Papa Theo Blog

Mirror, mirror on the vintage wall!

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

One minute you love the modern look the next you love the vintage vibe. Changing our minds every now and again has become second nature to many people. This can prove to be a bit of a strain on the bank balance, especially if you change your mind about your home interior a lot.

However all hope of having some money saved up is not lost... Instead of revamping the whole room, just adding a few little accessories can change the look of the room entirely... without you breaking the bank.

If you own a vintage look mirror, you'll know they are one of the most looked at items in your household... If you think about it, you look in the mirror whilst you're brushing your teeth, doing your hair, getting dressed, even throughout the day to check your hair is still behaving. Mirrors in general are a fantastic invention that help us look at our best, that many of us couldn't live without. However vintage look mirrors are not used to just make ourselves look good, they can also help your room look good too.

If you've ever placed a stunning mirror on the wall, you will know the difference it really makes to the room. One of the differences is that it will bring in extra light and create a sense of space and freedom in the room.

It's not only the reflective glass that makes the room look different, the frame around the mirror can really make an impact too. Frames, like all furniture can come in all kinds of styles, so finding one to suit your room shouldn't be too hard. If you love the vintage look then Papa Theo have a range of stunning vintage look mirrors with distressed frames that will capture everyone’s attention as they walk in the room.

One of the many design features of Papa Theo's vintage look mirrors includes there oversized wooden frames that have been hand-painted to look distressed and antique. They are also available in natural limed, antique white or gold finishes, to give them the "shabby chic" look.

To see a variety of vintage look mirrors have at look through the Papa Theo website.

Choosing hand carved furnishings for your home style

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Hand carved furnishings have a lovely vintage look about them. Many are distressed by professionally trained workmen so you can be sure of the quality and durability too.

If you've just moved into a new house, or if your looking to improve the look of your current home interior choosing the right furnishings is essential.

The furnishings you choose could make or break the design of a room... So when furniture shopping, how do you know what to buy and what to sear clear of?

Firstly you need to consider the look you're going for in the room, or if you want you the whole house to keep the same style through out, what style of home you want. Do you want a minimalist home, a vintage home or a home that makes a bold statement?

It's important to decided what look you want to achieve so you know what type of furnishing will suit that style. For example if you want a minimalist look, buying a floral sofa isn't going to achieve this look. The same if you want to make a bold statement... the colour white just won't cut it!

It's also important to point out that just because furniture looks new, fresh and modern that you should buy it... hand carved furnishings with a vintage vibe may suit your style more.

If you want to get your moneys worth when buying furnishings keep these factors in mind:

The size

There is not point in buying an item of furniture that isn't going to fit in the room you want it too. Make sure you measure the space you have before you head out to the shops or look online. If you have a larger room to furnish, consider big furnishings, as smaller ones could look lost in big spaces. Also if you have a small room, look out for space saving furniture like corner cabinets and smaller beds, as big furnishings in a small room will make it seem cluttered and smaller than what it actually is.

The price

Stick to your budget! There is plenty of quality furniture out there that is priced for your budget, big or small... you just need to look around and compare.

The style

As we mentioned before, ensure the style of furniture you buy, matches with the aesthetics of your home. If your home has a country look, get furniture that looks hand carved and distressed. If you have a modern looking home, get furniture that has metal accents.

Stick to these few rules and you shouldn't go far wrong when you re-style your home.

Distressed Kitchens 'Vs' Modern Kitchens

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Distressed kitchens are fast becoming more desired than modern ones, mainly because that shabby chic style has come back into trend.

The kitchen in many modern house is considered to be the heart of the home. However even though it is at the heart of a modern home, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to look modern.

Some people are just not a fan of polished chrome and sanded granite, which is not a crime. If this is the case chances are you'll prefer a more distressed, homely feel. Below are some tips that will really give your kitchen that all-important shabby chic look.

How to overcome new appliances?There's no doubt about it, if you have a new washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher etc, in the kitchen they will have that modern look about them. But don't panic, you don't have to paint or replace them to get the distressed look in your kitchen. These 'necessity items' can be over looked, by placing other main aspects in your kitchen that do have the much loved distressed look.

Investing in an distressed dining room table could do the trick.

In any room there is usually a focus point, in the living room it's usually the roaring fireplace, but in the kitchen it's usually the kitchen table. Large or small, the kitchen table is where the guests will congregate, where the food is served and where families can all sit around and catch up on their daily doings. A classic example of a shabby chic look kitchen table would be one made of oak or pine that has been distressed to look antique.

Shabby Chic Artwork.

It's not only the living room that can showcase you shabby chic artwork, the kitchen can too. Shabby chic artwork that relates to cooking or dining in some way is usually a good option to go for in the kitchen. If you have coloured kitchen cabinets, try matching the artwork accordingly, to really bring the room together.

A distressed conversation piece?

When your guests walk into the kitchen it's always nice to have a distressed conversation piece to start the evening off. By this we means something that has that 'wow factor' that makes your guests question where you got it from or how you found it. When choosing your piece, ensure it complements the room and that it doesn't look like a 'shark in a fish bowel'.To see a range of good distressed conversation pieces have a look on the 'accessories page' of our website.

If you do prefer the more modern kitchen, try experimenting a little, by mixing distressed accessories and furniture with your modern pieces to get a contemporary feel with an edge... You'll be surprised how well distressed items work in a modern home!

A Shabby Chic Reunion

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Shabby chic is a trend that has been around for generations, and it has recently come back into trend.

Trends are usually associated with music and fashion, however it's not only fashion and music that have their trends... interior design does too. Sometimes you may find trends come and go and the years later came back again . A classic example is the Shabby Chic trend.

Years ago many homes had vintage furniture which had that distressed look about them, that had been passed down through the family... this type of furniture was know to have a Shabby Chic feel. As we mentioned previously that shabby chic look is back, and is taking the nation by storm... Just have a look in high street stores, if their not selling shabby chic furniture , they are using it in their display windows.

Like many shop owners , to get that shabby chic look, people invest in furniture that has been distressed, rather than the modern look furniture. Some say shabby chic look furniture complements the home well and can really add character where its needed the most. It's not to say you should throw away all you new furniture , to get that shabby chic look for your home, you can also mix some retro looking items with modern ones to bring a more contemporary feel.

If you're after a French vibe, shabby chic look furniture is very much like French style furniture and it can turn your home into an old French house in minutes.

Now-a-days there seem to be far too many modern and new things around us that shine and look brand new. So it's not surprising a bit of shabby chic furniture feels like a breath of fresh air.

How to get the 'wow' factor!

If you've ever walked into a well designed, well presented tidy home, you would have got that wow factor. This wow factor is what so many crave to give people when they walk into their own homes, especially if they're serious about interior design. Shabby chic look furniture stands out and makes a statement and can also give someone that wow factor if presented right. Many modern hotels also wish to achieve that wow factor too, as lest face it the more wow, the higher star rating their likely to get from their customers.

If you a business looking for shabby chic look furniture or if you are an individual looking to spice up you home, have a look through our website to find some fantastic shabby chic look furniture and accessories.

Vintage look?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The phrase 'vintage look' is often mentioned when describing furnishings that have been made in the Shabby Chic style. A lot of people strive to achieve that Shabby Chic style throughout their home... however to get the right look you need good quality pieces that look as if they've stood the test of time.

To achieve this look you need a keen eye, so you don't over do it, and distressed look furniture and accessories to really set a room off.

What to look out for?

If you want that shabby chic feel for your home, you need to look out for pieces of furniture that have an antique look about them, but that also have a soft feminine charm about them too.

Vintage look accessories?

When it come to accessories, dress around your room... vintage look products such as Papa Theo's Bamboo Ladder are great for a 'Shabby Chic' inspired bathroom as a towel holder, but are equally as useful in their own right.

Adding light?

Add light to show off your 'Shabby Chic' room, with vintage look lamp stands, as they add a touch of elegance to any side table.

Why choose Shabby Chic?

If you've ever walked into a home that has been inspired by Shabby Chic, you'll know it creates a beautiful feel in the house. It's also ideal for creating the aged feel in a cottage or country home. This timeless style is simple to do and will look fantastic.

How not to go over the top?

With handmade pieces from Papa Theo that have been distressed using a range of techniques, you'll find no trouble creating an overall elegance throughout the home with out going over the top.

Can that Shabby Chic look be achieved in any room?

The simple answer is yes... Papa Theo stock a range of vintage look furniture that can be placed in any room; For example for the bedroom we stock vintage look cabinets and chests, for the bathroom we stock a Bamboo ladder , for the kitchen we stock hand carved mirrors... we even stock vintage look pillars and stands .

If you really want that shabby chic feel for your home take a look at Papa Theo's vintage look range today!

Hand carved fireplaces look good all year round!

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Hand carved fireplaces can turn a dull, cold, boring room into something spectacular!Have you ever walked into a room with a roaring fireplace and felt that pleasant atmosphere from the cosy glow it gives off? In the winter especially that warm cosy glow can turn a cold living room into something a little more inviting. However in the summer months you can also use your fireplace as a decorative feature.

Most hand carved fireplaces have some form of mantel attached to them... this is the perfect place to display decorative items. You can even make the decorative items seasonal if you like, for example you can place Halloween related items on there in October, Christmas ornaments in December and so on). Placing seasonal decorations on the mantel is a great way to turn your fireplace into a dramatic feature for those special occasions.

Make them stand out!

It's important to not to clutter your fireplace mantel with unnecessary clutter! If you're unsure as to what to place on your fireplace here are a few ideas:

For all year round – Place family photographs on the mantel... you can also complement the fireplace with a large mirror directly above it or alternatively you can place an eye-catching piece of artwork, as both of these can be very effective and really make your fireplace stand out .

Seasonal – As mentioned previously you can place seasonal items on your fireplace mantel, however you can also make the artwork above the fireplace seasonal as well. For winter months place artwork or pictures with a more wintry feel. Use blues, whites and darker colours to really give your home a seasonal look. You can complement your art work by also placing similar colours around other areas of you home .

It's also very popular for people to decorate their fireplace mantel with birthday cards and banners... what a great excuse to gather around the fireplace.

Another popular tradition is to hang family stocking on hand carved fireplaces on Christmas Eve .

Papa Theo stock a wide range of hand carved fireplaces , but for now why not give us a call!

Where to put those Shabby Chic look Pillars and Stands

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

If you've been thinking of a way to add that special Shabby Chic flair to your home, but you just can't think of a way to do it... try adding interior architectural mouldings to your home. Adding a Shabby Chic look pillar or stand to an area in your home can give it a reflection of beauty and elegance. It will also make the room stand out, taking it from a regular room, to a room of beauty... which is one way to impress family and friends.

Inside or out?

Papa Theo's Shabby Chic pillars and stands can be used for the interior or exterior of your home. There is a choice of full and half size pillars and stands... so, if you place them inside, you don't over power a room with a giant stand. However if you're placing them outside against a wall, the bigger pillars will really make an impact on your garden design.

The larger pillars and stands are usually placed against a wall however the smaller ones can be turned into table legs or feature stands for plants or flowers.

A bit of history

The pillars and stands that are often seen on the outside of buildings are usually helping the building keep it's structure intact against wind or earthquakes... as stone pillars are designed to resist lateral forces. You'll also find pillars or stands supporting beams or arches on which the upper parts of walls or ceilings rest. These type of pillars and stands are usually referred to as 'columns'... and they can also be used as a decorative element ... in this case they are not usually needed for structural purposes.

Back in the day

Iron Age civilisations of the Near East and Mediterranean all made some use of columns . Early columns were constructed of stone, this made them very heavy . However Papa Theo's Pillars and stands are made from solid mango wood and are hand-painted to look distressed and antique and available in natural limed, antique white or gold finishes, to give them the "Shabby Chic" look.

Pillars and stands make a great addition to any home, so why not have a look a Papa Theo's Shabby Chic range today!

Sought-After Distressed Furniture

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Back in the day, if a piece of furniture or picture frame was distressed it basically meant it had been around for generations... most of the paint would have been worn off or nicked by being moved too many times. It's strange to think that, that same look is very sought-after now-a-days.

One of the main reasons this distressed look is so sought-after is because it adds character and style to a home, complementing many different types of décor... you can't quite say that modern furniture does the same.

Distressed look furniture is usually sold under the name 'shabby chic'... as let's face it owning a piece of shabby chic look furniture sounds much better than owning a distressed piece of furniture. Many stores selling 'shabby chic look' furniture sell new furniture that has gone through the distressing process, as this keeps the cost of the furniture much lower than selling real antiques... lets face it, we could all do with saving a bit of money.

Distressing furniture is a skilled technique of designing the furniture in such a way that it looks charmingly worn out.

To distress a piece of furniture is relatively simple. First you must determine what you would like the finished piece to look like. To get that 'two coloured look' you will need to add two layers of paint to the furniture. Usually a brighter colour for the base coat works well as it peeks through the top coat.

To achieve that 'rubbed-off' look', you can use sandpaper to rub off the paint to reveal the under layer of wood... this will make a new piece of furniture look like it's been around for years.

If you wish to mute or age the colours you've painted the furniture with you can, by adding wood stain to it afterwards. However you can just paint clear polyurethane over the finished project... if you do this, remember to use a water-based polyurethane as this won't yellow over time.

To see a range of professionally distressed furniture, have a look at the Papa Theo website www.papatheo.co.uk

Look at your home in a new light with vintage lampstands

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Papa Theo's exclusively designed lampstands are hand-painted to look distressed and antique to give them a vintage feel. They are also available in natural limed, antique white or gold finishes, to give them the "shabby chic" look. These beautiful, elegant, sophisticated and affordable reproductions will make a great addition to any home.

Having good lighting in a home is important, as it can make or break the ambience of a room... so it pays to get it right.

Re-decorate with light!

If you want to update or improve a room without getting out a paint brush... try adding some light. Good lighting can make a room feel fresh and like new again.

Different types of lighting

All rooms need some form of light, whether it's natural light, background light, ambient light or work light.

Before adding light to a room, you need to see where light is going to be needed the most . Light can also be used as decoration... so if you have any fixtures or fittings that need lighting up, you need to consider where you are going to source the light from. If the light you're sourcing it from is a lamp, be careful not to have wires on show or in the way.

Different types of lighting can create different atmospheres within a room, for example:

1. Down lighting is used to create a soft glow to add ambience to a room. This type of lighting is usually used in a reception or dining room, to create a romantic atmosphere.

2. Spot lights can be used to make a feature of a key aspect in a room. A good use of spot lighting is in the corners of a room, where you wouldn't normally have light.

3. If you want to have different levels of light, this is where vintage look lampstands come in. This type of indirect lighting is an interesting way of adding atmosphere to a room.

4. If your not a fan of having the main lights on of an evening in the front room, then each seating area in the room will need to have it's own light, so people can read at their pleasure without having to turn on the main lights.

If you crave that vintage look for you home, try scattering vintage look lampstands, candlesticks or sconces around your living room, kitchen and bedrooms... you'll be surprised how much it will change a room.

Get inspiration from the Shabby Chic style

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The shabby chic style has been around for many years, our mothers and even our grand mothers will be familiar with the classy, vintage look, the shabby chic style upholds.

Many 'new' interior design styles ideas get inspiration from 'trends' of the past, but it's not only interior design styles that get inspiration from the past... many new fashion styles do as well. A classic example of this is when the 'vintage' style swept the nation this year. This 'new' style has seen those 'old' checked shirts come back into fashion for the second time.

