The Rocking Chair

When I got the rocking chair down from the loft I didn't fully realise just what memories it would evoke.  The 3 year old immediately wanted to play on it and we sat on it together, gently rocking, her giggling at the motion, me being transported back in time, a smile at a distant memory.

It has taken me a while to complete, it needed washing (scrubbing!) thoroughly, lightly sanding, a coat of primer and 2 coats of Craig and Rose acrylic eggshell in Morris Blue which went on beautifully smoothly.  I had to do it in small stages as I didn't want "help" from mini me on this one, that girl loves to paint and I've lined up a couple of small projects just for her.

I added a pop of colour just for fun with some Habitat Hibiscus Pink, but I foresee changing up the colours of the spindles and even re-painting the whole chair again, the colour possibilities are endless, but for now it blends in beautifully into my new bedroom decor.  I'll be making up some new cushions especially for it too but for now I shall just sling whatever cushions I have and rock!

It wasn't the easiest of items to paint with all its nooks and crannies but I shall get hours of pleasure rocking and remembering another time and the baby boy who still has my heart.

Furniture Feature Friday

Flaunt it Friday

Upcycling furniture, preloved.

Look what I've found!

Peeking up into our loft recently (where I rarely venture) I found 7 pieces of old furniture that will be getting a makeover.  These were out of sight and out of mind and probably destined not to be used again (you know the scenario, stick it in the loft until we decide what to do with it) but I now find I want to try to renovate, paint and upcycle where I can.  I really can't wait to get started!

Everything is a little dirty and very dusty (they've all been up there for years!) but a little wash down with sugar soap should do the trick.

Here are some ...

I nursed my first child in this chair (with plenty of cushions!) in the early 90's, couldn't part with it so in the loft it went.

My husband had this plant stand and the cupboard and table below when I met him, he used to like a rummage in "antique" shops, they also found their way up to the loft over time.

These items of pine furniture, chest of drawers and 2 bedside cabinets were long forgotten and are a little worse for wear.

There is also a beautiful table still up in the loft that is very rickety but with a little attention, it will be a great piece and a pine headboard and bed are also being painted and upcycled.

These should keep me busy on and off over the summer!

Linking up with:

Domestically Speaking
Thrifty Thursday

.

Furniture Painting - a revival

Long, long ago in what feels like another life, I used to have a passion for decorative paint techniques, upcycling and renovating unloved pieces of furniture.  Whilst in labour with my first child this is the book I was reading between contractions!

I rag rolled and sponged my way around our house and when our bungalow became a house I kept a piece of wall as a souvenir of those early sponging days, my first attempt was the baby's nursery, the one I was in labour with all those years ago.

Now I'm going full circle and going back to doing what I love, starting with a furniture painting workshop, just for fun and to dip my painted toes into the water again.

So off I took myself to a 3 hour Furniture Painting Workshop locally, leaving the 3 year old with daddy who took the morning off then took her to nursery at 12, leaving me free to not rush back madly as I usually do.

Emma Burt from Love House Interiors offers a range of workshops in her Southwick (near Brighton) studio to create artistically finished shabby chic furniture and signs using chalk based paints.  I had seen these types of paints around but never had the chance to use them.  She uses the Autentico brand which is a no-prep paint that can be used straight onto most surfaces including varnished without the need to sand first, music to my ears as I had imagined a cloud of dust and a lot of elbow grease!  

Follow my Painted Furniture Board on Pinterest

We were asked to bring along a small piece of furniture to work on. I took this sorry looking piece of furniture that was part of a nest of tables, long forgotten in my garage.  I had wanted to take one of my pine bedside tables that I will paint to co-ordinate with my bedroom, but wanted a test piece to practice on first.

The table was quite dark but the paint covered really well even on the first coat, this coat was dried with a hairdryer, then a second coat applied and dried again.  Emma then showed us some nifty finishing techniques using sanding blocks, sandpaper, waxes and varnish to achieve the shabby feel.

So a little sanding was required but really minimally just to smooth the surface and make it clean and also to add those shabby distressed look touches.  I didn't go too crazy with mine, just outlining the edges and corners and a few other light touches, I will be more bold with my next piece!

We then applied the wax to infuse moisture into the paint and wood, this brought up the colour amazingly well too.

At this point you would finish off with a protective layer of varnish although I didn't have time so bought some paint, wax and varnish to finish off the piece and get going on my next masterpiece!

I came away from a very relaxed and enjoyable workshop with an old, forgotten piece of furniture which now has a new lease of life and now fits into my decor.  Upcycling at its best!

Love House Workshops, bespoke furniture and interiors can be found here.

Linking up with:

From My Porch to Yours 

Home Stories A to Z

Front Door Renovation

Our poor old front door was always getting pushed back to the end of the queue in the house renovation stakes, but when the elements bashed it so much the inside porch area became flooded each time it rained it was time to take serious action before the winter set in.

The front door used to be set back into the porch area but we decided to have the front door at the front and remove the old storm doors.  This meant that there was large step up into the house so this new front door now opens outwards and some adjustments will be made to the inside "porch" area.

I'd seen a couple of modern, solid wood front doors around the area and decided to knock on a couple of them to ask where they had purchased theirs, then went straight to the source at North Road Timber & Joinery to have a look at their extensive range of doors.

These doors are custom-made for your house so can take a few weeks to prepare but well worth the wait.  Our door has had several coats of yacht varnish applied too to ward off the sea salt laden air.

The result is a fabulous new solid wood front door expertly fitted.  No more gale force draughts, no more paddling pool in the porch area!

Next stop, filling, finishing and house painting.

.

Welcome

Welcome to City Coastal Life & Style Blog, here you'll find life from our coastal city and those beyond plus interiors, food and travel, house renovations, favourite finds, stylish steals, photography, housewares and much more.