gratitude. But I'm sure the people facing the fires don't feel that at the moment but it's a good prompt for me to be grateful and appreciative of the beauty of small things and the love of my family.

I hope you and your loved ones are all safe

Fiona xx

Turn a Sideboard into a French Provincial TV Cabinet

Finally I have finished this sideboard that I turned TV cabinet. I started it a few weeks ago but then went away. Well I came back from holidays all motivated and inspired to finish a load of furniture I had sitting in my carport. After a few days of the paint brush not leaving my hand, I'm almost there - you can now kind of drive the car into the carport. Happy husband - tick! 

Now the finished TV cabinet is sitting in my dining room (!!) waiting to be bought by some lovely person. Will it be you?
I have to say sometimes I hate painting furniture... Not really but I do need to sort out storage space for finished pieces so we aren't having to make our family life around them. (Are you bored by my complaints of lack of space, I am! I really need to stop fussing as compared to 99% of the world our house is fine! #firstworldproblem #lovetheinnerwest)

This cabinet was bright orange and was a funny little sideboard.  Not really tall enough and very dated looking. I got some strange looks when I bought it as in "why?" but I thought it would work so well as a tv cabinet.  Check out this post for the before shots and a video walk through of my plan.

I did a lot of work on this piece. But it was worth it. I replaced the back as it was thin ply that was not in the best condition. Before I replaced the back I painted the new back and the shelves ASCP duck egg blue for a nice pop of colour. 

I painted the base of the cabinet a lovely bright white, removing the hardware to keep it the original finish. I removed the drawers and drawer runners and made shelves for the video/foxtel equipment. I also stripped, sanded and stained the top. I used my favourite walnut stain and then top coated with a sealer then waxed the whole lot for a lovely shine and durability. The white paint has been ever so gently distressed to show up the details.

I think the shape of this piece is gorgeous, that carved base is lovely! and it's a great size for a television cabinet. 

This sort of makeover is such a great before and after because I think thatnthere's nothing more dramatic in furniture painting than painting dated orange pine timber a nice crisp white. Add in a newly stained timber top and it results in classic style!

I hope that everyone is safe from bushfires. I fear it's going to be a terrible fire season in Australia this summer. We need lots of rain!

Fiona x

Currently for sale and an Ampersand Winner

Hi everyone, thanks for your entries to the Urban Chest giveaway. The lucky winner of the Ampersand symbol is Judy Brew. Judy, can you please email me so I can organise the prize for you.

I currently have a few beautiful pieces for sale.

Please contact me if you are interested.

Or tell your friends!!

French Provincial Coffee table

120cm by 60cm and 49cm high 

Small French style chest of drawers

Dimensions 123cm wide by 75cm deep

French Provincial TV Cabinet

I'll be blogging about this makeover soon

The top is timber and the inside shelves and back are painted a beautiful duck egg blue.

Sweet Side Table

Small Wicker Table

This colour is a beautiful teal, not as blue as the photo shows.

I also have a load of home wares that I'll blog about soon. Perhaps you can do your Christmas shopping with me?

thanks for stopping by

Fiona xx

White French Style Chest of Drawers

I am constantly asked for painted French style chest of drawers. I promise that every time I see some I will buy them and paint them for you!

This latest chest of drawers has beautiful bow front drawers and is sold timber with dovetailed drawers. Originally they were quite an orange colour and the varnish was severely degraded. But I knew there was beauty to be had. White paint to the rescue.

These drawers are a lovely size and it has two bow fronts (one bow from each line of drawers). The top has a gorgeous shape also.  I stood on our bed to take the photo below so you can get a clear picture of the shape. Beautiful isn't it.

Last week when we were holidaying in Currumbin I visited Sandy in her beautiful shop Paint Me White at Mudgeeraba for an afternoon. I had to buy this gorgeous cushion made from 100 year old French grain sack. I just love it and it looks perfect on my bedroom chair.

The drawers have a little delicate carving down the centre panel. I love the the designers made these little details. A long way from flat pack furniture you see everywhere these days. I love the quality of vintage furniture.

These are painted in a beautiful creamy white and have been sanded and waxed to a beautiful sheen.

Dimensions are: 123cm by 75cm tall.

Message me for pricing and to purchase.

I have been madly painting since I've come home and then at night when it's too dark to paint I've been marking essays. I think I've taken on too much work! It will be good to finish this round of marking and get to bed at a reasonable hour :)

I'm nearly finished this beauty also. I'm going to use dark wax to antique it and bring out the details. I've been so indecisive with this piece but that's all for another blog post. Stay tuned!