It's very common for 'old styles' to come back into fashion years later, so next time you look in your wardrobe... don't throw away those 'old jeans' just yet.

If your not familiar with the phrase 'shabby chic', it is usually referred to, in interior design, as furniture and furnishings that have signs of wear and tear, or new items that have been distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique.

Shabby chic has a soft, minimalistic and feminine feel, which emphasises it's difference from regular vintage décor... you could say this is why shabby chic has “chic” in the name.

Items that are considered shabby chic are the ones that have been heavily painted, with many layers showing through due to wear over the years. This look has become ever so popular, and now new items and being painted and then 'sanded' down to get the same distressed look.

The usual colours you'll find in a shabby chic style room is white and soft pastel. The soft pastel colours are handy if someone was to have white walls, as they could then complement the room by incorporating shabby chic look furniture with a bit of colour.

One place to go if you're looking for a shabby chic style piece of furniture is Papa Theo. All Papa Theo's products are exclusively designed and manufactured for Papa Theo and hand-painted to look distressed and antique and available in natural limed, antique white or gold finishes, to give them the "shabby chic" look you all love. These beautiful, elegant, sophisticated and affordable reproductions will make a great addition to any home.

Have a look online at Papa Theo's shabby chic furniture range today www.papatheo.co.uk

New Year, New Start – Distressed Look Furniture!

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Distressed look furniture can help you make a new start this year, by bringing something different to your interiors. The New Year is just around the corner, and thought's like 'new year, new start' pop into our minds a lot. A new start can relate to many things, from a new job, a new home, or even a new style to your home.

Changing your homes design can seem like a nightmare, but it's really not. If you know what look you want to achieve, you can either get a professional in to do it... or save money and do it yourself. If you're planning on re-decorating your interiors yourself, try getting a few magazines that have a similar style to what your after... that way you can get a few ideas for your own home.

The festive break is the best time to consider re-designing your home, as you have a few 'spare' days to have a good thank about what you want to change and how you're going to do it. Top tip, adding or replacing furniture can be a great way to bring in a new look. Distressed look furniture is a popular new way to provide a rustic feel.

At Papa Theo we have a wide range of products that have been hand painted so they look distressed and seem antique. This means you can have a new look in your home for the new year, with furniture that looks expensive, but only costs a fraction of genuine rare antique items.

If you're thinking about the shabby chic look for your home, here is another thing to consider... combining several different types of furniture enables you to easily convert a room in your home to have a shabby chic style. Shabby chic is considered a classy look, and yet it has a slightly scruffy feel to it, so that it look expensive. You can also create soft lighting from a distressed style lampshades so the space in your home will be improved on the whole.

If you are re-decorating, don't rush to change the colour of walls, and carpets to overhaul a room, try using a distressed look mirror first, as this will not only provide an attractive feature, but will help to reflect light into the room, thus making it feel more airy bright .

Using distressed look furniture can save you time, effort and money this new year... so don't be afraid to make a fresh start in 2012.

Can you mix contemporary with vintage?

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Mixing traditional vintage furniture in a contemporary home is always a worry... what is it doesn't match? … Don't panic, as we find mixing your old furniture with new items you already have in your contemporary home looks fantastic and allows you to save money.

How vintage furniture can save you money.

To get that much loved vintage look in your home, it involves miss match furniture and a bit of elegance. Mix it up a bit... Being able to mix your old furniture with new furniture, allows you to just buy the one piece .

Worried about buying new furniture?

If you already have an established style in your home, adding new furniture doesn't need to stick out like a sore thumb. If you have that vintage look down to a tee, you can buy new furniture that looks like your old furniture, but still full fills your need to buy something new. Vintage 'look' furniture from Papa Theo is new furniture that has been distressed to look old... so it'll fit right in!

But what about new homes?

If you find your modern apartment is feeling a bit harsh around the edges with the magnolia walls, and ultra modern schemes, the vintage look could be just what it needs to make it feel more 'homely'.

Never go out of fashion!

With interior design just lately, all the 'old styles' seem to be re-appearing in our lives. This is because the styles our parents and their parents used to love has come back in fashion. For the last few years one of the most popular styles that has swung back into the stores is the shabby chic look... also known as the vintage look.

This reincarnation of the vintage style has seen stores recreating the shabby chic style with and electric mix of new furniture that has been distressed to look old.

If you want that vintage look you have to be brave!

Be different and don't be afraid to stand out. The vintage look doesn't require things to match. Miss matched distressed furniture will charm and interest you and your guests... trust us!

Also you must remember, the vintage look isn't limited to old pieces and collectables. If you try and incorporate pieces from different decades it should really capture that vintage feel.

Why do we put shabby chic look mirrors in our homes?

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Shabby chic look mirrors can bring light into a room creating depth, making the room look larger than it actually is. Not only are mirrors useful but they can also be items of art as well. Stunning hand carved shabby chic mirrors can become the focus pint in a room that all your guests will be talking about.

Where is best to place a mirror?

There is no set place for a mirror to be placed, however there are a number of sizes and shapes to fit with the shape of your room.

Large standing mirrors are usually placed near the door, as they offer a last chance to check your appearance before you head out, and lets face it, it beats running up the stairs to check one last time.

In a hall way adding a number of smaller shabby chic look mirrors into the small space will turn your hallway into a piece of art, whilst adding light and creating the illusion of more space.

In the living room:

If placed in the right place, a shabby chic mirror can reflect a relaxing candle glow, making it a romantic area for you and your partner.

In the box room:

Hanging a shabby chic look mirror in a tiny room will give an illusion that it is actually bigger that it really is. Thus turning your box room into a useful area that you can enjoy just as much as the rest of your home.

Choosing the right shabby chic look mirror:

When choosing your shabby chic look mirror, consider the style of the room you want to place it in. As shabby chic look mirrors should coincide with other pieces of wall art you already have in your home, to create the desired look you want to achieve.

Shabby chic look mirrors are unique, and with their own style they create an eye-catching piece in any style home. Whether you have a traditional or contemporary home, shabby chic look mirrors work well in either. The distressed look that the shabby chic style is well known for fits in perfectly with a traditional home. However if you have more of a modernised home, shabby chic look mirrors can add a dramatic effect to a room.

If you want to make a stylish impact in your home with light, space and art consider a shabby chic look mirror for your home.

Preserving Heritage with Distressed Look Furniture

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Before distressed look furniture became so popular, it was the real antiques that took the nation by storm. Real antiques are still popular in today's market, however their price has not been so popular, especially the way our economy is heading lately. This is where distressed look furniture has come into place, and taken the nation by surprise.

Distressed look furniture is furniture that has been distressed by paint, sand paper or other materials to look old and 'distressed'. This old and distressed look is often what is seen in real antiques, as they have gone through many years with many bumps and scuffs. However this look has become a trend, gaining the name 'vintage'.

Antique furniture has always been popular to pass down through the family, as it's always nice to sit back and think of the different cultures and eras that antique furniture has gone through. However more often than not, the handed down furniture is far to big for the modernised home, so it's is often sold or given away to another family member.

Just think; after you've sold or given away the antique furniture what's left to pass down to the kids? … Distressed furniture is the perfect solution. A distressed piece of furniture has the look of the passed down antique furniture we all love, but doesn't come with the price tag . The distressed furniture from Papa Theo is made from high quality mango wood, so you can be sure it will last from generation to generation.

Antique furniture is a fantastic way to preserve the heritage and culture in a home. There are not many items that can stand the test of time as the materials used today are not as good quality as you were once able to get. However as we've discussed furniture from Papa Theo is made from high quality mango wood, so you can be sure it will stand the test of time.

Antique furniture has proven it's ability to last over many years and will last many more to come. This is why it has become one of the most popular choices for family homes. However with antique furniture becoming so popular it means the price of it has gone up too. Hence why many people prefer to have the antique look with distressed furniture, rather than pay through the roof. Distressed furniture is much cheaper to replace than real antiques. This can be very beneficial if you have children who run around and have a tendency to draw on the furniture in your home.

Papa Theo have a large range of shabby chic, distressed look furniture, at fantastic prices, have a look at our range today or give us a call to find out more.

A vintage Christmas

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Vintage look furniture has never been more popular that at Christmas. With distant family, people may have not seen for years, coming to their home, it’s no wonder people go that extra mile to impress. It’s funny how vintage look furniture, never cesses to impress in a traditions or contemporary home, maybe that’s why it’s become so popular over the years.

When it’s comes to Christmas time, we all want our homes to look at their best. Many of us have different tastes and no one can tell you what your home should or shouldn’t look like this Christmas... it’s all down to personal preference.

However when you are choosing your vintage decor this holiday season, think about what mood you want to set. As colours can set the mood of a room, so if you want the family relaxed this Christmas, consider cool colours such as blue sea, foam green, cool shades of pink or lavender. However if you want the kid’s excited for Christmas, enhance the energy in the room with deep red, lemon yellow and creamy orange colours.

The colours you choose for a room can completely transform a basic living area into an extraordinary place to spend the holiday season. Many people try experimenting with something a bit different, like bold and daring colours to create that completely new look.

Adding colour to a room could not only change the mood in the room, but also enlarge and brighten up a small space. If you don’t want to get the paint out just before Christmas, don’t panic the right vintage look furniture can become the focus point in the room, averting stray eyes away from the walls. This will make a dramatic impact on the living space, no matter what room it’s in. Adding a little creative thought to the vintage furniture you place in the room will be the perfect way to impress this Christmas, without a paint brush.

If you want the vintage vibe flowing throughout your home, but can’t quite afford antiques, vintage look furniture can be your solution. Vintage look furniture is painted and distresses to look like your real antiques, but is a fraction of the price. Enabling you to spend more money on the kid’s, or your other half this year, which I’m sure they will be please about.

To impress this Christmas... just think vintage!

Can shabby chic really turn a house into a home?

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

We’ve all heard the shabby chic look can turn a house into a home, but the big question is why/how?

A home is a place where you feel most comfortable, a place you can relax and enjoy with your family and friends. Home is also a place where we can make our own individual mark, whether it is in the garden design or in the interior design of our home. It’s often hard to create our own individual style with mass produced, flat pack furniture, especially if several of our friends have the exact same furniture in their own homes.

Shabby chic look furniture and shabby chic accessories are a simple solution to inject a home with instant individual charm. One of the key features shabby chic look furniture and accessories up holds is the antique effect, however they don’t contain the price tag. This is because shabby chic look furniture is usually new furniture that has been distressed to look antique, so it shows off the vintage style well but doesn’t come as pricy as genuine antiques.

To create this antique look, shabby chic furniture is painted in layers with purposefully worn spots to create an antique effect. Adding shabby chic to a home will help create a feminine style that tape’s into its romantic vein. Shabby chic furniture can also create a warm, comfortable but stylish space, hence why it’s often said the shabby chic look helps make a house a home.

The shabby chic style exposed in many interior designs is thought to have originated in the UK. Shabby chic was inspired by the historic large country houses, with their rich, classical style with a touch of elegance. The term shabby chic is said to embrace a certain bohemian ethos and artisan sensibility.

Shabby chic was emerged in interior design in the 1980s, and was essentially about style and class in a home; it has recently crossed over from the world of interior design into that of fashion. In fashion people wearing clothes that are passed down or picked up from charity shops are labelled shabby chic. In interior design shabby chic furniture and shabby chic accessories can be genuine antiques however as we’ve said before shabby chic usually is formed from new furniture that has been designed to imitate an antique to keep the price low.

Once the distressing process has been used on furniture to give it that shabby chic look, it will then capture that desirable rustic, unique, vintage vibe in your home.

Shabby chic look furniture - What you need and what you want?

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Many of us suffer from buying shabby chic look things on impulse; it’s a fantastic feeling but may not be the best way to create you interiors. When buying shabby chic look furniture it’s always best to take your time and browse the various types of shabby chic furniture available so that you can pick the right pieces for the right places in your home.

There is a wide range of shabby chic look furniture for all areas of your home, whether it is for the bedroom, living room, the bathroom or even for the garden. If you having a complete home make over, concentrate on each room at a time, and before you commit to buying, think what you need, then you can choose what you want.

When buying anything everyone has a budget, luckily shabby chic look furniture is surprisingly affordable so you don’t need a massive budget to get what you want. But still you can’t buy everything all at once, so make sure you know exactly how much you can afford, as it’s easy to get carried away when you start browsing.

Consider you existing furnishing, as shabby chic furniture is elegant and appealing, and your existing furniture and decor needs to fit in with the furniture you’re buying, alternatively you can always redecorate too. To get the best effect from shabby chic look furniture think about where you’re going to place it in your home, i.e. don’t buy a massive shabby chic look table if you don’t have the space to place it in.

Always accessorise! Shabby chic look furniture looks great on its own, however you can make it look even better if you choose the right accessories. Accessories can include china, flowers, lamps and art. Ensure your accessories are in keeping with the shabby chic style, so it complements the furniture and brings the room together.

It’s sometimes hard to see all the shabby chic furniture at once in a shop, and it can be a tad overwhelming, with stack of it surrounding you. The best way to buy shabby chic look furniture is often online, as then you can sit back and relax with your cup of tea and browse through each and every item thoroughly, to ensure you choose the right piece for your home. You can also watch your budget online, and not get too carried away by the magnificent shabby chic look pieces that surround you.

Distressed look furniture - D.I.Y

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Have you ever noticed antiques have a certain elegant look about them; they have what we call a distressed look.

This antique look can be achieved on newer pieces of furniture too, simply by distressing them. This achieves the shabby chic look you want without paying through the roof .

It often depends on the style of furniture as to how much distressing is needed. Many types of wooden furniture can be distressed with relative ease.

Tips to getting the distressed look:

The simplest way to create distressed furniture is to ensure your piece of furniture has two layers of paint, . Antique white or gold paint works well, if you want to achieve a piece in keeping with the shabby chic style. Once the paint has dried, use grain sandpaper to gently thin the topcoat so the second coat of paint peeks through. The idea is to make your furniture look as if the paint has been worn over time .

You can also go that bit further with the distressing process by using chains of different sizes to create the look of years by creating nicks and dents in the surface of the wood . After you’ve created the dents they can then be filled in with stain, which will help enhance the overall aged look.

When distressing any furniture you must make sure the furniture is a good candidate for distressing. As if the design of the furniture is more modern, distressing the piece is likely to look artificial and out of place.

Why choose the distressed look?

Many people love the distressed look as it creates a warm feeling in a room by conveying a sense of continuity with the past. The distressing process allows new furniture to appear to have been with you your entire life and has had years of loving use.

The distressed look can be hard to achieve if you don’t have the right materials or skills. If distressing is not properly performed it can make the furniture look like it’s been greatly abused. That’s why many people prefer to buy furniture with the distressed look already apparent. This leaves the hard work to the professionals, and saves you time and possibly even money too.

Vintage never goes out of fashion

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Home is a reflection of your personal style and taste. Vintage furniture is often used by many people to add a certain character and charm to a home, and conveys the class of a beautiful room within a home.

Vintage furniture is for those who wish to depict a time period of beauty and grace. The rooms’ in which vintage furniture is placed in is of course your decision, but wherever the vintage furniture is placed, you can be sure it will give the room a stylish atmosphere.

