Since I started my Furniture Paint 101 Workshops in May 2016 I have wanted to take them to other towns and cities around New Zealand. This year so far I have run many in my home town of Tauranga, in Cambridge and Pukekohe, and I have them scheduled in Howick, Whakatane, Rotorua, Waiuku and Taupo. I'm so excited about teaching more and more people what I know about furniture and home decor item painting. In November I will be taking my workshops even further. Right now I'm working on my schedule to do a week long tour of other areas of the North Island. If you'd love to have a Furniture Paint 101 workshop in your town or city, please email me or get in touch via my Facebook page. Here are a few images from previous workshops: Get all of your questions answered. A wee treat for each student. Everything is provided - even the items to paint! A selection of brushes, sandpaper, rags and paint are available. You will learn 4 different techniques in a 3-hour workshop using Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint. Find out more about Furniture Paint 101 Workshops HERE. I can't wait to teach you! Until next week... Kathryn
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One of the most popular colours, Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint in Duck Egg creates a soft and beautiful finish no matter which paint effect you use. A recent upcycle in my studio, this desk was totally transformed from a boring brown dark stain to this soft luxurious look. With two coats of Duck Egg, carefully sanding out any imperfections between coats, I then applied a dry brush effect to give it another dimension. This is a colour I've used to upcycle photo frames and baskets too, both of which come up beautifully. If you're looking for a soft feminine finish, then Duck Egg from the Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint range is for you! Remember, we have all of your painting accessories that make the job easier too. And, my Furniture Paint 101 workshop is online now too. This piece is for sale. You can find out more HERE. If you'd love to see more of the Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint colour range, download your FREE colour chart. Last year we had the gorgeous Persimmon Lane Cake & Coffee Shop open just 10 minutes away from where we live, and oh my goodness what a treat this place is. With the most stunning setting amongst persimmon trees in a quiet country road, Persimmon Lane Cake & Coffee Shop is an absolute delight. As you pull up the driveway beautiful trees and an expansive lawn area surrounds the most delightful purpose-built white cottage. An all-weather verandah looks out over this beautiful space. Stepping inside to see the array of scrumptious offerings is just as impressive. From cakes to savoury and healthier options too, Persimmon Lane have it all. My treat today was Apple and Feijoa Crumble. Oh, and by the way, the coffee was superb too! Come and have a look... Feijoa & Apple Crumble Distressed Tea Trolley So, next time you're in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, make sure you make time for coffee or lunch at Persimmon Lane Cake & Coffee Shop, you'll not be disappointed. If you'd like to find out more about furniture painting, take a look at my Facebook page for more inspiration. In the meantime... Happy painting! Kathryn p.s. If you haven't seen it yet, take a look at my new Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint. Projects that I can complete in a few hours are my favourites, with weekend projects coming a close second. Now, as you can imagine, I've got a few pieces (well... more than a few actually) waiting in line to be transformed so this recent project was a good one to get completed end to end over a weekend. I'm really in love with the whole French farmhouse look right now so I'm working to create a few pieces. This hall table was the first on the list and I love how it came up. Here's what I did: 1. Wiped the entire piece with a warm soapy cloth to remove any dust and dirt. 2. Removed the handles. 3. Applied masking tape to the sides of the drawers. 4. Painted the drawer fronts. 5. Turned the table upside down to paint the legs and under sides. 6. Finished off with painting the top. 7. Distressed using sandpaper. 8. Wiped over with a damp cloth to remove any sanding dust. 9. Replaced the handles. I'm sure you will agree that a coat of paint, some distressing and new handles makes all the difference to this cute wee table. What is your next piece on your upcycling list? Let me know in the comments below. When I was researching and developing Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint, my main objective was to bring a product to the market that was QUICK, EASY + AFFORDABLE, the three key components that make up the philosophy of my business. This was non-negotiable. The idea: Create a limited range of diverse colours. Then, teach my students to mix colours to create any shade they need or want. This is proving popular. I love the fact that I'm encouraging people to explore their creativity even more. For me, this is definitely one of the most satisfying parts of the creative life; experimenting, testing, trialling and even having failures because it is all part of the fun of creative self-expression. Our furniture paint is a 3-in-1 paint that primes, paints and seals in one process. NO SANDING. NO PRIMING. NO WAXING. NO POLYURETHANE. Jet is proving to be one of our most popular colours. Used on it's own it of course gives a beautiful lustre and depth to any piece, and mixed (here with White) you can create any shade of grey you desire. These bar stools were originally clear varnished and were quite light. The next iteration was a dark stain I put on around seven years ago, and now they've been brought up to date. Here's what I did: 1. Asked my husband Craig to cut the backs off for me. 2. Painted two coats of Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint in Jet using a Textured Finish. 3. Left to fully cure for 7 days to ensure the paint had hardened. 4. That's it! Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint is QUICK, EASY + AFFORDABLE! Check out my FREE Online Furniture Painting workshop. Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint in Jet Bar stools before And... after! This was yet another quick and easy project that has made a HUGE difference to the decor of our home.
