Kirsty's vintage home

[Daisybell1]

Please tell me she's going to do a country farmhouse one preferably one where the house is currently 1970s dead-mother-in-law chic?

I'd so love them to come here, rummage through the crap, unearth the good furniture, put the fireplaces back in and replace the curtains/carpets.

Am seriously thinking of applying for the next series, as it's the only way this place will be sorted. I can see so much potential here but can't see through the stuff...

[Daisybell1]

Hate the sideboard :-( but will be good to see what they do with it.

[Daisybell1]

OMG, she's me! Overwhelmed by it all, doesn't know where to start, nowhere to put the crap, I have real sympathy.

I've got a gate-leg table too!

Sugar-soap - must buy
Light sanding - ok
Undercoat - have got gallons of stuff
Paint - interesting that they used emulsion....
Ooh, distressing...
Not sure I like the effect but I now know what to do!

[SoupDragon]

If you use emulsion I think you need to seal it with varnish. Although for boxes and stuff I've not bothered.

I too am overwhelmed :)

[Daisybell1]

This week was more inspiring, at least, I could relate it better to this house.

[SoupDragon]

My bedroom is like theirs was. I have a pathway from the door to the bed and from bed to ensuite.

[Daisybell1]

So's mine, and mine is the one room we've done! It's inspired me to get the rat-nibbled drawers sorted and they can go in the window alcove to take all my stuff.

I've got a mirror to go up which is propped against the wall, a lamp without a shade, and there's washing everywhere

I've got coffee tables as bedside tables - I'm not sure I dare paint them but I wonder if I could put wallpaper or fabric under the glass...

[SoupDragon]

Are we twins :o

I cringed when they said they'd moved in in whatever and hadn't decorated the room since. I moved in at the start of 2002...

[expatinscotland]

Dipping your baskets in a tray of paint - what a mess!

[Daisybell1]

Soup, I think we might be! I did wonder about crocheting some doilys to go underneath the glass in the coffee tables...

Expat - I didn't get that too - perfectly nice baskets ruined!

[SoupDragon]

Yes! "Sugar dipped baskets" my arse... they looked like you'd dipped them badly in white emulsion.

[arf] at crocheted doilies under the glass - granny chic :o

[Daisybell1]

Granny chic sums up my aim! There's a pic on my profile of what I've just found in the airing cupboard!

[SoupDragon]

Do I want to look...?

[SoupDragon]

You found a pram in your airing cupboard? Must be a huuuuge cupboard :o

[scarlet5tyger]

Not watched it yet but am hoping its better than last week.

Soupdragon, I'm a foster carer and you wouldn't believe some of the places I store prams!!

[Daisybell1]

Oh bloody hell, blooming uploads!

It's up now but fear it will be a let down...

[SoupDragon]

Doilies! :o

[Daisybell1]

Doily central!!! And hand embroidered tablecloths, and handmade lace and granny square blankets!

I must be able to do SOMETHING with them!?!?

[SoupDragon]

[Daisybell1]

1930s semis have lots going for them! Your walls aren't held together by the wallpaper, your corners are fairly square, and I'm pretty sure you won't have rats in the loft. There's a lot going for them!

[SoupDragon]

We also don't have barns full of furniture/fireplaces/cupboard doors or airing cupboards full of doilies etc.

I have had mice under the kitchen cupboards though. :)

[chocolateteabag]

Ugh just watching the second one on sky plus - that is NOT how you do a chair seat, where is the web stretcher? Those seats will be baggy and droopy in 5 mins

Finding this show slightly disappointing and I love Kirstie

[Daisybell1]

Oh, didn't know about web stretching. What do I need to do?

[chocolateteabag]

Hi Daisy
The Webstretcher is a tool which helps you get the webbing really taut before you tack it down. Then you get a much better "springier" seat in a chair.
Link here to how to use one
and Link here to one on amazon (and so you can see what it looks like

I got mine for £6 at a hardware shop - they are the kind of things to turn up in car boot sales as people don't often have a need for them.

Also in the show - the chap used LOADS of webbing and was really wasteful. All the upholstery teachers I've had (I was a course addict before DS) were careful to show you how to use the webbing from the roll to do each line. Ie don't cut strips first.
You also don't really need more than 3-4 lines of webbing for a normal chair - there can be some gaps inbetween the webs (not like their awful attempts)

[Daisybell1]

Ooh, interesting... I love your links, thank you!

I'm watching this week's right now, and am super excited about them doing a kitchen BUT am I being really cynical that the lady on it is simply promoting her own business - an hrs advertising for free?