Paint it Black...Paint It Like New!

One of my lovely sponsors for the 'Delicious Room Makeover' contest was Burlington based company Paint It Like New.  If you've followed my blog for any amount of time, you probably already know that I am a big fan of theirs.  Owner Janet Hamilton stands for all that I believe in when it comes to upcycling and repurposing items for home and office decor.

Painted Pew for sale at Paint It Like New!

Painting an old piece of furniture is not a new concept but I can tell you that it is still very much on trend in the world of interior design.  If you are looking for a change, the easiest and most cost efficient way to transform either a piece of furniture or an entire room is to use paint.

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To celebrate Halloween, Paint It Like New are currently offering an extra 10% off anything sprayed in their 'custom black' until the end of October.  Janet says "Painting an inexpensive piece black, instantly makes it look more expensive" and I agree!  To prove it, here are some before and after pictures of items sprayed black at their shop.

Great for the entryway or as an alternate to chairs at a kitchen table.

Love the curves on this piece.

Drum side table

Looks like new!

If you don't have something that you can paint, visit second hand stores like Value Village, the Salvation Army or Reuse centres.  Alternatively, click here to see the 'Upcycle' section on the Paint It Like New website where you can pick your own piece and customise the colour to suit your decor.

Don't limit your choices to just wood and wicker pieces, brass items can be sprayed too. Check out this classic yet modern light fixture Janet just had done for her new home.

Fast forward and use your imagination to visualise how items will look once done and in your home...

Neutral hallway with hits of black

 And here is a headboard freshly sprayed in custom black...

I found this bedroom photo with a black headboard that totally pops off the wall and looks amazing!!

The black painted headboard is the star of the show in this bedroom

Thank you to Paint It Like New for sponsoring my contest and congratulations to Kris who was our third place winner of the $100 gift card towards spray painting services!  Email Janet at paintitlikenew@bellnet.ca for a free estimate if you have something that you would like to have sprayed and added to your ~delicious decor~.

If you liked this post, you might also want to see:

Before and After Pictures

Antique Market Season

Is Reupholstering worth your while?

Over the next few weeks my blog postings will be addressing questions from readers who kindly sent me their design dilemmas. Be sure not to miss a post and become a subscriber by entering your e-mail address below.

Do you have a space you would like decorated before the holidays?  You still have time to get your place looking fabulous for Christmas!  Contact me and I can help you create a space that you are happy to come home to, share with family and entertain in with friends.  E-mail me: claire@creatingcontrastdesigns.com   

Check out my first guest posting!!

A few weeks ago Tina at Living Fresh wrote a fabulous guest posting for me on how to make a beautiful floral arrangement with flowers from your own garden.  To read the tutorial, click here.

I returned the favour by writing a post for Tina's blog all about wooden furniture and my latest trip to Aberfoyle Antique Market.  It's been a while since I wrote a post about furniture and Aberfoyle so to get your fix, please click on the link below and happy reading!

Guest blog post:   Who wooden't love this old furniture?

Hope you are enjoying the final week of summer before the kids go back to school!  Can't believe the summer is nearly over, where does the time go?!!

Repurposing ideas you don't want to miss!

This summer one of my projects is to repurpose an old mirrored frame into a jewellery display board.  I am tired of all my necklaces & bracelets tangling themselves up at the bottom of my jewellery box.

Messy jewellery, ugh!

I chose this frame (below) as I liked the detail and it's a solid piece as well.  My hope is that if I can display my fashion accessories nicely, it will not only be easier to see each piece of jewellery, but it also make a lovely piece of artwork!

Here is the idea (below) of what I want to do with my frame. I will need to use a neutral paint colour and non-bossy fabric because as much as I would love to redecorate the bedroom, at this time we have no plans of doing so.  Therefore, this piece needs to be flexible as I do not want it to become the 'bully in the room' that I need to work around.   

This display is doing double duty by being both functional and pretty at the same time.

