Midlife Loves

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Midlife Loves

Back To Routine, WIWT & A Spot Of Furniture Renovation!

Back to it this morning & the grind of the school run not to mention the trials of waking & getting a teenager up & out for school on time!!  Still a nice short half term - only 5 weeks till the Easter hols whoop whoop :-)

Now before I post my picture of today's outfit I've had quite a few people ask me to post some pictures of the furniture I bought last weekend at the antiques market but as I hadn't planned on doing this I've only got a 'before' piccie of the one piece of furniture but it will give you an idea.

So first up this is the solid wood Ercol corner unit that we managed to snag for the princely sum of £18!!!  You can imagine how chuffed I was with this bargain - although hubby wasn't quite as chuffed when it came to fitting into the car & spending 5 minutes trying to get into the driver's seat & get his legs under the steering wheel not to mention having to drive home with his forehead practically touching the windscreen - still all fun & it certainly gave our son & I plenty of giggles ;-)




I really love the shabby chic style so we've literally just washed the unit down with sugar soap, left it to dry & then applied two coats of chalk paint (we use Autentico Vintage Chalk Paint in Antique White) then  lightly sand the edges & detailing for a distressed feel & finish with a layer of their furniture wax which we paint on with a brush (a bit like varnish).




And here's the finished piece!




We also managed to pick up this floor lamp for £15 & a brand new still in the wrapper lampshade for £3!  Again a bit of paint, sanding & waxing & here's the finished light.




I'm absolutely delighted with both pieces not to mention the stunning serving silverware & china we managed to get.  The date for the next fair is already in the diary so hubby is practising his contortion techniques as we speak ;-)

So back to today & I'm pattern clashing with stripes, leopard print, a denim shirt & a pop of red!




Jumper - Zara
Denim Shirt - Zara
Bag - Zara
Trousers - Zara
Slip Ons - Boden


Stripes, Leopard Print & A Denim Shirt


Jumper - Mango £34.99
Denim Shirt - Mango £44.99
Bag - Next £24
Trousers - Mango £29.99
Slip Ons - Boden £69


So does anyone else like  hunting bargains at antique fairs & doing a spot of DIY?  I'd love to hear if you do.

Hope everyone's managed the school run without too much stress & hassle & not forgotten lunch boxes or PE kits!   Have a great Monday & see you in the morning.

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20 comments

  1. Oops, just lost a comment so I'll try again!! I love a bit of furniture restoration, and you've done a brilliant job here. I bet it's cost you a fraction of the price a swanky boutique would charge too. Well done xx

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    1. Thanks Porcelain & yes it's certainly a much cheaper option!
      Jane xx

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  2. Oh I love your furniture make over, you clever thing! I have just done our coffee table and TV cabinet in Anne Sloan french linen. Also love your outfit day, perfect combo for me, stripes, red and leopard. School run went well xx

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    1. Glad the school run went well Annmarie, it's always hard getting back into the routine isn't it?!
      I love transforming furniture & moving it all around the house - much to hubby's delight ;-)
      Jane xx

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  3. Hi Jane....fab painting work! I did some pieces for our bedroom with Annie Sloan last year and love how it changes ordinary wood into vintage looking pieces! Enjoy your week:)
    ~Anne xx

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    1. Thanks Anne, it's a brilliant way of up-cycling isn't it & it really does transform the items.
      Have a fab week too :-)
      Jane xx

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  4. Wow Jane! Thanks so much for posting details of your furniture restoration. Brilliant finds! I have always wanted to try (but never had the courage) to attempt to restore anything, but you have inspired me with the beautiful transformation of both pieces - they look amazing. I hope interiors will feature in your blog more regularly! Really love your taste in clothes and interior design. Great outfit by the way. Here's to a fab week. xx

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    1. Hi & thank you for such a lovely comment. It really is very simple, I just get impatient waiting for the paint to dry in between coats lol! Just sand very lightly as you can always take more off as opposed to have to repaint if you've taken too much off. We generally do the edges first & then decide where else to distress.
      Hope this helps & let me know how you get on.
      Jane xx

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  5. Fab outfit, live the pop of colour on the bag :)

    Your unit looks great, how is the Autentico in comparison to Annie Sloan (if you've used that?). I only ever use AS but there are so many more colours in the Autentico range & I have a LOT of furniture to restore!! X

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    1. Sarah I've found my red bag so useful for bringing outfits to life since buying it last summer I'd be lost without it now.
      As for the paint I've not used Annie Sloan but would presume it's pretty similar?! The Autentico paint was recommend to us & we've been really pleased with it plus they also do different ranges for different effects too. Good luck with all the restoring!
      Jane xx

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  6. Jane I think you have missed your vocation! What an amazing job you have made of your acquisitions! Today's outfit is looking gorgeous too! xx

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    1. Aww thanks my lovely, I'm forever thinking of different things to try & do - think it drives my hubby mad lol!
      Jane xx

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  7. I Love seeing glimpses of your beautiful home so this post is fab! Please write more like this, Jane I love what you did to both pieces. The shabby chic look is so pretty. Great outfit too! Lynne xx

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    1. Aww thanks Lynne, I will try & do some more soon.
      Jane xx

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  8. Great outfit Jane,I love your red bag. Wow! I'm seriously impressed with you up-cycling skills, I haven't done any furniture painting but I have a piece that is begging to be done, thanks for the inspiration. I'm off to google that brand of paint as I've not heard of it xx

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    1. Thanks Sue & the painting really is nice & simple - I just wish paint dried quicker lol!
      Jane xx

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  9. You put me to shame, Jane, I did once try to upcycle a chest of drawers with a crackle effect, but it ended up looking like it had come off the set of a horror movie. All it needed was a few cobwebs draped artfully over it! I think you either have the magic touch, or you haven't - you have and I definitely haven't! ;-)

    Becky xx

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    1. Becky I'm sure it looked great but I've not tried the crackle effect - painting & a little sanding is a lot easier......you should give it another go!
      Jane xx

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  10. Look forward to your posts, do you mind me asking where the antique fayre is held?

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    1. Thanks Nikki. The antique fairs are held at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern with the next one next Sunday if you fancy it ;-)
      Jane xx

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