Tag: Furniture

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Sustainable September

It was a pleasure last month to host some workshops for August Craft Month. Lampshade making and weaving were the workshops I offered this time around. It is all about learning in a relaxed atmosphere, slowing down, exploring creativity and making connections and these workshops were exactly that. I really enjoyed speaking with Claire O’Brien on Midlands 103 about taking part in August Craft Month for her arts and culture radio show ‘Encore’.

As part of sustainable September, one of the action you can take is to upcycle an item of furniture: it is a great way to explore one’s creativity and to simply contribute to sustainability by giving a new lease of life to old or tired-looking furniture. Using Chalk Paint™, you do not have to worry about priming, you can apply the paint directly to any clean surface even if it is varnished or already painted. It you would like to give it a go, the easiest way is to join one of the up coming Restyle your furniture workshops. Check out for the Workshops page for dates! If you are on the lookout for some second-hand pieces of furniture, try your local charity shops. St Vincent de Paul has just opened a new furniture shop in Mullingar and they have a large warehouse full of good solid pieces!

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The times, they are a changin’

 

When I first opened the shop my counter and till point was a late 1930s pitch pine kitchen cabinet. It has all its original features including a pull-out enamel work surface, hooks for cups above the top inside shelf and air vents on the top doors. I initially painted this cupboard in Annie Sloan duck egg blue adding some time later old violet and Scandinavian pink to give it a newer life.

Many customers have commented on this piece of furniture reminiscent of their childhood memories at their granny’s or remembering their mum preparing some food on the narrow counter. I have been asked many times if I would sell this retro piece of furniture but I have become attached to it and it is now back in my house. The shop counter is now a large chalk-painted Edwardian sideboard with beautiful carved details and a large top beveled mirror.

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Let’s go “Greenery”

botanical-amsterdan-greenGreenery is the name of the fresh and vibrant new shade made by Pantone for this year. It is a truly Irish colour, symbolic of the undulating hills, the grazing land and dramatic landscapes of the Emerald Isle.

Foliage and botanical patterns are very much on trend at present and are reminiscent  of William Morris’ textile and wallpaper patterns. Greenery shades are revitalising and make me yearn for nature’s imminent revival in springtime.

Being aware of the natural world, and being conscious of sustainability, another useful trend is the idea of ‘upcycling’. This is a great way to reuse materials and reduce our collective carbon footprint. Using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, did you know that here in Handmade Design Studio we can refresh and redesign any item of furniture for you?

We discuss the ideas for the style you like, the colour and finishing and you will be guaranteed to have a unique, individual hand-painted piece that breathes new life into your existing furniture and doesn’t ‘cost the Earth’ in every sense of that expression!