Chalked & Chosen

27/08/2026

Somehow I managed to pick up identical pieces from different places a couple days apart. Identical in every way, except for the detailing on the keys!!! These are perfect for an Oxford Navy makeover … now the outsides are done, we’ll have some fun contrasting and comparing internal colours! The whole family loves these - they really might not make it to the shop!

24/08/2026

Not every task has to be a big one. I wanted to experiment with Aubusson Blue and Emperors Silk … I had two very similar and sorry looking wooden cutlery boxes (canteens) that I thought we could paint with to see how to create different looks - I love the result!

22/08/2026

19/08/2026

You might have seen this one coming … the same two colours - Tilton with Pure White accents … but in 3 different pieces. I started with my wife’s childhood dressing table - my daughter loved this look and asked me to apply a similar effect to her bedroom furniture. Same colours, same techniques … different looks that match!

14/08/2026

Second time for Tilton … my Daughter loved the dressing table upcycled with Tilton and Pure White detail - so she requested this for her current dressing table (and a future post) chest of drawers. Loved trying the same approach on a different piece (and different type of wood.) I also painted the handles in metallic gold paint! My daughter loves it!

10/08/2026

From Halloween prop throw away … to luxurious hall table in (our) stately home. This was a fun one … only prep required was to take off some peeling veneer, gap filling and light sanding … then 2 coats of Aubusson Blue, edging in gold paint, decoupage the beautiful Winged Wildlife paper. Clear wax to finish. I also updated an old pine lamp, it’s plain white shade and a picture frame for styling ;-)

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

Curious about our home at the Ipswich Antique Centre? Interested in knowing more about the space we love at Chalked & Chosen? We’re getting ready to tour the building as part of at 2pm Saturday 5 September - book your tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/galvanized-ipswich-congregational-sunday-school-hall-tour

05/08/2026

My wife grew up with this little dressing table in her bedroom, it had been her grandmother’s … and has since been my daughters. It’s been a chameleon, and was related to the shed … i thought I’d give it one last chance with in an elegant Tilton - highlighting detail with pure white … and accentuating this dreamy look with white wax. It’s not going back to the shed! #

31/07/2026

I’ve been desperate to use Barcelona Orange … so I thought I’d give it a go on a vintage Italianate piano stool - it looked good with clear wax, but black wax just lifted it to a glorious smokey finish.