Hello Miss Creative — Behind the Scenes at Miss Belle's Restorations

 I'm super excited to introduce our first-ever
Hello Miss Creative profile --
a series of blog posts featuring
 Vintage Vixens, Marvelous Makers, Prolific Painters & Dedicated DIYers.  

You may already be familiar with their names on
social media and our Shop Talk Group Page on Facebook 
but here is a chance to learn what makes them tick. 
​Enjoy getting to know your fellow creatives!

​We are honoured to begin this series with...
​

Belle Kemmis of
​Miss Belle's Restorations

She is a furniture refinisher extraordinaire.
Her projects feature regularly on our Facebook and Instagram pages
and we consider ourselves her number one fan!

We're super excited to have you here!
​Can you tell us a little about Miss Belle...

I live with my gorgeous renovator-handyman-best friend-all-round-awesome-husband
and two crazy border collies in a 1920s cottage, which we are currently restoring.
​
There's always something happening in our house
and if we're not madly fixing, painting,
cooking or decorating something, then we're talking about
​fixing, painting, cooking or decorating something.

​Our days are full but I wouldn't have it any other way!

The gorgeous and talented Miss Belle

Miss Belle with Jason and the pups, Chester and Lottie (both rescues)

How Did Your Love for Vintage and Antique Furniture Begin?

Jason and I wanted a warm home filled with
furniture that we loved; that had soul!

We both inherited family heirlooms and wanted
to add to our collection without breaking the bank.

We didn't want modern furniture that was flimsy and wouldn't last.
The compromise was to restore vintage pieces in a way
that honoured their past but also gave them a new life.
​
With Jason restoring older homes for a living,
it wasn't a giant leap to do the same with furniture.
​
​After completing our first few projects together, we were hooked! ​

The last home restored by this talented team. The armoire is a treasured piece that was recently refinished.

Do You Have a Favourite Piece You've Refinished?

This antique armoire is my favourite piece of furniture.
It houses my vintage crystal and was one of the first pieces
that Jason and I bought as a married couple.

It makes whichever room it is in look amazing.
Funnily enough, we recently refinished it.

The newly refinished armoire in Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Mora and Old World Paint in Old World White

Elegantly refinished armoire detailing

"Sometimes it seems like I have a new favourite each week!
It's easy to fall in love with a piece that you spend so much time on.

This beautiful oak table that we discovered at
a farm sale is another all time favourite."
​

Antique oak table restored with Furniture Wax and Fusion Mineral Paint in the colour Champlain

Where do You Find Your Inspiration?

When we've just renovated a new room and the fixtures are in place,
I get an overriding urge to furnish and decorate.

Sometimes you need a little something extra
that you search for and restore to make the room perfect. 

We'll also go antique hunting or drink gin and tonics while perusing
magazines or vintage-inspired Pinterest pages.
​
​I also love watching classic films or episodes of shows
like 'Poirot' to find ideas and inspiration for our home.
​I just love the 1920s!

Vintage desk restyled in Fusion Mineral Paint's Ash

Side table refinished in Old World Clay & Chalk Paint colour, Monet's Garden

What is Your Number One Rule When Looking for Furniture to Refinish?

All the pieces that we restore must be in need of love.
By that I mean that they need fixing, sanding or repairing;
they need a new life rather than just a lick of paint.

​More effort usually means a more dramatic result and a feel-good finish.

Before: A buffet rescued by Miss Belle

After: Buffet makeover in Old World Paint, Locket with MMSMP White Wax

---

Before: A much neglected dresser

After: Repaired and given a fantastic new look with Old World Paint in Red Balloon

We're Starting a New Series called, "Show Us Your Bedside..."
​Will You Be Our First to Join in by
​Sharing a Photo of Your Nightstand?

Thank You Miss Belle for Taking this Time With Us.

Before You Go, Can you Please Give Us Your Best Advice
​for New Upcyclers, DIY-ers and Furniture Flippers?

​Trust your instincts, explore new colours and finishes,
​and most importantly, enjoy the process!

Find Miss Belle on Instagram and Facebook. 

Miss Belle in action with brush in hand!

Miss Belle mixed this custom colour, Heirloom Rose, mixing Old World Paint colours

Stunning vintage hutch painted in Fusion Mineral Paint, in the colour Inglenook

Old World White was used on the base of this cupboard with Polishing Wax to seal and protect

Stunning in Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Mora and Antique Wax top

A gorgeous desk hand-painted in Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint colour French Enamel

Sweet babies, Chester and Lottie