Shabby Chic Thread?

pennypinchingmum

I have this fab wooden file box that i am looking to decorate and i seem to recall in some home decorating book i have since sent to the charity shop (typical) that there is a really easy and cheap way of putting old photos onto furniture and things. I've searched google and wracked my memory and can't remember but i'm hoping one of you lovely lot will know.

ellemm

pennypinchingmum wrote: »

I have this fab wooden file box that i am looking to decorate and i seem to recall in some home decorating book i have since sent to the charity shop (typical) that there is a really easy and cheap way of putting old photos onto furniture and things. I've searched google and wracked my memory and can't remember but i'm hoping one of you lovely lot will know.

Do you mean decoupage?

See Wikipedia-

Decoupage (or d!coupage) is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf, etc. Commonly an object like a small box or an item of furniture is covered by cutouts from magazines or from purpose-manufactured papers. Each layer is sealed with varnishes (often multiple coats) until the "stuck on" appearance disappears and the result looks like painting or inlay work. The traditional technique used 30-40 layers of varnish which were then sanded to a polished finish. This was known in 18th century England as The Art of Japanning after its presumed origins.

Gigervamp

rachbc, that sounds really nice! I picked up a red with white spots oilcloth tablecloth from ebay. it's pretty large and cost about £20.

pennypinchingmum

Thanks ellemm that was exactly what i meant. Really looking forward to making this file now. Has anyone else got any tips on decoupage?

Frugalista

OMG!!!! Have just got back from having my hair cut in a nearby town. Whilst walking back to the car, discovered a little shop absolutely packed to the rafters with "shabby chic" stuff :j:j:j:D:D. Walked around absolutely drooling..... prices were reasonable too. Came home with a lovely "shabby" French metal plaque with birds and flowers on. Would have bought loads more - but as OH was made redundant in January I had to be sensible :sad:. Methinks I will be calling in again pretty soon.:D

lucy*locket

Gigervamp wrote: »

I'm going to pick up a dresser tomorrow that I won on ebay for £10.50. I'm off to Homebase tonight to have a look at paint and new handles for it. Can't decide yet whether to paint it off white/cream, or a sage green.
Can't wait! I've been wanting a dresser for years.

I'll post before and after pics.

Wow what a bargain! Please show us pics. I've just painted a cupboard and looking out for a dresser now, I love painting furniture and changing the whole look of them. I'd go for a sludgy white/cream BTW

Gigervamp

lucy*locket wrote: »

Wow what a bargain! Please show us pics. I've just painted a cupboard and looking out for a dresser now, I love painting furniture and changing the whole look of them. I'd go for a sludgy white/cream BTW

Yeah, I saw your post on your blog about it. It looks really good!

I picked up a couple of tester pots of Farrow and Ball. 2003 Pointing and 2004 Slipper Satin, both off white shades. I was considering a green because our dining room is painted in a deep red, so the green would contrast nicely, but hubby said he would prefer cream/white, so that's what I'll do.

Athome1

I'm so pleased to see this thread back in action! It was the first thing I checked every day but after the seperate web thing started (sorry not a tech term I know) it gradually died a death. Thanks for bringing it back to life! I love seeing the photos and hearing about peoples plans/hopes/future projects.:T:T:T

vivw_2

rachbc wrote: »

I'm about to start a shabby chic dining room makeover. I'm lifiting a grotty old carpet and painting the floorboards, the walls will be a sagey green. I'm stripping the top of an old oak table I found in the cellar when we moved in, and painting the frame and chairs crea. The seats will be covered in cath kidston (or cheaper copy) oilcloth with a spotty pvc table cloth and I'll trim some plain cream curtians with a foot or so of ck fabric. I'm using little greene paint co paint as the colours are gorgoeus and the quality superb - and they do a washable matt paint - esential with small fingers about the place! Can't wait for it to be done...

I've never come across the Little Greene Paint co before. Their colours look great. Has anyone used their oil eggshell before?

lessonlearned

So glad this thread is up again. I tried and tried with the shabby chic cafe but it never recognised my password so gave up in the end.

Anyway now that Spring is here (sort of) I'm ready to start shabby chiccing again.

My kitchen is a disaster so this will be the big one this year. I've started hunting for bits and pieces to revamp. I've got two captain chairs (free) and some wooden storage jars £1 for three so far. I need a dresser or corner cupboard thingy or perhaps some shelves because there is hardly any storage.etc.

In the meantime I've got a nice little chest of drawers for one of the bedrooms to revamp (£10 from my local junk shop) and a lovely navy leather armchair for £20 but that doesn't really need anything doing to it, it'll just need a nice throw to set it off.

I really love doing things up, getting arty and crafty. I'll try and do some before and after pictures. (Just need to learn how to transfer them to computer and post them).