Once you have your chosen piece of furniture, you will need to prep the surfaces to be painted. First be sure to remove any handles, hinges or metalwork. You’re now ready to start stripping the paint or varnish, to do this I tend to use sandpaper or Nitromors. I find both methods are equally effective and take the same amount of time, but when working with heavy detail Nitromors is best. Nitromors is a chemical substance that removes paint, varnish and skin, so do be careful and wear protective clothing & work in a well ventilated area.

Once the item has been stripped and sanded, get rid of any dust by wiping it down with warm water – allow to dry.  A little tip for you; in my photo you will see my dog Ted happily snoozing, make sure when painting that animals stay well away! Their hair will get into the paint and on to your furniture – not a good look!  I also avoid painting outside on a sunny day as bugs find the gleam of the fresh wet paint extremely inviting. Once they bugs have landed they don’t come off without a little help.. this will leave marks.

Primer.. I don’t always use primer but depending on the condition of the wood it is sometimes necessary.  This particular sideboard is in a good condition, so instead of a primer I will be apply two coats of white.  I like to use Farrow & Ball paints; for this sideboard I am using Matchstick White as an undercoat, and Pavilion Grey for the topcoat.  When applying the paint always go in the direction of the wood grain, keeping minimal paint on the paintbrush & with nice thin layer.  It’s quality, not quantity.

Allow each layer of paint to dry properly before adding the next.  This photo is after one layer of Matchstick White. Keep applying even layers.

This sideboard has now had two layers of Matchstick White and two layers of Pavilion grey. I added in some standard black paint to darken the Pavilion grey as it was paler than my client wanted. I tend to leave the piece to thoroughly dry for a minimum of 24 hours before distressing.  Some people do not like the distressed look, so you could always leave it as above and just add a varnish or wax to protect the paint.

When distressing the furniture, there are so many routes and degrees of “aging” that you can do.  As this piece is a commission I’ve been asked to not go too crazy, just highlight on areas where, wear and tear would occur. For instance this would be on raised areas, edges, around drawers, handles & the top of detailing. To distress I use 180 grit sandpaper, the trick is to sand in one direction repeatedly. If you want to create extra damage and bruise the furniture, use metal chain or the edge of metal tools to beat the furniture.  I don’t do this often as I feel it’s fairly sacrilege & most often the antiques I paint are well used and slightly battered.

Once you’re content with the finish, you can either leave as is, or add a coat of beeswax or varnish. This will help protect the wood, but don’t be too overzealous as an overly shiny varnish will not look authentic and shabby chic!

If you have any questions or want further tips, please do not hesitate to email me.

I wanted to find a stylish bed that had built in storage and came across this one from Time4sleep, they had a lot of other options as well as regular beds but this one had a simple and contemporary feel about it that really appealed to me.  This style also came in chocolate but I really like the white one.  Oh dear, I can feel a new bedroom design coming on!  Does anyone else have the same problem?  Email us with your bedroom storage dilemmas and we will try to help, pippa@www.pippajamesoninteriors.co.uk.

Our bed (above) with spare duvets stuffed underneath!The Portofino White Ottoman bed from Time4sleep

Each retro piece has been lovingly created using a wide variety of materials with a slight Scandinavian feel.  If there is a particular object that you are looking for then just make an enquiry as they also offer a commissioning service.

You have to love the ethos behind up-cycling as in today’s throwaway society it’s great that we can prolong the life of an object rather than it becoming part of a landfill

Funonthefloor.com is a fantastic resource for anyone planning home improvements, with interior design ideas and practical advice on everything from planning and fitting, plus a wealth of style inspiration for using carpet. Fun on The Floor has teamed up with Pippa Jameson Interiors to offer a book giveaway that will not disappoint!

The book is by George Clarke, Channel 4 presenter and architect who has recently joined Fun on the Floor’s panel of experts to help people make the most of carpet. George, who presents Channel 4’s The Restoration Man and The Home Show, guides you through your house, room by room, looking at everything from loft conversions and side-return extensions to en-suite bathrooms and utility rooms so you can realise the full potential, and value, of your home.

What did I think of the book….I have to say, I have read a lot of home improvement books but none of them are quite like this or go in to as much detail, it’s fantastic.  In the first chapter; ‘My Home Story’, George talks about his step by step experience on his own home renovation.  Having never published images of his beautiful home before, he gives us a complete insight into the project including before and after pictures as well as the ups and downs of the process and difficult design decisions that he had to make.  Best of all, he talks about how style the rooms once the building work was complete. The finished result is absolutely stunning.

There are 5 further chapters; Your Home Profile, which looks at all types of houses including terraced, semi-detached, detached, apartments, bungalows and the orientation of your home.  It addresses standard and problematic layouts and then offers solutions with visual diagrams – very handy if you are planning a renovation or house move.

