Complete Paints | DIY Copper Top Side Table

I wanted to tell you about a little DIY project I did recently. I had bought a Cage Side Table from Big Save Furniture but decided I wanted to do something with the top, which was a dark stained and varnished wood. So I popped in to see the guys at Complete Paints in Onekawa, Napier and discussed my options with them. I thought about painting it a bright glossy colour, but when Graeme mentioned metallics I was sold. He told me he could put my chosen metallic into a spray can for easy application, so we looked at all the different colours and I chose a rich copper tone.

If you live in Napier you may not realise that Complete Paints (23 Ford Road, Onekawa) is open to the general public. They deal with a lot of trade customers, but also welcome retail customers, they're super knowledgable, and happy to help those of us who aren't as familiar with which products we need. Graeme explained the process and the products I'd need to complete this project, and Brad was on hand to help me with each step.

I'm so happy with the result, the copper top looks fantastic on the white cage base, and it looks right at home in our living room. If you'd like to do a similar project you can find all the instructions on the Complete Paints project page. And, no matter where you live in New Zealand, you can buy all the products on their website, including the gorgeous copper spray paint. For a limited time you'll get 10% OFF if you purchase the complete project package, so head on over and get busy with your own copper painted project.

Designer Beds For Charity

This month the world's number one bedding brand, Sealy, is celebrating 25 years operating in New Zealand. As part of their celebration they have teamed up with four very talented New Zealand designers in a charity campaign for New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF).

Masters in their own fields, ASKEW ONE (Elliot O’Donnell), Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, Juliette Hogan, and LeeAnn Yare have now mastered the art of sleep by designing a bespoke fabric panel for a Sealy Posturepedic Exquisite bed. I love this concept - the beds all look so great, you definitely won't want to cover them up with valances and bedspreads. The beds are all listed on TradeMe and the auctions close 28 October, so get bidding.

LeeAnn Yare | interior designer: "Carnival" was inspired by LeeAnn's most recent bed linen range for her store, Collected. She has a thing for simple yet bold graphic shapes and really wanted to turn up the volume with her bed design.

Juliette Hogan | fashion designer: "Dalmation Silk Print" takes Juliette's love for monochrome and mixes it with the luxe revival of an animal print we all love. Her design is gorgeous, yet understated, inspired by her upcoming '15 collection.

Denise L'Estrange-Corbet | fashion designer: "Pebbles" is an eccentric and eclectic polka-dot cover that perfectly captures the essence of Denise's internationally acclaimed label, WORLD. She wanted to create something fun, so bright and bold was an obvious choice.

Elliot O'Donnell (ASKEW ONE) | artist: "Aute Uliuli" features (if you look closely) shell necklaces and hibiscus flowers that Askew has spray painted for his design. In a time of extensive digital production, he pulls back his approach to 'construct' his art, focusing more on the props and accessories.

When you bid on one of these amazing Sealy bespoke designer beds, you are not only one step closer to an exceptional night's sleep, but you are also helping to fund research and support women in New Zealand with breast cancer. Go for it, bid now!

Living with Plywood

I love plywood! It's really versatile, cost-effective, and readily available. Plywood is a laminated product made up of many thin strips of wood laid in alternating directions and glued to form a strong, stable sheet. It's the stripes formed by the layers on the edge of the ply that I particularly love. It's construction method means plywood is less susceptible to expansion and shrinkage, and it's perfect for lots of different designs, from simple furniture to kitchen benches and cabinetry. There are different grades of plywood, I recommend using the higher grades, but talk to the staff at your local hardware store for their advice. Here are a few examples using plywood that I love...

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Our Bibby + Brady Console Tables are made from steel powder coated legs and a plywood top. The first small run we made sold out within a week, and we are just about ready to release our second batch, which I will put onto our website soon. I love the simplicity of it, and the striped edge and powder coated legs gives a subtle injection of colour and pattern. Keep an eye out for their imminent arrival.