Vintage Roll Top Desk Gets a Coastal Home Love Makeover!

Hello!

Is it really the end of March already?  How did that happen? 
Lots of exciting things coming up this year, more on that later.  For now I thought I'd check back in and share a recent makeover.....



As soon as I saw this desk I knew it had so much potential,  it had unfortunately been chewed pretty thoroughly by a cheeky Labrador and it's owner (the desk not the Lab), asked if I could help save it.  Um yep!!  Here's a before pic, note the chewed features on all of the handles, legs and corners!

I loved transforming this old piece which was destined for the scrap heap before it was rescued by my client from a garage sale for the princely sum of $40!  A girl after my own vintage loving heart obviously saw the potential too!  .....And after much sanding, repairs, paint and love....  the afters!  

 

My client couldn't decided which knobs to use so we ended up deciding on an eclectic mix which I think really suits and adds even more character to this piece.  I have lots of gorgeous knobs available my website soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really love all the storage in this old piece and kinda wished I could of kept this one...  of well hopefully I'll stumble across one sometime!

 

Thanks for stopping by! :)

 

Jo xx

 



A Pretty Mirror, Lilies and a sheepish return from renovation exile! ;)

Hello!

Is anybody still here?  It's been a little while, we have been renovating and for most bloggers this would be gold...  lots of progress photos, planning and reveals.  For me though it was all I could do to keep my head above water and keep on swimming through each day! 

I fully plan to share with you the reno details and a bunch of photos, but today, inspired by these beautiful Lilies I thought I'd dip my toe back into blogging with a mirror makeover...

I was drawn to the lovely curvy shape, the carved details at the top and the gorgeous bevelled mirror which follows the frame shape.  I didn't even remember to snap a before pic (I'm really out of touch with it I know!).

 

 

Mirror is available for sale, pop me an email if you are interested! 

 



Thanks so much for stopping by, it's lovely to be back! :)

Jo xox

 

Linking up here...

elizabeth and co

my uncommon slice of suburbia

start at home

Sweet Vintage Table in Annie Sloan Duck Egg

Hello lovely friends!

Blustery and cold in Sydney, which is enabling me to catch up on jobs around here and settle in our new baby.  Meet Miss Paisley Puppy!

Paisley is a Flat Coated Retriever and she's just divine.  She's totally stolen our hearts already.  I'd forgotten what it was like to have a new baby in the house... Crying in the night, accidents on the floor and so on!

Now onto a little project I finished a few weeks ago.  I love this little vintage table, it has great character and had been ever so patient biding its time in my garage, awaiting a makeover.





After completing BIG Bessy here one could say I'm hooked on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Love. 

So I was walking around the house looking for my next victim something to paint, which happens often and frequently sees our cat ducking for cover whenever she sees me with paint brush in hand!  I kid you not ;) 

Then I remembered this little table hiding in the garage.  I almost skipped to the garage to grab it and within minutes I was painting my little heart out :)


After:

I painted the side skirt detail in white for some contrast.

Addicted. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Jo xx

Linking up here....

Lilyfield Life No Minimalist Here 52 Mantles House of Hepworths The Trendy Treehouse Start at Home Finding Fabulous Romantic Home

Little Vintage Desk Gets a Funky Retro Makeover!

Hi Gorgeous Peeps!

Yep so I'm not so good with the whole regular blog posting thing... another long break between posts!  Rest assured I've finished several makeovers and been up to some fun furniture and thrifting capers!

Thought I'd pop in to share one of my latest furniture makeovers.  This little desk has been residing in our garage for quite some time now...  biding his time...  finally he caught my eye and received a funky lil retro makeover ;)

Before:
 

 

 

 

I started by painting him all white, it was at this point my boys chimed in with retorts of how totes boring all white was!  I was outnumbered so we needed to break open some colour! 

Green it 'twas....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well I think he has quite the personality now! 

 

What do you think, like the green?

 

 

 

Love n light

 

Jo xx



 

 

 

Linking up here this week...

 

between naps on the porch

 

diy show off

 

its so very cheri

 

coastal charm

 

elizabeth and co

 

no minimalist here

 

the shabby creek cottage

 

 

 

Vintage Ladder Love Affair

Hello lovelies

I have a thing for many things... one of those things is vintage ladders.  I heart them.

I've made over a few of them and can't resist picking them up when I see them.  I was driving by my local Salvos store after my son's cricket game on the weekend... and I thought I'd pop in for a quick look see.  I ended up walking out with these two beauties...  and a few other goodies!  Gotta heart thrifty shopping!

Here's the only before shot of my ladder...  in my outdoor studio ;)

 


I gave him a good scrubbing, and white washing. 


I didn't want to cover the original stencilling on the sides or the splatters and splobs of paint which he'd gained over the years.  White washing gave me that shabby beachy look whilst still allowing his character to shine through!

 He's quite a handy fella.... he had me hooked at first sight :) I really love his hooks! 

I added some numbers to the steps, sanded a little and waxed.

