You can add a lot of character if you paint a wood stool. Here’s how to use an interesting design to create a one-off, statement piece. An interesting way to paint a wood stool The piece A customer bought this quirky stool from another trader at Homemade at The Barn. Then they asked me to…
The top 10 blog posts of the year. The posts that have captured imaginations, prompted comments and even occasionally caused anger. This list is based on the posts that have been read the most. By subscribers, regular readers or the casual pop-by-er. You may see some on this list that you haven’t seen before. I’d…
Small Business Saturday was created to support small businesses after Black Friday. Here are some talented artisans at Homemade at The Barn. Some large businesses inflate their prices throughout the year so they can offer ‘discounts’ on Black Friday. Small businesses often don’t and they lose out. So, I’m showcasing a few of the talented…
A small table is a low risk way to start upcycling. Here’s how to make over a small side table with a golden wow factor. They’re small so don’t use a lot of paint. Often have straightforward shapes so won’t need fancy tools or brushes. And will hopefully be quick so you can see if…
It can be so easy to give a new look to a bookshelf. This makeover explains the best way to paint pine bookshelves. Bookshelves are great sellers for me. They’re also a good starting piece for a new upcycler as the shape is quite basic. My recent decoupaged bookshelf sold within a week and another…
Here’s how to paint and upcycle a pine chest of drawers rather than adding it to landfill when it no longer fits your style. When it’s time for a new look, painting is a great way to upcycle it. A pine chest of drawers is a popular piece of furniture. They’re solid, sturdier than MDF…
If you stain imperfect wood that has cracks or oil spots, it won’t ever look good. These tips will fix the issues and help make it beautiful. Can you stain imperfect wood? Yes, you can. Sometimes wood has issues like marks or cracks on it. And the only solution is to paint it. Or far…
Have a children’s globe you want to upcycle? Here’s how to take it from a toy to a pretty piece of decor, in 5 easy steps. Globes are a lovely thing for kids to have. They’re fun to spin and there’s always somewhere new to discover. But once you get older, a colourful map is…
White wax on furniture creates a faded or whitewashed look over paint or natural wood. It’s a simple process and can have a dramatic impact. My friend, Katherine, asked if I would like this mirror before she put it on Freecycle. Of course, I said yes because it had pretty details and I thought it…
Want to know what to buy to start upcycling? Here are the 5 products you need to start upcycling furniture and recommendations for each. I see people say all the time “I’d love to start upcycling. Tell me everything I should buy.” But telling someone what to buy doesn’t work. We don’t all have the…