News / Dublin

New Product - Scrabble Age Frames

New Product Alert!! Someone you know got a big birthday coming that they aren't so thrilled about? These Scrabble frames make great cheeky little gifts and are sure to raise a smile! 
Read more →

Custom Furniture Painting - Dining Table & Chairs

This weekends work...

I was asked by a lovely lady to help transform her dining room furniture. These chairs had already been some upycling before getting to me. The chars originally had an open style back - the client has had this set for some time and wanted a complete new look. She had them re-upholstered locally with a gorgeous teal fabric, they filled in the back and added stud-work to finish off the look. They turned out fantastic. Time for a lick of paint to freshen them up - that is where I come in :)

Before
Handpainted Dining Table & Chairs Before 1

Handpainted Dining Table & Chairs Before 2

Handpainted Dining Table & Chairs Before 3

The client wanted a nice modern clean look with a bit of texture to the finish - Chalk Paint is the obvious choice for this type of finish. Handpainted using Antique White chalk paint by Annie Sloan for the chairs, table legs and surround, finished off with a high gloss varnish for the table top. This dining set has been completely transformed and re-loved to be enjoyed for many more years to come. Take a look at the after shots below.

After

Handpainted Dining Table & Chairs After 1

Handpainted Dinding Table & Chairs After 2

 

Read more →

Garden Upcycle

Garden upcycle! Not finished yet, but getting there.
Read more →

Stripped Wooden Floors

Whenever I've gone quiet on social media and my blog it usually means I'm up to something in my own home. This time is no different! We've had to get works done in the house (damp coursing, fully rewired - the joy of an older house!) so while it was already a mess, I started uncovering this beauty of a floor in my kitchen! I had no idea it'd still be good under all the thick layers upon layers black paint. Lots of work to go, but I do love a challenge! 

We used some fairly potent smelling paint stripper - caution and lots of ventilation and a mask is advised! Our house is an old Victorian redbrick oozing with old world charm and loveliness, however being 120 odd years old, in places the paint is 120 layers thick! This floor was no exception, and again because of it's age we needed to be careful with sanding as there was a risk of old paint containing lead, and being our kitchen floor, with an open shelving style galley kitchen - it would not be a good environment to have tiny lead particles floating around in. I am also fairly sure that the final coating of paint was an industrial style garage floor paint, quite the mess to remove. It was black, layered on until all definition between board was lots and scuffed to bits, never looking clean and very dark in an otherwise bright kitchen. It had to go.

I have always wanted a painted wooden floor, and although my head says to varnish or stain to a darker wooden finish (after all it will help to hide some of that dirt amiright?), alas the heart wants what the heart wants. Painted floorboards are notoriously not as hard-wearing as a good old fashioned varnished one, and although this will be quite a high traffic area I'm still going to give it a whirl. This will only be a temporary solution until we save to get something else, and is our first house after renting for many years so its great to be finally about to do what we want with our own home. Those trusty converse have seen quite a few upcycles in their time! Check back in to see the progress. Wish me luck!

Sanded wooden floor

Read more →

I love my city

No need for upcycling  
There is nothing better than spending an afternoon in Dublin with no agenda, just having a wander and a look at all the amazing architecture and forgotten signs of the city.

This is one of my favourite buildings in Dublin, and not just because of its contents! To get a pic in the sunshine, and with a Guinness truck right outside, on Paddy's week - how much more patriotic can you get! I love my city 💖

O'Neill's Suffolk Street Dublin St Patrick's Day

 

Read more →