Last weekend I embarked on a marvellous all day workshop in furniture painting techniques at The Good Life Centre in Southwark, London which taught us a range of tricks on updating tired and unloved pieces of furniture. We were offered insider tips on stripping paint, filling, sanding, priming, how to apply the paint and all the best products to use, not forgetting the Rolls Royce of paintbrushes – Purdys! As well as some shabby chic furniture distressing, we played around with chalk paints and scumble glaze. The results of the wood grain effect tool we were all particularly astounded by, not to mention the crackle glaze and the quite literally life-changing Mod Podge which allows you to transfer an image of anything onto wood extremely easily – everyone needs to know about it. The Good Life Centre do all sorts of brilliant upcycling related courses ranging from furniture upholstery to lamp making, see their website for more info.
Images via The Good Life Centre