Shabby Chic Thread?

icandream

vintagepleasure wrote: »

My heart hasn't sunk at all.You could make that all look great.I love the handles!
I think it would work well with any of my suggestions but personally I would probably go for a mix of chalkboard and 'kids art gallery' like NE Girl said.It would work well with the panelled look too.
To be honest you would be suprised what a good sand and paint would do to lift the whole area.I would definitely recommend Dimity oil based eggshell, that's what I have on all my woodwork including my stair panelling.It a lovely soft colour which you need on such a large expanse of woodwork.
Your hall looks like it has a lot of action going on so you could even deliberately rub back the edges to give it a really aged shabby chic look.That way any further wear and tear will just add to the look and won't drive you mad.
I was thinking you could even make it a bit like a old fashioned shop fitting and stencil the name of the contents on the each door in a soft grey.You know like 'SHOES' 'COATS' 'MISC' or something like that?
I would love to get my hands on them really you could do so much.
I'll still have another think and look through a few of my books.

Edited ;I've just decided that I'm going to do this to the back of the panelling under my stairs.I'm going to paint the bottom row of panels as chalkboard and then patchwork paper the rest.So excited I just have to find the time!

Hi all. Love the pics that have been posted - much nicer then my shabby old cupboards! Thanks all. I think your cupboard, Mollymunchkin, is going to be fantastic. And I love the fireplace and bookcase in your dining room, sootypea.

Vintagepleasure: could I just ask for your help on my doors/hall a little more, if that's okay. I've had another sleepless night re the doors, but this time because I was so excited thinking about ideas. Got DH interested as well, but he's worried it'll look messy. Could I ask how you'd divide the cupboards. Would you blackboard the three opening doors and use the others as a kids art gallery (did you mean by this your wonderful frame idea?).
Also, if I paint the woodwork with dimity oil based eggshell, what F&B paint would work well on the walls? I wish I could have you over - none of my friends show the slightest bit of interest when I try to discuss my doors (which I can fully understand!), and it's so nice to get some advice.
I love the idea of stencilling the contents on each door, but would that work if I'd blackboarded them? Gosh, sorry, so many questions. My mind's overflowing, but I'm scared of trying to put it all into practise. I just come to a black wall when I try and think how to do each door. To me, it's a frighteningly big area. :o
I had a good look on your blog last night and at the flickr pics. What a lovely home you have. I'm very new to blogs, and don't really understand them. But I thought it was fabulous. Thank you for sharing your life.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

maypole wrote: »

Oh I try not to shop with my husband, unless we are buying something major for our home. I get put off with the sharp intakes of breath when I look at things that aren't his taste, then he'll say " no, you get it if you really want it". Bless him;)

Had to laugh at this,my husband says exactly the same thing word for word.Mind you as long as he has a tv,bed and an arm chair and his dinner on the table he could'nt care less about what else goes on in our house.

sandieb

icandream wrote: »

Also, if I paint the woodwork with dimity oil based eggshell, what F&B paint would work well on the walls? .

You could always use Dimity Emulsion on the walls to blend in with the cupboard - this way the cupboard wouldn't appear to "stick out" visually so much.

madge7

rachelleblondel wrote: »

Oh I remember Berwick street with many happy memories of my days at art college.....and of course dont forget the fabulous vv rouleaux in sloane square i'm hoping for a trip to the Glasgow branch sometime soon.....

ooh yeah thats great too, didnt know there was one in glasgow! i absolutely love berwick st and the fabric shops, i too was down there all the time when i was at university!

stas4949

I've just re-read through the thread a bit and realised what a lovely place it is to be.... Everyone is openly willing to share ideas and happy for people to [strike]copy[/strike] get ideas for their own space ..... There are spelling mistakes but nobody snipes at this:cool: ..... We can all ask questions however silly they may seem and some lovely person will answer.....:rolleyes:

Thank you all for being so nice, helpful, creative and most of all for giving me a real feel good factor today :T

oh and if any of you are shabby chic hunting today good luck....

vintagepleasure

mollymunchkin wrote: »

Thanks VP, feel like I've been approved by a pro now I paid £30 for it, a bit more than I wanted but there was a commission bid on it and it was the only thing there I fancied.

It's really lovely and I think you definitely got a good deal.I always think a piece of furniture is worth whatever it is to you rather that the market value.If something is the right size and shape for your needs then buy it even if you spend a few more pounds for it.Otherwise you end up spending your time and money on something you don't really love and eventually will replace.
I would have paid more anyway I think!!

charleybabes

morning everyone!!

well im off to llandudno for the day, just wondered if anyone knew if there was any good charity shops around there ???

vintagepleasure

icandream wrote: »

Hi all. Love the pics that have been posted - much nicer then my shabby old cupboards! Thanks all. I think your cupboard, Mollymunchkin, is going to be fantastic. And I love the fireplace and bookcase in your dining room, sootypea.

