Paint & Bolt
An inside look into our creative decor business
Who are Paint & Bolt? A creative furniture and decor business focused on offering a diverse range of styles, primarily using second-hand goods for sustainability. Selling completed pieces online, as well working on a commission basis.
On a personal level my name is Cath. I work full time as a Head of Customer Care, I’m married to my wonderful husband James, with 2 gorgeous stepchildren called Harry and Lottie. I’m from a small town in Somerset, I lived in Bristol for 13 years and moved back to the area in 2019 when I met James the year prior.
What inspired you to start upcycling furniture and getting into lifestyle decor? I’ve always had a creative streak, I loved art in school, and I tried making handmade cards and festival hats at one point! I had always been interested in upcycling furniture ever since I saw an old college friend start their upcycling business, but i didn’t feel like I’d have the time to learn. Eight years later the pandemic hit, and it just so happened my future husband was a painter and decorator! So, I took the opportunity to learn a new skill with my extra free time.
Pinterest quickly became my go to source for inspiration and creative ideas!
Who or what are your biggest influences in the home decor space? Art 4 Interiors for furniture and Nina Watson Interiors as an interior designer (Instagram: artdecojewel)
What platforms do you use for inspiration? Pinterest and Instagram.
What are your favourite materials to work with, and why?I love stencilling, it’s a cost effective way of transforming something from looking very plain to absolutely stunning.
I also love masking tape to create designs on furniture with paint, it can be used on walls too!
What are your top 3 tips for decorating a room? Choose a colour scheme with a maximum of 3 or 4 colours (different shades of the same colour work really well too)
Legs on any furniture, even if small, can create the illusion of more space, which is particularly beneficial for smaller rooms.
Accessorise with key pieces that you love, showcasing your personality.
Looking forward, what are your goals and aspirations for your influence in the residential and commercial decor community? I aim to bring happiness in what I produce, inspiring and teaching others to create their own pieces. My ultimate goal is to do this alongside my running my new business, Oxfour, collaborating with other like minded creatives.