About Me

Tonya Trott

Hi, my name is Tonya and I live in beautiful Port Stephens, NSW Australia.

I was born in England and moved to Australia in 2005.

We first settled in Victoria on the stunning Bellarine Penninsula.

My children were both at school and I wanted to do something for me so I completed a Diploma in Interior and Commercial design with The Australian Institute of Interior Design.

I’ve always had a passion and flair for putting pieces and rooms together. I love being able to walk into a space and be able to visualise it with better function and flow with a style that suits the client’s personality and needs. I also really enjoy working with colour, how it can change a mood, enhance an area, how it works with other colours.

I became a colour consultant with a few paint suppliers and I also did some pre-sale staging work.

When we moved up to NSW, our country style did not suit our coastal location.  I decided to have a go at painting a piece of furniture to see if that helped. 

My first project was a huge buffet and hutch, quite daunting for my first attempt, but exciting!  Friends loved it and I had lots of great feedback. 

I painted a small piece for a friend, then another and then another. 

People wanted  to pay me to paint for them. I loved having a creative outlet, and my shed is still my happy place. 

I get a huge thrill when I’ve done a transformation.  I love taking unloved or dated pieces and making them beautiful and suitable for today’s homes.  Older pieces are so well made, and saving things from landfill is also something I’m thrilled to be able to do.    

There are lots of products in the Dixie Belle & Fusion ranges too, which give different finishes, and have different functions. I’ve watched hours of tutorials and I’m still learning. I love being able to try new techniques and products, it keeps things new and exciting by constantly growing. I’m really looking forward to running workshops and sharing what I’ve learnt with others having fun at the same time.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little about my furniture painting journey. Please feel free to contact me if you want to know more, or don’t know how to start your own project.

Warmest wishes,

Tonya