Since we moved down to the South Coast, into a house that needed an awful lot more furniture than we had, I’ve had some romantic idea that I’d upcycle the 80′s knotty pine I picked up from Gumtree and second hand furniture shops into something shabby chic and wonderful, and then scatter cushions covered in vintage Cath Kidston style fabric all over the place, display tea sets and cake stands on a dresser and and always have freshly baked scones knocking about in the kitchen.
Well, that has definitely not happened. I still have a lot of knotty pine, though I quite like it, and my tea set is stored in a box on top of my kitchen units.
It’s not that I have changed my mind, it’s more that I wanted to paint and distress my furniture in the garden, over the summer, and we all know summer this year turned out to be a huge washout. But we were given a standard lamp not long ago, and last Friday was a nice day, so I nipped out to B&Q for some paint.
I used an ‘Lait’, an off white, and ‘Eglise Grey’ from Crown’s Petit Palais range, and I managed to get away with a tester pot of each as it wasn’t a big project. Thrifty!
First of all, I sanded off all the varnish using sandpaper. This gives the paint something to stick to. I am not going to lie, it’s a fairly dull part of the process, and fiddly, and messy. I was pleased I was in the garden because it would have got everywhere inside.
Fortunately, the lamp was in really good nick and didn’t require a primer, so as soon as I had finished sanding I could move on to the paint. Two coats of Lait first of all.
And then two coats of the grey. At this point I left the lamp to dry thoroughly in the sunshine, and then took to it with the sandpaper again. I sanded it all over to get a really smooth finish, and then used a harsher sandpaper to take off some of the paint completely, but only where it could have legitimately been knocked about and distressed over the years.
It’s not a great photo, but this is how it turned out. I am still to find a shade for it because I am picky and want something perfect, but it was a really good small project to start with. And now I can’t wait to get started on some of my other furniture. Maybe there is hope for my tea set yet?
I think you did a great job bringing back to life something that wasn’t wanted.All you need now is to find a lamp shade that needs some make over love.
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Thank you. I am pleased with it, and it was fun. Not bad for a days crafty fun in the sunshine whilst the kids splashed about in a paddling pool.
Leave your tea set in the box on top of your kitchen units until your cheeky little son is well past his grabbing everything stage.
The lamp looks great.
Remember that C Kidston only rips off post war prints / design and there is a huge range of genuine stuff available (thinking of the fabric for a shade).
Thanks, I am really pleased with it. I am thinking I’ll pick up a very cheap plain shade and then cover it in fabric, I’m definitely not going to shell out for genuine Cath fabric if I can help it :)
Isn’t it strange how the new copy becomes “the genuine”.
That’s marketing for you.
Top tip for next time … rub a wax candle over the areas that will have taken a battering, before you paint. Then those bits will flake off with ease when you rub down. You can also wax a little between colours so that sometimes it’s knocked back to the wood and others just to the next layer down in the paint.
I can’t wait to see your bits and pieces get shabbied up.
x
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Ah good tip, thanks m’lady *doffs cap*
I love it. I keep meaning to price up some Annie loan chalk paint as you do not have to prep it
Ooh sounds excellent. I might look that up.
Loved to see this! We have a chest of drawers and kitchen table and chairs that are awaiting good weather so we can sand and paint them in thegarden. Ho hum. Maybe next year?! You’ve inspired me to nag will to have a go this weekend though!xx
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I’ve caught the bug big style. I have a mirror that I am going to attempt today.
Wow, the pieces look great, well done you!
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thank you :)