Tag: furniture upcycling

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Decorating 101 DIY Furniture Interviews

Melbourne decoupage company in the IKEA spotlight

The art of decorating an object by gluing coloured paper to it, and finishing with special paint effects, decoupage has had a resurgence in popularity of late and Melbourne’s Michelle Tither has been front and centre. Launched in 2016, Mint by Michelle initially began as a furniture upcycling business but soon became so much more. 

“I had always been creative and wanted to explore that creativity professionally. I wanted to see whether I could make a living doing something that I loved to do and to see what I was capable of both artistically and in business,” says Michelle.

This decoupaged cupboard, by Joyita, was made with one of Michelle’s designs

And while Michelle started out simply upcycling furniture, it wasn’t long before she became known in the space and was overrun with commissioned work. “Ultimately, that lead to running workshops, stocking products, setting up a shop and manufacturing my own products. Since then, the world of furniture art has opened up and I find myself smack in the middle of it – a manufacturer, distributor, retailer and artist,” says Michelle.

Michelle Tither
Mint by Michelle founder Michelle Tither

In its current incarnation, Mint by Michelle is a one-stop shop for anybody who is interested in furniture flipping and upcycling with advice, products, practical hands-on experience, after care and free tutorials on offer. “Our courses and workshops are very well regarded and it’s not unusual for us to have people travel from interstate to attend,” says Michelle. Online shoppers can purchase everything from decoupage paper to brushes, Annie Sloan paints and finished furniture pieces by Michelle.

One of Michelle's pieces
One of Michelle’s pieces
Another of Michelle’s decoupaged furniture pieces

Part of Michelle’s success is that she was the first manufacturer to produce large-scale decoupage images suitable for furniture and since then, almost every other furniture art supply business has followed suit. “Our papers are still the best quality – we have set the bar with our secret ingredient specialty paper and printing method and ink. And we are very proud that our papers are made and manufactured in Australia which is no mean feat!” Incredibly, Michelle’s range is now sold through 300 stockists in more than 30 countries.

And it was through one of the brand’s European distributors, Belen in the Netherlands, that Mint by Michelle had worldwide exposure via IKEA recently. “Belen entered a competition with IKEA and was one of 12 artists chosen to showcase her work on the IKEA website and socials,” says Michelle.

Belen's IKEA piece that was decoupaged in Mint by Michelle's 'Balloons' paper
Belen’s IKEA piece was decoupaged in Mint by Michelle’s ‘Balloons’ paper

Belen painted and decoupaged an IKEA piece using the Mint by Michelle ‘balloons’ paper to great effect and it’s currently residing in a Netherlands IKEA store where it will remain for the next five weeks. “It’s a fabulous piece and we are so terribly excited to have Mint and Belen recognised by such an enormous company!”

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IKEA furniture hack: New Aussie player hits the market

While there are plenty of companies across the globe that cater to the booming IKEA furniture hacking scene, the latest one is based in Sydney and is the work of…
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Bathrooms Design Furniture Interviews Kitchens Living Room

IKEA furniture hack: New Aussie player hits the market

While there are plenty of companies across the globe that cater to the booming IKEA furniture hacking scene, the latest one is based in Sydney and is the work of partners Suzanna Tauber and Mathieu Griveau. The brand’s name combines the word ‘custom’ and IKEA; a clever portmanteau that describes the business’ offering.

“We specialise in customising IKEA furniture. We believe there is still a gap in the market for an offering that enables people to easily customise, revamp and upcycle their flatpack furniture,” says Suzanna.

The IKEA Besta gets a glow up with Customea diamond fronts

An experienced joiner by trade, Mathieu has been running his own kitchen installation company for the past few years (The Flatpack Installer). And having installed literally hundreds of IKEA kitchens, he knows better than most how difficult it can be to create something unique without a hefty price tag. “Over the years, we’ve always discussed the lack of options out there. As a joiner, it made sense for Mat to take the next step and start manufacturing his own products,” says Suzanna.

Customea’s navy Mermaid design paired with IKEA Metod cupboards and drawers

Ideal for those looking for a budget option, that is a bit more interesting and less generic, the Customea range includes fronts, tops, sides and accessories that fit the IKEA Metod kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, the popular IKEA Besta storage units and the IKEA Pax wardrobes. 

