We becoming increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability, and upcycling is emerging as a shining star. This creative and environmentally-friendly practice is all about transforming discarded items into new, valuable pieces. But upcycling offers far more than just a way to reduce waste; it comes with a multitude of benefits. In this article, we'll explore the myriad advantages of upcycling. 1. Environmental Impact Upcycling is a powerful weapon against the growing problem of waste. By repurposing items that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators, we reduce the strain o ..read more

Upcycling really is easy and great fun. But, being aware of these five pitfalls will make your project run smoothly from start to finish.  Many of the people I teach (in-person and online) in my Furniture Paint 101 workshops discover how easy it is when they practised during the class. What I hear most is the people have procrastinated for so long due to fear, and then, like me, they discover that it's way easier than they thought. Today I wanted to share five tips related to common fears people have to help you get started. 1. Reducing overwhelmIt can be really inspiring to see ..read more

You may have seen our Pukekohe rental property renovation on my social media these past few weeks.  It's been a fun project! From choosing the colours, to getting out from behind by desk again, I've loved every minute of it.  I think it's around 15 years since we've undertaken a project like this and I'd forgotten how rewarding it is. Here's how you can achieve this look: 1.  Lightly sand walls and woodwork and fill any imperfections. 2. Clean thoroughly to remove all dust. 3. Apply Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint to all surfaces (skirtings, walls, doors and handles). 4. Ch ..read more

We becoming increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability, and upcycling is emerging as a shining star. This creative and environmentally-friendly practice is all about transforming discarded items into new, valuable pieces. But upcycling offers far more than just a way to reduce waste; it comes with a multitude of benefits. In this article, we'll explore the myriad advantages of upcycling. 1. Environmental Impact Upcycling is a powerful weapon against the growing problem of waste. By repurposing items that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators, we reduce the strain o ..read more

You may have seen our Pukekohe rental property renovation on my social media these past few weeks.  It's been a fun project! From choosing the colours, to getting out from behind by desk again, I've loved every minute of it.  I think it's around 15 years since we've undertaken a project like this and I'd forgotten how rewarding it is. Here's how you can achieve this look: 1.  Lightly sand walls and woodwork and fill any imperfections. 2. Clean thoroughly to remove all dust. 3. Apply Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint to all surfaces (skirtings, walls, doors and handles). 4. Ch ..read more

My students and customers often ask me, What colour do you think I should paint my bookshelf/coffee table/dining suite? Without seeing their decor, it's difficult to give advice, however there are some questions I ask to help them decide.  The first question I ask is, What colours do you have in the room already?, and the second is, What colours do you like? These two questions form the basis of our conversation, then I talk them through the following points. ​ Here are a few tips for choosing a colour to paint your furniture. Take your time. Try not to rush into choosing ..read more

It's been a while since we added colours to our range, so this Spring we will be adding several. From left to right we now have Moss, Off White, Sage and Sand. After some months of research, testing and asking you, our amazing followers, we are now launching the first one. This colour is a beautiful soft caramel beige which we have named Sand. It complements our natural range beautifully. As always, you can purchase this colour in a 1 Litre tin or a 90ml test pot.  ​ Keep an eye out for more new colours in September.  ..read more

My students and customers often ask me, What colour do you think I should paint my bookshelf/coffee table/dining suite? Without seeing their decor, it's difficult to give advice, however there are some questions I ask to help them decide.  The first question I ask is, What colours do you have in the room already?, and the second is, What colours do you like? These two questions form the basis of our conversation, then I talk them through the following points. ​ Here are a few tips for choosing a colour to paint your furniture. Take your time. Try not to rush into choosing ..read more

It's been a while since we added colours to our range, so this Spring we will be adding several. From left to right we now have Moss, Off White, Sage and Sand. After some months of research, testing and asking you, our amazing followers, we are now launching the first one. This colour is a beautiful soft caramel beige which we have named Sand. It complements our natural range beautifully. As always, you can purchase this colour in a 1 Litre tin or a 90ml test pot.  ​ Keep an eye out for more new colours in September.  ..read more

My students and customers often ask me, What colour do you think I should paint my bookshelf/coffee table/dining suite? Without seeing their decor, it's difficult to give advice, however there are some questions I ask to help them decide.  The first question I ask is, What colours do you have in the room already?, and the second is, What colours do you like? These two questions form the basis of our conversation, then I talk them through the following points. ​ Here are a few tips for choosing a colour to paint your furniture. Take your time. Try not to rush into choosing ..read more