Refurb & Glow

Refurb & Glow • Sourcing, restoring & hand painting bespoke vintage furniture
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This week I have spent some time doing an audit of available pieces to work on or for clients to commission. For the las...
03/02/2023

This week I have spent some time doing an audit of available pieces to work on or for clients to commission. For the last two days I have been shooting them in my workshop so that I can share them on Etsy and on social in case they take anyone’s fancy. Whilst there is a range of different items, one thing they all share in common is that they are structurally beautiful, but very much in need of some modernisation and a little dose of TLC.

Next week I will start transforming one of them in my own style to add to my portfolio of finished pieces. Now I just have to decide which one to choose 🤔…

Which one would you choose?

By nature I am a sunworshiper so I am happiest in Spring and Summer and usually struggle a bit once summer ends. This y...
18/10/2022

By nature I am a sunworshiper so I am happiest in Spring and Summer and usually struggle a bit once summer ends.

This year I am trying to focus on the best bits of the seasonal change like getting cosy at home under a blanket whilst watching TV or the natural beauty of the changing of the seasons.

As a dog walker, I get to witness the gradual changes to my surroundings on a daily basis. This weekend Mother Nature provided so much colour inspiration from autumnal colour palettes to ombré effects, as well as the perfect playground for my curious pooch.

So much creative inspiration to take into the workshop 🍂 🍁🍂…

Time for phase 2 of my first commission…6 hours worth of sanding and filling done, readying the raw product perfect for ...
15/10/2022

Time for phase 2 of my first commission…

6 hours worth of sanding and filling done, readying the raw product perfect for priming. And all to a wonderful 90s dance soundtrack by to keep me going 🙏

Even though it is just the primer, not the final finish, I love putting the first coat on and seeing the transformation. Now time to sand and coat one more time before the real transformation begins with paint requested by my client.

Watch this space next week for the next stage in the transformation.

05/10/2022

When you are a small business it is the little touches that make all of the difference.

Or in this case, helping people who buy from you manage any little touch-ups needed down the line.

My new mini paint-pot stickers arrived today and I love them. Alongside a postcard thanking customers for their purchases, and telling them a little about Refurb and Glow, I will also send them these little pots so they can keep their pieces glowing for years to come.

Thanks for the inspiration (and permission to adapt the idea) Marta 🙏.

P.S. also see my trusty workshop assistant trying to get involved but just looking confused by the whole thing!

I’ve been working on this 50’s drinks trolley in the background for a while now. It was in a pretty sorry state when I b...
29/09/2022

I’ve been working on this 50’s drinks trolley in the background for a while now. It was in a pretty sorry state when I bought it with layers and layers of varnish built-up as well as some damage.

It’s been a bit of learning curve in that stripping and sanding intricate detailed pieces is hard work! There was a moment when I seriously considered giving up on it, which is testament to how much it has tried my patience as tenacity is something I usually have in spades. But at the end of the day I couldn’t bear the idea of it going to landfill unnecessarily. Yesterday I finally finished the prep and started painting!

It’s early days but I am glad I stuck with it as I can begin to see my vision coming to life. Once fully painted (and a couple more coats) I am going to add some touches of bronze leaf and hardware to make it come to life and hopefully be worthy of pride of place in someone’s home.

Watch this space to see the final transformation…

I may have been away for ten days, taking a break from work, but there was still plenty of inspiration to be found on ho...
27/09/2022

I may have been away for ten days, taking a break from work, but there was still plenty of inspiration to be found on holiday.

Whilst exploring the coast near P**a in Croatia I found loads of inspiration both from a colour and texture perspective.

The natural process of ‘weathering’ created beautiful textures on painted wood (natural distressing at work) and on trees alike. Whilst the local plants and stone show-cased nature’s stunning colour palette.

I’ve come back home inspired, physically and mentally refreshed and now ready to experiment in the workshop!

22/09/2022

Back from holiday and finally seeing some momentum on Etsy, with a few favourites for my items and today my first sale!

Hopefully the first of many more to come 🙏…

06/09/2022

After a glorious UK summer, it is time to jet off for a break before autumn sets in.

It feels like the perfect time to hit the refresh button, marking the end of my favourite season, and 6 months since I did my first furniture painting course and decided to make the leap to start Refurb & Glow. I am going to use the time to relax and reflect on the last 6 months, and to plan for the next 6 months (whilst horizontal on a sunbed of course 😎).

Then it is back to continue work on my first commission and finishing a lovely 50’s drinks trolley (perfect for the festive season) I have been working on behind the scenes.

Right Out Of Office (or Workshop) is officially on 🙌.

Finally finished this beauty. Ironically thought it would be a quick and easy job to transform this old pine mirror but ...
02/09/2022

Finally finished this beauty. Ironically thought it would be a quick and easy job to transform this old pine mirror but as with everything, when you are new to it, it was a learning curve.

It turns out getting the balance between distressing too much, or not enough, is pretty tough 😳. But after a few attempts I am pleased with the results with Annie Sloan Barcelona Orange showing through the distressed Oxford Navy, and then finished off with a couple of coats of dark and clear wax to give an aged effect.

Next challenge was to take a picture without me ruining it with my reflection! 🤣!

This, and a few more pieces, are live now on my Etsy shop (link in Bio).

23/08/2022

Thanks to for being an amazing friend and supporter, as always, and asking me to source and paint some bookshelves for a space in her lovely hallway. I can’t wait to transform this Mexican Pine unit with a little bit of elbow grease, some ‘Mouses Back’ paint (with grey, brown and green undertones) and some antique bronze hardware to be fitting in keeping with her beautiful cottage.

It will take a few weeks (with a holiday halfway through the job) but watch this space to see the end product.

So the results are in. And it seems the blues are everyone’s resounding favourites with the darker blues taking the lead...
04/08/2022

So the results are in. And it seems the blues are everyone’s resounding favourites with the darker blues taking the lead. It seems greys and whites have had their day.

I am going to paint the mirror in navy with burnt orange distressing which was the one I was originally thinking so good to hear my gut feel was on track 😊. The other colour combos won’t be wasted though - I am saving them for future projects.

Thanks everyone for playing. Watch this space for a post next week showing the finished product.

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