For this month’s newsletter we have taken our inspiration from the current popularity of crafts and “upcycling” as seen for example in TV programmes such as Kirstie’s Fill Your House for Free. Upcycling is a form of recycling in that items are given a fresh purpose rather than going to waste. This could include altering clothes, creating new items from fabric or making over pieces of furniture. Not only does this mean that something that might have gone to landfill doesn’t but the item is given a new lease of life and you feel that sense of satisfaction that comes from having created something. It means that you can end up with something that is unique and meets your exact requirements and to your taste.

In the home, upcycling could involve re-purposing a piece of furniture or creating cushion covers out of an old pair of curtains. The above photos show a pair of bedside cabinets. The pine cabinets were purchased from ebay and were ideally suited to being given a facelift to suit the room they were intended for.

To start, the cabinets were cleaned and rubbed down with sandpaper to ensure a smooth finish. The feet, doors and knobs were removed for ease of painting. The paint chosen was Farrow & Ball’s No 17 Light Gray estate eggshell in conjunction with mid-tones undercoat.

One coat of undercoat was applied followed by two coats of the eggshell allowing sufficient time for drying between coats. The finished results are much more in keeping with the décor of the room and provide an elegant piece of furniture at a fraction of the cost of buying new. When undertaking any project for the first time, whether sewing or painting furniture, it is always a good idea to choose something small and simple to build confidence. You never know you might find it addictive!

For advice on any aspect of Interior design, presenting a property for sale or home staging contact us via email at info@homestyle4u.com call us on 07745 876182 or complete the enquiry form on our contact us page.

The joys of upcycling