Are you thinking of repurposing something for your home decor or to place on your pretty patio this summer?  Here are some more fun and fabulous ideas that I found and wanted to share with you.

There are so many options for cool and unique repurposed lighting

Wine bottles can still be enjoyed once empty, who knew?!!?

Not terribly functional, but these look cute.

I love how this rustic ladder has been used as a light fixutre.

Oar headboard - perfect for boathouse or cottage bedroom.

Shoe ladder as a display - how cute would this be in a shop window?

I see a lot of these baskets in my travels but never quite like this

I picked up this wooden children's potty from the side of the road & decided to use it as a plant holder for the summer.  I'm not too worried if it only lasts one season, it looks cute and didn't cost a penny!

I will be sure to let you know when and how I've recreated my frame into a fabulous display board for my bits and bobs of jewellery.  I will share photos as soon as it's complete!

For more creative ideas, check out my 'Repurposing' board on Pinterest.  If you've done something imaginative with an unusual item, please e-mail me & I will post it to my board to share with others.

Is Re-upholstering worth your while?

In light of 'The Custom Chairity Competition' that Urban Barn is holding, I chose to dedicate a post to reupholstering furniture.  If you've ever considered  giving a face lift to a tired piece of furniture by way of re-upholstery, you'll know that it's not something to be entered into lightly.  Here are some helpful hints I've learned along the way and always consider before undergoing this type of upcycling project whether it be for myself or for a client.

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Reupholstering furniture is a great way to re-invent an item and give it new life, however it can come with a fairly high price tag.  Therefore, it's important to consider whether the piece is actually worthy of being transformed prior to committing yourself and your wallet.  The cost is dependent on the size of the furnishing and how much intricate work, material and detail is required.

These Chippendale side chairs are easy enough to do on your own if you have the time

 The type of material you use is a major consideration, as some fabrics are more suited to certain applications.  The double rub count (surface abrasion) refers to how many times a fabric can be sat on until it gets worn out.  The higher the double rub count, the more durable the material.  Most fabric manufacturers should provide you with information on durability, washability, pilling & more.

This week I viewed the latest releases from Joanne Fabrics. The striking Othello Collection is shown above.

Where possible 'try before you buy' and order fabric samples to see how the material stands up to red wine spills,  pet hair or childrens' sticky fingers.   There's no escaping it, life is full of surprises and accidents can happen.  Being prepared on how to take care of your furnishings is wise, especially when investing hard earned money in your homes' delicious decor.

Don't settle for anything but the best when sourcing for a professional re-upholsterer.  If you can, find  someone that has been highly recommended and see their work - it could save you time and money.  Trust me, I speak from experience! 

This fateuil styled chair (below) had caning under the arms and tufted detail on the cushion when I  purchased it second hand.  The chair cushion was stained and the caning had been damaged but I  loved it anyway and immediately saw its' potential. 

First I sanded and repainted the chairs' frame with Benjamin Moores' CC130 - Ivory White in a satin finish.  As caning is almost impossible to repair I asked the upholsterer to remove it and cover the space between the arms and the seat cushion with my flocked floral fabric. 

I am very pleased with the final result,  but the first upholsterer I took the chair to did not do a good job.   Staples were visible from every angle so I took it to another upholsterer  to have this problem fixed.  I have since found some amazing craftspeople in this trade that I trust & regularly depend upon.  If you have a piece that needs doing contact me and I can obtain a quote for you.
 

For Sale

If you are looking for a specific style of furniture or a unique occasional chair, let me know and I may be able to help you find what your looking for. These antique shell back chairs (above) could do with a fantastic makeover and are currently for sale. Contact me if you are interested.  

Not my taste, but you get the idea of amazing transformations, right?!

To view more upholstered projects by Creating Contrast Designs, see this post on a client's living room makeover.  To Fall in Love with your home again, book a consultation with me and I can help make your dreams for your home a reality.  Visit my website at www.creatingcontrastdesigns.com where you can find all my contact information.