The quality materials and construction are what makes vintage furniture such desirable pieces. The beautiful engravings and finishes have become ever so popular over the last few years, alongside more and more people longing for the good old days. Vintage furniture is said to enable you to capture a glimpse of the past, but without the price tag.

When decorating with vintage furniture, it can be difficult, as not everyone is trained and skilled at decorating. However there are a few tips one should follow to help create a masterpiece, even if you’re not a professional.

To start with vintage can work really well with the contemporary look, and combining the two can enable you to show off your love for the vintage style, whilst still being up to date. To achieve this try including several select vintage pieces within a modern room, this way it won’t feel like your stepping into a completely different era when you walk from room to room.

The second tip, as many of you may have heard before, less is more. A moderate amount of vintage furniture will display the vintage style well. A cluttered room can sometimes make people feel claustrophobic instead of at ease and relaxed. With any room the aim should be to make people feel relaxed, as this is what makes a house a home.

Following these two tips and doing a bit of research should enable you to create the perfect vintage haven, without having to call in the professionals.

History of Distressed Indonesian Furniture

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The distressed Indonesian furniture style has been influenced by many different cultures, cultures which including; China, India, Portugal, Holland and Islam. These cultures have inspired Indonesia to create their own elaborate furniture which is suited to the heat and tropical weather typical in the country.

Some Indonesian furniture examples includes marble top tables, elegant chairs with woven rattan seats, carved benches for the waiting rooms outside business and government offices, massive desks, smaller inlaid writing desks, elaborately carved and painted ceremonial wedding beds with secret compartments for valuables.

All the different types of furniture produced in Indonesia has detailed carvings , all of which are carved by hand; to give it the unique, ‘once in a life time’ feel.

One of the characteristics of Indonesian furniture is its low price tag, however that is not it’s only characteristic. Indonesian furniture is also beautifully designed and made to high standards, so you can be assured of the quality when you take it home. You’ll find that Indonesian furniture can also add value to a home with its quality antique look and distressed style.

Indonesian furniture is a fantastic way to make your house a home. Using Indonesian furniture to fill those empty spaces can really make a room feel warm and cosy. If you love distressed items and pride yourself with the antique look scattered all over your home, you will adore the reproduction that come from Indonesia.

If the distressed Indonesian furniture style is for you, check out Papa Theo’s range of distressed furniture and accessories that have been created in Indonesia by a select group of skilled wood carvers and artists, with whom Papa Theo have established a mutually beneficial partnership. Papa Theo rely on traditional skills so they can consider bespoke creations if you really want a piece of distressed Indonesian art of your own.

Bring that vintage vibe outside

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

It’s about time we all realise the garden something to be used, not just looked at. If you love the vintage vibe inside your homes, there’s no reason why you can’t take it outside too.

In the summer months the garden literally can become an extension of your home. It offers you an extra space for relaxing, entertaining and just like any room you can decorate and design it too. We maybe past the summer months, but luckily so far the summers weather has stayed with us. So what better opportunity to make the most of our garden before the winter weather truly kicks in!

If your garden is decked with plastic chairs and rusty old cheap plant pots, you’re missing out on the beauty and comfort that can be created in the garden. Vintage look garden accessories and furniture can really help you live your life in shabby chic style. Most of Papa Theo’s furniture can be taken into the garden as it’s made of solid mango wood, which enables you to create that beautiful vintage vibe outside, matching the inside.

With living costs hitting an all time high, people are reluctant to move into bigger homes to get more living space. This is why the idea of, the garden being an extension of your homes, has caught on. With Papa Theo offering vintage vibe furniture that can be taken outside it can be lot cheaper than moving house.

Embrace that extra space by creating your garden into a haven or even a place of peace. If you love that vintage look and take pride in your home, you wouldn’t dream of putting plastic furniture in your living room, so why should it be any different in your garden! Investing in beautiful vintage look garden accessories and garden furniture to match the style of your shabby chic furniture, can be a rewarding investment. It could also offer a sense of purpose to your garden, for example with Papa Theo’s Ornamental Wooden Butlers Tray; you can eat alfresco every night.

If you’re looking for that vintage vibe not only inside but outside as well, Papa Theo can be your sanctuary with its handmade vintage look furniture and accessories.

Shabby Chic in the bedroom

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The bedroom is the one place where we are able to be ourselves and not worry about what the outside world outside thinks. When it comes to the design of our bedroom, we are able to set our minds free, and create what we think a bedroom should really look like.

Aspiring to the shabby chic look in the bedroom is very common when decorating it. The shabby chic look is a particularly popular look for bedrooms as it creates charm, character and a bohemian atmosphere. With the right shabby chic furniture you’ll be able to create a bedroom that feels lived in, with an antique charm and that oozes style.

The shabby chic style is one that has been with us throughout the years and is still becoming more and more popular. Furniture with a shabby chic look enables you to have that antique feel in your homes without breaking the bank .

If you’re not looking to change your furniture just yet, have a look a Papa Theo’s shabby chic look accessories. Accessories can be the small touches you need, just to finish off your bedroom, without the hassle of moving furniture around. Small accessories such as a dressing table mirror can really bring shabby chic to the bedroom ensuring your room has that feminine glamour.

Many of Papa Theo’s furniture and accessories work well in any room, however we are concentrating on stylising the bedroom as the bedroom is where you go to retreat from the day-to-day grind so it should be a sensuous haven. After you’ve got your bedroom as it should be, you can then start on the other rooms.

Whether your limited with space or you have a large empty room to fill, you can be sure to find the perfect shabby chic furniture and accessories to help create the beautiful, indulgent room you deserve at Papa Theo.

Assert your shabby chic personality

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Asserting your shabby chic personality in a room could turn your house into a home. Giving your house a makeover could be just what you need if you’re looking for a fresh start.

It is often said ‘the grass is greener on the other side’ but recently most of us have come to realise that when we get to the other side, it’s not much better. Selling up and moving on doesn’t seem to be the answer to our problems anymore. Instead of this extravagant decision, people are investing in shabby chic look furniture and home accessories to improve the look of their old homes. Investing in shabby chic look furniture is also a way of putting a unique mark on your home without the price tag. Papa Theo’s range of shabby chic look handmade furniture is a chance to invest in one-off furniture and accessories that can transform your homes into something you can be proud of .

In our homes, when we are young we had one room which was our own . As we grow up this space multiplies. Once we have our own homes we are able to decorate each room as we like with no restriction. However many of us find ourselves having to share this wonderful space with a loved one. That’s not too bad, unless you have totally different tastes; this is where compromise comes into play. Work out with your loved one who is decorating which rooms, that way you can never come home and be horrified to find a pool table in place of your lovely shabby chic look coffee table.

If you're sharing you space with your little ones, dedicate them their own space too . That way they should be less likely to try and ‘help’ decorate the kitchen or living room .

When decorating their bedrooms children usually use this opportunity to reclaim their own space by putting a definite stamp on their rooms as expressions of their personality or creativity. It’s recommended as we get older we do the same, as doing so is a powerful way of creating renewed life for aspects of yourself that may have been buried. So make the most of that shabby chic look furniture and put it in a space where it can be seen but secretly it’s just for you.

The very best thing about Vintage

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Vintage can mean almost anything, these days; it’s used to describe anything from clothing to décor to furniture. Vintage is so popular, any merchant can put a tag on an item saying ‘Vintage’ and it will be sold instantly for twice the amount it’s worth. Unfortunately, there are many people out there that do this kind of thing but there are ways of not being fooled into buying a fake; the best way is to buy only from reliable and trusted sellers.

It’s easy to know when a seller is reliable and trusted, they will have good reviews and recommendations and lots of detail about the items they are selling. The ‘Shabby Chic’ look is fantastically popular at the moment as it replicates the Vintage look but is much more affordable. Many sellers will try to pass off Shabby Chic items as pure Vintage; a trusted seller will sell Shabby Chic items alongside real Vintage items .

The great thing about Vintage is that you only need one item to make it really work; just a Vintage coffee table or side cabinet will instantly make a room feel more sophisticated and charming. The same goes for clothing, just one piece of Vintage clothing with set an outfit off perfectly. Obviously, you don’t have to just have one item and it looks brilliant when Vintage furniture is matched with Vintage décor.

If you want to bring a little history into your home, there’s no better way to do it than with Vintage items and it can be from any period of history you like . The 60s and 70s are particularly popular because of the huge changes that happened during that time; after the war, people started decorating their homes with bright colours and funky patterns and shapes. There are loads of items around from this period and they are usually easy to get hold of as it wasn’t as long ago as say, the Victorian era which is another extremely popular and fashionable; there are also many Vintage items around from the Victorian era and they have a very classy feel that make homes inviting and warm. Victorian items can be quite hard to get hold of and it’s usually within this area that Shabby Chic items are inspired.

Vintage items often don’t need placing in the middle of a room on full show; people will automatically be drawn to your item no matter where it is in the room . People are always fascinated by Vintage items because they give you a small insight into what life was like in that period, how people lived and what a house would have looked like.

There are so many brilliant things about Vintage items and the world knows it. It’s hard to go into a house these days and not see at least one Vintage item, whether it’s there on purpose or not; the simple truth is, everyone loves Vintage.

How to get the Shabby Chic look

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The shabby chic look is getting more and more popular day-by-day. Everybody loves antiques but the genuine articles are hard to get hold of and are usually really expensive. Many families are using the shabby chic look to reproduce an antique-y feel to their home because it’s much more affordable and still looks brilliant. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to get the shabby chic look...

Step 1: To be able to get the shabby chic look, you must first understand what it means and where it comes from.

Shabby chic replicates antique style furniture and décor and gives any room a warm elegance. There was a large movement in the 1980’s in which the shabby chic look became hugely popular and since then popularity has carried on rising. The shabby chic look originating in Great Britain and has since spread out across Europe and over to America.

Step 2: Choose which room you are going to remodel in the shabby chic look.

This is incredibly important. You may have already have decided on which room you wish to redecorate, or you may have just decided that you want the shabby chic look in your home. If you are unsure of which room to make up, take a long hard think about it and take the following into consideration:

Giving the shabby chic look to your lounge will make your home glow with sophistication and people will love visiting. It is said that the kitchen is the heart of a home and most people spend a lot of time here. The shabby chic look will give your kitchen a much more relaxed feel. Not everyone will see your bathroom but those who do will be blown away if it is given the shabby chic look. Also, the cool, pale colours generally used in shabby chic work brilliantly in the bathroom. Decorating your bedroom with the shabby chic look will create a stylish haven that you will never want to leave.

Step 3: Not all colour themes will work with the shabby chic look.

Before you go out and buy accessories and furniture to go in your beautiful shabby chic room, you need to think about the colour scheme you are going to use. A lot of shabby chic furniture and accessories are pale colours so you need to take this into consideration when choosing. It’s also worth taking into consideration what kind of room it is: big, small, narrow, high ceilinged, etc. These are all things that need to be thought about before you go crazy buying stuff because if it doesn’t work then you may just have lost out on a lot of money

Step 4: Choose the right furniture.

When you have finished step 3 you should be left with an empty room that is ready to be furnished. Choosing your furniture can be a difficult task – you don’t want to overdo it as shabby chic is very minimalistic but sometimes it’s hard not to want everything you see. Try starting out with just a few pieces – a settee or chair, a table and a cabinet, if you’re redecorating your lounge - and build it up from there. If you do go overboard on buying furniture you can always spread it about the house a bit; that’s the great thing about shabby chic – it can go with everything! Remember to keep your room looking inviting and relaxed.

Step 5: Time to accessorise!

Now all that’s left to do is accessorise your room, in the shabby chic look. There are so many ways you can accessorise with shabby chic and it all depends on how far you want to go with the look. If you want to keep it as minimalistic as possible, try adding a mirror, a lamp or maybe some photo frames. If you’re going for a more full-on look, you can try shelving, pillars or statues – just choose what’s right for you!

Congratulations! You’re shabby chic room is now completed and it looks absolutely beautiful. Now all is left to do is enjoy it! Invite friends and family over and feel the overwhelming sense of pride as they are astounded at the simplistic elegance oozing from your home; and that is how you get the Shabby Chic look.

Careful, the Vintage vibe can be very catchy!

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Vintage vibe is one décor that will never get old – because that’s what it’s supposed to be! The meaning of vintage can apply to furniture, clothing, household accessories and décor; all of these are incredibly popular and have been for a long time.

Vintage décor is especially popular in homes across Britain; everyone desires the charm and sense of history that vintage brings in their living space. This is done with Vintage furniture like settees, chairs, tables, cabinets, dressers and even beds. Vintage is often seen as a status symbol as most vintage items would have been from the middle or upper classes and everybody likes their home to look as beautiful as possible.

Vintage items aren’t from any particular age but it’s always best to stick to the same era when decorating your home with Vintage items; it may look a bit odd with 60s wallpaper and curtains matched with Victorian furniture.

The Vintage vibe adds so much warmth to any home or room that all your friends will want a piece for their own. There’s nothing better than walking into an inviting home and knowing it’s all yours. If you have the vintage vibe in your home, all your friends will be green with envy.

Of course, you don’t have to decorate an entire room in a Vintage style for it to be charming; just a few well placed items will fill the room with an enchanting ambience that will stay with you and anyone who visits, even after you leave the house.

Vintage items can be quite hard to come by and are often quite expensive. The shabby chic look replicates Vintage but can be much more affordable and most definitely easier to come by. Some people are focussed on only incorporating real vintage items into their home and spend years finding the right items and using their creativity to produce the perfect atmosphere in their home.

After decorating your home with Vintage items, it won’t be long before you notice a few vintage items appearing in the homes of your friends and family. The inviting environment and the simplistic beauty that they felt and saw at your house were too appealing to not incorporate it in their own homes.

The Vintage vibe is incredibly welcoming and it’s fascinating to watch how it spreads like wildfire through homes across Britain. Everyone wants a piece and who can blame them? Vintage furniture and accessories are almost always unique and therefore, you’ll never see them same piece twice. This is one of the main reasons why people often ‘over-do’ the Vintage look – there’s so many different pieces to choose from it’s hard to know which one is best.

The Vintage vibe is fast travelling around the country – some people love it, some don’t. However, people forget that the Vintage vibe doesn’t necessarily mean filling a room with objects; just one well placed Vintage item will set the room of beautifully.

Distressed hand carved fireplaces, nice for Victorian houses

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Victorian houses are extremely popular and if people can’t get the real thing, they do their best to recreate it. Distressed furniture and accessories, such as distressed hand carved fireplaces, are a big part of that and can set the home off beautifully.

Architecture changed quite dramatically during the Victorian era. The industrial revolution saw many more houses being built and whereas, the classic regency style of architecture had been commonly used before, more and more houses were being built in newer, more contemporary styles such as Italianate and influenced by the gothic revival.

There are a wide range of Victorian houses standing today all over Britain. Most have been renovated and redecorated to look more modern and fitting in the 21st Century. However, there are a few Victorian houses that still hold all their former glory. Many of these are listed and therefore, cannot be renovated. Most of these are the bigger Victorian houses which, back in the day, would have houses upper and middle class civilians and had enough room to accommodate for their servants too. These larger houses were generally made to more classical styles like the Gothic and Queen Anne styles of architecture.

A huge aspect to the dramatic change in architecture was due to the industrial revolution. Not only did they suddenly have enough labour to build more houses, they had more and different materials to build them with. Unfortunately, along with the glamour and richness that came with the industrial revolution, more sickness in the working class due to constantly working and more child labour which resulted in young children being beaten and put in terrible and dangerous situations.

