Before & After: Scooter

I entrusted the hubby with item shopping the other week. Due to being back in the National Trust open season, I don't get a free Sunday to go car booting anymore, instead I send the hubby with a wad of cash and ask him to shop wisely! And he didn't let me down, one of the items he returned with was this fantastic scooter. Yes, it was a bit rusty and dirty but it has a great shape and colour to it.

The right half of the chrome wheel has been treated with Autosol

I decided to try out a new product on the metal surface called Autosol. Autosol has been around for a while but this is the first time I have used it - we used to use something similar in conservation called Prelim. It is basically an abrasive paste that has certain chemical qualities to it, you wipe the paste on to the surface, I then used the rough side of a sponge to work it in, and then you wipe it off with a clean cloth. It worked a treat at removing the corrosion, and with a little extra cleaning and treatment of the metal the scooter has come up looking fab.

I would love to keep this fella but I sense I would be laughed at if seen scootering down the street - a fully grown women on a kids purple scooter! But I think it will draw some great attention at our next market, particularly when placed in my out-door camping display, with a garden lounger, bowls set, thermos, etc.

I would definitely recommend giving Autosol a try on any of your rusty metal but remember to wear protective gloves, use in a ventilated area and be careful not to work it too roughly into the surface as it may damage surfaces under the corrosion layer.
xx

Before & After: Laundry Box

I acquired myself another laundry box, this time it was instantly clear that the box needed a complete renovation.

I started by giving everything a good clean. I removed the lid and painting all the wood work. The interior was done first and then the outside and feet. I then covered the top in a fantastic bit of fabric and put everything back together.

I think the box looks great, I particularly think the little black legs set it off to a tea. We'll have to see what reaction it gets at our next market!
xx

Before & After: Metal Frame Chair

This is another example where stripping back the layers slowly can bring up some fantastic surprises.

I bought this simple metal framed chair because I felt it had simple charm. But I confess, I did not like the material on the back and seat. Although its orange, and I love orange, I felt it needed something a bit more colourful.

With the intention of re-covering it, I started by slowly removing the layers of fabric on the seat and back, and what did I discover underneath? A gorgeous original red fabric!

Unfortunately, there was a sticky residue on the surface and some small holes, so it was decided that the chair would need to be recovered.

I removed the seat and the back rest and took off all the old layers and stuffing. I recovered everything with a modern fabric in a lovely retro print. I sanded down the metal frame and repainted it. I put everything back together and we have a gorgeous little chair.

I took it to a market the other weekend and it got a great response. Fingers crossed it will find a lovely new home soon.
xx

Before and After: Storage Box

I have a very great before and after for you today.

I acquired this 1950s storage box with its original cover. The cover has a pretty stripped, spotted and pink flower pattern and is made of a plastic material. The only problem I had was that the fabric had split where it had become brittle and started to deteriorate. I felt it was a shame to remove the original fabric so started on a mission to save it.

I began by removing the edging and original material from the top. I then lined the under side of the original material with a thin fabric. I adhered them together using a spray mount. I then stapled the material back on, but actually swapped the material round so that the largest of the splits was at the back. The edging was re-attached and the box was finished!

As you can see there is only a subtle difference between the two images. By supporting the material from underneath, the idea was to save the original fabric, and this method can often be hugely successful. Unfortunately, after taking the item to several markets and listening to customers feedback, I decided that entirely recovering the original fabric was the only way forward. Although I had managed to support the cracks the fabric was still very yellowed and fragile.

But do not fear, I found some fantastic vintage material which I couldn't resist, and with my Mum's new upholstery skills the box now looks stunning.

By saving the original binding around the edges, it breaks up the busy pattern and using some extra padding gives the box a great feel. I think this is a real winner and it would seem others agree with me, on its first time out to market, it sold!
xx

Before and After: Edging

This seems like quite a common problem for a lot of furniture - the veneer edging around your table gets caught and snaps off. I recently purchased a sewing box that had this problem. Sometimes, if you had the snapped pieces, you stick everything back on and consolidate any lifting sections, but my sewing box had pretty much all its edging missing. What to do?

Luckily, in the majority of DIY shops you can buy wood edging. I found it in the aisle along with the sheets of laminate wood and it came in a coil in lots of different colours. If the sewing box was an antique then I would have forked out for proper thin strips of veneer, but the wood edging in the DIY shop is ideal for this mid-century piece of furniture. The great thing about this edging is that it comes with an adhesive strip on the back. All you need to do is run over the front surface with a hot iron and the adhesive will melt and adhere to the surface.

I started by measuring the length of the strip and cut it to size using a sharp scalpel. I also had to make my strips a bit thinner. I removed all the old edging and removed any adhesive that remained on the surface. I held the strip of edging on the surface of the box and ran over with a hot iron. Once all the edges were applied I used a very fine file to neaten the edges. I then coloured the edging using some Liquid Gold (a wood cleaner and restorer) and a thin layer of beeswax which matched up the colour perfectly to the original surface.

I am very pleased with the results! It is such a simple process, so there is no excuses for having missing edges on your tables. And it goes to show it is worth the effort as I managed to sell this lovely box on its second outing at a market in Bristol. Success!
xx

Before and After: New Studio

So this is the last room in the house. I have been avoiding this room as it is normally a mess and things are constantly coming in and out for markets. But I decided to brave it and show you what has changed.