We've all got them, but what can you do with yours??

We all have them.  Items acquired over time that we've bought but never used, nor returned.  Gifts kindly given to us by friends or family that we may not of been particularly fond of or had no use for in the first place.  Before boxing up such items in the basement or selling them in your next garage sale, consider if any of these items in your possession could be upcycled or re-purposed. 

Repurposing -The use of something for a purpose other than its original intended use.

I initially purchased these hooks from Ikea to place in my front hall at a level my kids would be able to hang their own coats on.  In the end I decided against the idea but instead of returning them I placed them in an obsolete drawer never to be seen again.

IKEA COAT HOOKS

A little while later I thought it would be useful if the 'tea station' area in my kitchen had a place where I could hang mugs.  This way the mugs would be easily within reach when needed as well as be decorative on the wall and fill up some negative space.  It was then that I remembered about my IKEA hooks and thought they would be perfect for what I had in mind.

My husband can always find a mug for his morning cuppa!

My next re-purposed item was found when I was backpacking across Europe many moons ago.  If you've ever been to Munich in Germany chances are you visited the Hofbrauhaus. It is a brewery that allows you to enjoy traditional German beer in a great party atmosphere.  When you've finished with your beer you are allowed to keep the large glass stein as a souvenir. 

Tourists flock to this old German brewery. As a backpacker in my twenties, it was awesome!

My stein sat empty on my dresser for a while until I wrapped it up and tucked it away  in the back of my closet for eternity.  Fifteen years later I had this ingenious idea of where I could re-purpose and enjoy my glass stein mug daily...

Perfect utensil holder in the kitchen and quite the conversation piece as well. 

Here's another re-purposed item I use in the bathroom to hold our toothbrushes.

Glass mason jars have many different uses and can be bought second hand for a great price

The latest item that I have repurposed is my pine vanity.  It didn't allow much room for clothes so I moved it to the kitchen where it is much more functional.   

This is so much more functional as a desk and charging station in my kitchen then it ever was as a vanity.

The children do their homework or play games here while I am close by to help them & see what they are up to. Chris checks his footy scores when he comes home from work and I touch base on my e-mail throughout the day.   Although I have considered painting this piece of furniture, it works well with my decor in the natural pine finish so if it ain't broke, don't fix it! (I will however re-upholster the stool in the near future)

When you find yourself on your next organising frenzy and clearing out old boxes hidden away in the garage or up in the attic, think outside the box to see if any of the items can be re-worked into your homes' decor.  If you've already got something that you have repurposed don't keep your ingenious idea to yourself, I would love to hear about it. 

Before and After Pictures

My piece of furniture is done and I love it!  Unfortunately my basement is undergoing some renovations at the moment so it will be a while until I can move it to it's new home.  Here is a picture of my buffet and if you didn't see what it looked like prior to being sprayed, then click here to see the photo.  To see it in my beautifully renovated basement all dressed up and pretty, read this.

I am very pleased with the colour and can't wait to add hardware and dress it up with accessories.

Paint it Like New has done some amazing work and I am dedicating this post to sharing some of my favourite before and after transformations with you.  If you are still hungry to see more once you've read this post, please go to their  website for lots of other pictures that are sure to inspire!

Oak cabinets tend to require an extra coat or two of paint because of the nature of the of the wood.

One of my clients had oak cabinets like this and then had them sprayed CC 130 - Ivory White by Benjamin Moore and it looks fantastic.  The hardware still needs to be chosen but I can tell you that the difference in the overall look of the kitchen is amazing.  Even with Oak cabinets the make over will still look incredible when it's done, just look at this kitchen below!

New back splash & counter top to be installed.  This kitchen will be as good as new for a fraction of the price!

Many people have their kitchen cabinetry painted because it is a quick and cost effective way to beautifully update a kitchen.   Creamy Whites are usually the most frequently requested colours, like Benjamin Moores' cloud white, oxford white or steam - from the affinity collection.

