Shabby Chic; Volume III

monkeysallsayboo

Hi everyone. I am new to this malarky! I have been gathering my furniture and things to paint!

Any ideas on how i can get the paint i need cheaply. any brands to steer clear of, and what do i need to look for?

thanks all
claire

annie-c

Hi Claire, welcome!

If you take a look through the thread (maybe do a search, as it is a long one ), you will see that different folks have different preferences for paint, but there are lots of great 'after' pictures, no matter what paint is used.

If you have a Wilkos near you then their paint ranges are very reasonable, but at this time of year there will be sales at most DIY stores. Happy painting!

pennib

babyblooz wrote: »

yes I've done that but it does take a long time so I wondered if blogs were 'grouped' say all crochet linked together, all home design together etc, as I just seem to stumble upon them by happy accident.

No, I don't think they are (or I havn't found them like that!) Many people like to do all sorts of different things, from gardening to painting to sewing and therefore include everything in their blog. (Like me!) As an earlier poster said, once you have found a blog you like, look on the followers and see what they have to offer. Have spent many happy hours doing just that! :T Feel free to ramble around mine!

MaggieBaking

Saw this and thought of the Shabby Chic thread... Freeze some edible flowers in ice-cubes!

I did freeze roses in ice cubes for a champagne bucket once (simple and beautiful, use filtered water for the clearest ice), but this looks like it would be incredible in a jug for a BBQ maybe!

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Can anyone give me some hints on the best way to get a good,smooth finish on my kitchen units.
I realy want to paint them but I paid a fortune:eek: for my kitchen five years ago and am a bit worried I'll make a hash of it.
The doors are wood and painted already in an eggshell finish which is what I will be using again.
I know which paint I want to use its the technique I'm worried about.
Any tips appreciated.
Thanks.

uropachild

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

Can anyone give me some hints on the best way to get a good,smooth finish on my kitchen units.
I realy want to paint them but I paid a fortune:eek: for my kitchen five years ago and am a bit worried I'll make a hash of it.
The doors are wood and painted already in an eggshell finish which is what I will be using again.
I know which paint I want to use its the technique I'm worried about.
Any tips appreciated.
Thanks.

I'm not an expert and maybe someone else would be able to help you better, but in my experience you get a better paint finish when you use a roller. You can get smaller rollers for smaller jobs like this.

Also, make sure you prep well first. Fill holes, sand to key the surface then clean away all debris etc.

Completely remove the hardware before painting if you're going to keep the same ones and then they don't get messy.

lindos90

MaggieBaking wrote: »

Saw this and thought of the Shabby Chic thread... Freeze some edible flowers in ice-cubes!

I did freeze roses in ice cubes for a champagne bucket once (simple and beautiful, use filtered water for the clearest ice), but this looks like it would be incredible in a jug for a BBQ maybe!

That is BEAUTIFUL! I will remember that idea for summer! The pink, blue lilac and yellow look really lovely together!

annie-c

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

Can anyone give me some hints on the best way to get a good,smooth finish on my kitchen units.
I realy want to paint them but I paid a fortune:eek: for my kitchen five years ago and am a bit worried I'll make a hash of it.
The doors are wood and painted already in an eggshell finish which is what I will be using again.
I know which paint I want to use its the technique I'm worried about.
Any tips appreciated.
Thanks.

I agree with all of the advice above. I would add: do the painting indoors if possible, to avoid airborne dust and little flies sticking to the wet paint. Use paint cans or food cans underneath the corners of the doors to raise them from the ground and help you to paint the sides smoothly. And sand lightly with very fine sandpaper, and then wipe away all dust with a damp microfibre cloth, between coats to remove any bits or unevenness. Finally, don't re-hang them for 3-4 days after the last coat, so the paint is fully dry before they are handled again.

I did mine after 5 years' use and it is like having a shiny new kitchen again!

Kaz2904

You guys! Filling me up with ideas again . I am definately getting a solid wood kitchen next time we replace ours (a long while away yet). Those ice cubes are so pretty. I had heard that boiled water is good for no bubbles in it thus clear ice cubes. My sewing box has been sitting for a good week now I think so I think it's had plenty long enough to harden up for me to put it back together today. I do hope so because then I get to play with putting all of my bits and bobs in it (and probably finding they don't fit :eek:). If I get around to it today, I might make a start on my blinds once this has been done. That'll be good to get them finished and up. I'm spending much more time in the kitchen now that the whole area's pretty and it's spurred DH on to get on and do some stuff he's been putting off for far too long. He put up my number on the front of the house last night, finally! I only bought it 3 years ago :eek:.
Anyway, mustn't knock it, I want the house to be finished soon and if he's galvanised into action, that can only be a good thing, right?
I do need him to do a couple of bits for me so that I can finish painting the woodwork too.

I bid on and won a Kenwood chef last night too. £26.45 inc delivery which I am ecstatic about. <<< That's me that is!

tara747

MaggieBaking wrote: »

Saw this and thought of the Shabby Chic thread... Freeze some edible flowers in ice-cubes!

I did freeze roses in ice cubes for a champagne bucket once (simple and beautiful, use filtered water for the clearest ice), but this looks like it would be incredible in a jug for a BBQ maybe!

Oh my goodness, they are so pretty!!!!!!!!! :A

Kaz - well done on your DIYing and your bargain!!! :T