Question: What is your next project going to be? Please share it in the comments. I'd love to know! What a wonderful find it was coming across this delightful cafe. On a recent road trip to the Manawatu region of New Zealand, I was most pleased to discover this outstanding cafe. With delicious homemade food, coffee that is definitely up there with the best, and a decor that is right up my alley, Hansen's Cafe & Store was one of the highlights of our trip. Owned and operated by five families who moved North from Nelson two years ago, the store offers an array of handmade soaps, children’s clothing, wood crafted pieces and sewn homewares. Housed in an early 1900s building which was totally renovated when the new owners took over, the decor consists of beautiful repurposed timbers from the property. From its rustic chalkboard signage to the solid wood tables and enormous fire surround, the well thought out layout and furnishings are just lovely. A mixture of small and large tables and chairs, couch and comfy chair areas and bar stool benches, there’s a space for everyone. Stopping for afternoon tea, the rhubarb crumble took my eye, and Craig had the ginger crunch slice; both were baked to perfection. The coffee couldn’t be faulted either. Of course the decor was the thing that attracted me when I saw the images on Google. The rustic finishes, repurposed wood, painted furniture and upcycled products were inspiring for sure. For me, one of the highlights was the staff. All members of the families that own the business, they were exceptionally engaged. Of the three staff I spoke with, each had a story, and each was genuinely interested in me and my story - where I’d come from, and where I was travelling to and from. Take a look for yourself at the decor and food. Hansen's Cafe & Store Beautiful homemade food Rhubarb Crumble & Flat White Coffee A variety of crafts are available for sale Upcycled coffee sacks, children's clothing and soy candles. Rustic signage and upcycled pieces. You might like to check out some of my before and after inspiration of upcycled pieces that have been transformed.
I'm so excited to bring you my online Furniture Paint 101 workshop. No matter where you are in the world, now you too can learn to turn your tired old pieces into ones you absolutely LOVE. Learn all of the favourite painted furniture techniques I teach in my face-to-face workshops designed to give you the upcycling skills you need to make your home beautiful. ABOUT UPCYCLED & CO. Upcycled & Co. is my 'baby', founded on a philosophy of providing quick, easy and affordable furniture painting workshops, and furniture paint. I have always loved to create... I love texture, colour, and most of all, expressing myself through the creative process. As a teenager it was sewing my own clothes, then later knitting. In my 20s I tried all sorts, from decoupage to abstract acrylic painting on canvas. And for the last 15 years I have been into upcycling in one way or another - repainting plant pots, recovering lampshades and painting furniture and old photo frames to a create a new look. HOW IT WORKS You will be joining me online and I will be coming to you from the Upcycled & Co. studio. The techniques for Furniture Paint 101 Online are recorded in individual videos and give you a step-by-step demonstration of each technique. FURNITURE PAINT 101: THE WORKSHOP Learn 4 different and beautiful techniques at my Online Furniture Paint 101 Workshop then set to work to turn your tired old furniture into pieces you absolutely LOVE! I've created four separate videos to make it easy for you to learn one technique at a time You will learn how to:
You will get to access videos that take you through each process step-by-step, and you can watch them again whenever you want to. Plus you will receive 2 BONUS Workshops - The Colour Mixing workshop & The Stone Effect workshop. Here's what my clients say:
"I didn't realise it was going to be so easy!" Jo "Thank you for a fun and informative workshop." Kate "It was so much easier than I thought it was going to be." Wendy You can find more reviews on my Facebook page. If you've done one of my workshops or if you've painted furniture, please share your experience in the comments below. Happy painting! If you've been following Upcycled & Co. for a while you will know how much I love quick and easy projects. This urn had been sitting in my studio for quite some time, until I got my hands (and paint brush) onto it recently. The colour I chose is a custom mix of Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint in Mustard, Jet and Tangerine, and I love it! It's one of the colours in our dining room chair fabric so I've used it as an accent colour in our decor. Now when I say I like quick and easy projects, this really was quick. I'd finished painting my chair in the same colour and I had enough paint left to do this urn, so I