Look, just be warned that if you leave a small piece of furniture near me in my current mood, I am likely to give it a chalk paint transformation. The fact is, I have a new skill and I am not afraid to use it.
Yesterday I learnt the art of chalk painting at an afternoon up-cycling workshop in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Not only was it a fun way to spend quality girl-time with my mum, sister and niece, but it opened my eyes to endless pieces of undiscovered house candy lying about the place, just waiting for a face lift.
Chalk painting is surprisingly easy and unbelievably clever. And it's not all about Shabby Chic either. The tarnished look is a style preference you can learn to apply with as much or as little emphasis as the mood takes you. A bright and modern transformation is also entirely possible thanks to a huge choice of colours and finishes available from manufacturers such as Autentico - the brand used and stocked by our expert tutors at gorgeous Just So Interiors.
Hate the vintage vibe? No problem. You can just as easily apply the techniques to a modern ikea sideboard as you can to a dusty old antique find.
Hate the vintage vibe? No problem. You can just as easily apply the techniques to a modern ikea sideboard as you can to a dusty old antique find.
In just four hours, our little party of novice furniture painters produced a pair of chic side tables, a sleek set of drawers, a colourful kitchen display cabinet, a modern side table and a french inspired plant stand.
The paint dries in super quick time and requires just two coats for most jobs. We mastered a range of finishing options such as distressing before eagerly progressing onto the final stage of waxing. Then ta-da our masterpieces were ready to take home and admire - the perfect souvenir of our day.
We even had time to stop for tea and delicious homemade scones.
The workshops run on selected Saturdays throughout the year and cost just £30 per person. Click here for available dates and vouchers: www.justsointeriors.co.uk
The beautiful, historic spa town of Harrogate is just the perfect destination for mother and daughter treats. Make a day of it and take in the famous Betty's tea rooms for a Mother's Day gift that she will remember long after the Daffodils have wilted. www.bettys.co.uk