However, the standard of living for the working class improved dramatically during this time. New laws were bought in for hygiene and living space and the death rate dropped dramatically.

During the industrial revolution, machines were introduced into factories. This left a lot of skilled people out of a job. Many people rose up and took action into their own hands by burning down factories and machinery and demanding their jobs back. It was about this time that others formed the first trade unions and started striking, to the point that trade unions were banned!

The Victorian era is a fascinating time which caused a lot of changed to everyone who lived in that time, and to everyone that has been born since and it is because of this that so many people want to recreate that feeling in their homes today. The wealthy of the Victorian era lived in such glamour and beauty; it’s hard to understand why someone wouldn’t want to recreate that.

A lot of old Victorian houses that have not been renovated, still have the big bay or sash windows, beautiful porches and other grand Victorian features, all that is needed are distressed hand carved fireplaces to complete the look.

Vintage without the price tag!

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

When the word vintage is placed on a product it usually gives the shop an excuse to up the price. However at Papa Theo this is not the case, the word vintage to Papa Theo means something a little different and unique.

At Papa Theo we believe we should celebrate the past and enable all generations to experience the vintage vibe of the shabby chic era. This means we need to keep the prices low and the quality high, to let more people experience just how wonderful the good old days were.

The vintage vibe to run throughout Papa Theo’s products, and many products work well in a number of room in the home. From the bathroom to the bedroom not forgetting the living room, Papa Theo’s furniture and accessories never looks out of place in a traditional or contemporary home.

Many of Papa Theo’s products are hand made by specially selected craftsman in Indonesia, so you’re very unlikely to see the exact same product twice making them unique and better still, vintage. The craftsman over the years, have become experts in distressing Papa Theo’s products to make them look more antique and so in keeping with the Shabby Chic era. Making a house a home is one of the crucial aspects one needs to take care of first, especially if you’ve just moved from a small house into a much larger one. After you’ve packed away all your precious belongings into their designated place, there can be empty space, making your house look empty and unwelcoming. If you fill that space with vintage look accessories that match your decoration it can really bring a room together. Better still if you find you have lots of junk left over that you can’t quite bring yourself you get rid of, Papa Theo’s vintage look furniture can come in handy as the junk can be placed inside and hidden out of sight , leaving you with the vintage exterior your happy to show off to your friends.

So if you want a vintage vibe running through your home, new or old, without the expensive prices have a look at Papa Theo’s range today!

Make an antique house a shabby chic home

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The shabby chic style is often described as something that is more antique. Antique items are often expensive this is why Papa Theo use the distressing process to make new items look antique, keeping the price low and the quality high.

Many shabby chic look items are used in homes across the country. It’s often said your home is where your heart is. To turn those bricks and water into a home there are many things you can do.

Firstly flaunt your photographs on mantle pieces, above the fire or on work surfaces. The photographs don’t necessarily need to be professional; in fact the photos you take yourselves could give your home a bit of quirkiness and originality. These photographs also tell stories of your family or friends, and allow you to take those happy memories into the house, making you feel comfortable and at home. Invest in new furniture; this could give your home a quick face lift, without having to get the paint brush out. If you’re reluctant to throw away your old furniture, because it just fits in with the look you’re after, but it is falling apart; Don’t worry you can now get brand new furniture that doesn’t look perfectly modern, so it will fit in with your shabby chic home.

When you decide it’s time to invest in new furniture, make sure it’s of high quality, as lower quality furniture could damage easily, or fall to pieces the very next day, costing you more money. If you want an antique look without the risk of it falling to pieces, Papa Theo stock a wide range of high quality shabby chic look furniture and accessories. The shabby chic furniture commonly uses distressed materials to create an antique look we know you crave, but without the price tag.

Many of Papa Theo’s shabby chic look items, including cabinets, chests, chairs and benches have a distressed look, this distressed look makes the furniture feel at home in a lived in house.

You can also make your home a place you want to go back to, by hiding away clutter with certain shabby chic furniture. For example if you have children, Papa Theo stock a Children’s Bedroom Single Toy Cabinet, which can store your little ones precious toys in when they’re not using them. A clutter free home gives a sense of space; that space allows you to feel stress free and happy to be at home.

If you want to make your house a home, with the help of shabby chic look furniture, take a look at Papa Theo’s range.

The shabby chic style sensation

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Shabby chic look furniture can help create charm, character and individuality within any traditional or contemporary home.

There are many rooms with in a home, and it’s sometimes hard to know what style each room should uphold. The living room for example could be cold and feel empty without the correct furnishings. Shabby chic look furniture works well within a living room as it injects a ‘lived in’ feel with antique charm. With the correct distressed furniture, you can create a sensational feel in any room in your home that oozes style.

Papa Theo specialise in furniture and accessories that have been distressed to look antique, which is in keeping with the shabby chic style. The process of distressing furniture enables modern furniture to uphold the shabby chic style without the antique price tag.

Making a style statement is easier than you think. With the vast range of ‘shabby chic look’ furniture Papa Theo stock any room can stand out and be counted.

Investing in a shabby chic look dressing table, chest or cabinet will transform your bedroom into a vintage boudoir that you’ll never want to leave. The bedroom décor has got to be perfect as it is where you go to retreat from the day-to-day grind, so it should be perfect.

Shabby chic look furniture doesn’t always have to be extravagant, if you are limited with space, consider the smaller items of shabby chic furniture Papa Theo stock, after all it’s not the size of the furniture that matters, it’s what you do with it.

Once your all set with your vintage vibe running through out your home you can add finishing touches to the room by adding candles and fresh flowers. These, along with the shabby chic look furniture, can all help create the beautiful, elegant home you deserve.

Distressed Dressing tables

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Distressed dressing tables are becoming increasingly popular in the European giftware market. A dressing table is a table which can be used when getting ready to go out and for holding or storing cosmetic items. Dressing tables were first introduced in France during the eighteenth century. Women traditional used dressing tables to store cosmetic items, however unlike today, cosmetic items were wrapped in linen before being put away .

A Papa Theo distressed dressing table can be placed in any room you like, however they are commonly found in the bedroom or dressing area. Distressed dressing tables enable people to do their hair and makeup comfortably in their own private place.

Many distressed dressing tables come equipped with a handy draw which allows storage for a number of cosmetic items. Decorative ‘Shabby Chic look’ mirrors can be placed onto of Papa Theo’s distressed dressing tables to enhance character within a room and enable the user easily see their selves whilst applying makeup.

Distressed dressing tables can also be used as display pieces too; perfume bottles, make up sets and jewellery boxes are often seen displayed on top of dressing tables .

When looking for a distressed dressing table you need to consider how much storage space you have and if you wish to attach a large mirror on top or not. Matching the features in the room, the distressed dressing table is placed in is essential if you want your room looking at its best. If you choose a dressing table which has a neutral colour or wood, make sure it’s won’t look out of place if you decide to change your vintage décor.

Papa Theo has a vast range of beautiful hand crafted distressed dressing tables in the antique furniture style range, made to look fantastic in a ‘Shabby Chic’ inspired bedroom.

dressingtables.com

Make your vintage decor stand out by creating distressed items

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Items can be distressed by putting them through a process to look aged and old often known as antique. These items can look very similar to real antiques but don’t uphold the same price tag. To distress an item of furniture there are many of ways to do so. Once an object has been made, the object is then intentionally manipulated to look less than perfect, to get this effect sandpaper or paint stripper can be used. Removing some but not all of the paint leaves proof of several layers of paint speckled over wood grain underneath. This is often known as a ‘Shabby Chic look’. Shabby Chic is a form of interior design where furniture is chosen for its age and signs of wear and tear. Shabby chic is also known for its feminine feel and stands out from regular vintage decor.

Distressing has become a popular design style especially for furniture. Distressing is said to give an item a one-of-a-kind appearance or vintage look. Distressing can be applied to a variety of surfaces such as wood, glass, metal, plastic, stone, concrete plaster and paint. Papa Theo specialise in selling distressed look materials, mango wood especially.

Making a vintage house a home

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Decorating your house to look more homely with a vintage vibe is usually near the top of the list, of things to do, especially if you’ve just move into a new home. You can use furnishings, accessories and visual tricks to help you achieve a more vintage, homely feel.

If you have a larger room that you want to make look more homely, visual tricks can be used to create an illusion of a smaller, more intimate space. Using dark deep colours in a large room absorb light and tend to make a large room look warmer and smaller. With larger rooms you’re not restricted by furniture sizes, so go ahead and consider purchasing the larger vintage furnishings. Large vintage furnishing will eliminate dull empty space within large rooms and also provide the comfort and storage you’re looking for.

If you have a smaller room the same tricks can be applied to create more space. Using light colours and 'shabby chic' mirrors will reflect the light and open up a small dark space. Consider investing in slightly smaller furniture that will fit nicely into tight corners as this will make the room appear bigger, but still provide the storage and comfort you need.

Any sized room can benefit from a little character. Papa Theo’s ‘Shabby Chic look’ furniture and accessories can add that vintage character a room needs to enhance its warm and welcoming feel.

Many furnishings and accessories have specific rooms in which they are assigned to. For example you wouldn’t put a bath tub in the kitchen. Papa Theo carefully consider which rooms each ‘Shabby chic look’ product would look best in; within the description of the product there are some recommendations as to which room each product would work well in. Papa Theo’s products are individually hand crafted, but surprisingly affordable so if you’ve move into a new home or want to freshen up your current home with a vintage vibe, take a look at Papa Theo’s range today.

Quality Hand carved accessories for those home makeovers

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

If you are planning on a major home make over, or if you are a shop selling quality hand carved accessories with a vintage vibe, then you can benefit from our buying in bulk savings . What’s more we have no hidden costs as all our items include VAT and delivery.

With many things there always seems to be a catch when buying cheaper items. However Papa Theo products are made from the finest materials so we can assure you of quality.

It’s hard to judge just when the best time to undergo a makeover on our homes is. As there are many things that could hinder makeover projects, such as upcoming holidays, money flow or the weather. We could be in one of the best months to undergo a home make over, as our holidays are over and Christmas is still a few months away so we’d still have time to save for presents. So take advantage, while the sun is still partially shining and money is in the bank by getting out your paint brushes and giving your home a Shabby Chic makeover. Papa Theo can help with the interior and exterior of your home makeovers this September time. From making the most of a small space with a hand carved mirror, to covering up ugly window fixtures with 'shabby chic' Pelmets.

Whatever room you’re looking to uplift with a vintage vibe, you can be sure Papa Theo has the 'shabby chic', hand carved accessories you’re looking for.

Distressed Photo Frames for the modern memory

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

A camera can capture the moments you never want to forget, distressed photo frames can display those precious memories so other people can enjoy them too.

Photo’s today are seen to be very modern, which is not really in keeping with the ‘Shabby Chic’ style many Papa Theo customer want to obtain in their homes. However a home with a vintage feel can now display their modern memories, with Papa Theo’s hand carved photo frames. These Photo frames have been individually handmade by our own select group of skilled wood carvers. They are exclusively designed and manufactured for Papa Theo, and to give them that much loved ‘Shabby Chic look’ these photo frames have been distressed to look more antique. Many of these ‘Shabby Chic look’ photo frames are available in natural limed, antique white or gold finishes. This enables you to match the distressed photo frame to your home, with the antique colour of your choice.

These beautiful, elegant, sophisticated and affordable reproductions will make a great addition to any home. These photo frames are hand carved from solid wood, strong enough to hang by wire or flush to wall with metal slot fixing provided. So you can hang your memories for all to see, with a bit of vintage style.

Papa Theo’s distressed photos frames can be either hung or stand up on their own and placed on a shelf or above a fire place. It’s not often you go round to someone’s home and find a distressed photo frame placed on the floor. Photos are placed within photo frames to be seen , so are usually placed up on a higher level . A distressed photo frame would complement a shabby chic style fire place very well, bringing the style of the room together and enabling friends and visitors to complement your vintage style as well as the nice photos.

The most common time to share our memories is with close friends. Many of our close friends often like the same things as we do, it could be what brought us together and encouraged us to become friends. There are many groups of friends who enjoy the style that is ‘Shabby Chic’. Shabby Chic is a timeless style that has never really gone away. Its classic distressed look products with a much cheaper price tag than real antiques, is what makes it so popular.

So if you think your home deserves a bit of distressed timeless pleasure, take a look a Papa Theo’s distressed photo frames and the many other ‘Shabby Chic look’ products we stock.

Vintage style full length mirrors complement any room!

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Papa Theo has a vast range of full length mirrors, with a defined vintage look. Full length mirrors can become a key feature in any traditional or contemporary home.

Mirrors are used to make an impression on a wide room. If you have a narrow hallway for example adding a mirror will open up the area so that you don’t feel confined within it. Vintage look mirrors can also be used to add light to a room; for example if you place a mirror opposite a light then the light will be reflected in the mirror and so adding light to the room .

Nearly everyone has a mirror in their homes. Some are carefully selected to stand out as decor pieces and some are just used as a convenience .

Vintage look mirrors can be used in nearly every single room subtly incorporated into the design of the room their placed in to enhance its look. When choosing a vintage look mirror for your home, you need to consider the space you have to put it in. If you carefully consider where you place a mirror it can become more than just something you look at yourself in.

One of the most common places a vintage look mirror is placed in is the bathroom. However more than often people choose plain glass without a frame to place in the bathroom. Plain glass mirrors are all well and good, but they don’t add character to a bathroom. If you really want to make an impression with your guests when they use your rest room, consider a hand carved vintage look mirror. The detail of a hand carvings and the way they have carefully been distressed to look antique, will make your guest never want to leave.

Many of Papa Theo’s ‘Shabby Chic’ look mirrors are often used as a form of art work on walls, as well as providing the function you need to carry out your daily routine. Choosing a mirror with a vivid vintage look design around the edge creates a work of art that is so stunning on its own; you won’t need any other art work on the wall.

Full length mirrors are currently one of the most popular vintage look mirrors/art forms at Papa Theo. To see Papa Theo’s vast range of vintage look mirrors, all varying in size, have a browse through the Papa Theo website.

‘Shabby Chic’ Writing Bureau

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Papa Theo ‘Shabby Chic’ Writing Bureau is a new take on a traditional writing table. The word ‘Bureau’ is given to a writing table when it is create in a French style such as Art Nouveau .

The Folding Writing Bureau has a draw directly under one of the surfaces in which you can contain writing implements, so that the desk can be clear for placing paper on for writing or designing. It can also be folded neatly away to create more room in your shabby chic homes.

Writing tables have been around for many years, and have often in the past been known as library tables. This is because; wealthier homes often had a writing table placed in their libraries. The library in a house was often the room where a gentleman would keep his literature and also do his business transactions . As well writing tables, reading tables were also common. The reading table often had an easel or double easel for books, the easel was adjustable for many heights. The reading table was mainly used for reading whilst standing up, however this invention didn’t last long, probably because people liked to sit down and read a book, more than stand up. The writing table on the other hand has stayed with us through the years.

The beautiful ‘Shabby Chic’ Writing Bureau, that Papa Theo stock has been individually handmade from solid mango wood and is part of the Papa Theo ‘Wooden Conservatory Furniture’ range. This writing bureau is hand painted in antique white and would look fantastic in any ‘Shabby Chic’ inspired lounge, conservatory or bedroom. However if you lucky enough to have a library in your home, then why not keep up tradition by place the writing bureau within this room instead.

