DECORATE

RENEW

By Pamela Dalseno

LOU LOU LIVING

Here we are in the New Year 2022 still working our way through the forever changing new normal of the Pandemic Covid-19 and variants. Our year here in Australia also has begun with the tragic devastating floods of our southern states with the hardship ahead to begin all over again for so many. The news of war erupting with Russia invading Ukraine has found us feeling anxious of what is ahead, the news shared has been sadness felt by all as we perhaps feel like the world is spinning out of control. I just can’t imagine the terror to be in such a position and my heart feels overwhelming sadness. To hear and view all of these tragic events have impacted and makes us feel grateful for our own goodness and survival. Time is really our gift and we must continue to be mindful to live each day to our full ability.

It appears as we move forward into 2022 renewal, that it is not only a thought forward in our life with the changes to us personally as we leave the past behind and step bravely forward to what may be, but also this can incorporate our own lifestyle (our home accommodation, our haven to find our own peace) of which can be adjusted to a new styling from a previously tired decorating scheme and to give us pleasure once again. It gives a whole new meaning of forward by creating a new surrounding which can simply and perfectly make a space become alive with Renewal. Surely that can bring newfound happiness. RENEW can give such positivity as we all wish to step onwards, just to have love, smiles, kindness and comfort in our ever changing surroundings?

The difference can so clearly bring happiness and pleasure to you and your home. It’s a thought ahead perhaps, even if it is small changes. No matter what happens in our life, if we are fortunate enough to have a home base where we feel protected and can find peace we are surely blessed.

This year 2022, Lou Lou Living was approached by a lovely married couple Judith and Kevin Jacobsen who live in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia asking if Lou Lou Living would provide some changes with their much loved furniture pieces to help them achieve the change of surrounds envisaged in their home. They were ready for change and new vision ahead, to RENEW some of their surrounds.

Lou Lou Living Introduces to you, Judith and Kevin. The first that was noticed about this couple was the energy and love that they wished to further build into their home. There was a desire for a fresh new styling where it could be enjoyed by them both and their extended family. Lou Lou Living could easily see that family is important to them and we had met previously through one of their daughters who also had discovered Lou Lou Living for Upstyles. It is perhaps when the seed of changing their own loved furniture pieces or when the thought did happen to eventually make this change.

Judith and Kevin

Lou Lou Living introduces to you Judith and Kevin Jacobsen.

Did you feel anxious with entrusting your own furniture into the care of changes with Lou Lou Living?

P am and Richard from Lou Lou Living were very welcoming and made both of us feel comfortable right from the very first point of contact. You could tell both were a very special couple who enjoy their hobby of upstyling and have years of experience with quality results with their own flair and craftsmanship.

We weren’t anxious or concerned at all with leaving our furniture with Lou Lou Living as I knew it would be well cared for and was in capable hands.

We and our daughter have bought a few pieces of upstyled furniture from Lou Lou Living so we knew the craftsmanship would be excellent. You could tell that a lot of care and love were put into creating a new look to these pieces that had been upstyled.

We are continually browsing their Facebook page looking at what new creations Lou Lou Living have created in the hope that something in particular catches our eye that will fit that place in our homes to showcase in a suitable space.

We have other furniture which we would love to transform as well and have no qualms with asking Pam and Richard if they could upstyle for us.

Before any preparation, Lou Lou Living like to discuss and impart our own knowledge of Upstyling, so did you feel confident about that so the changes would be met with your approval?

Pam discussed the different types of upstyling both she and Richard do and gave me the option of which style and which tone of white that we wanted as we learnt that there are many whites and it is important to choose the tone of white that will best suit in your home. We were also invited to their home to view different styles they had previously created so we could see the different finishes that could be created to give our furniture a whole fresh appearance in our home. Just by viewing other upstyled furniture and the quality of work we knew we had made the right decision coming to this lovely couple.

We had a specific idea in mind.

At first (myself Judith) wasn’t sure that Kevin would agree with these changes as he can be a little old fashioned perhaps more traditional and set in his ways at times. So, when I approached him and told him that I wanted to have these pieces of furniture upstyled I was surprised and thrilled that he agreed with me. We discussed what changes we wanted and what look we envisaged ahead.

We had a vision to lift and lighten up our kitchen, dining and family room area which all flowed in together. As our kitchen is quite large and is constructed of New Guinea Rosewood, we previously had the timber look everywhere to blend in with our kitchen.

We wanted something that would still blend in but make the other areas look fresh and bright, and to allow a fresh new energy into the rooms and blend with our interior furnishings. We watched the room transform with each piece of furniture as they were completed and bought home was an amazing experience. Right from when we bought the very first completed piece home we knew immediately we had made the right decision and the end result would totally transform our house into a more modern contemporary fresh styling. As each piece was dropped off and collected from Lou Lou Living, we grew more and more excited watching the changes.

We have had nothing but positive comments from both family and friends on how good it looks and how it has totally transformed our home and what a fantastic and amazing job this lovely couple have done to our furniture.

We are now in the process of redecorating the walls with freshly styled family photos and pictures to complete the fresh new look that’s been achieved. Having this transformation has really bought the excitement of decorating back again.

Lou Lou Living is aware that one piece of furniture has a special place in your heart. Please could you share that and what it means to you?

I (Judith) recently lost both of my parents. My Mother passed away first and then 10 months later I lost my Father. When we lost Mum, I spent a lot of time taking care of Dad and when I previously sat and talked to Dad in his lounge room he always spoke to me that when he goes he wished me to inherit Mum’s China Cabinet.

This is a special piece of furniture to me as my Mother loved this cabinet and proudly displayed her and her late Mother’s (my Grandmother’s) precious crockery and crystal in there as well as the special pieces collected that meant the world to her.

In the past when we visited Mum and Dad, we would have a cup of tea at the dining table and then sometimes sit in the lounge to chat about family and other topics. Mum and Dad loved hearing what my family had been doing as there was never a dull moment and bought many laughs to them. Where I sat, I was facing this cabinet and remember always looking at it thinking it was such a lovely piece of furniture and looked lovely with their loved collectables proudly displayed there.

When Dad passed, I took the cabinet as per both their wishes and bought it home with me. I now have this cabinet where I still am able to look at it every day and remember all the wonderful special memories and times that I shared with my parents.

I was a little concerned at first about changing the look of this cabinet but love how it has transformed into this new styled look. Even though it may be different now, it is still the same piece of furniture that was loved by my Mother and I knew if we went and bought all new furniture, we would not be able to find furniture that would match her cabinet and I could not part with it so this was an easy choice to transform it instead of selling or giving it to a complete stranger.

Pam and Richard knew this We thank you Pam and Richard, for all your hard work, love and care which has been created into transforming our furniture into the styled look that we wanted. We are over the moon with the new look and could not have wished for a better outcome.

Lou Lou Living.

In conclusion it’s been wonderful to be trusted and an honour to create the changes for Judith and Kevin. This may be a hobby for us but we do take it very seriously and provide the best possible result as if each piece belonged and was treasured by us. I hope that both of you, Judith and Kevin have enjoyment with these loved pieces of furniture ahead and the space now created in your home by the changes of RENEW.

Thank you for allowing Lou Lou Living to be involved with creating that in your home and to approve this publication.

To Jasmina, our Team and readers of this fabulous magazine, Lou Lou Living looks forward to our next submission further in 2022. Till then, keep well, happy and safe. Remember it’s important to create and have a purpose with your happy place and safe haven, especially during this tumultuous time we are presently living through.

Pam x