Mirror, Mirror on the Wall; How Did You Turn into a Board?

For those of you who followed my blog posts lately, you probably know that I have been obsessed with blackboard paint. So obsessed that not only I have been using it on 'normal' surfaces to give a boost to my usual handpainted furniture, but onto some unconventional surfaces as well, such as this kitchen lighting makeover. 

Today, I am going to show you another usage of this versatile paint: turning a mirror into a notice board. Yes, a mirror! 

Decorate with Art

This is just a showcase of my art collection that includes art prints, original art, pottery, fused glass and hand painted ceramic, as well as some of my own pieces. 

Framed card by late Mary Sumner and original mini painting by Bijuterii Art.

Turning Green into Blue

I loved this chest of drawers in sea green but after moving into a new studio, I thought that a blue one would suit better the new decor, plus I wanted a change from that green that I had before (which I loved BTW!). When I posted a photo of it on Instagram and asked if blue would look better, a few people said yes. This was an easy project again, not just because the paint was perfect, but because the furniture was painted before so I didn't need to sand it and/or prime it. I could have even gotten away with just a coat, but I decided to apply the second one, especially as the chest of drawers wasn't painted everywhere. For this project, I have only used paint, brushes and clear wax and I got the perfect piece that stands out beautifully against the brick wall. Next project: grouting the brick - I really hope I can do it; any tips, anyone? 

New Home, New Kitchen

You know those signs that say 'The kitchen came with the house'? This is exactly how I feel for various reasons. I don't really enjoy cooking, so a kitchen is not my favourite room in a house. On the other hand, I like home cooked meals so cooking is something that I have to do as it is cheaper and healthier. On a side note, one of the reasons why I don't have a microwave is because I don't want to be tempted to buy ready meals so if I don't have one, I really have to cook. My husband does some cooking, but it is mainly me. The fact that the house came with a bigger kitchen than the one we had is fairly exciting, so is the fact that it came with a range cooker. And by 'fairly' I mean a kind of 'so and so'.

Yellow Desk for My Cottage Style Studio

I can't remember where I had this school desk from, but it has been staying in the attic for a few years or so until I found a use for it. I liked it too much to throw it away so when I got a new studio, I knew I wanted to paint it yellow. 

Materials:

✽ sanding sheet (although I have a sanding machine, I did it manually as it is a small item) 

✽ yellow furniture paint (simply use your favorite brand)

✽ brushes (various sizes according to your preferences)

✽ screwdriver to take the hinges out and put them back at the end

Cottage Style Dining Area

One of the features that we liked about the house when we first viewed it was this window between the kitchen and dining area, including the sage green paint that we decided to keep. Luckily we had everything for the dining area, the second-hand table and the mixed and matched chairs as well as this lovely display cabinet that I was honored to be featured with over at Handmade Monday. In the meantime, another cabinet appeared as storage for my husband and now the look is complete. It looks cosy and warm with a perfect view through the kitchen and all the way to the patio garden.

Yellow and Grey Bedroom

For someone who likes colour, this could be too much white, BUT all the accessories are rather colourful and I thought that a white background will make them stand out. I also quite like different shades of white and off-white as well as various textures from painted wood and ply to stripes and squares. Despite the colorful accessories I mentioned, I managed to implement a yellow and grey combination with splashes of blues, lime greens, and turquoise. The effect is a calming room that we absolutely love. 

Storage Solution for My Husband

You know how I can't resist a bargain in a charity shop. And this piece was only £20! As my OH needed something to store his gadgets, cables and other uselessful stuff he was also taken not just by the price but by the piece itself too. Luckily, I had some leftover furniture paint and wood paint and I used white wood paint for the main part of the piece and mustard yellow, turquoise and chalkboard paint for the accents. My OH loves it and we both like how it fits next to the cabinet in the dining area and it is amazing how many things he managed to hide away in it!  

Kitchen Lighting Makeover

You probably know that we have just moved into our new home. Part of the decoration was to also transform some of the existing pieces that we liked but we also wanted to make them our own. This was the case with the kitchen aluminum lighting that we wanted to paint matte black and we rather like the result.