There are seven front designs to choose from ranging from plain to chevron, mermaid, diamond and shaker styles. When it comes to colours, there’s white, black, dark grey, navy, pale pink and mint green while the handle offering includes black, timber, brass and copper.

IKEA Metod kitchen cupboards with Customea’s Shake The Line fronts and brass handles

“You can either revamp existing items you may already have or consider our products when purchasing new items from IKEA,” says Suzanna who explains that the panels can be used as tops as Customea doesn’t offer stone or wood tops.

The pricing is very competitive too with doors starting from $150, drawer fronts from $100, sides and tops from $75, kickboards from $40 and handles from $15.

IKEA Metod paired with black Chevron fronts

Customea has two main competitors in Australia (Ren Studio and Arkie Design), but Suzanna believes that those brands are geared more towards architects and designers. “Ultimately, we are aiming to appeal to everyone, or at least anyone who has an IKEA product in their home!”

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IKEA hacks Australia: DIY built-in HEMNES cabinetry how-to

Would you love built-in cabinetry in your living room but balk at the cost? Well, you know we love an IKEA hack and this one, part of Naomi Findlay’s Carrington…

Furniture hacks: the essential roundup of products to hack your IKEA pieces

Who doesn’t love IKEA’s budget-friendly, simple, timeless designs? But sometimes you’d like your piece to look a little less mainstream. Well, we have some great news! There are plenty of…

IKEA furniture hack: Customise your MALM bedhead!

We love customisation and product hacking as much as the next person so when we first heard about STYLKEA we were pretty excited. Designed to make bargain furniture look expensive,…

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DIY Shopping

Upcycling furniture made simple with new Jolie Paint

Jolie Paint

When it comes to hassle free upcycling, there’s no doubt that Annie Sloan’s chalk paints have been the go-to for DIY enthusiasts for many years. But that may be set to change with the arrival of American newcomer Jolie Paint. The product is water-based, non-toxic and quick-drying and in most cases you can apply the paint directly over previously treated surfaces eliminating the need to sand or prime making it ideal for upcycling furniture, walls, floors and accessories.

Jolie Paint

“Everyone deserves a home and personal space that brings beauty to their everyday lives. We’re excited to provide Aussies and Kiwis with the support and tools to bring new life to their space and create something beautiful,” says Lisa Rickert, Jolie Home founder and CEO who was inspired to create the brand while rebuilding her New Orleans home after Hurricane Katrina.

Jolie Paint

The range contains a series of top coats, brushes (signature, flat and wax) and 40 mixable paint colours that allow you to create your own custom colours. There are six finishes (basic, smooth, textured, distressed, washed and dry brush) and the line-up also includes a number of embellishment products including finishing wax, floor varnish, gilding wax and metal leaf.

Jolie Paint

Jolie Paint

The foundation of the range is the ‘Signature Neutrals’ palette – there’s a cool white (Gesso White), greige (Swedish Grey), pure black (Noir), mid-tone navy with grey undertones (Classic Navy) and a deep, dark, chocolatey brown (Espresso).

The 'Signature Neutrals' palette
The ‘Signature Neutrals’ palette

“Our Signature Neutrals include five classic colours that are staples in any home. These five are likely your fashion favourites as well – colours that you are comfortable with and want to use over and over again. Our neutrals can be paired with virtually any colour in the Jolie colour range,” says Lisa.

Jolie Paint

“Jolie helps you personalise your home and create something beautiful, whether that means cohesive and balanced interiors or elevating your style. Everyone deserves a space that offers beauty and peace to their everyday life,” says Lisa.

Jolie Paint

For more | An upcycled nursery

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Expert Tips Furniture Homewares Styling

5 tips for easy upcycling in your home

By Sarah Heeringa

We can all get tired of how a room looks and want to switch it out for something else. These days we can choose to decorate our homes in pretty much any style we like. But rather than just tossing furniture or other homewares and replacing them with new things, I like to refashion what I have into a new look and then mix it with other new or vintage items that have caught my eye. It’s a popular new trend called reclaimism.

