I have recently developed an obsession with ugly furniture. The unloved pine sideboard and the dowdy shelves in the charity shop, wouldn't they look so much better with a coat of Chatâu Grey or Antibes Green? As I learned on a recent weekend upholstery course, there is no such thing as dead wood (or metal or plastic for that matter). Customising and upcycling furniture is easier than you might think. The course took place at the Bedruthan Steps Hotel in Cornwall, where, in a sunny workshop overlooking the beach at Mawgan Porth we painted, upholstered and deep-buttoned a footstool, all under the expert and unerringly patient tutelage of the folks from Tresithick Upholstery training. It was the perfect location to learn: no neighbours to complain about the incessant hammering, and the opportunity to watch the waves while the paint dried. What's more, upholstery is an utterly absorbing, occasionally painstaking and almost meditative craft, and ideally suited to the unhurried Cornish pace of life.
It takes time and total concentration to place your tacks right, to slew your hessian straps correctly and to tension your fabric until it pings. The tutors at Tresithick pride themselves on their traditional techniques and students on their longer courses can spend days stitching hessian pads stuffed with hoghair and coconut fibre. We, on the other hand, took a shortcut and used foam pads. They were recycled, mind you. The painting stage, however, required no shortcuts. This part requires minimal time, and more importantly, minimal skill. The only mildly troubling aspect was the colour selection: hours of frowning at a colour chart. We used chalk paints by Annie Sloan, which you can paint straight on to any kind of wood – varnished or unvarnished, metals, plastic, or even the dreaded MDF. No priming or rubbing down is necessary, just pick your colour and slap it on. And if you want to achieve an aged, scuffed look, what the furniture world refers to as French or Swedish (shabby-chic if you must), this is easily done.
You'll need two: one principle colour, and another one underneath. The undercoat will show through on the parts that you sand. There are no rules here, although they should be vaguely complimentary. On our course everyone tried a different combination, some with a darker colour underneath, and they all looked great. I used Annie Sloan chalk paints, with Emile underneath and Paris Grey as the main colour.When using chalk paints you don't need to prime or rub down surfaces first, although you might want to get rid of any old flaky paint. Oh, and you may want to check for woodworm (which is not a worm at all, but a beetle) and treat accordingly before you paint. You might want to pick the areas where scuffing would naturally occur, at the corners and edges. You're about to cover this with another coat of paint so don't forget which bits you have undercoated! It should take about 20 minutes. We had a tea break at this point and watched the Cornish waves, but if you're in a hurry use a hairdryer.
Experiment with different brush strokes to create texture. I tried swirling and stippling on my footstool and liked the effect. Once this is dry (more tea), apply a coat of soft clear wax with a soft, lint-free cloth. This seals and protects the paint. Take a piece of medium-grade sandpaper and rub gently on the areas you want to expose, revealing the colour underneath. Don't go overboard here: less is more, and you can always do more later on. Apply more clear wax and leave to dry, preferably overnight to get a good seal. Take a lint-free cloth and buff to give a lovely finish. This part is really satisfying. 10. If you want to give your piece a really aged look you can add dark wax to some areas, and then buff as before.The requested URL /content/westfield-corp/gb/www/products/home-decor/living/coffee-table was not found on this server. Peppa Pig 60cm Plush Includes: 1 x large Peppa Pig Peppa Pig Family Home Playset Open up to reveal lots of rooms and the garden!
Lots of furniture accessories included4 articulated figuresPush Peppa & George on the see-sawRemovable carry handle & free-wheeling carCompatibility: Scaled for play with other Little Characters figures, vehicles & playsets (Each sold separately)Contents: Peppa House with removable Carry Handle, Mummy Figure, Daddy Figure, Peppa figure, George figure, Classic Car, TV, Fridge, Bed, Tree, See-sawBatteries Not Required Peppa Pig's Classroom Playset Styles may varySuitability 3+Contents: Chalkboard, 3 desks and chairs, 5 of Peppa's classmates and Teacher Ms GazelleBatteries not required Peppa Pig Medical Case Packed with all the necessary nursing equipment, your little one will have all the tools they needs to diagnose and cure all of their patientsContents include, Stethoscope, Syringe, Thermometer, Otoscope, Tweezers, Plaster, Medicine bottle, Scissors, Mirror, Nurse Peppa hat.All accessories pack away neatly into the carry case for Nurse Peppa on call!New fun, colourful Peppa Pig design.
Dimensions: 28L X 10W X 23H cmSuitability 3+ 4 Piece Junior Bedding Bundle Peppa Pig Junior Pillow and PillowcaseJunior duvet cover3.5 tog duvetTo fit a Junior/Toddler bed or Cot BedDimensions: 150L X 120W cmStyles may varyThere are several styles available within this assortment and unfortunately it is not possible to request which one you would prefer, so please allow us to pick one on your behalf.Also availlable in Paw Patrol (147364), Mickey Mouse (117866), Thomas (106987), Frozen (137203), Minnie (117142), My Little Pony (152623) Free-wheeling Jet with open up cockpitIncludes articulated Peppa figureFlip-over Miss Rabbit pilot or a seat for Peppa to fly the jet!Open the doors & lower the stairsLoad the suitcase in the baggage compartmentContents: Air Jet, Peppa Pig figure, 2 suitcases Peppa Pig's Bathtime Boat Exclusive articualted figuresFloats on waterSuitable for ages 3+Dimensions: 23L x 15W x 12H cmContents: A boat, a Grandpa Pig figure, a Peppa Pig figure and a George Pig figureBatteries Not Required
Peppa Pig A,B,C and 1,2,3 Puzzles 2 puzzle games totalling 36 puzzles in all0 – 9 Number cards Dimensions: 10.5L x 16W cmA - Z Letter cards Dimensions: 7.7L x 10.5W cmContents: Travel case, 26 large picture cards, 26 letters jigsaw pieces, 10 large numbers picture cards and 10 number jigsaw piecesBatteries Not Required Peppa Picnic Hamper Set Contents: Picnic backet, 4 x teacups, 4 x teaspoons, 4 x saucers, 1 x picnic matSuitable for 3 years +Colours and styles may vary Peppa Pig Foam Floor Puzzle As the puzzle is made completely from EVA foam, it means that as well as puzzling inside it can also be used outside because of the durability of the giant foam pieces - Meaning that these puzzles are not just for a rainy dayDimensions: 90 x 90cmSuitability 3+ Peppa Pig Princess Peppa's Carriage Free-wheeling carriageIncludes 2 articulated figures with moving arms & legsCarriage roof lifts up!There's a royal throne insideScaled for play with other Little Characters figures and playsetsContents: Free-wheeling carriage & horses, Princess Peppa figure, Coachman George figure