set to work. With no need for preparation, apart from a quick wipe over with a damp cloth, I knew I could get this done in under an hour. Here's what I did: 1. Applied two coats of Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint. 2. Dried each coat with a hairdryer, making sure they were completely dry before applying the next coat. It really was that simple! A real transformation. I love how this looks in our lounge. Now... what's my next project... Question: What have you been painting lately? Head on over to my FREE Facebook group and share your pictures, and get inspiration and ideas from others. Last month I took a couple of days off to visit a friend in Whitianga, a seaside town in the Coromandel region of New Zealand. This area holds a special memories for me as it is one I visited with my parents as a child. A two and a half hour drive from our home, it's windy and hilly in places, but very, very beautiful. After a night at my friend's house catching up, I took a trip into town before leaving to head back to The French Fig, a cafe I'd visited last time I was in Whitianga. I remembered it being a particularly inspiring space, not only for the scrumptious food, but for their beautiful French style collection of homeware and giftware, and once again, I was not disappointed with either. Of course I had to have a wee bit to eat with my coffee, and both were absolutely delicious. Then a wee wander around, and after a few photographs (kindly approved by the owner), I went on my way. A gorgeous collection of French inspired homeware and giftware. More beautiful pieces. All of those delicious goodies. Homeware and giftware. Fabulous food and fabulous things. Freshly baked too! So, next time you're in the Coromandel, a trip over to The French Fig Cafe in Whitianga is well worth it!
A few months ago I was lucky enough to takeover our double garage as my studio. Craig and I spent an entire weekend, emptying, cleaning, painting and decorating the space and it was transformed. Since then, I've been running my paint workshops, and having some wonderful painting sessions myself, from the space. It's definitely a work-in-progress with more decorating to be completed, but it sure is wonderful to have this dedicated area to work in. Here are a few photographs of the space. All set up for a workshop. Paint, paint... and more paint... Everything is provided at your paint workshop. If you've got a workshop space or studio, I'd love to see it. Head on over to my Facebook group and show us.
In the meantime, if you're curious, check out Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint. With newly developed processes, and my paint, your upcycling projects will be QUICK, EASY + AFFORDABLE! Happy painting... Kathryn x p.s. Until 30th May, 2017 you can enter my Upcycled & Co. Paint giveaway too! I'm so excited to bring you my brand new workshop, The Stone Effect. This technique is one I created some months ago and I just LOVE it... and so do my clients. Every time I have a workshop at my home I take my participants on a tour of my home to look at the furniture and home decor items I have created, and this effect is one of the favourites. So, I have decided to teach it. The first workshop is set for Saturday 15th July at 1.00pm in Tauranga. This 3-hour workshop takes you through this process step-by-step, and you will have two gorgeous pieces to take home at the end. Of course we will be using Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint, including our new metallics. I've had loads of interest in this technique so be sure to secure your place so you don't miss out. I can't wait to teach you this awesome finish! You're going to LOVE this!
Kathryn x Ooh I'm loving this new angle I'm taking with my blog because I get to visit these inspiring spaces all the time... and I like that! Last week I visited Ooplah for the second time, and was just as inspired as the first. This cute store is packed with French vintage finds, from outdoor furniture to wine bottles, tins, leather suitcases and more. After spending four years in the countryside of Poitou-Charentes in France, the owners of Ooplah, Bridget and Shane Laugesen, returned to New Zealand with a large collection of French vintage finds. Before their return, their weekends were spent visiting markets to gather mid-century French fabrics, old cinema seats, beautiful chairs, tables, road signs and more. Every piece has been hand selected, packaged up and shipped from France to New Zealand to end up at Ooplah. Take a look at the Ooplah Facebook page for even more inspiration. And, even better, visit Ooplah when you're in the Bay of Plenty. Outdoor furniture Old tins and beautiful leather suitcases Genuine French road signs Vintage cinema seats Cream cans and milk crates Vintage pedal car from the early 1900s If you're in the Bay of Plenty, Ooplah is definitely a place to call into.
