Before & after … the journey

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I am continuously working on new items.

I spend a lot of time tracking down items that I love. The major criteria for me is that they have lovely lines - this could be the shape, or a particular set of legs - anything that captures my imagination and gets me thinking "that could look wonderful if I did …"

There is a lot of work that goes into upcycling my lovely objects:

sourcing new items (trade me, garage sales … )
repairs & replacement of anything damaged
finding missing items (draw pulls, screws, etc)
Preparation covers things like
- wire brushing & treating rust
- filling cracks
- gluing & nailing
- sanding
- primer/sealer coat
Painting - chalk paint, spray paint, blackboard paint, test pots (for stenciling), antique paint, washes, Danish oil, stains
Decorating - decoupage, gilding, stripes, stencils ...
Finishing - final protection coat of varnish or wax

But when I see the finished product, it's ALWAYS worth the effort. I hope you think so too.

Karen

Before and after images of some of my projects

dining suite BEFORE

not very inspiring

dining suite - AFTER

got the WOW factor now with a black n white update

Wooden cut out table BEFORE

Cut out table AFTER

now duck egg blue, ready to fit into any room of the house.

oak chair BEFORE

Uninspiring pad, and the wood very scratched - but I liked the simple lines

Oak chair - AFTER

Given a fresh new look in black and white. So much nicer

Chest of drawers - BEFORE

Very dated and ugly looking - but sound

Chest of Drawers - AFTER

Everything painted inside and out, with modern drawer pulls. What a difference

Round table ~ BEFORE

Very drab and unexciting with zero personality

Round table ~ after

dark grey on top and legs, light grey on outside of shelf unit, and a pop of yellow on the inside. Beautiful

before ~ pine table n chairs

A sturdy set with nice lines, but soooo much brown!

After ~ pine table n chairs

Refreshed with a duck egg blue paint, table top has a white rim and a coat of white wash. So much nicer

wooden coffee table - BEFORE

Nice lines, but in need of upcycling in the worst way

wooden coffee table - AFTER

upcycled in three pastel shades of chalk paint, stenciled & varnished. WOW

before ~ comode chair

an icky orange varnish, with staples and Velcro, not to mention the usual bumps & scratches

After ~ commode chair

now painted a beautiful shade of grey/green with a matching cushion. This is a chair that makes a statement!

before ~ hall table

A much loved family piece looking very sad and shaky (courtesy of the CHC earthquake, and years of use)

After ~ hall table

I now call this the 'Sunshine Hall table' - brightened up considerably with a soft yellow colour, and the brass drawer pull polished up and gleaming.

before - nest of tables

not in the best of shapes, as you can see in this image

after - nest of tables

with a lot of sanding and filling, a coat of 'zinnser' to seal the wood and 2 coats of Upcycled & Co. duck egg paint, this is now living up to its potential again.

before ~ chair

This chair had lovely lines, but was a bit dinged, scraped and just drab, drab .. did I mention drab?

after ~ chair

amazing what a couple of coats of Upcycling & Co. Ash paint, and some lovely new linen can do. Now it is a stunning bedroom or desk chair.

Before - coffee table

This lovely item had been languishing in the garage for the last 10 years, and used for 'Beer Pong'. Quite scratched and dinged.

after - coffee table

What a transformation in two tones of grey chalk paint (multiple layers on the top which I sanded back for a distressed look and varnished for extra protection).

dining suite BEFORE

not very inspiring

dining suite - AFTER

got the WOW factor now with a black n white update

Wooden cut out table BEFORE

Cut out table AFTER

now duck egg blue, ready to fit into any room of the house.

oak chair BEFORE

Uninspiring pad, and the wood very scratched - but I liked the simple lines

Oak chair - AFTER

Given a fresh new look in black and white. So much nicer

Chest of drawers - BEFORE

Very dated and ugly looking - but sound

Chest of Drawers - AFTER

Everything painted inside and out, with modern drawer pulls. What a difference

Round table ~ BEFORE

Very drab and unexciting with zero personality

Round table ~ after

dark grey on top and legs, light grey on outside of shelf unit, and a pop of yellow on the inside. Beautiful

before ~ pine table n chairs

A sturdy set with nice lines, but soooo much brown!

After ~ pine table n chairs

Refreshed with a duck egg blue paint, table top has a white rim and a coat of white wash. So much nicer

wooden coffee table - BEFORE

Nice lines, but in need of upcycling in the worst way

wooden coffee table - AFTER

upcycled in three pastel shades of chalk paint, stenciled & varnished. WOW

before ~ comode chair

an icky orange varnish, with staples and Velcro, not to mention the usual bumps & scratches

After ~ commode chair

now painted a beautiful shade of grey/green with a matching cushion. This is a chair that makes a statement!

before ~ hall table

A much loved family piece looking very sad and shaky (courtesy of the CHC earthquake, and years of use)

After ~ hall table

I now call this the 'Sunshine Hall table' - brightened up considerably with a soft yellow colour, and the brass drawer pull polished up and gleaming.

before - nest of tables

not in the best of shapes, as you can see in this image

after - nest of tables

with a lot of sanding and filling, a coat of 'zinnser' to seal the wood and 2 coats of Upcycled & Co. duck egg paint, this is now living up to its potential again.

before ~ chair

This chair had lovely lines, but was a bit dinged, scraped and just drab, drab .. did I mention drab?

after ~ chair

amazing what a couple of coats of Upcycling & Co. Ash paint, and some lovely new linen can do. Now it is a stunning bedroom or desk chair.

Before - coffee table

This lovely item had been languishing in the garage for the last 10 years, and used for 'Beer Pong'. Quite scratched and dinged.

after - coffee table

What a transformation in two tones of grey chalk paint (multiple layers on the top which I sanded back for a distressed look and varnished for extra protection).

oak chair BEFORE

Uninspiring pad, and the wood very scratched - but I liked the simple lines