Know anyone who needs some painted French style furniture.  Can you please share my blog or facebook page? I need to get my bedroom back from being a showroom/furniture storage!

many thanks 
Fiona xx

French Style Console

I adore this console that I painted a few months ago but don't have a place for it so have decided to list it for sale in the hope that one of you also adores it and can find a perfect spot for it in your home.

A hard thing about being a furniture painter is to not get too attached to pieces and to let them go. I am usually fine about painting beautiful pieces and letting them go, just enjoying the process of buying, painting, styling and photographing then seeing the joy they bring to others. However occasionally I feel I need to hang onto a piece for longer. 

When I first painted this piece I had several offers to buy it but wanted to keep it for myself. The shape of this piece really delights me. After enjoying it for several months, staging it for photos but not really having a place for it I have decided that I will let it go.  I need a studio! 

Message me if you are interested in purchasing this. SOLD, that was quick!

I'm working on lots of other lovely pieces this week that I'll be listing soon also.

Fiona xx

Painting Glass Bottles with ASCP and a giveaway

Did you know that you can easily paint glass with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?

 

A few Sundays ago my daughter and I found this huge glass bottle/vase below at the markets. I loved the fleur de lis but not the paint job. It was actually worse than the photo suggests. The rusty red and turquoise mottled paint left me cold but I knew a little ASCP French Linen could make it beautiful.

A five minute paint job on the kitchen bench while Phil was making afternoon tea. A base coat of ASCP French Linen left it looking very two dimensional.

So once it was dry a few minutes later I gave it a wash with Pure White, letting the paint settle in the grooves before wiping off the excess.

Love it now. It looks like aged concrete, which is a look I really love.

 

Perfect for my sideboard and for near my concrete candle holder.

 

 

Before and after: which do you prefer?

 

Now to find some foliage for it. Besides furniture what have you used chalk paint for? It's so versatile!

 

 

 

You may notice the ampersand I have on my sideboard. A friend gave this particular one to me as a present about six months ago but I also have a similar one to giveaway now. I was recently approached by the American based home wares company Urban Chest to choose a product from their range and offer it as a giveaway on my blog. I thought you might like an ampersand of your own. All you need to is leave a comment below. Urban Chest have agreed to ship the Ampersand Symbol anywhere in the world so feel free to enter wherever you live. Check out Urban Chest's website for a great range of home wares and furniture as well as buying guides. 

Fiona xx

White French Dresser for my Bedroom

I am kind of cheating by saying that I have finished the French dresser for my bedroom finally...after 8 years or so of wanting to paint it. I am actually a little unhappy with the wax on the top of the dresser (Pure White is a bitch to get an even sheen on over large flat areas) and eventually I will re do it. The drawers and sides turned out perfectly and have a beautiful gloss but the top is still a little chalky. But for now it will do!

I love this chest of drawers. Originally when we first moved in, we had dark tall furniture in our bedroom and it was all tall and looming and pretty ugly. I looked for months and months for a chest of drawers in the French style that was long and low. I finally found these on eBayfor a small fortune (for me to spend on furniture anyway) and even paid $100 for delivery. This is when my kids were babies and before I refinished furniture. Anyway I have never regretted buying these despite their mustard yellow colour. I knew eventually I would repaint them.

We repainted the bedroom a few months ago and it actually made the drawers look worse!

So I made the time to paint them. I sanded lightly, used a sealer, a primer and ASCP Pure White. Because this was shiny oil based old baked on paint I wanted to make sure I had a good adhesion for the paint so I took extra steps. Probably too many steps but I was happy to be extra careful and it didn't take too much longer.

I changed out all the handles as the old ones annoyed me no end. At $7 a handle this was expensive but I figure this is a dresser I keep most of my clothes in and every single day I got annoyed with the old handles so it was worth it to me to spend the extra month for cup handles. I needed to drill new holes the handles and did it when I had finished painting. Next time I will do this before I paint. I was hurrying putting on the last handle and wrecked my paint job. When I re-wax the top I'll repaint this drawer below. In real life it is barely noticeable but I know it's there.

I love it all white. Especially at the end of the bed.

I love this quilt my mum sewed by hand - the detail is amazing and must have taken forever. She was very proud of it and it's the quilt she and Max had on their bed.

Someone else likes it too.

So often when people come to the house to pick up furniture they comment on this large chest of drawers and ask if I will sell it. Probably never as it's wonderful storage. But any time I find French style chests of drawers I buy them as I know they sell well.  

And I buy them because I love painting them.

Fiona xx