Shabby Chic Thread?

triage999

I am now a subscriber to Romantic Homes from the states! £20 for a year............. In my defence I know this is supposed to be a money saving website but the mags show you how to make a home out of what you have and cheap finds

I blame the http://posy.typepad.com/posy/2008/02/februarys-rea-1.html and http://homespunliving.blogspot.com/search/label/corners%20of%20my%20home

chinatown_2

I would still love to paint our kitchen units and took all the advice on board from this thread on how to do it.
However, after speaking to my dad he says the units arent actually wood, they have a coating on them, not sure if he said laminated or laquered, does anyone know what I mean? So has anyone had any success painting these types of units, as they cant be sanded to the wood underneath.

boysmum3

triage999 wrote: »

I am now a subscriber to Romantic Homes from the states! £20 for a year............. In my defence I know this is supposed to be a money saving website but the mags show you how to make a home out of what you have and cheap finds

I blame the http://posy.typepad.com/posy/2008/02/februarys-rea-1.html and http://homespunliving.blogspot.com/search/label/corners%20of%20my%20home

homespunliving's pictures are making me even more depressed about my house...I want mine finished and I want someone to give me some flair for design!!!!!

triage999

boysmum3 wrote: »

homespunliving's pictures are making me even more depressed about my house...I want mine finished and I want someone to give me some flair for design!!!!!

Yep you and me both lol!!

I have this week subscribed to Romantic Homes and bought two Rachel Ashwell books :eek:

mary43

chinatown - I've painted stuff that wasn't made of wood. My computer desk is MFI flat pack special melamine. I painted that with 2 coats of white paint (just emulsion) and then did a top coat of a sort of sandy colour and 'dry brushed' it so it looked like the old grain type finish.I'd done the bookcase like that and skirting board. Scumble I think it used to be called.
For a flat finish on the boys wardrobes I used a special paint for that........can't remember what it was called but your DIY shop should know.
It ponged a bit..........well a lot really, but did the job and the finishing coat went on really well.

Fingers crossed now for tomorrow............OH said the pine dresser we wanted will go through the door - tight squeeze but three other chaps plus OH should be able to do it..........shouldnt they ? Hope so............emptied the old one out now..........amazing what you find tucked away in drawers..........lol there, lurking in the bottom drawer was an oilcloth tablecloth I bought from charity shop ages ago...............almost forgot I'd got it..................lol
So, hopefully, if the dresser squeezes through I can re-do the dresser in all my 'nicer' bits..........got some shaker style things that got hidden somehow among the other stuff I had on the old one but I've really thinned out what I had so I can start again.

Pipkin

boysmum3 wrote: »

homespunliving's pictures are making me even more depressed about my house...I want mine finished and I want someone to give me some flair for design!!!!!

Don't be discouraged boysmum, just take it a step at a time, and buy what you like, more than what you think would fit, it's your home and you have to love it.. you will get there, honestly.

Pipkin

triage999 wrote: »

I am now a subscriber to Romantic Homes from the states! £20 for a year............. In my defence I know this is supposed to be a money saving website but the mags show you how to make a home out of what you have and cheap finds

I blame the http://posy.typepad.com/posy/2008/02/februarys-rea-1.html and http://homespunliving.blogspot.com/search/label/corners%20of%20my%20home

Posys house is adorable, but how does she keep all those gorgeous wee bits clean? :eek: Mine is festooned in dust sometimes even though I dust a lot.

boysmum3

Pipkin wrote: »

Don't be discouraged boysmum, just take it a step at a time, and buy what you like, more than what you think would fit, it's your home and you have to love it.. you will get there, honestly.

I think the trouble is finding a compromise with OH..... his parents didn't have 'stuff' still don't...whereas my mums dresser is a treasure trove!1!
He likes my taste as far as colours go but when i showed him Cath kidston oilcloth in cowboys he thought I had lost it lol!!! He likes symmetry on shelves too - unlike my cram it on approach!
This weekend I shall mostly be making bunting!!!!! Have fabric - have sewing machine...just time i am lacking in!!! (OH can't see point in bunting either lol!!!!)

vintagepleasure

chinatown wrote: »

I would still love to paint our kitchen units and took all the advice on board from this thread on how to do it.
However, after speaking to my dad he says the units arent actually wood, they have a coating on them, not sure if he said laminated or laquered, does anyone know what I mean? So has anyone had any success painting these types of units, as they cant be sanded to the wood underneath.

You can still paint laminated units.There is a special primer you can buy.Just check out your local DIY store. I have painted a bookcase that wasn't real wood and it turned out fine.

vintagepleasure

I just thought of a blog post you all might like.It kind of ties in with the knitted bunting.The rest of the blog is worth a look too as she makes some pretty stuff.
http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/2008/02/sweet-heart-cro.html