Get creative during four-days of fun workshops where you'll receive expert tuition in how to breathe new life into your favourite pieces of old furniture. Whether you've got mismatched chairs you want to coordinate, or a table you simply can't bear to part with, this course will help you upcycle like a pro.
You'll learn everything from choosing the right second hand furniture, to designing your piece, repairing and preparing your furniture for painting, to picking paints, refining your brushwork skills and protecting your work. You'll also explore how to distress furniture for a shabby-chic look, and practice using stencils, gilding wax, soft furniture wax and varnish.
Plus you'll spend time with likeminded readers in the splendid surroundings of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park at Gartmore House, a traditional 18th-century mansion set in 100 acres of private grounds.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Policy
In these difficult and challenging times, we want to reassure anyone wanting to book one of our 'in-house' Art, Craft or Activity Holidays at Gartmore House. We have put additional measures in place that protect all guests. Should you be prevented from staying as a result of the Covid pandemic, and associated government restrictions, we will be more than happy to transfer your booking to a later date or alternatively will provide you with a full refund.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
Check in from 4pm and receive a warm welcome from our team. Once you are unpacked and settled, enjoy some tea or coffee and home baking in the lounge where you can relax after your journey.
Come 6pm, everyone will gather in the lounge for the Welcome Talk and Meet & Greet, giving you the chance to meet both your fellow guests and your tutor before the start of the course on Monday. Your tutor will talk you through what to expect from the week, discuss what you would like to achieve during your stay, and answer any questions you may have.
From there, dinner is served at 6.30pm in the downstairs dining room.
After breakfast, tuition runs from 10am to 4pm with regular breaks for tea and coffee so you can relax and have a natter with your fellow guests about everything you've been up to so far.
Today you'll work on two pieces of upcycled wall art to practice decoupage and stencilling. This will introduce you to antiquing, wax gilding, crackle glaze and varnishes.
All your meals are served in the dining room, with evening tea and coffee available in the lounge at 9pm.
Today you'll learn about sourcing second-hand furniture and spotting appropriate pieces for upcycling. You'll start work on your furniture, check for damages, learn how to repair them and prepare your furniture for painting. You will then design your pieces and plan the process. Next, start painting and practice brush skills!
Continue working on your furniture. Design plans often change as your piece evolves.
Today you'll practice decorative details and protecting your work with varnish or wax. It will soon be time to celebrate your amazing work!
After breakfast today, say goodbye to your new friends and check out for 10am. There's an included transfer to Stirling Station at 10am.
Unique 18th-century property offering a wide variety of arts, craft and activity breaks in the beauty and serenity of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
Nestled within the stunning Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and set in 100 acres of private land, this beautiful 18th century property is the ideal place to enjoy an art, craft, and activity holiday.
Included in your stay will be freshly prepared, wholesome meals and home baking, made by resident chefs using local produce. Enjoy farm-to-table comfort food and a selection of Scottish favourites throughout your stay, as well as craft beers, gin, spirits and local whiskies at the bar.
Stay in comfortable en-suite accommodation individually decorated with traditional Scottish touches. There's a mixture of single, twin, double, and multiple occupancy bedrooms available.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.
* Please note, price is per person, based on two sharing a room. Subject to availability. Single supplement of £100pp, subject to availability. Room upgrades available at a supplement. Deposit £25%. **Exact requirements of what you need to bring can be discussed with the team in advance depending on your project. Ideas of project will be sent to you and more information sent out once you have booked. ***Transfers from Stirling station at 3.30pm on Day 1, departs Gartmore House at 10am on Day 6. Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport are available at a supplement. Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Gartmore House.