 

My plan was to sell him at my next market stall...  but I'm growing quite fond of him and his hooks ;)

Now just between you and I, he's not my one and only...  I have another handy fella stashed in our ensuite.... he's on towel duties.  There's also one in the corner of our family room, casually taking care of throw rug business.

.....and then there's the other little one I bought with this one...  thinking she'd be nice to hold scarves in my wardrobe...  mmm thinking I may have a problem ;D

Thanks for stopping in, have a great weekend

Jo xx

 Linking up to these fab parties....

 scandi coast home

 

the shabby creek cottage

 

house of hepworths

 

here comes the sun

 

live laugh rowe

 

at the picket fence

 

Some New Vintage Art and Some Random Disorganised Thoughts :)

Hello lovelies

Keeping up with kids, home, work and this blogging caper is tough. Well for this chick it is. I really admire so many women who blog daily... or even regularly, you guys are amazing and inspire me to do better.  I'm yet to balance it all and find blogging is the thing that gets bumped off the 'To Do/Wish List' {sometimes it's sorting the washing or ironing... actually it's always the ironing!}.

I've been finishing lots of projects and fun stuff, but haven't gotten around to blogging about it. I write the posts in my head, often in the middle of the night!  They just haven't materialised into posts as yet.... surely someone is close the inventing an App for that?  It's not only writing posts, it's keeping up to date with all my fave blogs too...  I'm so far behind in my reading!

Anyhow I'm working on getting more organised, I think that's the key. I know it is. In a previous life (before kids) I was organised, mostly on time and not a crazed lunatic every morning trying to get out of the house!  My other "issue" is procrastination. Add that to disorganisation and it's amazing that I make it out of the bathroom in the morning, let alone the house ;)

That said, I'm not beating myself up about it, I love writing this little blog and connecting with so many truly gorgeous people.  My blog is a new born, she and I (always wanted a girl), will take one day at a time, or one post at a time. Baby steps :)

Well that turned into a different post entirely!  {Is that normal?}  I had set out to just share a recent Vintage Art find!  So moving right along, here she is....  



I found her at Vinnies, I had to pop on my potential glasses to get past her most-unattractive-gold-framers-special frame! 


After a moment of focusing I was taken by her beautiful colours and she was coming home with me.

After a few coats of white paint, I think she scrubbed up not too shabby!  Amazing what a lick of paint will do... a fresh new look just in time for Spring :)

 


How do you balance work, love and blogging?  ~  Any tips for this newbie would be greatly appreciated! :)


Thanks for stopping by... have a great week lovelies :)

Jo xx

 

 

Linking up here :)

 

its so very cheri

 

between naps on the porch

 

coastal charm

 

keeping it simple crafts

 

elizabeth and co.

 

a diamond in the stuff

 

my uncommon slice of suburbia

 

not just a house wife

 

savvy southern style

 

52 mantels

 

some what simple

 

 

 

 

50 Shades of Turquoise ~ A Coffee Table Makeover

Hello there Coastal friends :)

Lovely painting weather in Sydney at the moment.  Spring has finally sprung and I've managed to finish up a couple of projects recently.  This one, a rather lovely coffee table with curvy legs and a curvy glass top.  Quite the hour-glass figure has this lovely lady ;) 

I bought her earlier this year, she's sat precariously balanced on top of bikes, lawn mower and other garage paraphernalia for a few months now.  I decided her time had come. 

I had only one colour on my mind for this lovely lady;  Turquoise... they were destined for each other ;)

 

 

I heart turquoise!  I mean what's not to love... It's so fun and fresh, and lends itself so well to so many styles of decorating.  The shade I chose is called Magnetic Magic by Dulux.


Here she is before with a bad orange lacquer finish... Fake tan on furniture is never ever a good look!  Bye bye orange...

After... Hello lovely 

I love glass tops like this... not only does it protect the painted top, it allows for display of precious photos, or kids art and you can change it up whenever the urge strikes!

This piece is available, if you're interested there are some more details on my Facebook page :)

How do you like to add pops of colour? What's your fave decorating colour at the moment? 


Hope you're enjoying sun in your part of the world!

 

Jo xx

Linking up to these fab parties...  :)

coastal charm

elizabeth and co

my repurposed life

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romantic home

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the shabby nest

between naps on the porch

faded charm cottage

 

Oh the Places he's been... Vintage Shipping Trunk come to Mumma ;)

Hello there!

Look what I found!  One of those pieces that as soon as I spied it in the store, I knew, no ifs or buts; this baby was coming home with moi!

  

Wanna hear something a little quirky or as my kids would say a little random... when I see a piece Vintage luggage goodness...  Dr Seuss's "Oh the Places you'll Go" always springs to mind.... Yep. I know weird right?! 

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!”  

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!”
~ exert from Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

He's found a home for now in our lounge room, but I think he'd also work well in our more casual family room.  So there may be more travels in store for this handsome devil!

Do you have a thing for Vintage Luggage too? 


Sweet Vintage dreams my friends,

Jo xx

Linking up for fun here....

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under the table and dreaming

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