Giving a new lease on life to those vintage or maybe not so old but drab looking pieces in your home- Part 1

Imbuia Stained Armoire gets washed with a wave of “Napoleonic blue”

When box TV sets are replaced with Plasmas and your nineties 90’s teak Imbuia stained TV Armoire which you used to view your 80’s box TV set is replaced with a plasma stand, why not give your Armoire a revamp and re-purpose it!

Annie Sloan has produced awesome chalk paint – which I’m sure most of you DIY’ers are very familiar with as it’s been on the market a while.  It really is all that!  There are awesome colours to choose from and it sticks like glue to any surface. It’s so easy to use, no previous painting experience required.

Our gorgeous wooden pieces that we love so dearly and will never be able to part with can be given a new lease on life! The ones that as you open their doors, welcome you with cosy, earthly, musty smells arousing feelings of home, a place where peace, nurturing and security live, memories of those early morning forest walks you walked alone while the family was sleeping, listening to the birds singing their happy songs, the sounds of the leaves crushing as you dodge the pine cones fallen from the pine trees, inhaling the forest mustiness revitalising your being centering you for your week ahead.

Their presence brings an earthliness, the energy of nourishment, stability, togetherness, caring and support to our indoor living spaces. To work with the coastal, mediterranean palette in this space I have applied Annie Sloan’s paint colour “Napoleonic blue” and Annie Sloan’s clear wax to this piece. 

Why not utilise the inside of the Armoire for storage space of spare comforters and scatters during those winter months where the dark, woolly, fluffy scatters have taken their place on your sofa. From top to bottom, these scatters were purchased during Autumn 2017, from woolworths.co.za; coricraft.co.za;thefabrichouse.co.za and the paisley scatter from loadsofliving.co.za is a very old purchase). 

The top is styled with books accentuating the colours in the living space. My idea of a mediterranean palette screams terracotta pots and deep dark vibrant blues and whites, so I have added a terracotta pot with a water wise succulent commonly known as a Mother-of-pearl or Ghost plant.

I think of it as a “desert rose” because of its beautiful wild appearance of a cluster of roses. I have placed a distressed oceanic green picture frame with a black and white photo picking up the colours in the large Clock centred on top leaning against the wall, and a Buddhist statue to remind you to spend time alone and make that appointment with peace. Of course red geraniums are even more appropriate to style the Armoire with when in season.

       

Happy decorating!

XOXO

Nats