Countdown - Ten Most Popular Poppyseed Makeovers for 2015 - #9

In 9th spot sits this three toned tallboy dresser with scalloped color transition. Good choice for someone who loves bright and cheerful colors in limited quantities.

Countdown - Ten Most Popular Poppyseed Makeovers for 2015 - #10

Starting the countdown towards 2016 with 10 most popular Poppyseed makeovers for 2015 as voted by my ‪#‎Instagram‬ followers. In 10th place is (my personal favorite) this decoupaged night stand done in a technique that I tried out for the first time this year and that turns "unattractive art" into home decor statement. This type of furniture piece does not have to match existing decor, it is a stand-alone conversation starter. 
Find it on Etsy and on the Poppyseed Website.

Marigold Yellow Sideboard

For this sideboard I chose Marigold yellow in milk paint formula. I love this colour and though it would bring this piece to life. I have worked with with milk paint in the past and and rarely had any issues with it. This was the first time that just after I thought the job was done the paint flaked off the top, both drawers and the side doors. Milk paint can not be removed with paint strippers so easily so I literally had to use force, scrape and sand until all loose paint particles were removed. All this effort was well worth it, so much so that the piece already stole the heart of one of my existing customers and will be in her new home by week's end.

A Different Kind of Photo Shoot

The weather was beautiful this past weekend here in Toronto so to capitalize on the opportunity I took this little nugget to the beach to try out something new, a photoshoot out in the open. Even though working outside, surrounded by lots of people and in a new environment had its own challenges, I found it fun and rewarding. There was no need for extra staging as the nature offered everything and more to allow this piece to shine. If you have a minute, drop me a line and let me know how you feel about it, do you prefer it to the traditional indoors shoots or should I attempt to get more of my pieces out in the nature?

Painter in Residence - First Reveal

If you haven't read previous posts, here is a little intro on this project. I have recently been selected as one of Annie Sloan's (inventor behind Chalk Paint) to be one of her painters in residence. The program was focused around making over four pieces of furniture over the course of three months and Annie was going to do the reveal through her social media outlets.

My previous posts gives hints of what the audience is about to see in the coming weeks, but this little green piece is the first one to go through the complete reveal.

This cabinet came from a friend of mine who asked me to give this tired piece of furniture a make-over. The cabinet was scratched and beaten and did not suite the style of my friend's house. I was given free reign to work with any technique or style as long as the base colour was green.

I chose to work with traditional and sophisticated palette of Olive, Versailles and Country Grey and created a gradient colour effect by applying the darkest colour - Olive_ to the top section of the cabinet, working down to Versailles and then Country Grey. To add a modern touch I used scallop shaped masking tape to create an interesting border where tow colours met.

Inside the cabinet I used Graphite, which is both neutral and dramatic. I then finished the piece with a coat of Annie Sloan's Clear Soft Wax.

I am Annie Sloan's Painter in Residence

"Hi, my name is Jelena and I live in Toronto, Canada but my life story started in Croatia. Growing up, I never thought that I would end up working as an artist and believed that I was destined for an office career. Looking back and thinking of how I used to play as a child suggested otherwise though,  I loved rearranging furniture in my parents' house and once I even painted our front door with my water colours. Once I left school I did indeed work in an office environment – it was a good job but deep down I knew that it was not the right thing for me.

Six years ago I moved into my new home and decided to equip it on a budget with hand-me-down furniture that I would make my own by painting it out. I found the process so relaxing and the end results so rewarding. Soon I started doing it for my friends too and before I knew it I was in business. Quitting my job to pursue this independent career path was the best thing I could have done, and I never looked back.

And Annie's paint?

Before I had been invited to participate in the Painters in Residence program I had only heard about Chalk Paint®. I had considered working with it, but it somehow never came to happen. From everything I had heard and read about it I knew that it was a superior product and that Annie was an extraordinary artist and business woman. When the invitation from Annie's team came to take part in the program, I was a bit surprised and very excited to join in. I regarded this invitation as special kind of acknowledgment of my work that made me very proud.

All my expecations were exceeded when I started using Chalk Paint®. It is smooth and easy to work with. It mixes easily to create new colours and has great coverage and adhesion quality. Because of all these properties a little bit of paint goes a long way, and any mistake can be fixed by simply repainting over it. What I found most fascinating is how the colours really come to life after applying the clear wax and how you can ˝add years˝ to your project by simply applying a thin coat of dark wax. Annie's books were also a great guide and resource as to all the possibilities that working with her products offers.

What you’ll see from me...