With new vintage finds, and the large amount of items they're rotating all the time, you'll find something new and interesting each time you visit. This is one inspiring space! I used to love these brass plaques back in the 80s; in fact I had one just like this displayed on my lounge wall. For a while now I have been looking at these in charity stores thinking, one of these might look good painted. So, I picked one up last week, and on Saturday morning I gave it a fresh new look in 30 minutes. Here's what I did: 1. Applied one coat of Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint in Ash. 2. Dried it off with a hairdryer for a few minutes. 3. Painted a second, slightly watered down coat. 4. Used the hairdryer again to dry it off. 5. Applied a wash of Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint in White. You can learn how to create a wash by watching my FREE Furniture Painting Workshop in my Facebook group. Join the group, then search 'free workshop' once you're a member and you can see the video. What do you have around your home that you could transform in 30 minutes? If you'd like to learn how to use Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint, then join a Paint Workshop today (online, in Tauranga or another New Zealand town). Kathryn x An inspiring creative, Fiona attended all three of my workshops, and gave me a lovely Facebook review. She has been going great-guns with her projects ever since. This piece was one she created for her son as a housewarming gift. Isn't it beautiful? Using Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint in Ash, Fiona applied two coats to the entire piece, then used a stencil to create a unique piece for her son. With my paint there is no need for any preparation whatsoever. NO SANDING. NO PRIMING. NO WAXING. NO VARNISHING. Remember, Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint is an indoor and outdoor paint too! From drab to fab using Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint in Ash. This gorgeous stencil made this piece unique. You too can learn furniture painting techniques at my workshops, either face-to-face or online. Then, create your own unique pieces for your own home, or for family and friends.
Find out more about Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint and download a Colour Chart today and get started! I LOVE visiting inspiring spaces! Whether it's a cafe, garden centre, art gallery or exhibition or some sort, places where I can see the work of other creatives inspires me and lights me up. Last week, my husband (who also works from home) and I took the day off on Friday to explore some of our local spaces. By far, my favourite was the Flatwhite Cafe in Waihi Beach. We'd eaten there a few times, but back then it was a much smaller space. But nonetheless, the food and service was outstanding. This time, we again had fantastic food and outstanding service, but also a wonderful surprise seeing their amazing new space. Now, they're right on the waterfront of Waihi Beach with exquisite views of the coast, and the space, OMG the space is AMAZING! With huge rustic beams (from a demolished North Island dairy factory), gorgeous cane light shades and plenty of painted rustic finishes, this was my dream space. I loved being in the space. As soon as I walked in I got my camera out, and of course I had to speak with the staff to find out about the decor. It's so well done! Check out the shots I managed to get... And, take a trip there some day, you will not be disappointed. Flatwhite Cafe, Waihi Beach, thank you for an awesome experience - it sure is one of a kind!
We will be back for sure, again, and again, and again... I love getting out and about to look at home decor stores, and quirky little creative cafes and spaces. This is something I want to do more this year, so I'm about to set myself a mission to scout out as many of these little spaces as I can. A couple of months ago we had a day out in Waihi Beach, which is just 40 minutes from our home. The Secret Garden is a quaint little cafe with gorgeous gifts that are truly inspiring. THE SECRET GARDEN CAFE, WAIHI BEACH, NZ
The three things I wanted to achieve with Upcycled & Co. was that any product or service I offer is QUICK, EASY + AFFORDABLE. A few months ago I had an idea that started with this thought: I wonder if I can create the same waxed (dark, black, white and other colours) look, using only paint? With that thought in mind, I set to work experimenting and testing my idea. I knew what I was going to try, I tested it... and it worked! Using only paint, I was able to recreate the look of an aged waxed piece. I was over-the-moon. This meant that I would be able to bring my customers processes that were QUICK, EASY + AFFORDABLE as there would be no need for wax. This table is an example of a waxed look, using only paint. And, Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint takes only 7 days to fully cure, and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Painted with Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint in Vanilla with Chocolate Discover this and my other proven processes at one of my furniture painting workshops today.
And... I look forward to seeing your finished pieces in my FREE Facebook group. Happy painting! Kathryn x This was a very quick, easy and satisfying project that only took about an hour all up. For this particular project I used an old oak headboard, however you could use any type of wood at all for this. You will get a different, but equally beautiful look, depending on the colour and grain of the wood you choose. Take a look around your home for something you could upcycle, or take a trip to your local hardware store for some new or timber off-cuts. Here's what I did (or should I say we did): 1. Asked my husband to cut an old damaged oak headboard into squares for me (lucky me!). 2. Mixed up my 50/50 Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint and water wash as in my FREE Online Paint Workshop. 3. Applied the paint to one side and the edges of each square. 4. Left them to dry. 5. Painted the other side of each. 6. Left these to dry. And that... was it! So quick... so easy! I'd love to see your table mats. Come on over to my FREE Facebook group and share your photographs.
