The golden rule!

I have recently made a mistake. A thoughtless and careless mistake. I enthusiastically purchased my first spray gun with the intention of taking less time and having a smoother finish when it came to my furniture.
So off I went spraying any and every timber item in my home! Until my neighbour popped his head over the fence to let me know how unimpressed he was that I was at work using a compressor and spray gun.
The point of todays post is to give you a heads up on some of the things you might need to consider before attempting any DIY projects from your residential premises.

I guess the most obvious advice I can give you from my mistake experience is to treat others the way you would like to be treated. I know how exciting it can be to dive into that project you are simply itching to get in to but, hold your horses! With a little forethought and planning you can avoid some serious hurdles or whatever it is that horses run into!

Next, it is important to contact your local council for any information you can gather about your plans.
Are you looking at refurbishing one piece, once? A few items here and there as a hobby or a number of items regularly as a home-based business. Check with your council or town planners to see if this is okay. In my case, I have every right to operate a small furniture restoration business from my home as long as I don't exceed 100 tonne of products per year! Then I would require a licence.
The problem with some of the projects we diy's like to undertake might not be welcomed by some neighbours and it only takes one to make your plans very difficult indeed!
My neighbour was concerned about the noise and the overspray. Valid concerns? ABSOLUTLEY!
As it turns out, our council has restrictions on the hours of the day that any regulated devices can be used. This includes lawn mowers, sanders, spray guns, generators, power tools etc.

There is also a checklist that may help you in keeping the peace with your neighbours.

- vehicle movement - how many vehicles will be coming and going from your property because of your home-based business?

- human movement - how many people will be coming and going from your property because fo your home-based business?

- nuisances - are there any nuisances that could effect the property, well-being, health or lifestyle of your neighbours? For example, smell, noise levels, overspray..

- employment - do you intend to employ anyone to work at your premises? Do you require a licence to do this?

- overtaxing electricity or water supplies?

Apart from these few items have a chat with your neighbours in advance. If they know you have considered their needs they should be more accomodating to your wishes. Be willing to work with your neighbours. Consider working while they are out of the house.  Discuss it with them and "Do unto others..." A little consideration and communication now could save you a whole of tension and trouble later!

---Mrs---

Short and sweet show and tell

 Today is show and tell time! 

We have been busy practising our prepping and painting skills and are pretty chuffed with the end results!

This chest of old pine drawers was given a new lease of life!

So crisp and clean with a coat of antique white paint.

a little "shabby-ing"...

we added some black drawer handles!

After giving the drawers a light sand we gave it a few coats of paint using a water based acrylic in antique white by Dulux.

Next we moved on to using a spray gun for the first time! So much fun! But be warned there are a few things you need to know before pulling out your compressor (please see our next post)!

In the meantime, here is the before and after.

before

after

---Mr and Mrs---

Shabby chic timber hutch

A while ago I bought this hutch and have finally got around to giving it a coat of paint, or 4!

I admit I enjoy painting but four coats on the one piece of furniture was tedious. It was not that the stain bled through that was the problem but Master 2 who found some stain that had not been put out of his reach. After seeing that mummy had been painting he thought he would give it a go too!

Needless to say it took a little longer finishing this hutch than I planned. But we got there. 

I decided to see what it would look like to paint the whole piece white and not worry about staining the top of the buffet. I used a water based acrylic, semi-gloss in antique white by DULUX. The 4 litre tin cost around $80 and I used around 2/3's of it (including the extra needed for the extra coats due to the attack of the toddler with paintbrush!) . 

 As you can see, I didn't paint inside the drawers or buffet but I did paint both sides of the cupboard doors.
I went to the hardware to find some suitable drawer knobs as I was not a fan of the previous handles. I decided to spray paint some pine knobs black rather than purchasing metal handles. The price difference was staggering! These knobs cost me around $30 all up but could've cost anywhere from $63 and even up to $90 for a similar look. I think these do the job just fine.

The glass didn't come out of the doors or if they did I didn't know how to get them out so I taped around the edge of the glass. It seemed to do the trick!
Finally, I sanded the edges a little rougher and shabbier than I did previously with the 2 door hutch.
I hope you are feeling inspired to get out that old piece of furniture that has been in the garage for years and treat it to a coat of paint!

                                                                           ---Mrs---