Shabby Chic; Volume III

frugalbrunette

I'm after a little bit of you advice if you can.


My husband has made me a cupboard come desk in the alcove in the living room. This is my space for studying.


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I'm on with my chair at the minute. A carboot pick up. I am wanting to decorate my space with a shabby chic style theme but I don't know what that really is when it comes to a desk. What would I put my pens in? Shabby chic style files. What would they look like? Creams whites etc? The lamp has to stay and is brass. That's not shabby chic though is it? See I don't know what I'm doing but i would like it to look pretty. My house is 1930's beiges, browns and creams. My archway (I know!!) has small 'ceiling roses' attached to the woodwork. It's pretty and a bit quaint here so a modern work space just would look silly.


Anything you can suggest to help would be fantastic.

dander

Wow! He's done a great job there. What about covering some boring files with nice fabrics or wallpaper samples. Maybe you could pick up some pretty bits of china - perhaps an old teapot that's lost its lid or something to keep your pens and pencils in.

dizzy_lizzie

Hi frugalbrunette recognise you from the frugal thread
I tend to think gingham hearts can make things look shabby chic. How about if you hung one on the cupboard handles?
This is what I tend to do lol We bought two lovely cabinets from ikea and by hanging a heart on it I think it really made it look homely too. Both cost less than £2. (The hearts not the cabinets I wish ) On the other one I've got blue wooden hearts on.
Some small floral prints may look sweet as well. You could make these from 2 small pieces of sample wallpaper (free) and two frames from a charity shop (frugal)
Here's one of our cupboards as an idea.
Luv dizzy x

frugalbrunette

dander wrote: »

Wow! He's done a great job there. What about covering some boring files with nice fabrics or wallpaper samples. Maybe you could pick up some pretty bits of china - perhaps an old teapot that's lost its lid or something to keep your pens and pencils in.

Thank you! A trip to the car boot then That would be perfect for pens and pencils. I was thinking a vaase but that would look daft. Aaaah a nice lil teacup, that would be fab! on a saucer? Is that pushing it :rotfl:

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Hi frugalbrunette recognise you from the frugal thread
I tend to think gingham hearts can make things look shabby chic. How about if you hung one on the cupboard handles?
This is what I tend to do lol We bought two lovely cabinets from ikea and by hanging a heart on it I think it really made it look homely too. Both cost less than £2. (The hearts not the cabinets I wish ) On the other one I've got blue wooden hearts on.
Some small floral prints may look sweet as well. You could make these from 2 small pieces of sample wallpaper (free) and two frames from a charity shop (frugal)
Here's one of our cupboards as an idea.
Luv dizzy x

:wave: thank you. I love your hearts. 1 hanging on the knob would look great!! I could order some fabric samples and make my own! Stuff it with wool. Aw brilliant. Thanks for taking the time to give me some inspiration. Your cabinet looks great

pixiedust09

Hi folks I picked up a bargain after Xmas on the Cath Kidston website, the duvet covers were reduced and I've had my eye on the rose one for ages. But at £80 no chance, in the sale the king size was reduced to £50 but when I clicked on to it on the website the KS was priced at £30 same as single. So I ordered it, and two days later it arrived really chuffed :j. I think the price was a mistake but at least I grabbed myself a bargain.

dizzy_lizzie

You're very welcome frugalbrunette. And for lots more inspiration, just click on google images and type in shabby chic. Be prepared to be sitting for hours glued to the screen
pixiedust what a fab bargain, those are the ones we like
Love danders idea too of china teacups. You could use the saucer to put a rubber, paperclips, small sellotape etc on.
Luv dizzy x

frugalbrunette

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Love danders idea too of china teacups. You could use the saucer to put a rubber, paperclips, small sellotape etc on.
Luv dizzy x

love it! fabric samples orderedbut yet to find a beige check which is ideally what I'd like.

I've been on google too dizzy lizzie. I've seen a gorgeous letter rack that I would like to recreate some how. I'm off to look back at photo's all through the thread. So many ideas now!

Thanks

susan946

Hello - I'm a long time lurker and admirer of all the beautiful things on this board. :wave:

I'm being a bit cheeky butting in and asking a question, but I wondered if anyone has any experience of painting on ceramic. I have a rather ghastly (to my eyes!) shiny pink mottled lamp base that we got as part of a mixed auction lot. I would ideally like it to be white and I wondered whether it would be possible to paint it.

I imagine I would need some sort of base coat to give a key for the paint to stick - but what?....and what sort of paint should I use? I wondered about tile paint but as I've never tried it and although nothing ventured nothing gained, I would rather not spend out for it if it wouldn't be successful.

If anyone has any ideas or experience I should be very grateful for some advice.

Many thanks

Sue

Pooky

Sue - I've painted over ceramic before with spray paint - Wilkinsons do a matt or gloss one in loads of colours. I used the white matt one on some bathroom ceramic bits and bobs, they took about 6 light coats to cover evenly but the finish is really good.

(just make sure you do it outside as it's really messy)

susan946

Pooky wrote: »

Sue - I've painted over ceramic before with spray paint - Wilkinsons do a matt or gloss one in loads of colours. I used the white matt one on some bathroom ceramic bits and bobs, they took about 6 light coats to cover evenly but the finish is really good.

(just make sure you do it outside as it's really messy)

Thanks, Pooky. I'll ask DH to do that for me - have to wait until the plaster comes off his leg, though - as spray paint upsets my breathing sometimes. It won't be for another 3 weeks or so, but I'll let you know how it goes.

Sue