As well as the 'Shabby Chic' Writing Bureau Papa Theo has a wide range of other beautiful ‘Shabby Chic’ look products, but don’t take our word for it; have a look for yourselves.

Wikipedia/Writing_table

Distressed to impress

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Papa Theo has a wide range of distressed look wall sconces. A distressed look wall sconce has been around for many years and is a type of light fixture that can be attached to the wall. The light source that is place on the wall sconce is then directed upwards. The distressed look wall sconce doesn’t have a base which sits on the ground; this makes it a perfect item to hold light if you don’t have much floor space in you vintage home.

Papa Theo’s distressed look wall sconces can be used in the garden, hallways, front rooms, kitchens, bedroom or any shabby chic room you feel need a bit of extra light. Papa Theo’s beautiful wall sconces have been hand crafted from mango wood and are naturally limed to give them a distressed and antique look . The hand craft process the distressed wall sconces go through enables Papa Theo to ensure each item is unique and high in quality.

Papa Theo’s wall sconces can also hold candles; the flame of the candle can bring a sense of relaxation to any room. If you want to bring a different smell to a room then a scented candle can be placed in the distressed wall sconce and the scented candle can then disburse a fresh smell whilst you relax with your feet up.

Before the world evolved into the new age of electricity a candle or oil lamp was used as a source of light or illumination. However in the developed world today, candles are used for their aesthetic value and scent. Candles are said to set a soft, warm or romantic atmosphere .

So if you’re a classic romantic with a shabby chic style then have a look at Papa Theo’s range of distressed wall sconces.

Wikipedia- Candle

Shabby chic introvert heaven

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Papa Theo does its best to bring a ‘shabby chic’ look with originality and freshness to the European gift market. When you define originality it is the aspect of creating something new without copying others work. Papa Theo’s creates original products as each and every item is hand crafted by skilled wood carvers and artists and not copied and mass produced by a machine.

An example of Papa Theo original ‘Shabby Chic’ look product is the Louvre Wooden Partition Changing Screen in Antique White. It is a piece of free-standing furniture which consists of several frames or panels connected by hinges. These changing screens have many practical and decorative uses.

A ‘Shabby Chic’ look changing screen can be used as suggested in the name as a way of covering yourself when changing. A ‘Shabby Chic’ look changing screen can also be used to separate a bedroom up , or separate two rooms, such as a dining room and a kitchen, for those times when you don’t want your guests to see the mess you’ve made when cooking!

A ‘Shabby Chic’ changing screen is also very similar to a folding screen originating from ancient China. The Chinese used these screens for many years until it eventually spread to other countries.

Papa Theo’s shabby chic changing screens have been hand carved from solid mango wood and then finished in an Antique white for a distressed wooden furniture feel .

Papa Theo’s changing screen is ideal as an accessory in any ‘Shabby Chic’ inspired room; it works especially well in a bedroom, bathroom or dining room.

So whether you want a bit of privacy or if you just want to hide the mess in a shabby chic inspired room, check out Papa Theo’s range of shabby chic changing screens.

Exclusive ‘Shabby Chic’ look, Mirrors hand-crafted by skilled wood carvers

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

A ‘shabby chic’ mirror is an essential item in any home that wants to give a sense of space with a vintage vibe. Papa Theo do a vast range of shabby chic look mirrors, from Full length mirrors, to small mirrors, to large mirrors, to extra large mirrors, to round/oval mirrors and horizontal/overmantle mirrors.

However If you find yourselves climbing onto baths, sinks, beds or sofas to try and see your entire outfit, then it’s time to invest in a full length mirror, for your own health and safety at least.

Papa Theo hand-crafted full length mirrors are said to be the most beneficial when heading out for the night. This is because you need to be able to judge your outfit in its entirety before you head out, as this enables you to judge whether the bottom half of your look works with the top half; As you never know who you’ll bum into throughout the evening.

‘Shabby chic’ look full length mirrors are ideally mounted or free standing, and usually placed near your closet. Placing a full length mirror near the closet, in the bathroom, or on the back of a bathroom door, we find proves to be most sufficient. If you’re not a fan of the ‘shabby chic’ look full length mirror than as we mentioned, small and medium ‘shabby chic’ look mirrors are also available, but just remember Papa Theo at least gave you the option to view your entire outfit before you went out!

So whatever you taste Papa Theo have a huge range of stunning hand crafted mirrors, with unique designs hand painted for that ‘shabby chic’ look perfect for your contemporary or traditional homes.

Quality hand carved mango wood products

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Quality hand carved mango wood products can have a range of very unique finishes. Papa Theo use, a natural limed, antique white or gold finish, to give them a "shabby chic" look.

With Papa Theo’s variety of finishes, a product made from mango wood will look unique and become the focus point in any contemporary or traditional room.

Mango wood products, especially mango wood furniture are quickly becoming the wood of choice for many people. This could be because there are many attributes of this material that makes it easy to work with and cheap to buy.

Mango wood complies with Papa Theo’s strong policy of only working with materials from renewable resources, as this wood is sustainable. The trees the mango wood comes from are planted mainly for their fruit. Once the tree stops producing fruit, then and only then are the trees cut down and used to produce quality hand carved products. These trees grow up to 3-5 feet in diameter and 70-80 feet high very fast; this could make mango wood very important furniture material especially for in the future, as materials are predicted to run out fast. The more material, especially wood material runs out, the more expensive it’ll become, so unlike other sources of hard wood, mango wood will be able to keep its prices low.

Mango wood in grown in Indonesia and Papa Theo select a group of skilled wood carvers and artists to produce their quality hand carved products in the place the mango wood is grown. Papa Theo relies on traditional skills of local Indonesian workmen rather than mass producing machines, so they can ensure each and every product is unique and high in quality.

If you love the ‘shabby chic’ look, or distressed products that look antique, check out Papa Theo’s range. Papa Theo supplies many companies that sell vintage items themselves, however Papa Theo also supply to individuals too. So whether you’re a business or an individual searching for quality hand carved mango wood products make Papa Theo the point of call.

Sources: Hubpages - mangowood

Mango-Wood-Furniture-Eco-Friendly-Furniture-in-Costa-Rica-Now

Papa Theo Vintage Shelves & Pelmets

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Papa Theo’s vintage shelves and Pelmets are exclusively designed and manufactured for Papa Theo. The vintage shelves and pelmets are hand-painted to look distressed and antique, to give them the ‘shabby chic’ look that Papa Theo are known for. These high quality objects make a great addition to any room and bring a sense of elegance and sophistication to a home.

So what are Papa Theo vintage Shelves and Pelmets used for?

A pelmet can refer to the framework that can be placed above a window to hide the curtain rod. Placing a pelmet above a window can help insulate the window by preventing wind entering through the top of the window . A vintage Papa Theo pelmet can be used to finish off a room by giving it that ‘shabby chic’ look.

One of Papa Theo’s more popular pelmets is the ‘Porte Curtain Pelmet’, this ornate is made from solid mango wood and is hand crafted to typical ‘French Chateau’ design. As with many Papa Theo products this item has been hand painted in antique white to give that ‘shabby chic’ look. This Porte looks fantastic above a window or door and also available naturally limed.

Papa Theo’s hand crafted shelves are also made from solid mango wood and much like the pelmets, the shelves bring that vintage feel to a room. A shelf is something we tend to attach to a wall to keep those ‘special’ ornaments on display. Papa Theo’s easy to attach, hand carved shelves are also handy for keeping those precious things out of reach of the little ones.

To bring a vintage feel to a room, take a look at Papa Theo’s quality hand crafted range of vintage shelves and pelmets.

The year it all started for ‘shabby chic’ products

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Papa Theo started up in 1991 and started selling it’s much loved ‘shabby chic look’ products, with a mission to bring originality and freshness to the European giftware market.

1991 was a vintage year in itself. This year saw the start of the ‘Gulf War’ and an outbreak of ‘crop circles’. It was also the year England hosted the 1991 Rugby World Cup and the year that belonged to Bryan Adams in terms of music with his huge hit ‘Everything I do, I do it for you’. As for films, the top film of the year was ‘Silence of The Lambs’ with Anthony Hopkins . With all these memorable things in the year 1991, Papa Theo feels proud to have started up in this year and so adding to the list of memories for years to come.

The ‘shabby chic’ style has been around for many eras, and is far from a distant memory. The interior design style that is shabby chic is known for its products of age having signs of wear and tear, or to new items that have been distressed to look antique. This shabby chic style also has a touch of feminine, soft and minimal to it hence the name ‘chic’ . The Shabby chic look has become increasingly popular over the last few years not only in furniture but in clothing too.

Papa Theo took on this vintage style and employed a select group of skilled wood carvers and artists, with whom they’ve established a mutually beneficial partnership over the years since 1991. This select group of skilled workers are based in Indonesia and use their traditional skills to create hand-carved quality products out of renewable resources. The shabby chic look products are shipped over from Indonesia and sold from Papa Theo’s warehouse in Tonbridge, Kent. This enables Papa Theo able to make its shabby chic look products available to anyone in the European giftware market. Some of the more popular Papa Theo products include Vintage mirrors, Photo frames, tables, Cabinets and Chests and Pillars and stands. All these products can come in a range of hand-painted colours from natural limed, antique white or gold finishes to give them that ‘shabby chic look’.

If you love shabby chic and the vintage look as much as we do, take a look at Papa Theo’s range online or give us a call.

ezinearticles/What-Happened-In-The-UK-In-1991

Wikipedia/Shabby_chic

Distressed looked products, without the distressing price tag!

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

It has become increasingly popular tobuy furniture with that distressed look. The distressedlook makes a piece of furniture or product look antique to fit inwith a ‘shabby chic’ style home.

The art of distressing has becomeincreasingly popular as the shabby chic style as pounced upon us onceagain. However these days we can’t all afford to get thoseexpensive antiques in our homes, as much as we’d all love to. So bydistressing a piece of furniture or object makes the product lookantique by doesn’t uphold the price tag. Whether you tell yourfriends and family this is up to you.

As we say many things improve with age,this could be why the antique look has becomeincreasing popular.

It’s amazing how a distressedpiece of furniture or ornament with in a room can add character. PapaTheo select specially trained wood carvers and artist who haveperfected the art of distressing objects and we can proudly say thatthey uphold the ‘shabby chic’ look well.

Some examples of Papa Theo’s productsthat have been distressed by their specially trained woodcarvers and artists is there range of vintage look cabinets. Onecabinet in particular is the Children’s Bedroom Single Toy Cabinet.This cabinet has been individually hand crafted from solid mangowood, and then naturally limed to give it that ‘shabby chic’look. This cabinet is ideal as a Toy or CD cabinet and willcomplement a traditional or modern ‘shabby chic’ home.

Another classic piece is the Kitchenwall Cabinet. This item has is carefully painted to look distressedand antique and is said to bring a bit of elegance and sophisticationto a home. All those things that clutter up your ‘shabby chic’look kitchen can be hidden away within this cabinet to create theillusion that we’re all tidy as we say we are.

Papa Theo’s own select group ofskilled wood carvers hand make and add the distressed look toall Papa Theo products. This gives them the vintage look to fit inwith the ‘shabby chic’ style. Have a look for yourselves or giveus a call for more information on any of our products.

Also keep a look out if you love thedistressed look as much as we do, as a brand new range is comingto Papa Theo very soon.

Unique hand-carved butler trays are perfect for a shabby chic looking home

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

AShabby chic lookbutler tray is slightly different from your ordinary trays. Asidefrom the name, a shabbychiclook butler tray has a much deeper surround. Papa Theo’s shabbychiclook butler trays have been individually handmade from solid mangowood in Indonesia. Some of Papa Theo’s butler trays also have afloral design on the side of the tray. These designs have beencarefully designed onto the try by Papa Theo’s specially trainedwood carvers and artists. The floral design could also suggest that abutler tray isn’t just for gentlemen these days.

Afree standing shabbychiclook Butler Tray has many uses, it is great as a drinks tray, or itcan be used for storing things in the kitchen. Papa Theo’s shabbychiclook butler trays come hand painted in either antique white ornatural limed, this gives them the vintage look everyone seems to becraving these days.

Aswe all tend to know, a tray in general is designed for carryingthings. It can be made out of many materials. When trays aredesigned, they are designed with a flat surface to place things on.The flat surface ensures a much better balance for things you placeon them. If you’re placing food and drink on the tray then the flatsurface can reduced spillages.

Ashabby chic look butler tray has similar features to a plan tray butwith an additional extra. This additional extra is its unique shabbychiclook legs. These legs make a shabbychic lookbutler tray perfect for placing food, drink on, or anything thatrequires being away from the ground.

Butlertrays have been use for many years, by presumably butlers. Now a-daysbutlers trays have become a more popular to fill and serve drinks andnibbles on a warm summers evening. Butler trays have also been knownto be used in the house to serve breakfast in bed to a loved one.

A butler tray is also typically usedfor serving drinks and other refreshments to guests. The serving trayhas evolved from the “salvare”. The food served on a salvare,many years ago, had to be fit to be consumed by royalty. The food hadto be tested for poison before anyone could serve it to royalty .

Papa Theo’s shabby chic lookbutler trays don’t have to be used for serving food, it can also beused as a ornamental piece in a modern or traditional home.

ehow.com history-serving-trays

The 'REAL' advantages of investing in Shabby Chic Style Furniture

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Papa Theo’s ‘shabby chic’look wooden furniture is made from solid mango wood. Solid mango woodbrings a lot of advantages with it. Wood itself is a very durablematerial, so it can last a life time. Papa Theo use solid mango woodfrom Indonesia, this wood is easy to work with and fantastic atcreating that ‘shabby chic’ look you all love in a home.

Another fantastic benefit from usingwooden furniture over other materials is that wood is versatile; youcan use it for both indoors and outdoors.

At Papa Theo we have a wide range offurniture available for your home. The range includes Mirrors, photoframes, Candlesticks & Sconces, Lamp stands, Tables, Chairs &Benches, Cabinets & Chests, Pillars & Stands, Ornaments andmany, many more. Papa Theo’s hand carved quality products neverfail to make you interiors and exteriors look more elegant with avintage feel.

Many of Papa Theo’s hand carved rangecan also be hand-painted with either a natural limed, antique whiteor a gold finish, to give them the ‘shabby chic’ look.

Apart from making you homes look morebeautiful, wooden furniture offers much more. One of the best thingsabout wood is that it doesn’t need high maintenance; however you doneed to take care of it if you want it looking in tip top condition,like with all things. So a quick wipe over with a damp cloth everynow and again should be sufficient.

You can never go wrong with the Solidmango wood that Papa Theo use to make their products. This is becauseof its vintage and timeless look that it brings to a home. Havingsolid mango wood in your home could also make you feel closer tonature, which is a nice thought.

One of the more popular hand carveditems Papa Theo stock is the Kartini Chair. The Kartini Chair comesin single or a double if you require more seating space. One of thesingle Kartini chairs in Papa Theo’s range is the single KartiniWooden Chair. This chair has been hand crafted from solid teak woodfor that ‘shabby chic’ antique furniture look. A singleKartini chair is perfect in a bedroom or in the garden. If yourequire a larger seating space then some of our Kartini chairs can bemade as a double size too. The double Kartini chairs would lookfantastic in a conservatory, at the end of a bed or under a window.