When we first looked around the house the attic room was a bedroom. I could immediately see that this room would be a great space for my studio. There are windows on opposite sides of the walls which let in lots of light and the room would be empty of furniture, a nice blank canvas. After some negotiating, my other half was kind enough to consent to me claiming the entire room. I new I needed this space to have certain zones, and I have made an attempt, but if I'm honest it is still a work in progress.

The key zone in this room has to be the office desk. This is where I can sit and do my computer work or craft bits. I have my calender on display to remind me of upcoming dates, and all my important documents are easily accessible in their folders. It's also where I can sort out the boxes of items I have bought - a very useful space.

The other storage space that I needed was for materials. My hazardous or 'dirty' materials are all kept in the out-house, but I needed somewhere for some smaller tools, rags, tapes, etc.

The last zone for this room has to be storage for items. The bigger items tend to get piled up to one side but the smaller items are normally divided up into materials and categories and placed on shelves so that I can see what I have to work with. Unfortunately, when this picture was taken the majority of my items were in boxes ready for a market - but you can see a nice pile of Christmas related goodies being collected on some of the top shelves - something to look forward to!

I hope you have liked seeing my home. Rooms always change and adapt along with our own lives, so I'm sure I will be re-doing things in the future. But for now I am happy with my little world and don't won't to leave it.
xx

Before and After: New Living Room

So we are almost complete on our tour of the new house. For today I am going to show you the new living room.

When we first viewed the house the living room was very red. As much as I like red, it is great for adding warmth and vibrancy to a room, but I love mixing colour and patterns and couldn't resist using the living room as my experimental zone. Fortunately, the only bit of furniture left in this room was the big chest of draws so we had a nice blank canvas.

The first thing I did was paint the interior of the fireplace black, I just felt that a more neutral colour would work better. I think I spent the biggest amount of money on this room, mainly because of the furniture. It was the first proper sofa I have ever bought so I spent a long time choosing something I really loved. And then there was the arm chair, the small chest of draws, the G-plan and the electric stove which we put in the fireplace. There of course had to be a book shelf to cater for my book fetish.

There is still a lot of things that may change with this room. I'm not sure about the layout - I keep moving things round. I intend on making some changes to the lampshade and I plan on filling those gaps in the bookshelves and recovering the footstool. I hope that the longer we live in this space the pillows and throws will multiply, and the artwork will grow and change with the our experiences.

Another F.Y.I. for you - Currently stored on top of the large chest of draws is our large collection of glass decanters (currently 23 in total!). These are for our wedding. At our drinks reception after the ceremony we intend on having a selection of different alcohols - port, sherry, brandy (we are trying to recreate the drinks served during a 1940s shooting party!). We will have a table full of these decanters with all the different coloured liquids inside twinkling in the lights of the room - hopefully it will look beautiful!
xx

Before and After: New Bedroom

So we only have the bedroom, living room and studio left in the before and after of the new home. Today I have decided so share the bedroom with you.

When we moved in there were a couple of big pieces of furniture that came with the house. These were mainly in the bedroom, which was great for us as we only have a bed and there was a chest of draws and wardrobe left behind. Now it looks like this...

If I'm honest we haven't done a huge amount with this room. We decided to rearrange the furniture a bit and bought in an extra G-Plan style writing desk (ok, ok, I have too many clothes so we needed some extra storage). The main key feature I wanted to bring into the room was our love of Japan.

We bought a beautiful wood block print during our travels at the beginning of the year and it now takes pride of place above our bed. It was also my birthday whilst we were out in Japan and my other half (the gorgeous man he is) bought me a vintage kimono. Not just a kimono, but an undergarment, obi, straps, coat, socks and shoes. Naturally I have to have it on display - it is one of the most beautiful things I own. The vintage curtains, bed throw and lampshade all have a circular theme which helps tie the rest of the room together. I love waking up in this room. My little bit of Japan in Frome.

Just an FYI: Did you notice that I use an old pot stand/stool as a small bed side table? If you are having difficulty finding something to go by the bed, and only have limited space, why not give an old stool or chair a try. It is just the right height, and has just enough space for an alarm clock, phone and book!
xx

Before and After: New Kitchen and Out-house

So I have another new house before and after for you today. We have one of my favourite rooms - the kitchen.

It has to be said that this is a very, very small kitchen. It was one of the things that worried me about renting the house. I generally like to live in the kitchen. I love to cook and I think the kitchen is really the heart of the home. But we had to compromise and the studio space for the business was more important. But I think we have done some lovely things with the space.

I felt I wanted some extra surface space so we put our lovely vintage kitchen unit in. We also bought a space saving (and utterly gorgeous) microwave that fits into the corner due to its curved back. I have to say, I love this kitchen! Everything is within easy reach and the space just seems to work. I think it is a great example of how small can be functional and gorgeous. Of course, I am cheating slightly. Did you notice that I don't have any white goods in the kitchen apart from the cooker? That's because the rest are hidden in our out-house. Previously the out house was a bit of a dumping ground.

But we have divided the space into two. In the entrance is our white goods; fridge, freezer, washing machine, ironing items and recycling stuff. In the back is my workshop material store.

I hope this has given you some ideas if you have a small kitchen at home.
xx