Hamptons Style Buffet and Hutch

I've just finished this large two piece solid pine buffet and hutch, and I absolutely love it!

It is a bit of a departure from my normal pastel retro cute style, but I was inspired to do this in a more classic Hamptons style after our recent trip to the NSW South Coast and Southern Highlands - Bowral in particular has some stunning shops and a fantastic antiques emporium called Dirty Jane's.

Here's how it started out...

I gave it three coats of Graphite Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and the inside of hutch got five coats of Pure White. I've sealed it all over with clear wax.  In another departure from my usual finishing techniques I didn't distress this piece - well I did a tiny little bit on the white but none at all on the black.  I thought that the combination of the colour and the shape of this piece made quite a statement and any more going on would have just been too much.  Plus the Hamptons look I was going for is classic and understated, not OTT!

This piece is available for sale, $650. It measures 1100mm wide x 550mm deep x 2000mm high.

Pickup is from Lake Cathie NSW 2445.

For any queries or to view please contact karen@restyledvintage.com.

Sharing at www.savvysouthernstyle.net

Vintage Caravan Style

I mentioned recently that I was invited to participate in a blog hop being run by UK Publishers Stitch Craft Create to promote Vintage Caravan Magazine author Lisa Mora's new book, Vintage Caravan Style. I'm in great company - click here to check out all the other awesome blogs participating!
At the end of this post, there's a chance to win a copy of the book for yourself :)

Accepting the invitation was a no-brainer for me - I absolutely love everything about vintage caravans. I shared here last week that I have one caravan renovation under my belt, and a burning desire to do another one!

The book is a great read, but to be honest, I'd buy it for the cover alone - I mean hello? Mint green, pastel pink and I? We are very close friends, as you will know if you've been here a while :)

And of course there's Blossom, who I introduced on my Facebook page last night...

In the book Lisa shares her wealth of knowledge and experience on subjects such as finding your dream caravan, what to watch out for when buying a caravan, choosing a theme, choosing a colour scheme, decorating your caravan, taking a road trip, the on-site caravan, and the caravanning community. It's an easy book to read and a hard one to put down - I very much enjoyed reading it from cover to cover whilst lazing in the sun one afternoon over Easter weekend.

The book is packed to the brim with gorgeous pictures that had me dreaming and scheming, and just smiling. I know I'm a little obsessed with vintage caravans but how can you not smile when you see these?

Having holidays, road trips or weekends away in a caravan is lots of fun, of course. But the decorating and styling of a caravan, well that totally sets my pulse racing, in a good way! A caravan is obviously a much smaller space to decorate than a whole house, and whilst some people might choose a neutrally decorated caravan, I think it is a space where you can afford to go a bit wild, try something different that you never would in your house. Decorate it in a way you secretly dream of decorating your house...if only you were brave enough. It's only paint and fabric, and the bonus is, in a caravan, you don't need much of it, so it's cheaper than redecorating your home. There are so many great and varied decor ideas included in the book, and Lisa sums it up well: 

"there is no right or wrong way to style a vintage trailer (caravan) and no matter what theme you decide upon, you will find that your fellow vintage 'trailerites' are some of the most open-minded and accepting people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. It is this acceptance of one's right to be individual that makes vintage trailer owners different from the owners of the all-white and shiny brand new models. So don't be afraid to go all out when it comes to personalizing your space".

Caravans give you permission to get away with wackier decor choices than you can in a house - I wouldn't make curtains for my home using a duvet cover but I did for my last caravan. I wouldn't spray paint my house fridge pink or mint green but in a caravan - you bet I would! I gaze longingly at pastel pink kitchen cupboards on Pinterest but I wouldn't put them in my own home - I'd put them in a caravan in a heartbeat though. 

What would be tacky in a house is cute in a caravan...I love that!

Lisa talks about bunting being a perfect finishing touch for your caravan. If you've been reading Restyled Vintage for any length of time, you'll know that I think bunting is the perfect finishing touch for absolutely anywhere, anytime :)

Pom pom curtains in your house? I don't think so! In a caravan? Of course...why is that even a question? ;)

Dinner dress code? Pink Cowgirl boots, of course :)

I love that vintage caravans remind us not to take ourselves, or life, too seriously.

There are so many things I love about vintage caravans and the way they are decorated, I'm not sure I can really put it all into words. It's a feeling, and I think if you love vintage caravans and all they stand for too, you will get it. 

I've been given my own copy of Vintage Caravan Style to keep, and I've been given a second copy to give away to one of my readers...yay! To enter, please leave a comment on this blog post, telling me how you'd decorate your dream vintage caravan. Please ensure that I am able to contact you, ie. don't comment as 'anon' or 'no-reply'. 

I need an email address to tell you if you've won!

The winner will be drawn at random and announced on the evening of Sunday 4th of May (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Competition is open to anyone worldwide.

Good luck!

*I was given a copy of Vintage Caravan Style in exchange for reviewing the book on my blog

* Pictures watermarked www.restyledvintage.com are mine. Non-watermarked pictures have been supplied to me by the book promoter for publication on my blog.

Provence Coffee Table

I've just finished this coffee table for Tracy, a regular client of mine. She's filling her home with my creations, which is pretty cool! A lot of my work is repeat business from existing clients, and new clients often find me through their friends, who have a piece or pieces of Restyled Vintage in their homes. I'm very happy and grateful that once people do business with me, they come back for more. That tells me I'm doing something right!

Here's what the table looked like before:

We discussed many colour options and in the end, Tracy decided upon Provence. I have to say it wasn't one of my favourite paint colours, but after using it on this table, I have changed my mind!

I styled the shots in my downstairs living area...I think the table looks pretty good in there. I don't have a coffee table in front of the couches usually because the kids spread out and play on the rug...it is usually covered in Lego and Sylvanian Families!

Details:

- Coffee table has been painted in 3 coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Provence then sealed with Annie Sloan Clear Wax
- Couches - Ektorp from Ikea

- Enamel jug is from Ikea

- Enamel tray is from Ikea

- Rug is from Spotlight

- Larger Aqua Cushions - Ikea

- Small Aqua Cushion - Laura Ashley (found at op shop)

- Yellow Floral Cushion - Handmade by Restyled Vintage

It turns out I had plenty of home decor items in my home in a similar colour to the paint colour I didn't like...lol...I love the colour, I just didn't like it for furniture...until now!

Tomorrow is a public holiday here for us in NZ and Australia as we remember our ANZACS. A day when us Kiwis and Aussies put aside our friendly ribbing and rivalry and celebrate our common bonds. And eat Anzac biscuits...invented by the Kiwis of course ;)

On Saturday something VERY exciting is happening, so exciting I am having trouble sleeping...I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve! 

Will share it as soon as I can...promise!