Sarah
Sarah

Upcyling or reclaimism is the art of giving old things new value. It’s about using our imagination to fix things up and personalise objects to our own liking and changing taste. With upcycling, we can surround ourselves with things that express our personal style, that have meaning for us and that tell a story. And I believe that it’s the addition of these personal touches that really help make a house feel like a home.

Here are five easy tips for getting started:

1. Choose something simple to start 

The best way to embark on any creative project is simply to begin and where better than with choosing a picture frame or an old piece of furniture you would like to reclaim?

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2. Use your imagination

Have a good look at the piece of furniture and imagine how it might look given different paint treatments. What if it was given a rustic whitewash or painted glossy black?

SarahHeeringa 53. Try whitewashing

It’s amazing how a piece of furniture can be transformed with a sand and a coat of paint. One simple technique is to give wooden objects a light sand and a good clean and then a coat of paint using a whitewashing technique.

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4. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

One way to achieve a whitewash effect is to use a rough old brush and quick, light brushstrokes. If there is too much paint, rub some off using an old cloth. Give yourself permission to try something new and maybe make a few mistakes. The best way to get the hang of different paint techniques is to roll up your sleeves and give it a go.

Once you have practiced your paint techniques on a rumpty old piece, you’ll have the skills to try something more ambitious. This kitchen bench is made with a solid slab of wood and painted with a less rustic whitewash effect and then sealed with a water-based clear sealer.

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5. Switch it out

Sometimes upcycling is about simply using an existing piece of furniture in a different way. What if you moved an item of furniture from one room to another and gave it a new purpose? This big old wooden hutch dresser was a great addition to my kitchen where storage space was short. But this cabinet is now just as useful in its new role in my studio as a place to stash tools and craft supplies.

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— Sarah Heeringa is an award-winning journalist and editor with a keen interest in homemaking and interior style. Formerly editor of Inspire, Parenting and Good magazine, she is the author of Reclaim That, which invites you to find a new and extremely cost-effective way to furnish your home.

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Furniture

I Love My Chair: a new lease of life for your tired chairs

After winning a pitch contest, Emma Veiga-Malta was flown to Silicon Valley to talk about expanding her successful online design-it-yourself chair business, My Bespoke Chair, to the US.

Emma Veiga-Malta interiors addict

However, while she thoroughly enjoyed the experience, what she realised was that by expanding her business she’d lose the core element of what she loved to do, and that was create beautiful things. “By expanding my business, all of sudden I would lose touch with my clients, I wouldn’t be creating fabrics myself or doing my chairs myself and that all made me quite sad,” explains Emma. “So I thought, no! I need to use everything I learnt in Silicon Valley and pivot my business so that I’m adding services that I love to give my clients. And I know that my clients need.”

i love my chair interiors addict 1

So began Emma’s new venture, I Love My Chair, which with six different services, offers custom fabric design, fabric sourcing, chair sourcing, chair repairs, ready-to-buy chairs (designed by Emma herself), and design-it-yourself chairs under the umbrella of My Bespoke Chair. “While working on My Bespoke Chair, I realised a lot of people actually already owned chairs they wanted to have redesigned rather than buying new. Customers were coming to me asking if I could help with their redesign; so I thought hang on, there’s a real business here! Now My Bespoke Chair has become one of the services I offer, instead of being the only service.”

i love my chair interiors addict

Based in Sydney, I Love My Chair is very much a collaborative process between designer and customer, with Emma seeing herself as a style advisor. “People come to me and we work together to get their chair looking beautiful again. I’m really a style advisor for their chairs. So instead of being an online business, it’s a collaborative business. People have that one-on-one with me and that’s what gets me really excited!”

i love my chair interiors addict 2

With a degree in fashion and textiles and having worked as an artist and designer for the last 16 years, Emma is very familiar with the creative industries. Whether it be painting and designing fabrics, or giving a new lease of life to that heirloom chair, Emma’s main drive is transforming something you hid in the garage into a piece that is worthy of centre stage. “The creative process is what gets me really excited. I just love what I do and I think you can really tell that through my work.”

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