As a part of the residency I completed four pieces. Only one of them is painted in a solid colour and straight from the can. The other three feature different colour combinations and patterns. You will see stripes, scalloped edges and triangles. You may like some better than others. With this collaboration, I have tried to stay true to my style but also to push myself a bit outside of my comfort zone. Keeping this project under wraps for a few months was a hard thing to do and I can't wait to share it with the world."

Before and After - two chairs and a cabinet door

obviously" before"

While on my recent visit to my sister in Melbourne I went snooping in her shed (sheds always hide the best treasures in my opinion) and found these three sorry objects. The two chairs have obviously seen better days and the old cabinet door was just there, sitting in the corner waiting to be tossed out with the garbage. With some time on my hands I decided to attempt to give these pieces a new chance.
In their local hardware store i bought the spray paint, at the craft store I found the mod podge and the fabric came from my sister's sewing cabinet. A bit of sanding, gluing and spray painting resulted in this……

After

One of the back rests was in a really bad shape and had to be completely replaced, so I opted out for two wooden slats. The End!

Introducing Green Secretary Desk

Cute or what? This green secretary desk will infuse a bundle of freshness and joy in your space. Ideal for those tiny corners of your home. Be creative, use it in the bedroom as a side table, or in the kitchen for quick trips into the cyber space while cooking. In the hallway it can be a perfect catch all for all the tiny things you carry in your pockets including, change, keys or mail.

Dimensions are as follows

H 39 3/4" x D 22" x W 31"

Desk portion:

H 30" x H 24 3/4" W 24"

There is a small discount for buying this piece off the blog directly ($295 CND vs $275 US). Price does not include shipping/customs processing so please contact me for rates. Free delivery within Greater Toronto Area.

Sale, Sale, Sale - SOLD

This dresser is now on sale, as I need space for new things coming up. It has been reduced to $350 CDN. Dimensions are as follows: D 18 1/4" x H 32" x L 62" Free Delivery within Greater Toronto Area. Please contact me with your postal/zip code for shipping rates to other locations.

One Dresser Two Looks - Triangles Revealed

For a piece that was originally unnoticeable this dresser turned into quite a conversation starter. It took a lot of sanding, taping, painting, peeling off the tape but the effort was well worth it.
Considering it has a rather specific look to it I decided to show you how you can easily incorporate it it in adult and kids' spaces alike. It already has its own Etsy listing and there is enough time still to have it your space before the Holidays kick in. It is also eligible for the 25% Holiday discount.

Holiday Sales Event is Now On

By entering promo code Holidays2014 on checkout you will be receiving an automatic 25% discount on every item over $300 in my Etsy store. This discount is not applicable to shipping rates. Please check the store for details.
Happy Holidays

Robin's Egg Painted Desk with Built-In Shelf

Between home improvements (one major one on the go and to be revealed when completed) and custom orders I managed to squeeze in one quick desk makeover. It is painted a perfect shade of robin's egg blue and accessorized with wooden yellow pulls. Listed on Etsy and eligible for the ongoing 25% Holiday sale promo. Check out the Sale details here.

SALE SALE SALE

Yep, I am running an Etsy promo where all purchases on items over $500 (which is all of them) will receive a 20% off the listing price. All you need to do is enter the promo code 20offpoppies and the discount will be applied automatically. The promo is running until Saturday, May 31, 2014 so if you like something, get on it. Unfortunately promo does not include shipping rates. Any questions, just drop me a line.

"Algonquin" Coloured Dresser

It has been a while since my last post. Not because I didn't work, but because I worked and tried to spend as much time as possible with my sister and niece. I painted and sold some pieces without even getting the chance to photograph and share with the world.
This one is one of the more recent ones painted in a a beautiful shade of grey/beige called "Algonquin".
I decided to pair it up with beautiful wooden knobs for a touch of calm and sophistication, but because of its simple lines and neutral colour a colourful or more ornate knob would be a total win too. It is now listed and up for grabs in my Etsy store.

Yellow Tallboy Dresser

Lana insisted on "cleaning" the dresser for the shoot

I have been working feverishly on some custom orders lately and didn't have too much time to work on  my own pieces. On top of this my sister, her husband and niece are visiting from Australia and I want to spend some time with them. Between work and being a good sister/aunt and spending time with my peeps I did manage to squeeze in this beauty. Painted in marigold yellow milk paint this dresser will always remind you of summer and carefree sunny days. More info on pricing and shipping details can be found on my Etsy page.

Grey Sideboard

This sideboard is the sibling of the mustard yellow hutch I revealed last week. As mentioned, the colour choices for each piece could not be further apart, yet if placed in the same space they would work well together but at the same time "matchines" would not be an issue. You can find more info on this stunning piece if you follow the link to my Etsy shop.