Transported to scandanavia with a lick a Annie Sloan

Granny Grants ball and claw imbuia showcase carries vibrations which transport me to how I imagine living as a women in the French or Italian countryside as a domestic goddess would feel. I inhale the woody mustiness and feel the memories of many family gatherings and celebrations after as I store her vintage floral antique crockery in the bottom storage cabinet.

 (Before) In Duck egg blue styled in a girls bedroom space

My grandmother on my Mother's side was Dorreen De Thene,she also referred to herself as "Granny Grant". We named her "Momma". My Gran on my fathers side was named, Marie Rita Valley whom we nick named "Gagga", they were both of French descent, so undoubtedly I think its safe to assume that my attraction to the french language, their passion for fashion, style, accessories, decor, vintage architecture, french women's elegance, sensuality, passion for chocolate and cheese, is due to my genetic make up. 

A pic of my mother Maureen and Dorreen on my mothers wedding day. (with this showcase in the background).

Beautiful Dorreen De Thene (Granny Grant) on her wedding day.

The lovely Marie Rita Valley.

Of course I would have to say that I think my mother Maureen was a beautiful women who dressed elegantly, carried herself well, loved interior decor, was a domestic goddess, and entertained with style. She took after my Gran who was always embellishing something, knitting, sewing, she was always creating something, baking, making lampshades, painting furniture, upholstering chairs in her favorite fabric. She was so chuffed that she won a prize for her gorgeous embroidered piece of tapestry of a Spanish women.

A pic in our lounge of us dressed up at a family dinner party. (from left to right- my Mother, Granny Grant, my sister, Shelley- striking a pose :)hahaha!,and myself). My sister reminds me that Granny Grant would always inspire us all to dress up at any opportunity that presented itself.

A pic of Gagga, my dad,Sydney and my Mom (preggie with Shell)in the bohemian styled lounge. In this pic I spotted our similar eye for colour combining,interior decor and styling.

I wish with every cell in my body that I could have shared more years with you both for you to impart more of your creative Magic and be privy to you sharing in my journey of creative discovery!

Lest not forget that i was blessed to have had eight years of you- mwah mwah mwah!!!!! 

Momma sadly got to the age where she needed full time nursing care and could'nt take her gorgeous piece with her so she entrusted me with it and passed it on to me - thank you "Momma".

 I decided after 7 years of duck egg blue that its time to transform her by applying Annie Sloan's black chalk paint to the outside and contrasted with white in the inside to give it a Scandanavian look thats clean, fresh, strong, mature and classy. I love how it turned out.

To get the paint off the handles (as I was rather lazy on the previous paint job and just painted over them). I boiled them in a pot of water for about 10 minutes and the paint peeled off with ease as I scrubbed with a scourer.

Restored back to its original brass state

After - Styled with crockery and cutlery and picnic basket ready and waiting for a sunny day to go picnicing in the winelands of our beautiful Western Cape of South Africa, which I am super super ecstatically grateful to be able to call HOME!

Now my next project is to re-upholster this gorgeous pair of 18th century period Louis XVI small side chairs which I bought second hand from a lovely french lady living in Cape Town. 
These were in her family for many years. 

Thank you my dear for parting with these beauties!