If you want that ‘shabby chic’look in your home, give us a call.

Once in a life time quality vintage designs

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Vintage bespoke designs couldinclude the Eiffel tower, Sydney Opera house, Big Ben and many moreall over the world. These buildings could be considered vintage asthey are of an older era and bespoke because they are once in a lifetime designs .

Bespoke designs are unique,once-in-a-lifetime designs. Bespoke designs can come in many shapesand sizes. Here at Papa Theo we specialize in creating quality,individually hand carved products. Not only do our specially trainedwood carvers in Indonesia create every product by hand, they can alsoconsider making bespoke orders, this you can have that once in a lifetime vintage piece in your home.

Papa Theo’s specially picked, skilledhand carvers in Indonesia work hard at create every product by hand.They individually hand carved every detail into each product, nomachines are used to mass produce our products, so no mini massproduced spin off’s from us. This means every one of our productsis different in its own little way, so when you purchase one of our,quality, hand carved products it will be unique to you.

Having you very own unique piececreated by one of our specially selected wood carvers will give youthat once in a life time product that you can proudly show off in you‘vintage’ home. You could even say you have your very own Big Benif you like, hypothetically speaking.

An example of one of our unique designsis the Papa Theo hand carved Photo Frames. These Photo frames havebeen individually handmade by our own select group of skilled woodcarvers. Exclusively designed and manufactured for Papa Theo,hand-painted to look distressed and antique and available in naturallimed, antique white or gold finishes, to give them the "shabbychic" look. These beautiful, elegant, sophisticated andaffordable reproductions will make a great addition to any home.These photo frames are hand carved from solid wood, strong enough tohang by wire or flush to wall with metal slot fixing provided. PapaTheo have a wide variety of hand carved photo frames, perfect forputting those precious memories around you home.

All our quality products are created inIndonesia and shipped over to a warehouse in Kent. So for Hand Carvedphoto Frames and many more vintage products perfect for a‘shabby chic’ look home give us a call on 01892 871 267.

‘Distressed’ look Cabinets and Chests

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

With the kids off for summer, ‘distressed’ look cabinets and chests could prove to be the perfect storage option for a ‘shabby chic’ look home with lots of toys to hide, until the countdown begins to when they start back in September.

With the weather being bad and the kids having to play in doors, the house is just destined to be messy. Toys everywhere and the house a mess we all need that extra bit of help tidying the house this summer. A large hand carved rustic bedroom blanket toy box could be that salvation you need to hide the mess in. After a messy day with kids running around everywhere just lift open the rustic lid and place all those messy toys in. This toy box has been individually handmade from solid mango wood so you don’t need to worry about the toys breaking it.

Papa Theo have a wide variety of hand carved toy boxes which come in either a Antique white or they can be limed to give it that distressed reproduction ‘style’ antique furniture look. This can turn the mess into ‘shabby chic’ style bliss.

However if you don’t have kid’s around you this summer, the toy boxes are cleverly named blanket toy boxes. This opens up the opportunity to be able to not only place kid’s toys in but also have it as your own box to place blankets in too.

The blanket box is an elegant addition to any bedroom and can be placed at the end of a bed or under a window. Placing the box under a window or the end of the bed could also provide extra ‘shabby chic’ look seating within a room, which is always handy.

‘Distressed’ look cabinets and chests come in a variety of sizes so you don’t have to have a king-sized room to be able to have a Blanket Toy Box. At Papa Theo our boxes come in many sizes which allow them to fit in any size rooms. We can also consider bespoke designs as all our products are individually handmade.

So why not give us a call to see our range of ‘Distressed’ look Cabinets & Chests today.

Papa Theo only uses renewable resources

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

All our ‘shabby chic look' products are made from renewable resources and are delicately hand carved by an especially select group of skilled wood carvers and artists in Indonesia. Their traditional skills enable us to consider special orders and bespoke creations.

Papa Theo is a firm believer in fair trade. We have established a mutually beneficial partnership and encourage traditional skills, giving the Bail community in Indonesia an opportunity to show off and get paid well for their traditional skilled craftsmanship.

Papa Theo has been going to Indonesia for many year and we realized that there was a lot of dead mango trees around that weren’t being put to any use. With our strong belief in using renewable resources, we took the idea of putting the dead mango trees to a use. When the Indonesia mango trees have come to the end of their life span, local craftsman cut them down and put them to use by hand carving our products out of them. Once the skilled wood carvers have carved the product out of the mango tree, a finish is then applied to give our products to create that ‘shabby chic’ look.

It’s surprising the quality that comes from something that was once seen to be dead and unusable. We also do our best to make sure the mango trees that are cut down and used in the production of our products are replaced with new seeds, so a new generation of mango trees can flourish.

Papa Theo's products are sold from our warehouse in Tonbridge, Kent but are shipped over from Indonesia. Every now and then we love to fly back over to visit our skilled wood carvers and artists to keep that close partnership. It’s amazing to see how they create the ‘shabby chic’ look with their traditional skills out of renewable resources.

We always welcome any enquiries from both trade and individuals, so please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Hand carved ornate trays and trolleys

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Hand carved ornate trays and trolleys come in very handy now-a-days, as we hardly ever have time to sit around at the dining table every night to eat with the family. It’s all rush, rush, rush, with work, school and weekend activities.

When we do get those precious moments to relax we tend to try and catch up as best we can on what’s happening on television, whether it’s the news, sport or the soaps. Our food habits then tend to revolve around what’s on the television at the time. It’s a quick rush during the adverts to go and eat our dinners in the other room. The invention of hand carver ornate trays and trolleys have made dinner time less of a rush.

A tray such as a Wooden Decorative Flower Dining Tray can be used to carry meals to the living room and used to balance a plate of food or drinks on so you can eat your meal on your lap. This allows you not to miss those crustal parts of a programme. Whether it’s a quick ready meal or and well prepared homemade meal, the Wooden Decorative Flower Dining Tray will ensure you food and drink is carried safely from room to room. A hand carved ornate tray also benefits from being made from solid mango wood this allows much more stability than the otherwise used pillow. The tray prevents you from burning your lap with hot food and also provides a protective layer if any food over spills.

At Papa Theo we have a wide variety of hand carved dining trays from pretty flower designed trays that have been hand carved from solid mango wood and naturally limed for that ‘shabby chic’ inspired look to pretty butlers trays. The Butlers trays are free standing and many use it as a drinks tray when having a BBQ or in the kitchen. Hand carved ornate trays and trolleys will not only prove to be very useful but you can be sure to find a style that suits your ‘shabby chic’ inspired homes.

Handmade photo frames

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The best way to secure a precious memory is to take a photo to mark the occasion; handmade photo frames are that perfect solution to contain those memories in. Photography is a form of art that can capture the best moments in life. Having that art/memories on display in a handmade photo frame can remind you of the good times and the ones still to come.

Unlike photographs themselves, handmade photo frames have been around for centuries, one of the earliest was in Egypt. A frame example was discovered in a tomb dating back to 2nd century A.D. The first carved wooden frames appeared in the twelfth and thirteenth century Europe. These handmade frames had the area that was to be painted carved out, this left a rained framing border around the edge . The frames in those days were used to frame paintings, as cameras and film weren’t invented until much later.

Papa Theo handmade photo frames complement any contemporary or classic design room with a range of antique white, natural limed or gold finishes. These finishes create that fantastic ‘shabby chic’ look and come in many frame sizes to hold many memories big or small.

If you are a classic romantic, Papa Theo handmade Triple Heart Photo Frame could be a perfect gift to a loved one. What better way to show someone you love them than with your precious memories in a ‘shabby chic’ look handmade photo frame all wrapped up with a gift tag from you.

Here at Papa Theo we understand how frustrating it can be to put a picture up on the wall especially after you’ve just taken so much care selecting and buying it for someone. Making sure you have the hooks in the right place can prove to be a nightmare. Papa Theo caters for you frustration and our handmade photo frames are specially designed so they are easy to fix to the wall.

These beautiful, elegant, sophisticated and affordable handmade photo frames will make a great addition to any home. Wikipedia – Picture frame

No need to stress about creating that ‘distressed look’

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Shabby Chic style was first inspired in the 1980s, and is very common to use materials with a ‘distressed look’ within its design style. The Shabby Chic style started in Great Britain, it is a type of decoration and commonly found in large country houses, where there was worn and faded old furniture. This style caught on in the following years and even clothing took a shine to the style. The ‘Shabby Chic’ look in clothing refers to a person who is stylish rather than fashionable and reflects quality rather than newness.

Now-a-days, we often want to buy new things that have the same ‘shabby chic’ look, but without the dust of the old country houses. So a technique was discovered, the techniques of distressing new materials to look old, this allows materials to capture the ‘shabby chic’ look but still be new.

You can distress a number of different materials, such as, wood, glass, metal, plastic, stone, concrete, plaster and paint to get that ‘shabby chic’ look in a home. Distressing solid mango wood is what we do best. To give it a distressed wooden furniture feel we naturally lime the wood and delicately hand carved it. We have a number of distressed products to complement any room in the home, from hand carved mirrors to exclusively designed candlesticks and sconces. With our nine to five, seven days a week, sometimes we just have to spoil ourselves a little with a bit of distressed look, hand carved quality, that screams out that much loved ‘shabby chic’ style.

Wikipedia - Shabby_chic

Handcrafted wooden furniture

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Handcrafted wooden furniture to us is as form of decorative art, with every product expressing that ‘shabby chic’ look you can see why. As we hand make every item and we are the sole UK importers of this very special range you could say each item from Papa Theo is unique to you. So none of that mass produced, humdrum blandness you see in many stores around the world. Papa Theo is so particular with how our products are designed and made that we had to go all the way to Indonesia to find a select group of wood carvers and artists to create our products. With their traditional skills and hard working ethic they are fantastic at producing that ‘shabby chic’ look.

Whether it’s a classic or contemporary look you’re after in your home, Papa Theo have the perfect design solutions for you, with the natural limited finishes or the Antique white finishes. For example our Ballacasa handcrafted mirror comes in antique white which would fit perfectly in an older style home. However our Beaded A, handcrafted mirror comes in a natural limited finish which would stylize a contemporary home well. Our handcrafted mirrors bring a convenient inner space to a room with a ‘shabby chic’ look thrown in as well. Often when something is unique it comes with a price tag, however we like to be a bit different as our unique hand carved products are surprisingly affordable. Considering special orders and bespoke creations as well you can’t get more original that that.

With 40% discount when you buy in bulk, why not take this opportunity to give your home a complete ‘shabby chic’ look makeover, with handcrafted wooden furniture from Papa Theo.

Exclusively designed ornaments

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

When we think of an exclusively designed ornament do we usually think of Christmas? The word ornament especially relates to Christmas, as we commonly place Christmas ornaments on display over the holiday period. However an exclusively designed ornament isn’t just for Christmas. It’s the summer season after all. Exclusively designed ornaments are a form of art, and art is sometimes a great way to express yourself. Exclusively designed and manufactured ornaments are a fantastic way to express that ‘shabby chic’ look in any home. Exclusively designed ornaments come in many shapes and sizes to suit a number of tastes, from an exciting children’s vintage wooden rocking horse toy, to a Buddha Head, which gives out a calmer feel to a room.

Exclusively designed ornaments do not have a specific place where they must be placed. Different ornaments can complement different things in different rooms. Certain ornaments could also quite possibly change the vibe of a room. For example you could place a Buddha Head in the bedroom to give out a sense of calm and tranquillity in the bedroom or you could place the vintage wooden rocking horse toy in the room instead. The change of ornament could change the vibe of the room from calm and tranquil to more of a playful vibe.Exclusively design ornaments sometimes have a sentimental value that can only come from their hand crafted ‘shabby chic’ look. The ‘shabby chic’ look has taken over the world and now it has influenced the hand carving of our exclusively designed ornaments.

"Shabby chic" look Chairs and Benches

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

It’s hard to think when Chairs and benches didn’t exist. In fact Chairs and benches have been around for centuries. For many centuries the chair was seen as an item of state and dignity rather than ordinary use. Chests, benches and stools were used then as ordinary seats for everyday life . Chairs generally only allow one person to sit on them at a one time, our ‘shabby chic’ look benches however allow several people to sit on them at one time.

There are many countries all over the world that use chairs and benches for many different reasons, indoors and out today. However If you owned a chair ancient Egypt many years ago, you were seen to have great richness, and not many people could afford them as they were usually made out of ivory. These Egyptian chairs had magnificent patterns of beasts and figures of captives carved into them . Our hand carved chairs and benches are not only affordable, unlike the chairs many years ago in Egypt, but they create that distressed and antique look. This will be the perfect addition to any home in need of the ‘shabby chic’ look style.

Chairs began to then change every few years to reflect the fashions of the era. The shabby chic look has never really gone out of fashion, that’s why we make sure we hand carve our chairs and benches to ensure that ‘shabby chic’ look shines through.

Wikipedia - Chair

Exclusively designed 'shabby chic' look lamp stands

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

A lamp stand is designed to hold a light bulb which is designed to produce light from electricity. A lamp stand with a light bulb inside, is designed to create artificial light in dark places . A Papa Theo shabby chic lamp stand does all this but also has a huge benefit during times where light is not needed as well. Our lamp stands crate an ornamental ‘shabby chic’ look within a room and can become the main focus point.

The word “lamp” is used to describe a light fixture, its more formal name is an all-in-one luminary unit . Who knew?

All light fixtures have a fixture body , as you’d expect lamp stands have a stand as their body. Their stands can be made out of anything that is suitable to hold a light bulb and possible lamp shade. Our lamp stands are made out of suitable wood which create a distressed look, we then hand carve unique designs onto them to make them extra special. This makes them a great complement to any home, ideal for living rooms, conservatories and bedrooms.

There are a wide variety of special light fixtures for many important jobs, such as; the automotive industry, aerospace, marine and medicine . Here at Papa Theo we provide for the more hand crafted design, quality seeking people. We do this by hand crafting our lamp stands to ensure each one is unique to you.

Our 'shabby chic' lamp stands not only provide a fantastic look for a room they also provide comfort and convenience in dark areas when a light bulb is place within it.

Wikipedia – Light fixture Wikipedia - Nightlight

Upcoming in our new range - vintage look fireplaces

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Fireplaces have long been used as a focal point to our family rooms and investing in a hand carved wooden vintage look fireplace would surely be a wise move, adding value and personality to your home. A hand carved fireplace is a great addition to any home, as they provide flames and crackling noise which provides not only heat but a very relaxing vintage look feel indeed. Although our fireplaces are mostly decorative these days, with only some of us lucky enough to have functioning wood burning fires that wasn't always the case.

As we know, a fireplace is an architectural structure which is used to contain a fire for heating but historically it was also used for cooking. Fireplaces have made their mark in history. The first form of known fireplace was when ancient fire pits were built in the ground in the centre of a hut or dwelling. Smoke would escape through holes in the roof. Sometimes however the smoke would blow back into the room. The invention of the chimney soon solved this problem, by venting the smoke outside, however chimneys were not invented until much later.

Today we no longer necessarily rely on fireplaces to keep us warm as we have discovered more efficient ways of heating such as central heating and electric heaters. Many homes however use a vintage look fireplace as a centre piece to a room. Some fireplaces often have a shelf on which those distress look ornaments can be display on. Our new range of vintage look fireplaces, have a fantastic social function status and can be the most talked about thing in the room. Keep checking back for more information, they're coming very soon we promise!

