Some would call it upcycling, but I’m not really changing it in to anything new, I’m making it modern and on trend with what’s on sale in the shops at the moment, so I’m calling my latest venture Refashioning Furniture!
This is a picture heavy post, so will be easy on the eye if you’re reading this with your feet up and a glass of wine. I’m currently typing as quick as I can hoping to finish this post before my break finishes!
Here’s what the living room looked like after a lick of paint. Walls are Elephants Breath and the woodwork is Satin Slipper from Farrow & Ball:
The largest new sofa will be going against the chimney breast covering the small alcove, but I wanted to keep the small cupboard as its where I store my photo albums. I don’t like them hidden away in the loft!
This was the first thing that got a new lease of life. I used Rustoleum chalk paint in Coco, just one coat, and then gave it one coat of their wax.
The next piece is an oak bookcase from our old house Where we lived over 12 years ago. It’s been stored at my mum in laws. The colour really didn’t go so we bought a tin of grey coloured satin finish varnish. I love how this has turned out!
Oops! Major spillage!!
But it was all ok in the end, just wasted 1/3 of the tin!
I painted the bottom with the chalky coco coloured paint:
I was really getting into the swing of things and spotted a nest of table when I went for a lady who’d fallen in a local charity shop (when I was working!). I went back on my day off and came home with these dark wooden tables for £15. I bought a sander on my way home. Apparently we have one in the garage but not sure if I’d have found it!
The little pine table I’ve had for several years but it was in need of some TLC.
Initially i gave the nesting tables 1 coat of white chalky paint after giving just the top a coat of the Coco colour.
I gave the old picture frames a coat of the white at the same time.
Whilst it was drying the pine table had a coat of grey varnish and the top painted with the chalky coco paint.
Then the legs of the nesting tables had a coat of grey. The tops have had a coat of wax but not the legs. I’m still undecided if I should try and distress them so will hang fire with the wax until I’m 100% sure.
Hope I’ve inspired you to give some old furniture a new lease of life! My living room’s not finished yet, cushionss to make and blinds to buy. Plus I still need a TV cabinet, and other niceties to make it homely.
A major improvement wouldn’t you say!? 
My crocheted blanket, which is a long time WIP, looks fab on my ‘love seat’. I’ve bought 4 more balls of wool since taking this photo and managing to do a little every day.
Here’s a before and after shot of the photo frames:
These were really simple. A coat of white, the randomly painted with grey, just a bit at a time, until I was happy with the finish. Then added a coat of wax. Love it!!
Hopefully in the next week or 2 it will all be fully finished and you be able to see a photo of me sat on the couch with my feet up!
T H I M B E R L I N A 
Fabulous work, Ali! Am so impressed with your work, and your creative use of colours, paint & stain. Am drooling over your nested tables. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks Del! Me too! Don’t think I’d have found anything that would go as well, even if money was no object 😀
You have been busy. I think you’re wise to hold off with the distressing for a bit just so you can live with the little tables as they are and see if that’s the look you want to go for. It’s easy to buy up the chalk paint and go a bit mad with everything in sight – ask me how I know this – but you have done some nice, subtle ‘refashionings’ here and it all goes so well with your F & B colour scheme. Love your big windows!
Thanks, i did have that feeling that I wanted to paint everything and had to rein myself in! I’m thinking well stay with the solid grey legs, and maybe I won’t wax at all.
WOW. A woman of many talents! I want to come round!
Do! I’ll put the kettle on! Shame your so far away 😕
Lol it’d be rather cold by the time I get there!
Fantastic! I love the results. I must say that I was a little dubious at first at the 80’s nesting tables but the paint really transformed them! We need to do our upstairs lounge next year and your post gave me lots of ideas, thank you. I particularly loved the result of the little pine table, it brings out the carved detail wonderfully.
Thanks Natalie, sometimes the planning stage is as exciting as actually doing it! The Rustoleum range has some great production for changing the look of furniture & other bits & bobs. I’ve found Homebase has the best choice of the range. Can’t wait to see what you do! 😀
They look so cool!
Thanks! 😀
I have chalky paint too and can’t wait to dive in now that I see the results you achieved! I love it!
Super impressive – a real transformation!
Oh, well done! These all look great, time well spent on some impressive transformations 🙂
Beautiful! The result is fantastic. I’ve got a couple of pieces that need restoring but I HATE sanding & painting. Wanna do mine??
Oh it all looks fab! Mind, glad I didn’t call round…think you would have painted me as well!! Lol
Brilliant job – it’s all coming together nicely! I’ll admit to being an F&B addict; it’s everywhere in our house. A colourful crochet cushion or two would top it all off perfectly:)