Enjoy! Kathryn x Something I love to do is gather ideas for future projects. So, this afternoon was one of those afternoons where I sat down with my pile of magazines, my scissors and my four scrapbooks - Kitchens & Bathrooms, Bedrooms, Lounge & Living Room, and Exterior & Outdoors. With a cup of tea, a couple of cookies and our cat Cleo beside me for company (totally her choice of course, she is a cat after all) I set about cutting and pasting my favourite images from old house and garden magazines I seem to have always collected. A couple of years ago a friend from the UK gave me an enormous pile of House Beautiful magazines so those came out today too. GATHERING HOME DECOR PROJECT IDEAS IS BOTH INSPIRATIONAL AND FUN! This is something I find very relaxing, and inspiring too. MAKE AN AFTERNOON OF IT If you like the idea of gathering home decor project ideas, get yourself some scrap books and start your collection. Kathryn x I absolutely love what I do, and my business is expanding and growing right now, so taking time out is not really something I want to do. It is however, something I need to do. Often I find myself thinking that I just want to get things done, tick more off my list, and keep working, but there is this voice telling me that I need to slow down and get some space between the doing. And, I know this is important. Being driven is a wonderful thing, and so often I get people commenting on how much I achieve, and how well I've done. But really, what use is all of that if I'm going to end up unwell. It's absolutely no use at all. FIND THE BALANCE Lately I seem to be thinking a lot about about getting my life back into balance. With my recent product launch, taking my workshops on the road, and the fact that my business is only a little over 12 months old, there has been a lot to do. And, at times, it feels as though life is a bit out of control. PUT SPACE BETWEEN DOING A few years ago I was really good at putting space between activity. Whether it was coming home from an outing to sit with a cup of tea and ponder my thoughts, time to meditate, or time to sit with a book, I really enjoyed the space I created. Over the last couple of years I've not been practising this, and I now realise that I have gotten into the habit of always doing, doing, doing, and I don't like it. Realising this, I'm now on a mission to create space once more. SWITCH OFF One thing that has been helpful lately for me is switching off. I find myself constantly looking at my phone or computer, and with social media, there are always new notifications coming through from my Facebook page, Facebook group, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter. So, what I have been doing over the last couple of weeks, is having a few hours at a time when I don't look at my devices. Doing just this gives me a feeling of having some time out. DELEGATE WHERE POSSIBLE In a start-up business, which mine is, I need to be careful with expenses. Before I can outsource too much I need the income to support that. I'm very fortunate to have an awesome Virtual Assistant who has just this week taken over a number of administrative tasks. It feels wonderful to have her help, that's for sure. Next on my list is to look at what I can delegate at home. With being so focused on my business, there is little time or energy for housework or gardening. And, of course these things just keep piling up, they don't do themselves do they! MAKE TIME FOR FRIENDS & OUTINGS I've always been good with keeping in regular contact with friends, and I continue to do this when I can. Catching up with a friend for morning tea or a glass of wine to have a good laugh and share what's been going on is something I really, really enjoy. Getting out and about to events and community goings on is not something I'm particularly good at, but I'd like to be. Yesterday, Craig and I, took the day off to head into the annual Tauranga Jazz Festival held here each year. It was such a lovely day out, wandering around without rushing, having lunch in the park, and listening to the music. I guess we are all in 'life school' aren't we? If you're finding it challenging to get balance in your life I hope you've found some of these thoughts helpful. And remember, there are many of us in the same position, so talk to others, and start thinking about how you can ease up on yourself a little. Have a wonderful Easter. Kathryn x It's been an incredibly busy, and exciting few months as I've prepared to launch Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint. Some months ago, I had and idea... If I could create the same waxed, aged, distressed, and rustic looks ONLY using paint, it would be way more affordable for people, way more! So, I set off on a journey of talking to paint manufacturers, testing ideas (with some failures too!) until I came up with a product, and processes, that achieved the outcome I wanted. I'm absolutely delighted to be able to offer a QUICK, EASY + AFFORDABLE for way people to be able to enjoy the creative process of furniture painting, and to make their homes beautiful. Both my studio and office have over the last few weeks become a 'factory' and 'warehouse' with boxes of paint cans, and a production line of canning and labelling taking place to bring the brand to the market... It's been challenging, fun and busy! In the last week since launching the paint I've been overwhelmed with the positive response, support, and sales that have come in. Right now, I'm in the middle of another small project for myself; a brown wooden bookshelf for my office which I'm painting white. It's nice to have a paintbrush back in my hand. And, I'll be sure to show you the end result when I'm done. You will find all of the information you need to know about Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint here, and if you're interested in learning furniture painting techniques, then check out my Furniture Painting Workshops (online, my Tauranga studio or other New Zealand towns and cities). If inspiration is what you're after, come on over and join my FREE Facebook Group! Have a great Easter Weekend! Kathryn x p.s. If you're in New Zealand, stay safe in the wrath of Cyclone Cook that is lashing us right now.