Additional 'Vintage' themed Products coming soon

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Is our select group of carvers up for the challenge of adding to our already extensive range of 'vintage' themed products? It’s hard to think of just how many handmade products our select group of wood carvers have created over the past 20 years. They never seem to let their standards slip. So we’re going to challenge them by bringing out a whole new range. This range will challenge their hand carving skills, and also give them a chance to show off their skills even more. Our new range shall be launching very soon and they have their tools at the ready.

The new range we shall be launching has that vintage look and distressed vibe you all love. We shall not be giving anything away other than that just yet, just keep an eye out, you will love it!

It’s been over 20 years since we launched our very first range and it’s hard to think how much the world has change since then. 20 years ago Margaret Thatcher had just stepped down to Sir John Major and the cost of living was a lot lower than these days. Petrol was even at a reasonable price!

Papa Theo has been with you throughout the inflations and cuts, still keeping the standards high and producing those ‘shabby chic’ look products you love. We can now happily add to our 'vintage look' products with our new range that’s coming very soon and we’ll stick with you throughout the next 20 years.

‘Shabby chic look’ wooden pillar ideas!

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Sometimes you run out of ideas as to what you could use a ‘shabby chic look’ wooden pillar for. One suggestion is to use the wooden pillars as table legs, to a fantastic table top that you’ve created yourselves. Creating your very own table has never been so exciting and elegant. Alternately you could get someone else in the family to make it for you. Whether you or someone else in the family chooses to make a table top, be creative! Table tops can be created out of anything you like, as long as it’s efficient enough to hold what you want it to.

You may prefer a strong ‘shabby chic look’ material to match those wooden pillars we create. So what sort of material proves to be efficient for those wooden pillars? Have you ever thought of using an old railways sleeper as a table top? As it’s becoming highly popular to recycle things now a days and creating table tops out of old railways sleepers is another inventive recyclable solution. Wooden pillars can be used to support your railway sleeper table tops as they would go together perfectly to create that much loved ‘shabby chic look’. Bear in mind the bigger the table the more wooden pillars you will need! A larger, heavier table top needs a lot more support, so make sure you have six or more wooden pillars supporting it.

Wooden pillars can be used to support table tops that have been created out of many things. Adding a sentimental value to a table top supported by wooden pillars is always nice. To get a sentimental value table top, you need to get a plan picture frame and fill it with all your favourite memories over the past years. You can then securely add the wooden pillars underneath it and you’ve created your very own sentimental table with that ‘shabby chic look’. Be inventive and have fun!

A lot of thought goes into our handmade Brackets and Corbels

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

We all love those handmade things our kids bring home from school, even if it’s only a bit of cellotape stuck to the top and sides of a pen, “look mummy, it’s a pen penguin”. What it is that makes handmade things that extra bit special? It could be the thought of someone really thinking about you and the things you love and to put them all together to create something really personal just for you. This might make you quiver at the knees. It could also be that you feel you only get fantastic detail in handmade things.

However we believe it’s because a machine can’t put its heart and soul into making things. That’s why here at Papa Theo we hand make our Brackets and Corbels that you all put up in your 'vintage look’ homes. We always think about you in everything we design. Our carefully selected group of highly skilled wood carvers work all day thinking about you whilst their painting that ‘distressed antique look’ that they know you love.So how’s that for making you quiver at the knees!

Mind you make sure your knees are quiver free when putting up our Brackets or Corbels though, safety first!

Wooden Pillars make a luxury gardening addition

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

With our elegant range of wooden pillars here at Papa Theo we do our best to provide you with the best ‘shabby chic look’. You can be reassured that we can help you fill you home with high quality ‘distressed looked’ products inside and out.

Over the winter I bet most of you have spent lots of time filling your homes on the inside, with lots of elegant items provided by Papa Theo. So what about the outside of your home? The cold winter months have seemed like a long never ending tunnel. Our nature also hasn’t had the opportunity to flourish. The birds will have stayed in their ornamental Wooden Garden Bird Houses, and we have taken a similar stand. Not many of us have had the motivation to step out into our gardens in the colder weather. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The summer months are upon us, which gives us all an excuse to go out and buy those special little something’s to create the ‘shabby chic look’ not only on inside of your homes but on the outside too. So why not treat yourself and the birds this summer and have a look at our sophisticated and more importantly affordable, luxury wooden pillars and stands.

How can they benefit the birds you ask? Our luxury wooden pillars and stands can be used to give your ornamental wooden garden bird houses that finishing off piece they need. This will create a ‘shabby chic look’ home for the birds, keeping them happy, and more importantly keeping you happy by creating an elegant feel for your garden. Our wooden pillars and stands will match the ‘shabby chic look’ of our bird houses, which make them a perfect coupled purchase and creating a bit of hand crafted luxury for your garden. Clever aren't we!

Our exclusively designed wooden pillar and stands are carefully hand painted, which allows them to look distressed and antique, which we know you love. These beautiful, elegant, sophisticated and affordable wooden pillars and stands will make a great addition to any home.

How many times do you look into your Hand-carved Mirror?

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

We all know we have to have a much needed quick peek in our hand-crafted mirrors before we head out for the day. However we found a survey online that showed women look in a mirror up to 71 times a day. All you men are probably thinking, ‘yeah typical vain women’. Nevertheless, don’t be so quick to judge, the survey also shows that men are not that far behind with 66 times a day. Why do we feel the need to look in a mirror this many times? Is it that different mirrors show you different things about you? It seems these people seem to think so. We wanted to know what we see when we look in our hand-carved mirrors. So we put it to the test. We found that we saw how much hard, skilled work had gone into them to give that ‘distressed, antique look’ we love, as well as a few freckles and stray hairs.

Our exclusively designed, hand-carved mirrors have their own claim to fame on the television programme 60 Minute Makeover click to view > We love to think one of our hand-carved mirrors has gone to a good classy home. This recently re-decorated beautiful home is owned by Jackie, who has had to work very hard to bring up two children as a single parent. We all know how hard it is to bring up children, especially alone. I doubt very much that she’s had much time to look in the mirror over the past few years. However now her two sons have move into adulthood with their own families, Jackie can take advantage of her new hand-carved mirror and look into it as many time as she likes.

If you’ve recently re-decorated your home with any of our products, why not tell us which of our products you’ve use to create that ‘shabby chic look’. You can post pictures and comments on our Facebook page. Don’t forget to have a look at our hand-crafted mirrors to see how you too can bring a bit of elegant style into your homes, just like Jackie.

Oh Corbels, take that vintage look outside to the garden

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

We are always looking in the latest garden magazines to see what’s new and ‘in trend’. However designers often look in the past to get their inspiration. As they know much like the ‘classic vintage trend’, all best designs come from past eras. Our Brackets & Corbels for example take their inspiration from medieval architecture. So don’t be ashamed to say I’m not a youngster anymore, be proud to know the’ youngsters’ will use you as inspiration for years to come.

Not many people know what Corbels are or where their name comes from. Corbelling was a technique used, whereby rows of corbels are deeply keyed inside a wall supporting a projecting wall. This technique has been used since Neolithic times, a bit of history for you there. Our vintage look stone Corbels can be used to support a window ledge much like the window ledge from the Romeo and Juliet play. So if you’re a hopeless romantic have a look at how you can hold up and create your very own Juliet window ledge look with our corbels, Romeo not included.

Here at Papa Theo we have a huge range of crafted Corbels. Similar looking corbels can be found carrying balconies in Italy are usually of great size and richly carved. Have a look at our range of vintage look corbels to see if any of them bring out your Italian side. So next time you sit in your garden and think ‘that window ledge could do with a bit of character’ think Papa Theo’s sensational Brackets and corbels.

Get the Vintage Vibe in your home

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Previously we posted our musings on how Shabby Chic and Vintage have never really gone out of style and how amusing it is for us oldies to read about these 'latest trends'. So how do you recreate the timeless and comfortable Shabby Chic look in your home? Don't worry it can just take a few essentials or wisely chosen items from Papa Theo!

You needn't bin your modern elements, Shabby Chic, Vintage can be combined with flat screen TV's, brushed aluminium look kitchen appliances etc. In fact the 'clash' of new and vintage can bring about some gorgeous textures you may not have otherwise thought to combine!

What do we mean? Well for instance, take your super dooper, pride and joy of a flat screen TV and have it wall mounted, sitting on one of our Belladonna Rustic Wooden hand crafted shelf.

Or take a sheet of glass, whatever measurements best suit your living area and create your very own table with our hand carved Pillars & Stands!

We'll leave you to your imagination and have fun creating your perfect retreat. Look out for more Shabby Chic ideas from us soon!

Vintage & Shabby Chic have always been in fashion!

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

You know when you're getting on when you utter those immortal words 'In my day...' or 'I'm sure I used to have one of those in 19...'. Trends can come and go with some making a revamped reappearance. Unless you've been living in a cave of late you'll have been bombared with the 'new' Vintage, Shabby Chic sensation.

Between it being a genuine reoccurance of past fashions and also the necessity we all have at the moment to be more frugal - its more than just a passing phase and we're the proof!

Here at Papa Theo we have been crafting Shabby Chic, Vintage look items for over 20 years proving that it's more than a passing phase! Shabby Chic is a timeless style that adds that little bit of luxury and character to wherever it placed in a home, garden or workplace.

We're old hands at this cutting edge fashion malarky, watch and learn youngsters haha!

20 years of hand crafted 'Shabby Chic' furniture

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

It's hard for us to believe here at Papa Theo's but its been 20 years since we first started on our mission to bring high quality, low cost Shabby Chic wooden furniture to Europe!

Unlike the fads that come and go, pressurising you to ditch the old and keep up with the new – our Shabby Chic pieces are timeless. With each piece being hand crafted, solid mango and finished to the highest standards, they are truly an interior investment as well as a joyful addition to your home.

What keeps us enthused after all this time? Fighting against the faceless, bland poor, quality pieces that constantly come onto the market – that's what! Also our wonderful Indonesian artisans without whom none of this would be possible – our partnership goes from strength to strength year after year and after all this time we are still in awe of their skills and imagination.

Here’s to the next 20 years!

Hand Painted Distressed Lampstands

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

With our extensive range, we have tried to make achieving a shabby chic theme throughout your home as easy as possible.

Sometimes there are items that you may think, it's just not possible but there is always an alternative to a modern, clashing design here online. For instance we have hand painted distressed lampstands to provide mood lighting, something often over looked when thinking of decor but essential in the finishing touches of a room design.

With our extensive range of distressed lampstands you can keep your shabby chic theme whilst achieving the lighting scheme that's perfect for your room.

How's that for attention to detail!

Ornamental Shabby Chic Reproductions

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In these frugal times we have to be mindful of what we spend. You'll have noticed that we are keen to point out the quality, longevity and practical nature of our shabby chic products but sometimes it does the soul good to just spoil ourselves and buy something that is decorative because we just fall in love with it.

With that sentiment in mind we have our Shabby Chic Ornaments section of the website. In here we have a range of lovingly designed, decorative reproductions in our usual high standard of craftsmanship coupled with our gorgeous shabby chic and distressed finishes.

Ranging from small to large, our shabby chic ornaments will complement any house, conservatory or garden. From an Ornamental Sitting Pig hand crafted from solid mango wood to a Children’s Vintage Wooden Rocking Horse toy – the diversity will surprise you!

Go on spoil yourself and add that finishing touch to your surroundings.

Distressed Wooden Photo Frames

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Progress is good no doubt about that, with music and photos going digital we can store more and have potentially thousands of files available at a push of a button. Sometimes though, there are those precious photo's that you'd like to display permanently everyday. It's nice when a special photo just catches your eye as you look around a room. Digital photo frames are no substitute for a thoughtfully framed photo. Aside from them looking rather clinical, most homes just don't suit that 'technical' style.

We have a large range of photo frames, all hand-crafted and in our trademark distressed wooden hand carved style. One of our more popular frames is our Distressed Triple Heart Vertical Photo Frame available in several shabby chic finishes. And guess what... this particular frame is even reduced in price for a limited time only!

Which would you rather have hanging on your wall?

How we achieve our Shabby Chic look

Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

You'll have noticed that we love to stock products that have been 'naturally limed'. We use this technique to achieve our lovely shabby chic look. A good example is our Shabby Chic Wooden Butlers Tray. Aswell as having fantastic hand-carved decoration, this example is naturally limed. You'll agree the technique really brings out the decoration.

Historically, lime-based materials have been utilised for their ageless quality and have been around in one form or another for centuries. The lovely thing about this shabby chic affect is that it maintains quality, but actually improves in appearance with age. The texture and colouring that our master craftsmen and women achieve makes us very proud!

Shabby Chic for less!

Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

We're always on the look out for new and stylish additions to our huge range of shabby chic products. You may have read our post about our site visit to our furniture makers in Bali – those guys just come up with the most gorgeous designs and craftsmanship. Inevitably, we will have to have to make space for our new shabby chic stock.

This is where you get the best of both worlds – expertly hand-crafted shabby chic home accessories at a discount! You get quality, design and an authentic piece of hand-crafted art at a fraction of it's original cost – we don't put low quality products in so it looks like a good sale!

An honest, upfront discount – how often do you see that these days?

Brighten up your life with our distressed mirrors!

Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Everyone feels better when we're bathed in sunlight. Moods lift and optimism abounds when the lighter days/nights come around each year. Enjoying the sunshine outdoors is easy and you really don't feel like spending time indoors. So how can we fill our homes with natural light without knocking down a wall or 2? Mirrors of course!

Using mirrors throughout the home is a decorative trick that allows you to reflect natural light and warmth into the darker areas of your home. We have a huge range of mirrors of all shapes, sizes and finishes. For instance our overmantle distressed wooden mirrors would be ideal to catch and reflect a huge amount of natural light and warmth. And for those little nooks and crannies we have all manner of smaller stylish distressed wooden mirrors.

A few of our hand crafted distressed wooden mirrors in strategic positions can make all the difference to your home and your mood without breaking the bank!

Distressed Garden Ornaments

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

After our lovely spell of weather recently, those of us lucky enough to have outdoor areas will be out enjoying the sunshine.

The good weather will have encouraged a lot of growth. Seedlings we carefully tended to and planted out should be doing well.

How does this bear any relevance to our distressed garden ornaments? Well our clever ornaments can help look after your plants! For example, take our Wooden Peacock Garden Ornament. Hand carved from solid wood with a solid metal spring like neck - this ornament can not only decorate your garden but double up as a deterrent of unwanted garden invaders.

Tall, elegant but solid it can withstand our unpredictable summer weather but more importantly with its metal spring like neck it has a certain degree of movement which we know disturbs birds or unsettles cats who may come a snooping.

I think you'll agree with it's antique, distressed look it's much nicer on the eye than old CD's on string!

Royal Wedding Shabby Shic Gift ideas

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Ok, you may not be going to the Royal Wedding next week of HRH Prince William and Kate Middleton but chances are you may be going to a wedding of some sort during the summer and if not a wedding then a anniversary, retirement or birthday celebration. You'd probably need to think of a gift to take with you? One that is classy, unique, small enough to carry and affordable?!

