Save the date!

Revamp of two wing chairs...how to give a tired piece of furniture a whole new life

At a house clearance recently people were trying to sell off a pair of very old and tired wing backed chairs. As they were from before 1950, they didn't meet fire regulations so if no one would buy them, they would end up in the skip....charity shops don't take them! Luckily me and my side-kick Debra from Willow Cottage came to the rescue and took them off their hands.

A few weeks later and this is the result. I choose a charcoal deep grey velvet for the inside and a grey and mustard yellow printed 'stamp' fabric for the outside of the chair. Debra selected a 100% wool tartan material to cover the whole of her chair. Initially meant to sell them on to our customers, we both love the chairs so much that we are just going to keep them all to ourselves! (*but do let us know if you want your own chair revamped like this!)

This is what I did to mine...

Charcoal velvet and stamp fabric, plus grey painted legs

 And this is what Debra did to hers...

100% Scottish wool

Good results or what? Incredible how they have both turned out and funny to think they were once a matching set...

Travel blog post: colours of Cyprus

I have just come back from Cyprus and had a great time. I wanted to share a few interesting photos of things that caught my eye while walking around in various places, especially of the rich colours and patterns on buildings and in textiles. Cyprus has a rich history of different cultures all putting their stamp on the island, and of course at present it is still divided in a Greek and a Turkish part. The Greek side is more modern and developed with many large hotels and plenty of activity along the many beaches, while the Turkish side is quieter with less of that going on and more strips of beach all to yourself, though there are lots of villas being built for foreigners wanting their own place in the sun. At times it can be hard to look through all the ugly building developments, noisy bars as well as rubbish left on beaches, which unfortunately you see, but if you venture away from the beaten track you'll soon come across the real beauty and authenticity that Cyprus has to offer - both in the South and the North. A great island all around.

Beautiful colours in this carpet in  the Halan Sultan Tekke mosque, Larnaca, South Cyprus

Some true vintage furniture in Bellapais, Kyrenia, North Cyprus

Glorious bougainvillea growing in an old plastic barrel, Kyrenia, North Cyprus

Various street scenes in Nicosia

fantastic handmade lace in Lefkara, South Cyprus

Rich colours, blue paint and red geranium in Lefkara, South Cyprus

Lace shop in Lefkara, South Cyprus

Striking blue wall at the local museum of Lefkara, South Cyprus

Sunlight and shadows on a beautiful yellow door in Bellapais, North Cyprus

Great selection of carpets in the Halan Sultna Tekke mosque in Larnaca, South Cyprus

Blue, blue blue....in Lefkara, South Cyprus

Bright yellow flower and blue furniture on the beach in Larnaca

April opening times

Nina's Apartment will be on holiday for 2 weeks. Oh my goodness, I can't wait. So fed up with freezing temperatures and snow and lack of vitamin D here in North East Scotland just now... Cyprus, here I come!

Here are some changes to the opening times of the shop:

CLOSED on Saturday 13th of April

OPEN on Saturday the 20th of April, 10am-2pm. 

OPEN on Saturday the 27th of April, 10am-2pm.

Visiting by appointment is also possible; please contact Debra from Willow Cottage who will be manning the shop for me while I am away: sales@willowcottageshop.co.uk

Ciao amigos! X

Chair makeover - painted and reupholstered

Reworking or 'upcycling' furniture is part of my business so I am delighted to be able to share the latest project in the shop with you today. It is a French style occasional chair, painted and distressed in Annie Sloan white and duckegg chalk paint, waxed - and reuopholstered in floral linen fabric 'Indienne' by Villa Nova. Here's the result! It would make a perfect chair in a bedroom or hallway.

Price is £395