Vintagepleasure: could I just ask for your help on my doors/hall a little more, if that's okay. I've had another sleepless night re the doors, but this time because I was so excited thinking about ideas. Got DH interested as well, but he's worried it'll look messy. Could I ask how you'd divide the cupboards. Would you blackboard the three opening doors and use the others as a kids art gallery (did you mean by this your wonderful frame idea?).
Also, if I paint the woodwork with dimity oil based eggshell, what F&B paint would work well on the walls? I wish I could have you over - none of my friends show the slightest bit of interest when I try to discuss my doors (which I can fully understand!), and it's so nice to get some advice.
I love the idea of stencilling the contents on each door, but would that work if I'd blackboarded them? Gosh, sorry, so many questions. My mind's overflowing, but I'm scared of trying to put it all into practise. I just come to a black wall when I try and think how to do each door. To me, it's a frighteningly big area. :o
I had a good look on your blog last night and at the flickr pics. What a lovely home you have. I'm very new to blogs, and don't really understand them. But I thought it was fabulous. Thank you for sharing your life.

I've been back and had a look at the photo.The way the doors and panels are arranged I would treat the 3 doors to the same treatment.It's always better to do things in odd number they are far more pleasing on the eye.So you might feel that only 1 door would be enough.If you did then I would chose the biggest door.
Personally I would paint the 3 doors in blackboard paint.Fronts and door edges so that you get a clean line around them when they are open or shut. If you still like the idea of stencil letters then they would look great in a gold or pewter colour over the blackboard paint just like in old signs.A little pot of enamel like you get in model shops would be perfect.You could stencil them and then sand the edges a little when dry.
Just a tip for the blackboard.Buy blackboard pens and keep the normal chalk for one offs.It's a little more expensive but makes much less dust to clean up.Get a little pot that you can fix to the wall at the side to keep the chalk and board duster in.We have a little board duster that came with a cheap kids chalkboard.I think ELC sell them too.
The rest of the woodwork I would paint in Dimity or whatever eggshell you chose.They are perfect for framing the kids artwork as they are
If you still like the idea of the patchwork wallpaper how about doing that inside the cupboards and on the back of the doors? Just think how that would make you smile when you put the kids shoes away for the umpteenth time!! I always find that if something looks nice then it is looked after much better.We all know how easy it is to throw stuff under the stairs and shut the door.Or is that just in my house?!If it was pretty inside people might actually hang their stuff up.Get some baskets for shoes aswell.We all have are own in our house and it works so well for everyday shoes.Everybody gets into the habit of putting them away and knowing where they are when they need them.
If you have room then a biggish basket at the bottom of the stairs, where the last panel is, would be great for holding seasonal accesories.You know woollies and brollies in winter and sunhats and suncream etc in summer.It saves so much time honestly!
As for the walls I really wouldn't recommend F+B emulsion for such a high traffic area.I know they do a modern emulsion now but it has a slight sheen to it and to be honest I think that the other brands do some fantastic matt emulsions which are more economical and very hardwearing.I love the Dulux realrooms range and they have some lovely colours they really are scrubbable.We have 'Timeless' in the kitchen which might be a bit a little white for you but there are lots of shades.All my house woodwork is painted in dimity and it seems to go with everything.
I would think about maybe wallpapering one of your walls if you are handy like that? Just a little splash of colour can really lift a room.It's hard to say which one as I don't know the shape of your hall.
I hope that this helps and any more questions just ask.
I love helping people work out schemes etc!

facepainter

Gosh I've got so much catching up to do on this thread!! Better make another cuppa.....I've popped in for some advice (cheeky!)..... this is my kitchen in it's unfinished state.... I need a blind, lampshades, tiles etc (thinking of Architecture tiles from Fired Earth when the money stretches that far).... apart from that.... do you think shelves would be ok either side of the cooker?I got this book from the library and totally love this look with the old shelves and glass jars..... too cluttered for my kitchen or would look ok?I really think I need to find some reclaim shelves though as B&Q specials just wouldn't do it really...... Also look at the following pic (and here's the big question that could cause my divorce).... TO PAINT or NOT TO PAINT???
Sorry the text and pics are all over the place in this post I can't get it to go where I want.... grrrrr....

cat64

Hi everyone:hello: Spent last night poring over my f&b chart trying to decide what colour to paint my shelves and newly won off ebay dresser! Please can you offer me suggestions I'm really hopeless at things like this! Our walls are currently yellow (similar colour to facepainters kitchen) and it will be a while before I'm able to redecorate - was thinking of a white/cream colour for the shelves etc but not sure.Heelp....