At Papatheo.co.uk all of our furniture, accessories and gifts are hand made so every one is literally unique. The majority of our items are made by hand using Mango wood from Bali. The trees aren't chopped down for their wood, they are chopped down to make way for fruit bearing replacements which actually absorb more CO2. The 'dead wood' would just remain on the ground were it now for comapnies like ours who pay favourable wages to the people of Bali to create quirky and bespoke items for our shabby chic requirements here in the UK.

So, if you are lucky enough to be attending a party or celebration of some sort this summer, the best suggestions we have in our range are our hand carved photo frames, our mirrors, candlesticks, wooded fish trays, or garden ornaments. All of these can be found by looking at the left hand side of this page under the suitable category titles.

More Regal Shabby Chic ideas!

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Royal Wedding next week has got the country all excited. Not just because we all get a long weekend here in the UK, but also because many of us up and down the UK will be enjoying street parties and/or watching the wedding on television. They say that the wedding of Charles and Di netted a worldwide TV audience of about 750 million people. They estimate around 2 Billion people will watch William and Kate tie the knot. No pressure there then Will's!

But all this wedding talk has seen an increase in Royalty related sales of merchandise across the UK. We ourselves at Papatheo have a Royal link...our hand carved pillars! Whilst these may look right in every house across our fine nation, they do look fantastic in the right surroundings. They are brilliant for holding flower baskets and vases away from little hands or for just adhourning an otherwise boring doorway.

And buy buyiong one of our hand carved pillars, your house would be starting to look almost as regal as Buckingham Palace. Well, almost.

Site visit to our furniture makers in Bali (with pics!)

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

As many of you will know, we closed the shop for a couple of weeks at end of March to head to what we thought would be the sunnier climes of Bali where we have a team of skilled wood carvers and furniture makers. Unfortunately, we weren't well timed. Bali was wet and miserable and the UK was basked in sunshine and 70 degree temperatures.

Nevertheless, we did manage to visit our team, check out progress of development off new products and also grab a few pics of our site out there.

This picture is what the outside of our furniture factory looks like. Nothing inspiring we admit, but it houses all the tools and equipment and team needs to make our beautiful shabby chic items including these mirrors below in 'before and after' format:

PapaTheo is back with new Shabby Chic products!

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

After a couple of weeks away in Bali we are again delivering orders for clients ordering via our website. The reason for our rather exotic early Spring overseas trip was to visit our workers in Bali and to source new innovative products. As you no-doubt by now know, at Papatheo we have a self imposed 'code of ethics' whereby we honour the welfare and general well being of the skilled wood carvers who produce our beautiful furniture. Trips like this are therefore genuinely needed!

We will be posting pictures of our trip, and those of our workers and new products on our Twitter and Facebook in due course!

First real day of summer so time to enjoy the garden!

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

We've probably all mostly had our first day of summer today. What constitutes summer? In our opinion, it's temperatures in the 70's and sunshine!

Regardless of whether you made it to 70 degrees wherever you are, you won't have been far off, so what better time of year to start enjoying the garden once again?

At PapaTheo we have a lovely range of Garden and Conservatory furniture, and also garden ornaments. In fact, our garden ornaments are particularly popular at this time of year as they make excellent 'bed fillers'...filling in gaps where foliage hasn't yet grown but where 'something' needs to be.

Our conservatory furniture is great for those of you who are experiencing slightly cooler temperatures. Our favourite item is the Kartini Double Conservatory Chair in Teak!

Fact finding mission to Bali to source more Shabby Chic furniture ideas!

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

It's a tough job but somebody has to do it! This weekend, Papatheo management are packing up their bags and heading across to maybe not sunnier, but certainly warmer climes in Bali to source new Shabby Chic furniture and ornaments to sell on this website!

Most of you are probably aware that we source our products ethically. This means we don't pay to have tree's chopped down, we pay workers to use tree's that have been chopped down already as they have stopped bearing fruit . We also pay above the average wage to our team of carvers and craftsman meaning that, even though there isn't a code of ethics so to speak which we can sign up to, we do at least know ourselves that we've done the right thing.

Please check back here in mid April when newly sourced products will be uploaded ready for sale! Please note, orders made until 12 April won't be dispatched until our return.

Shabby Chic for the Kids!

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

It's not just us adults that love Shabby Chic, as kids now also have their own furniture range to love on Papatheo.co.uk. For the discerning child that likes order, how about a lovely Naturally Limed Toy Cabinet? Also available in a 'distressed white' finish these cabinets are brilliant for storing toys, or CD's as the children move from toys to music in their bedrooms.

For the child who has everything we are always proud to promote our lovely carved Wooden Rocking Horse. It's said that children who play with wooden toys develop into more intelligent adults. We're not too sure how true or not that is, but we can guarantee that this item will raise a smile on childrens faces for years to come, and will be an item they can pass onto their own kids for the next generation to enjoy.

And whilst on the subject of wooden items that will last a lifetime, take a look at this wooden toy chest which can also be used as a traditional blanket box.

So, they may be a little voice, but the children in our lives also get to enjoy our beautiful range of shabby chic furniture for themselves!

There are shelves, and there are PapaTheo Shabby Chic style shelves!

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Shelves are really the domain of the high street or out of town DIY store. Mass produced, poor quality bland designs, albeit cheaply normally.

At Papatheo all our shabby chic shelves and pelmets are hand carved and therefore effectively each unique in design. They look gorgeous and certainly don't look like something you'd fine in your local store.

If you've already chosen one of our shabby chic mirrors, or photo frames or another item from our range, the finish of our shelves will perfectly compliment the style and look of these.

For the stylish home that has everything...how about a Vintage Wooden Rocking Horse?

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

When we were kids, there were rocking horses everywhere. Wasn't there? We certainly remember them anyway and there are still some specialist UK manufacturers of these not far from our own HQ in fact.

We like to think that our vintage wooden rocking horses are the best anywhere though. Each is unique, and each is finished to a standard that will see your kids, their kids, and their kids at least enjoy the horse. If you don't have kids, it makes a classic addition to a study, spare bedroom or even conservatory.

These aren't our cheapest products but bare in mind these items are intricately hand made from quality materials and will almost certainly outlive you...not bad for the cost of a decent PC!

Family Easter at the dinner table

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Easter is traditionally a time when families get together once again, often around the family table for a meal or semi-formal gathering. It's also the time of year when, hopefully, the weather starts to improve and it's often the first opportunity in the year to actually host a family get together.

Why not prepare your home in readiness with a super range of matching shabby-chic ideas. To start with, how about this retro idea with a subliminal Easter 'theme': an Ornamental Wooden Chicken Bowl - great on the dinner table or used practicably holding eggs.

In terms of table decorations, our Ornamental Wooden Display Shell Dishes are perhaps one of the most impressive hand carved items. Again, because this item is hand carved, it is in effect, unique.

Finally, for an instant impression at any dinner table anywhere in the UK, you can't beat a quality candlestick. They ooze class. Our candlestick range have varying sizes, colours, shapes and sizes for you to choose from, each representing excellent value for money.

Love wildlife in your garden? The birds will love you if you buy one of these...

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

It's a sure sign of Spring when you're awoken in the morning by the dawn chorus of birds singing. In fact, I was awoken by a woodpecker this morning. Not pecking st a tree as you'd expect, but at the window of the spare bedroom . If you love your birds though, and if you like stylish garden design, you should surely combine an act of kindness with design inspired practicality?

Our range of hand made/carved wooden bird boxes can make any garden look stylish. Plus, we sell these in 4 colours; plain white , red, green or blue. All stand much taller than the average bird box you'll buy in the garden centre and we advise either a pillar of very strong fence or branch to support.

The best bit of these lovely designer bird boxes? If you buy now, ready for Spring, you'll find them on special offer, whilst stocks last!

It's nearly Spring so what better time to introduce new furniture to your home and conservatory?

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

You don't have to be posh to own a Butler Tray!

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Our antique white butlers tray is possibly our favourite item in our warehouse. Better still, it's an item on special offer at the moment . But the point is, you don't need to be posh to own one of these.

Unbelievably, these trays are all unique because they are individually hand carved. They look fantastic not only in a shabby chic styled home or conservatory, but also in a greenhouse or outdoors in the summer months when entertaining guests on the patio or decking.

This item is in two pieces...the tray, which lifts off and can be carried from the kitchen etc, and the legs which fold out. This means it's an easy item to ship but also an easy item to store, particularly handy if you are just using it in the summer months for entertaining. Hurry if you are interested, at this price they won't hang around for long!

Shabby Chic for the trendy Gardener

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

This is why our hand carved Shabby Chic Mirrors are so special!

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Small room? You need a BIG mirror (preferably hand carved!)

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Sadly, as houses have gotten smaller over the years in order to cram more houses into as little space as possible we are left with either all having less furniture or relying on special effects to give the perception of more space.

One of the most popular, cheapest and easiest ways of making a small room appear bigger, is to position a mirror on one wall . A mirror reflects like back into the room, creates a focal point plus gives an illusion of 'more beyond'...extending the ye into the mirror as if it's a mirror.

At Papatheo, our hand carved mirrors are one of our more popular ranges. From small mirrors which would look en-vogue in the smallest of downstairs cloakrooms to grand, ornate hand carved master pieces which would look brilliant in even the grandest stately homes.

Why use plain shelving when you could have Shabby Chic!

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Ornaments to 'Shabby Chic' Your Home!

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Shabby Chic Photo Frames

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Redecorate for the New Year with some Distressed Look Furniture

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Shabby Chic Christmas Present ideas

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Mirror, Mirror on the Shabby Chic Wall...

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Old is gold! Shabby Chic style Retro Mirrors

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Things you didn't know about Painted Shabby Chic Furniture!

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Why old Shabby Chic is new fashion!

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Shabby Chic Furniture: Proving that Old is Gold

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The History of Shabby Chic!

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Hand Carved Shabby Chic Mirrors

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Cheap Teak Conservatory Furniture!

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Dark Nights, Bright Lights

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Wooden Egg (Chicken) Bowl for a splash of colour!

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We're not sure if any of you remember the 1980's TV comedy called 'Bread'? It basically focused on a family from Liverpool who were petty criminals and who sponged from the state but whom all had strong family values, who all sat down together each evening and all contributed their 'bread' to the bowl on the table. The 'bowl' was in the shape of a chicken.

This bowl therefore always evokes our memories of that television programme and we wonder how many of our Chicken bowls ever make it to family tables to be used in such a way. Regardless of how you intend to use your bowl, it adds a great splash of colour and class to all kitchens. Use it to store eggs or other knock knacks like keys etc in a tidy manner. Order soon, and benefit from the current discount as well!

Order here

Shabby Chic Dressing Table Carved in Mango Wood

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Buy your Shabby Chic in bulk and save a fortune!

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Bargain Blanket Box!

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Mirror, Mirror on the Shabby Chic Wall...

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Mirrors are one of our best selling items. Not that surprising when you see our extensive range of mirrors which range from traditional Shabby Chic style through to more ornate Gold Leaf look. Our prices range from the very cheap to 'amazing value'. With some of our mirrors currently discounted, and with all mirrors including the normally expensive Postage and Packaging charge, you can not only nab a bargain online whilst slurping your cup of tea, but you'll also safe in the knowledge that you don't need to lug the mirror home in the family hatchback either!

Check out our Shabby Chic Mirror range here.

Designer Bird Boxes for 'Posh' Birds

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Distressed, Limed or Painted...How different finishes can fit with a variety of Interior Design Styles

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Consider your Shabby Chic requirements in design...

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Shabby Chic - It's good to look distressed!

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The management team at PapaTheo were discussing phrases which our clients use to describe our extensive range of hand carved furniture the other day. Somebody mentioned 'Shabby Chic' and it got us thinking as to exactly what Shabby Chic is and where did it come from?

If you 'Google' Shabby Chic you'll find over 2.5 million returns ranging from furniture suppliers like ourselves to clothing and even cars. How can you have a shabby chic car? Maybe it is a car made to look distressed in which case one of our trusty delivery vans can definitely be described as such!

Our furniture at Papatheo is all hand carved by our own carvers in Indonesia so this begs the question as to whether Shabby Chic is furniture that is old and used in a modern setting or is it modern furniture made to look old? Either way, we feel our range of products certainly looks suitably 'Shabby Chic' with styles replicating very closely the bygone era of classic French furniture with limed and natural finishes, as well as classic carvings, corners and engraving. You don't get that nowadays.

We'd love to hear your views on this...what do you think of when somebody says 'Shabby Chic'? Are we unintentionally setting a trend at PapaTheo HQ?

Holidays: No orders to be shipped between 1 and 20th July

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We will be on holiday between 1st and 20th July. All orders will be fulfilled upon our return.

TRADE ACCOUNTS

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

As a "trade" account you qualify for a discount. There is no minimum order as such but we do expect the size of your order to reflect the quantity discount given. We also offer a discount to "drop shippers".

Please contact us for the appropiate discount rate.

You will need to register on our website and once you advise us this has been done we'll apply your "trade" discount.

Papa Theo: Sustainable and Fair Trade Furniture for your Home

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

We at Papa Theo believe in building trusting relationships with our skilled wood carvers in Bali, Indonesia. We contribute to the community as well as sourcing our packing materials and having our brochures printed locally.

There is no fair trade mark or label yet developed for furniture products and limited guidelines to follow, so we create our own principles based on a trusting relationship and our ethos as a company.

Free shipping on all items!

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

HOLIDAY NOTICE:

We will be closed on the following dates: 11/07 - 28/07 Orders taken after 6th July will be processed & despatched on our return.

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ITEMS!

As of 28th August 2009 we are very please to introduce free shipping on all our product lines. We have been asked many times for this and now we are in the position to offer our distinctive range of hand carved furniture not only at a reasonable price but with free delivery.

Papa Theo confirms PCI complance

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Here at Papatheo we take your personal security and the security ofour systems very seriously. Periodically we engage outside securityconsultants to review our servers and systems and check they complywith PCI DSS security requirements.

We are delighted to announce, that once again we fully comply withall the requirements of PCI DSS, Visa CISP, MasterCard SDP, AmericanExpress DSS, and Discover Card programs. For full details please take alook at our PCI DSS site certificate.

Visiting our workshops in Bali and deliveries during our trip

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

From 25th March 2009 through to 10th April 2009 Both Minette and I will be away in Bali, Indonesia for one of our extended visits to our workshop and factory. This is a great time for us to interact with our craft men and women and talk about new ideas we have for new products.

Choosing the right lighting for your home

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

There are many different options for lighting a house, but most of them involve a lot of work. For example, installing track lighting, fluorescent lighting, recessed lighting, or any other similar options is difficult. Unless you are good with your hands and have the money and time to invest, you want to avoid it.

After all, what looks worse than a hacked together lighting job?

Ardingly Antiques and Collectors Fair

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Here at Papa Theo we believe strongly in going out and meeting our customers and clients. This is why we attend the antique fairs and collectors fairs as often as we can. We usually have a lovely stall set up at the fairs showing some of our reproduction antiques.

This week we are at the Ardingly Antiques and collectors fair at Ardingly Showground. Drop by and pay us a visit, stop for a chat and have a browse around. We will be delighted to see you.

Papa Theo featured on ITV's 60 Minute Makeover

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Papa Theo was recently featured on the popular ITV show "60 Minute Makeover", where our console table was used as the centrepiece in the master bedroom of the semi-detached house in Thame.

The Telegraph: Advice on choosing a mirror, featuring Papa Theo

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500

The Telegraph recently featured an interesting article The Room Planners, which gives some useful advice on selecting mirrors.