Retro Book Shelf Makeover

I love stripes...

I picked this book shelf up at an op shop after the lady working there said to me, 'who doesn't need a book shelf?'...  She's right though isn't she? Small book shelves are so useful, so I agreed, picked her up and brought her home.

I didn't exactly need a whole lot of convincing - I loved the wood grain on the back of the shelves, but wanted to brighten up the whole piece and keep it's retro feel. So I thought stripes would be perfect.

If you're considering stripes I definitely recommended Courts from The Apprentice Extrovert tip for touching up after any bleeding. You can check it out here.

Right now I'm using the bookcase to display some of my old books, though I'm thinking it might find a permanent home in Harry's room... maybe! And while I'm talking stripes I thought I'd show off the stripe rug I painted a little while ago for my entry. I'm STILL loving it.

I remember setting home makeover goals at the beginning of the year and thinking I'd knock them over in no time! How wrong I was! But the entry is nearly finished; just lighting and odds and ends to go. I think it'll be ready for Christmas...

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My October Market Stall

I'm so completely frustrated with a project I'm working on that I've come in here to write and think about something else for a while. I've been recovering a chair that is just driving me insane, so it will just have to sit for a while, while I get over it. Does that happen to you? This is what's causing me the trouble...

So instead of a lovely finished project I thought I'd share some photos of my market stall on Sunday. I had a great time, though completely different to the last one (which was my very first). At my first market I sold every one of my furniture pieces but none of the smaller pieces I'd taken (think cushions, coasters, blackboards etc). This time, no furniture pieces but lots of small pieces. WEIRD. I guess you just can't tell!

After my first market I realised I needed something for ground cover, so I bought a 3x3 piece of mesh to cover the ground and it worked really well. I wasn't sure about putting up the sides of my tent, and not many of the other stall holders do, but looking at my photos now I think I will next time. The ugly brick building the in background doesn't really do it for me!

I'm also learning to be a little more confident when talking to market goers. I've met some lovely people at the market, and a few of those who bought pieces the first time round came back again this month which was really nice. I gave out loads of business cards and got some great feedback which is always nice.

I was really nervous again, but got over it quickly. Once you start setting up and rearranging as the day goes on, talking to people and checking out what other stall holders are doing, it's all over! I've realised that I need to keep talking - to the market organisers, friends, family, other stall holders, other crafty people, bloggers market goers -  there are ideas and suggestions and support out there for all of us.

So I'm going again in November, and that chair is supposed to be my centre piece. Although, if it doesn't get itself together (I blame the chair entirely) then there is also this lovely telephone table...

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Coffee Table to Ottoman

My first coffee table to ottoman conversion turned out so great that I've made another one! And when ottomans can be upwards of $500, why not?

There are loads of tutorials for making an ottoman around the place including this one from Design Sponge, so I'm not going to re-invent the wheel. What I can do though is share my tips for making your own! Here's the coffee table I used for this project - it was perfect because it had the two things I was looking for... the right design features and curves in the right places!

Make sure you pick a coffee table that either has a lip around the table top, or you can remove the legs. Either way, this will make it easier for you to attach your fabric and means you can finish off the underside nicely. I'm yet to find one where you can easily remove the legs, but I'm sure they are out there.

Don't you just love these legs!! The two I've done have had shapely legs, and I think these really make the ottoman. You also need to think about height - considering the height of the legs and then adding your foam on top. The last thing you want is something that's too high.

My last tip is about the cover. Over the top of my foam I add a piece of stretched wading to add extra softness but also hold everything together. I think this makes a huge difference and shouldn't be left out. And your fabric? Make sure you use upholstery or home decorator fabric! The fabric needs to have some weight to it - I know some of those quilters cottons are beautiful, and I was eyeing off some vintage sheets that I thought would look beautiful, but they just wont hold up over time.

So there you have it - A coffee table turned ottoman and my ideas to help you make your own!

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Queen Anne Table

I love Queen Anne furniture - it's the legs that get me. The thing is, whenever I see it it's nearly always white, and I wanted to try something different. So I went the opposite...

As soon as I saw this piece in the op shop I new I wanted it, even though it was a bit more than I usually spend. I'm almost tempted to keep it, but I do love my current one too... Here's a before picture with the sold sticker still on top! Great condition, hence the price ;)

I'm loving black at the moment; after my industrial style captains chair makeover  and the great reception it got I've been thinking about where else I could use it. Sure, it's not for everyone, but I like this twist on the traditional style.

I also love the way it distresses...

It's bedside / night stand size, but I like it as a hall table. With a big black mirror it gives a more industrial vintage style that I'm liking!

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Aqua Bar Stools

A month or so ago I missed out on a pair of bar stools at my local op-shop. I had one of those challenging parenting moments; Emma kept wandering away and after the second time I had said we would go straight home if it happened again. If you have children you know what happened next and I said goodbye to the bar stools. UGH.

Then on my recent trip to Sydney I found this pair and knew the parenting gods had smiled on me. I know those seat covers are gross, even more so when you realise your daughter has been wearing one of them on her head. My girls on a roll.

With a little aqua paint, these have come up lovely. It's nice coming into summer and using such bright, happy colours (so for those who are coming into Fall, you've had your fun!). If I had my dream kitchen makeover these would be staying, but alas, that is yet to happen. The way my home goals are going it may never happen... but that's another story. There's a reason there is no home tour on my blog!!!

These included a cute little note from the op shop - 'These are harder to find than you think!' Luckily for me I'd found another pair, but how sweet that the op shop let me know! When we went back that afternoon to re-look at something I was undecided on there was a third stool, but no more room in the car.

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Chippy Side Table

This post could be called 'just keeping sanding' (I've been watching too much Nemo) or 'Never Gonna Give You Up' (showing my age a little). Why you ask? Or just as likely 'what is this girl taking'?

I had originally bid on this side table at a local auction house and missed out. I didn't think much else about it till I went back into the auction house and they offered it to me at my original bid, the owner didn't want to come and collect it after rejecting all bids. Here's a before picture...

This table needed more sanding than I thought possible, hence the just keep sanding, and giving up! After all that black paint there was black stain; my guess is the previous owner wanted it black! Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it...

 ...and then I decide it is. I really love the table in this corner, and I love it next to the wing-back chair (I'll be honest, I love everything next to that thing!!) What doesn't look good next to something that beautiful, and that was free???

It's hard to tell from the picture, but this one is pale blue / grey. Just enough colour without taking over everything else. Here's one last pic - a chippy table and old books - what more could a girl ask for...

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Two Tone Dining Table

This dining table was sitting in the corner at my local auction house, under a couple of chairs. I had planned to work on my own dining table at some point, but when I saw her turned legs I couldn't walk past!

I knew what I wanted to do with her straight away, another two tone, but this time with legs that really stood out! With pale aqua paint and some distressing, I think she has turned out beautifully.

The table top itself wasn't in bad condition, it just needed a new stain / varnish. I went with a walnut, a nod to the original colour of the table.

I was originally thinking I'd search for some chairs to match, but then I was torn between picking up mismatched chairs or a finding a set of four. I'm still undecided ;). What would you do - do you like matching chairs, or would you go for mismatched?

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