A TV presenter known for her skill of breathing new life into old furniture pieces has shared her three golden rules for upcycling.
Gemma Longworth, 38, is a presenter and artist best known for Channel 4 daytime restoration show Find It, Fix It, Flog It.
She graduated from university in 2008 and started her career with a residency at Alder Hey Children's Hospital before starting her own workshop business and eventually moving into television.
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Gemma thinks the rise of upcycling is due to the economy at the moment.
She told the ECHO: "Right now money is tight, so doing it yourself is so much easier. But it's also good for the planet, it's good for your purse and you can be creative.
"You can pick nice furniture up from the shops but is it exactly what you want? Doing it yourself, you can pick your own colour scheme and put your own finish and handles on it. You can tailor it to your own house and I think that's really important."
Gemma assured the ECHO upcycling is "dead easy" and shared her three top tips.
Prep is key
Gemma admits this is the "boring" part, but is vital. She said: "People always skip this step because it's the boring part. Make sure you clean everything down first. If you're painting over something that's dirty, the paint is going to come off."
Prime
"I love a good primer," Gemma said. "You can get paints these days that say you don't need to prime, but I always do."
Aftercare
Gemma thinks looking after your upcycled pieces is just as crucial as the restoration itself. She added: "It is painted furniture so it will chip and there will be wear and tear but just make sure you look after it once it's done.
"And at the end of day if you make a mistake or anything, just paint over it. People need to be brave - just have a go!"
Gemma told the ECHO it was her taste in interior design that led to her love of upcycling and urged people to keep an eye out for older pieces. She added: "I've always been the person who loved nice things but can't afford them so I've had to make do myself. Being arty and crafty, I just have a go. If it doesn't work, just paint over it.
"A mix of old and new can work really well together and I think people should look out for old key pieces."
Gemma added: "People ask me what's on trend at the minute but I just like what I like. My house is full of all different colours and is an eclectic mix. If I like it, then it's on trend for me."
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