Although when other colours are used such as black or an espresso, they tend to have a more customised look as well as covering up any imperfections better than white can.  Janet especially loves when customers' request to paint something a funky colour too, which leads me to this next item. 

Here is another buffet before being painted.

And here it is after.  How bold and fun!

This bright orange hue for the buffet is risky but it works sensationally with  the wallpaper and I'm sure it is the conversation piece of the entire house! 

These pictures below are of  4 very cool planters that would make a statement in any garden or porch.

I have to admit I kind of like the character of the worn and weathered look, but.....

How fierce do these lions look now?!!

If you have something you are considering having painted to freshen up its' appearance, contact Paint It Like New and Janelle would be more than happy to provide you with a quote.  If you would like to give something new life but don't have anything yourself, check out  Upcycle Furnishings.   You can choose from one of the pieces for sale and pick the colour to best suit your decor.  Here is a previous post on Upcycle furnishings if you are looking for some ideas.

I am very excited to announce that Creating Contrast Designs has teamed up with Paint It Like New to offer the following Christmas promotion:   Simply visit 'Paint It Like New' between November 24th and December 24th and be entered into a draw to win $100 towards your next spray painting project and a two hour Interior Decorating Consultation.  The winner will be drawn on Christmas Eve and will be notified by phone or e-mail.  What a great way to start off the Christmas holidays!

My first Christmas newsletter will also be sent out this week to all my subscribers.  If you haven't subscribed and you don't want to miss out on my 'Top Ten Tips for Home Decor at Christmas' then be sure to subscribe at the top right side of my blog and enter your e-mail address. 

Check out my new piece of furniture!

I wanted to show you a new (but actually old) piece of furniture I recently picked up for myself.  We are currently renovating our basement and I needed a large piece of furniture for the dining area and this fit the bill perfectly! Click here to see what it looks like now it's been painted.

This is my new buffet that is now at Paint It Like New being sanded and re-painted.  Just look at the detail! 

This sideboard will be great storage for items used mainly when entertaining - extra glasses, cutlery, serviettes etc. It will also house our playing cards, cribbage board, darts and other games played with friends and family. 

Although my decor style is mainly transitional-modern pieces, I have been wanting to add some antique items to create more of an eclectic mix for a long time now.  It goes without saying that I will also need to incorporate a few other items of this style so this buffet doesn't look like the 'elephant in the room'.  Click here to see it's transformation.

I have chosen to paint it Barnboard CC572 by Benjamin Moore in the Advance pearl finish.  This will give just enough sheen without making it appear too glossy.  I will have to allow approximately 3 weeks for the paint to cure once it's been applied.  In the past I have made the mistake of getting so excited to place a piece of furniture in a room and add accessories only to find when I later go to move an accessory, it sticks and leaves a mark.  Learn from my mistake and be patient!

Now, don't scroll down just yet!!  For a minute, use your imagination to think how this table could look painted in a different colour.   I love 'before' and 'after' shots, and I hope you'll like this one because it's a beauty! 

I picked up this pedestal table for 'Upcycle Furnishings!' of Paint It Like New. This pine table top was quite beaten up, however I knew it had potential.  A pedestal table never goes out of fashion - a bit like the little black dress one must keep in her closet for any occasion.  See the picture below for the little black table awaiting delivery to it's new home.

Amazing transformation.  Money well spent.

If you wish you had a table just like this, there is still time. Upcycle Furnishings! has another one just waiting to be painted the colour of your choice. It has a unique design to the pedestal and also comes with a leaf to extend the table.  Click on the link above to view this and many other fab finds.

Just imagine the possibilities!  How classy does this look?

It's important to see beyond what 'is' and imagine what 'could be' when dealing with used furnishings.  I understand that sometimes it may be hard to visualise the beauty of a piece that has seen better days, but do your best to try because for the most part it will be worth it in the end.