French Blue Buffalo Check Wicker Couch

Latest project just finished:

 I've given this lovely wicker couch a fresh new French country style look with new cushions in French blue buffalo check cotton. 

The seat cushions are the originals recovered and the back cushions are brand new inserts - the original back cushions were a funny shape and I don't think they suited the piece at all. Four loose cushions look much better and are more comfortable than what was there before. The fabric is 100% cotton, and the covers are all removable for washing. The back cushions have envelope openings and the seat cushions have ties. All the seams are overlocked. 

This would be perfect on a covered porch or verandah, in a sunroom or conservatory, maybe even a bay window in a large bedroom.

Couch measures 1500mm wide (armrest to armrest) and is for sale. Price is $225, please contact me with any queries, or if you'd like to view or purchase it.

French Blue with white and natural cane is such a fresh, pretty and classic combination I think.

Here's what was on it before...

Much better now...do you agree?

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

Client commission: Painting a dark timber bookcase white

This solid timber bookcase with toy box is one of my most recent custom paint jobs - quite simple in that it is only white paint, but the different white paint makes to a piece still never ceases to thrill me!

Here is how it started out:

Five coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® later (and sealed with wax of course), it is fresh and pretty and ready for my clients' brand new home...

For more information on Restyled Vintage Custom Painting Services, please contact karen@restyledvintage.com.

How to get the French Willow Grey look using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Thanks to everyone that read my last post on How to have a great Market Stall, especially those of you that took the time to leave a comment here or on Facebook, thank you. It's a post I've been meaning to write for ages! I do have more to add to that post and will do that soon.

Tonight I'm showing you a couple of projects you've probably already spied in my market stall photos...

A trio of bar stools...

and a pair of side tables.

They started out like this...

I picked these pieces up late last week and set myself a rather mad goal to have them refinished in time to take to the market with me. 

I am nothing if not determined (my parents are smiling and nodding as they read this, lol!) and I worked hard, probably a little bit too hard, but got them done.  

I decided to try another way of getting what I call the 'french willow grey' look.  I absolutely love this look/colour - I think it works perfectly for beach house or French country style.  I've written about this before such as here (my most viewed post on my blog by far...it seems I'm not the only one that loves this look, and I think Google is my friend on this one!) Using Annie Sloan Chalk paint to achieve this method is much easier, particularly if you want this look over your whole piece of furniture, as my other method involves stripping back your surface to bare wood first.  It is still my favourite look for table tops though, and one I've used lots!

To achieve this subtle, layered timeworn look, I painted on two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen, then did a top coat in Paris Grey (ever so slightly watered down - not really a wash, just a thin coat of paint, covering most of the base coat).   I distressed by hand, then clear waxed.  I could have added a whitewash layer, or a lightened Grey/White mix, or even liming wax, but for these pieces, I loved them like this. Dark wax applied sparingly would also add another dimension...so many options, only limited by your imagination!

This would also work well to update your old yellow/brown colour basket ware into French willow grey - I'd suggest watering down both colours of paint for this, and I probably would add a whitewash layer for the top coat. I wouldn't worry about sealing with wax, these baskets are often a chalky texture.

These pieces didn't find new owners on Sunday, so they are still available for sale...please contact me if you are interested in purchasing them :)