Tea station improvement

Due to very high temperatures during summer tea or herbal teas are definitely not an option! However fall is now arriving to the Spanish coast and a cup of tea is now OK for me around 5pm. 
I use to store my tea and herbal tea bags in the same place: a very simple but functional tea box. I remember painting it white a few years ago. 
While checking my monthly tea supplies I realized I could improve a little bit this sad off white color with a few details so I started a real tea station improvement. 

Line and repurpose a vintage suitcase

Since I am using my craft space more often I have decided to gather craft tools and get the place better organized. I thought about this charming vintage suitcase which has been above the library for a long time. My mother used to pack my belongings on week-end campgrounds when I was a child so my name is still in it!

My first intention was to line it so I checked a few ideas on Pinterest (click here to see my board): what to transform, ripping out old lining, lining again, organizing sections with fabrics, painting the outside, blah, blah, blah... I was a bit confused and it took me one night to think about it... 

Customized coastal decor

Hi there, how are you guys doing? I hope you are great! 
This is a very simple DIY that could be used as a decor item in the house or a handmade gift for someone.

About 8 years ago I brought two starfishes in my suitcase when we were back from South Beach, FL. We actually live on one of the Spanish coast and starfishes are probably all over here too so I don't remember why was I so determined to take them back with me but I did. I have always been interested about local items wherever I go so it's probably the reason... Anyway these two starfishes have been standing in a wicker basket in my main bathroom since then so I thought they could be perfectly used as a coastal decor.

Ongoing project: line and upcycle a vintage suitcase

Project completed here.

This is the next project I have to do: line and repurpose this wonderful family vintage suitcase! I am very excited about this as this beautiful piece has been in our family since ever. 
The shape is perfect outside and not so bad inside, just need some fresh air and slight makeover; this is why I have decided to line it and turn it into a great craft supplies storage!

Spray painting project

I have a very short experience with spray painting. 

Years ago I sprayed a wicker chair and the result is still fine as it has been exposed to weather since then and is still protected.

My toys trunk

When I mentioned how many trunks we have at home I was not joking: the one for the books, the one I lined, the luggage one… I have plenty of them and they are all in use.

From kitchen cabinet door to customized tray

Hello!

Last June I published all I could find from trash container and some of the pieces I reused to improve my outdoor entrance decor; click here if you missed it. 

My MMSMP experience

Hi there,

I would like to share with you today my very first experience with MMSMP. 

Skateboard ramps

Hi! 

A friend of us recently could get great skateboard ramps for his kid; they are made of reclaimed wood planks from a construction site. The design is just fine! 

The planks were coming from rubble materials so you can imagine dust and concrete leftover was part of them... It was quite difficult to move them as there was no handling system at all. 
I once asked the child if he wanted me to paint and bring some colorful touch on his ramps; he agreed and asked me to paint a very famous logo on them! 

We started this project organizing a huge cleaning with water pressure and let dry overnight. I sanded, plastered and primored the whole surface to paint. I also re-used some hangers I had from my kitchen makeover and screwed them on the same side. Painting stripes and colors divisions was the funny part of the project! 

You can see the skateboard ramps are definitely in use now; check out result in images...

Guest bedroom makeover

Hi there!

My guest bedroom is eventually finished! I explained the multiples changes I wanted to make in my previous post. Walls color and a very few little decor items gave a great result. I realize how true "less is more" is. 

Customized headboards

Before taking any step in my guest bedroom makeover project, I had to think about new headboards. The one I used so far was an upholstered one rescued from our king size bed in our master bedroom. To fit the twin beds in it I couldn't split them so I put two nightstands on both sides and it worked that way! 
I wanted to create two headboards of my choice and customize them so I finally decided these two options: 

Headboard nº 1: from pallet planks

Ongoing project: guest bedroom makeover

See completed project here

Renovating my guest bedroom is in my mind since a very long time... 
A long time ago I painted two wall sections brown chocolate and I loved it! Over the years I did change my tastes and I now definitely want an extreme makeover in this room. I want light and brightness all over the room. I also want to change the self-made shelves I have fixed between the chimney conduit wall. 

This is the TO DO list for this project: 
- paint wall and ceiling, probably white
- paint outdoor window and frame, light color too
- paint curtains rail, light color too
- replace existing headboard creating and customizing two of them
- add a TV console
- general decor makeover

This is the current look:

Anne

Holiday 2015

Happy summer to all!! 

Anne

Upcycling mirror

Hello!! 

One of the upcycling project from my last trash-to-treasure trip is now done! I am talking about the wonderful mirror I mentioned on this post. 
Remember? It was a nice and red beveled edge mirror in a very good shape. I did experience the Annie Sloan chalk paint colorways with white and dard wax patine on the top. I am now so happy about the result even though I wasn't at the beginning... Well in fact I was pretty scared with all that mixed colors giving an untidy and no-sense result! However I increased a few tones and the wax made the rest. 
The mirror is now fixed on the guest toilet wall besides a little spice container I have since ever and on which I applied the same technique. 

Check out my Pinterest board for more color ways ideas: click!

Upcycling outdoor entryway

My entrance door was looking miserable. I didn’t really take care of it for ages and I actually don’t know why because it’s the first thing you see when you get into a place. Anyway I decided to seriously deal with it and turned it into something magnificent and welcoming.

BEFORE

From trash to treasure!

This is exactly what I maintain many times when I am asked about my repurposed pieces: "From trash to treasure".
In fact this is a thanking post to all people getting rid off their old-fashioned furniture and junk stuff! 

Building works are probably carried out in my neigbourhood as I rencently found a big-time stuff when I went to throw my trash away: I could not take everything with me but I could choose the items I liked the most, ie: large vintage mirror, 4 kitchen cabinet doors, a not-in-very-good-shape Ikea stool and a lamp! I know I can do something nice with them. I came back the following day and there was another mirror, older than the other one and probably made in India... Treasures... 

Updating blog settings

Hi everyone, I am currently updating and improving my blog settings so a few posts might not be visible. I apologize for the inconveniences.

 

My own milk paint

I recently made my own milk paint.
I selected the tutorial I liked the best (click) and I just did it. 

My workshop

This is my lovely workshop! Somewhere on the outdoor porch, somewhere on the dining table, my workshop could be anywhere... My husband loves photography and takes great shots when I am in the middle of a project, especially with paint. To see progress on the workshop makeover, please scroll down to the end and check last pictures scrolling up!
I will be updating with more pictures. Enjoy...

September 2015

Great new @ my workshop!

Last April many articles in the hardware store I buy from were promoted at great prices and I bought a mitre saw. I have been cutting dozen of reclaimed wood pieces and pallets planks to get some practice so I now have a huge amount of them and re-use them for any recycling wood project I have in mind. 

This is what I used to cut with my compass saw... The cuts are now much more precise!

June 2015

A while ago, I decided to customize all my painting pots and had my logo stuck on them so don't be surprised if you see the vintage car on every pot! 

May 2015

Till May 2015

This family piece of furniture is actually my nº1 paint and tools storage; I don't know what could I do without it... I store every single piece of my hardware, wax and painting stuff in it. This is the BEFORE picture. As everything is on the outdoor terrace I decided to makeover the entire wall turning this space into a warm and cosy creative area. 

Anne