The final 4 chapters; How to draw, Space and where to find it, Room by room and Resources are jam packed with advice on everything including extensions, designing rooms, costing and planning renovations and finding the tradesman to make it all happen!

We have two signed copies of this book to giveaway to one lucky winner. All you have to do to enter is visit www.funonthefloor.com and answer the following question:

If you are selling or renting your home then try and make sure it looks up to date with the latest decor.  You don’t have to go crazy and re-decorate your whole home as little touches here and there will do the trick.  I know you have heard it a million times but it is best to keep the look simple.  Stick to neutral colours for the walls and just add interest with your accessories.

The stylish paint colours and accessories above are from B&Q and are very affordable.

Accessories: You can update the look of your home with fairly inexpensive accessories.  Hide away all of the clutter and then add simple key touches.  A bookshelf or coffee table could be transformed with a simple table runner and a few ornaments.  The pretty accessories below are from Wilkinson and start from just £6. 

Try not to use more than a few co-ordinating colours and materials otherwise it will look too busy.  Once you’ve cleared away all the clutter invest in a few plants and flowers as they always brighten up a room.   I would suggest buying decent fake flowers so that they last the duration of the sale.  The plant below is £49 from Marks & Spencer.  It may be a little expensive but it is a great fake and remember it will last for years-this would look great in the middle of a coffee table.

Update a plain old sofa with a set of bold cushions from Graham & Green. At the top end of the budget Marks and Spencer’s sell some lovely embroidery designs for £35 or if you want to go super trendy then opt for their metalic sequined style for just £15…I love them! Remember, you can take all the items with you to the new home so see it as an investment. 

For value cushions  try BHS or B&Q.  If you have a very old fashioned sofa that makes the house feel dated then think about covering it with an extra large throw; this is a much cheaper option than buying a new sofa.   If you have a particularly dark house then invest in some up lights and make sure these are on when you conduct a viewing.

Below is a copy of my feature from The Ideal Home Show’s website

As an Interior Stylist and Director of her own company Pippa Jameson Interiors, Pippa comes across gorgeous homewares on a daily basis. Here she talks about her favourite Eco products.

With an increasing number of consumers wanting to reduce their carbon footprint more designers are meeting the demand by delivering stylish and innovative pieces made from reclaimed materials. Paul Allen, author of the book, Your Ethical Business says. “It’s great to see businesses sharing our passion for greener living and creating such innovative products from reclaimed materials.

Baileys Home is a favourite of mine. Their specialty is to reuse unloved bits and pieces from all over the world and give them a new lease of life. As you would expect, the items take on a beautifully aged feel, my particular favourite are these timers made from reclaimed bobbins that were rescued from a Lancashire woolen mill. Other examples include old brooms made into boot racks and scraps of floor board that become mirror frames, tables or even kitchen units. Hourglass, 60mins, £49. Sermon timer, 15mins, £32. Interview timer, 5mins, £24. Tea break timer, 5mins, £14

Winner of Yahoo Finds of the year award Nigel’s Eco Store is another commendable company. Selling a variety of handpicked products and gifts, their aim is to help you save money and generally live a more planet-friendly life. They sell a large selection of homewares and one particular product that stood out was a piece called Rock’n’Roll. It is a unique Eco-shelving system made from specially sourced paperboard rolls, and then Velcro’d together. You can vary the amount of circles you use depending on the space you have. Rock’n’Roll shelving, £186.99, Nigel’s Eco Store

If it’s lighting that you are interested in then EcoCentric is definitely worth looking at. Made from steam-bent Ash, this pendant lamp has to be one of the most stylish Eco lights I have come across. Grand Curly Shade, £500, EcoCentric

The material has been locally sourced from a sustainable forest and is constructed from over 40 metres of wood curls and coils that are wrapped around a central frame. The finished result is a lively light producing an array of captivating shadows. It is designed by Charlie Whinney, formerly of award winning design collective Sixixis.

I think Graham & Green wins the prize for the most eco friendly stationary. The collection is made from 100% recycled cotton scraps from garment factories where the cotton is then pulped to make paper and embossed with a mock croc finish – genius! Credits: Prices start at £11.50 for a collapsible waste bin.

Special offer: 15% off all Graham & Green products including these Eco Chic office accessories. Follow this link and use this voucher code at payment: S9PJinteriors.

To look at the article on The Ideal HOme Show’s website click this link

This unusual yet stylish piece is from Nigels Eco Store.  It’s called Rock’n'Roll and is a unique eco-shelving system made from specially sourced paperboard rolls, and then velcro’d together.  You can vary how many circles you use and the order in which they are arranged. At £186.99, it’s cheaper than a conventional shelving unit.

*Look out for the link to purchase tickets to The Ideal Home  Show…coming soon on my Blog.