Shabby Chic Thread?

Seakay

I know nothing about this company, but just spotted them on e-bay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Heavy-Bulky-item-courier-service-UK-Europe_W0QQitemZ230228611625QQihZ013QQcategoryZ115766QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
as I've seen a lot of people on this thread who wanted a dresser but lived a long way from the seller, i thought that they might be interested in this service:
"

Economy Service:

Lastly, we also offer our Economy Service, Very popular with the ebay market! In brief, We send our vans each week from our base in Walton on Thames up to Scotland and back again collecting and delivering items on route. We this service in place, we are able to offer some very good rates on delivering your ebay items and ensuring that your new ebay bargain remains a bargain without the expense of hiring a van yourself to collect or deliver the goods."

triage999

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

well my the top part of my kitchen ( where i cook etc) is coming on nicely... the paint on the cupboard doors are taking longer to dry than i thought..

so hopefully by the weekend i will be able to show you some pics..

first of all i really do need to thank triage999 for starting this thread.. as to be honest i really did need a boot up the backside.. or shall i say the inspiration to get going.... i know i have read other posts etc.. but this one really did hit a nerve..

as i mentioned in an earlier post i never really liked this house... and also living in an all male enviorment which normally sit on their back sides not taking dishes out or just plonking their things anywhere.. had just driven me to be like them to be honest.

so i have taken photos of before and going to take photos of after.... i am going to be brave and show you the before photo too.... which prob most of you might find disturbing... ideal situation for those 2 cleaning ladies.... ? and aggie....

i have now decided to do this this all my rooms..( take before and after photos) as i think i have become mess blind..or got soo used to the mess being there and you get used to it, so dont notice it...:cool:

or maybe i was soo rapped up in the amount of money that we owed.. i would just sit there and make myself depressed about the debt....

what ever the reason... all your photos of yuor lovely kitchens and other rooms in your houses have made me do my house...

This has to be the lovliest post I have read today I think it is good that you have been given motivation, there is no point dwelling on what we have not got in life and how much debt we are in as what is done is done you can only act upon making things better and cherish what you have around you (even if that includes untidy, lazy men)!

This style of decorating is ideal for those on a tight budget and that is why I love it so much, I would rather stick pins in my eyes than go and spend £500 on a coffee table at one of the big furniture stores :rotfl:

When you have done your before and after photos, you can then dejunk too if that is an issue, it is amazing what you may have lurking that you can sell on Ebay to make some money or turn into something else and for those hard to get rid of items try freecycle, someone will make good use of your items.

Make the local car boot sales and flea markets your local furniture store, take a good look at what you need in your house. Go armed to these sales with measurements and a list of needs so that if you do find something you know exactly where to put it and how much space you have. Make sure you check newspapers for upcoming events in your area.

Most importantly with shabby style don't be scared to make or do something just because it will not turn out perfect, this style is not supposed to represent mass produced templates of exact same styles.

Even more importantly have fun and enjoy creating a lovely home to live in!

rosh12

I have been following this thread as a bit of a lurker, as I love some of the country / vintage / shabby chic stuff, but I am also trying not to spend money, and also trying not to have too much "stuff" around- no matter how gorgeously beautiful it is!

Anyway, I often read about people's finds in charity shops and I am always envious. The area where we live is pretty deprived and I assumed therefore that the charity shops wouldn't be much good... But I was wrong- I popped in one (Help the Aged) today for some fabric and found some ceramic storage containers, some other vintage jars, a couple of nice jugs (!?)... I was very good and didn't buy anything, but I just wanted to say to people- don't just assume your local charity shop won't have anything!

Good luck with all your projects etc! x

stas4949

rosh12 wrote: »

I have been following this thread as a bit of a lurker, as I love some of the country / vintage / shabby chic stuff, but I am also trying not to spend money, and also trying not to have too much "stuff" around- no matter how gorgeously beautiful it is!

Anyway, I often read about people's finds in charity shops and I am always envious. The area where we live is pretty deprived and I assumed therefore that the charity shops wouldn't be much good... But I was wrong- I popped in one (Help the Aged) today for some fabric and found some ceramic storage containers, some other vintage jars, a couple of nice jugs (!?)... I was very good and didn't buy anything, but I just wanted to say to people- don't just assume your local charity shop won't have anything!

Good luck with all your projects etc! x

Thats such a good tip..... I have 2 local charity shops and pop in 2 or 3 times a week..... most of the time there is nothing of interest to me but I have picked up some lovely vintage fabrics (made a bag for a family friend) and a beautiful framed watercolour (boats!). Also if you are looking for something specific always ask the staff as usually they have so much stock that not all of it can be displayed.
I also have an unhealthy obsession with buttons, most charity shops have these out the back in a tin (to stop little fingers) then just find a quiet corner and sift away. I have found so many little delights this way and the odd brooch..... Theres something special about a tin of buttons...

mary43

Well..............got my paintbrush out in the endm but not for the cupboard (that'll be another day !). Having 'rescued' some of my sample pots of various 'sage greens' that OH thought he'd de-clutter........I set too and gave a coat of paint to a retro tea towel holder my son got me for christmas. Lovely retro style picture but the surrounding colour was a rather vivid turquoise and needed toning down a bit, so its had its first coat of a kind of pale sage type green..........blends in with the picture and much better with out walls. Coat 2 will go on tomorrow........bit of dark wax polish for an 'old' look and it'll be on the wall. (OH just had to touch up the paint where he'd taken the old tea towel hooks off..........slight difference in size..............lol
Also got some long awaited pictures on the walls...........three of those block type pictures with different coffee on them.(charity shop £1)..........the chicken on canvas I got from charity shop last week (£1) and a dried seed picture -know the sort where they';re all separated and put behind glass.
So, then I decided to move the big kilner jars of dried seeds I'd got tucked away on a shelf never seen by anyone and they're on the very top of the old pine dresser..................just need to fill the gap they left. Kitchen getting transformed bit by bit...................lol
(First time I've picked up a paintbrush in ??? years !!!):T

vivw_2

Have just been outbid on ebay on some green material I wanted to cover some chairs with..........

Need some advice - there are 3 dressers coming up in my area and I'm not sure which to go for;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150220140058&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190201576619&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150220066892&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

What do you think?

NEgirl

ooh i love the third one and would aim for that one personally but all 3 are great and if you could get them for the prices they are there now then any of them would be a bargain!! :T :T

Clutterfree

vivw wrote: »

Have just been outbid on ebay on some green material I wanted to cover some chairs with..........

Need some advice - there are 3 dressers coming up in my area and I'm not sure which to go for;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150220140058&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190201576619&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150220066892&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

What do you think?

Personally, I like the last one best and as it has pen marks down it, there may be a lot of people who won't want to go to the bother of sanding and painting/revarnishing it so you *may* get it for a good price.

Second one has a reserve and I think the minimum reserve price is £50 so it will be that or above.

I do like the first one and as that ends first it might be worth deciding a budget for each and then if it goes above that you still have options 2 and 3.

Oo decisions, decisions.

Good luck!

stas4949

vivw wrote: »

Have just been outbid on ebay on some green material I wanted to cover some chairs with..........

Need some advice - there are 3 dressers coming up in my area and I'm not sure which to go for;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150220140058&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190201576619&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009
or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150220066892&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

What do you think?

I would def pick number three too, its lovely. Wish I had the space for something like that. I'm looking for a very small skinny dresser.

Clutterfree

NEgirl wrote: »

ooh i love the third one and would aim for that one personally but all 3 are great and if you could get them for the prices they are there now then any of them would be a bargain!! :T :T

Snap!
I went for that one too - trouble is I think it is the last one to end.