Member: Shel's Shabby Chic

FURNITURE ARTISTS COLLECTIVE MEMBER:

Michelle Hill: Shel's Shabby Chic, Hertfordshire 

I'm Michelle, a professional furniture painter based in the village of Stotfold, on the North Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border, famous for its Watermill and Steam Fair. 

I specialise in updating classic mid-century and vintage furniture, transforming time-worn pieces into elegant and practical pieces ready to be re-loved and used every day. I breathe new life into old wood so pieces fit seamlessly into our modern homes, professionally and elegantly updated but retaining all their vintage charm and character.   

I am drawn to vintage furniture and the craftsmanship that accompanies iconic British brands such as Beautility, Stag, and Harris Lebus. This has instilled in me an adoration for dovetail joints and a fascination with writing bureaux. 

 Although I relish working with tallboys, chests of drawers and cocktail cabinets, with a myriad of details to consider inside each drop-down lid, a variety of pigeonhole and drawer formations, writing surfaces, mechanisms, and even secret compartments to be discovered, and with so many colour and design choices, a writing bureau sparks my imagination every single time.   

My style is vintage elegance with meticulous attention to detail, which can elevate the most boring brown furniture into something totally unique and bespoke, and when my clients invest in their vintage furniture rather than sending it to landfill and buying new, they are also being environmentally friendly and kinder to our planet. 

Each piece of vintage furniture has a story, and we write its future together. From initial enquiry to colour consultation, from work in progress to delivery, I strive to exceed my client's expectations while respecting their furniture's history and character and appreciating and enhancing craftsmanship. I aim to elevate their homes with beautiful, functional, bespoke furniture ready for the next generation. 
After our collaboration, personally delivering a transformed piece of furniture is an absolute joy for me; I feel very privileged to have seen tears of joy, received rib-crushing and heartwarming hugs, exclamations of excitement, occasional dancing, always huge grins, heartfelt thanks and wonderful testimonials, like this one from Kitty: 

"Wow, stunning! Thank you so much for making this so beautiful. Also, for all the patience, advice, creativity, reassurance and support along the way. You have been brilliant, thank you. OMG, it's fabulous!"   
Kitty was so delighted with her transformed bureau that she commissioned a vintage linen chest.   

My passion also lies in teaching beginners how to upcycle their own furniture in my 1-to-1 workshops. Time as a Teaching Assistant has helped me develop a hands-on, relaxed and patient teaching style, passing on my years of experience, knowledge and skills, teaching beginners the tools, tips and techniques needed to transform their own furniture from scratch, but most importantly,, to build confidence in their own abilities, so they can pursue their creative passions at home. And if they ever need me, I'm always at the end of the phone for a chat! 

As a lifelong creative, I'm always learning. I've taken courses in calligraphy, pottery, jewellery making, bricklaying, carpentry, patch plastering, glass blowing, fused glass, traditional and modern upholstery, and acrylic landscape painting, and have even spent a day in a blacksmith's forge, as well as running my own 'Baubles & Bubbles' bauble painting & prosecco parties in the run-up to Christmas each year, so I understand how crucial creativity is for our physical and mental health, bringing mindfulness and an enormous sense of calm to our increasingly busy lives. 

My passion for learning means I constantly want to expand my skills and learn new techniques. So, in addition to painting and decoupaging, I have added marble and copper patina effects, gilding, stencilling, and hand-painted acrylic flowers to my repertoire. As a perfectionist with an eye for detail, I can adapt a 1-to-1 workshop to your creative needs, exploring whatever technique you wish to learn. 

Another of my loves is creating totally unique tableware to update my clients' homes. It's also guaranteed to be a talking point with guests, whether enjoying a coffee, delighting in a home-cooked dinner, or sipping cocktails!   

Using my decoupage skills, high-quality paints, metallics and designer wallpapers, my handmade ceramic coasters can be created to complement your living room décor and update your coffee table. My matching bottle stands, placemats and serving trays will truly elevate any dining table to another level, with the reassurance that every handmade creation is custom-made and totally unique. 

Why settle for bland, mass-produced products when I can custom-create something handmade, unique, and bespoke just for you?   
In the New Year, I'm looking forward to transforming many more pieces of vintage furniture for clients, old and new. 

 I'm excited to collaborate with a British paint brand. In the future, I aim to grow my business, share my knowledge, and create an online course to reach a wider audience and help more people express their creativity and follow their passions. I'd love you to join me! 

Contact Michelle via her Website at Shels Shabby Chic