So, why am I writing this blog post?
If you've been thinking about painting your furniture, please do it - It's way easier than you think! Part of my plan this year is to take my workshops to other New Zealand towns and cities, starting with Pukekohe in April and Hamilton in May. You can find out more about my face-to-face workshops, my online workshops or those in other centres. Question: Have you already taken one of my workshops or learnt furniture painting techniques? If so, I'd love to know your thoughts. Happy painting! Kathryn x Many people who upcycle using paint do large furniture items, however there are a lot of smaller items around your home you can transform too. Some of my favourite projects are small pieces I've either already had or that I have picked up at a charity store for very little cost. 1. Candleholders These two glass candleholders cost me .50 cents each at a secondhand store. With layers of paint, and texture (created using my brush), and a little gilding wax they came up beautifully. 2. Mirror This large mirror was one we had at home that needed modernising. With one generous coat of Mocha paint and white wax applied straight over the top, this really looks beautiful in our hallway now. 3. Table A cute little pine table from an opportunity store for just $10, this project was fun. With layers, texture, and a secret ingredient, this rustic technique is one I teach in my Rustic Paint Workshop(online or in our studio). 4. Wooden Knife Block Again a charity store find, this little block was just $2 and took about 10 minutes to transform using the smooth distressed finish taught in Painting Workshops (online or in our studio). 5. Rustic Tray A very untidy and very old serving tray could have been given up for the trash, but with the rustic painting technique applied, it's as good as new, and completely on trend. Now that you've got some ideas, what will you paint? Remember to check out our FREE Painting Workshop to learn even more upcycling skills. If you'd love to see more, check out my Facebook page, Upcycled & Co. and come on over and join my Facebook group, the Upcycled Community. See you there! Kathryn x I do have to admit that I'm a starter. In my studio there's nothing I LOVE more than starting a new project - the anticipation and initial excitement is what I love the most. Smaller projects are really what I enjoy the most. So... needless to say, our dining room suite has been a bit of a challenge. Now for those of you who follow me closely, you will know that this has been dragging on way too long. I think I started it around 4 or 5 months ago (she says with embarrassment), but I am getting there. It's almost done now with just the final chair seats to be covered. With this project I decided to polyurethane the chairs and the table top, to provide extra protection. Here's what I did: 1. Painted using a textured painting technique. 2. Finished the chairs with a dry brushing effect using White. 3. Applied white wax to the table legs and base. 4. Polyurethaned the table top and chairs for added protection. If you'd love to see more projects, head on over and join our Facebook Group, the Upcycled Community. We now have over 800 members who are sharing their projects all the time. Happy upcycling! Kathryn x If you're lucky enough to get a break over the Christmas and New Year period like I did, then you too might have had some time for upcycling. With summer upon us here in New Zealand you'd think there was more time outdoors, but the weather has been kind of unsettled so far this year. But of course this meant that on the rainy days I could upcycle without feeling like I should be spending time outside. These little glass candleholders I found in a charity shop were one of the small projects I did. A quick and easy transformation, and at a total cost of under $5 when completed (including the candleholders at .50 cent each), I was pleased to say the least. Layering the paint to create a textured finish, I used two different shades of grey, and a silver gilding wax to highlight areas to finish up. And, this was all done in about 30 minutes. For more upcycling ideas, check out our before and after page. If you'd love to make your home beautiful, join one of our painting workshops (online or in our studio).
You may want to join a group of like-minded people inspiring each other in Upcycled Community. Until next time. Kathryn x |
AuthorHi I'm Kathryn,
You're going to love how QUICK, EASY + AFFORDABLE it is to transform your furniture. With Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint, a 3-in-1 that primes, paints and seals (it's not chalk paint) you won't need to sand, prime, wax or seal - just paint and you're done. I'm super-passionate about sharing what I know about furniture painting to make it easy for you. If you'd love to start a creative business I can help with that too, simply click here. Enjoy! |