The Handy Hen

The Handy Hen Your go-to handywoman service. Reliable, professional and detail-oriented.

Graphenstone Purifying Paint – My First-Hand Review 🎨My first time using an eco-friendly paint, with the product purchas...
17/10/2026

Graphenstone Purifying Paint – My First-Hand Review 🎨

My first time using an eco-friendly paint, with the product purchased by my client, so I was interested to see how it compared with the professional brands I usually work with.

In terms of performance, I found the opacity to be mid-range compared with other professional paints. It covered grey emulsion walls in two coats, with a few touch-ups needed to finish.

I did find the paint required quite a bit of dilution to maintain a workable consistency and keep a wet edge, which made application a little more challenging and resulted in more splatter than I’d normally expect. I also found the odour more noticeable than I anticipated, despite the product’s low-odour claims.

That said, if choosing a paint with a lower environmental impact is a priority for you, Graphenstone is certainly worth considering.

My verdict: A good option for those prioritising sustainability, but from a decorator’s perspective, I found the application and coverage to be a little less straightforward than with some of the professional brands I regularly use.

As always, this is based on my own experience using the product on this particular job, and your results may vary depending on the surface and application method.

13/10/2026

Client (day before works start): I’ve removed the wallpaper, and the walls seem to be okay.

Me (thinking): Perfect, when I start tomorrow they’ll be minimum prep required.

The walls: Hey, I’m full of hairline cracks, paint peel for days and exposed plaster….

The reality: 🆘

Anyone else led into a false sense of security & then reality strikes and you have a wee meltdown daily until everything finally comes together?

12/10/2026

🖤 FROM GREY TO BOLD & BEAUTIFUL… WITH A SPOOKY TWIST! 👻🖌️

This living room makeover came with a little more history than your average decorating job! 🕯️

This cottage was once owned by two pagan sisters, and this very room was used as their ritual room… 🔮 So, naturally, there were a few mishaps, maybes and moments along the way that had us wondering whether the room’s spooky history was making itself known! 👀👻

But the real nightmare? The walls! 😅

Endless paint peeling, adhesion issues and plenty of troubleshooting meant this was far from a straightforward makeover. What should have been a simple transformation turned into a serious test of patience, persistence and preparation.

✨ 6 days of hard graft.
✨ 4 full days of prep before a single drop of paint went on.
✨ Countless hours getting the surfaces right before we could even think about the finish.

Because sometimes, the biggest part of a decorating job isn’t the painting… it’s everything you have to do beforehand to make sure the results last.

We took this room from tired grey to bold, beautiful and full of character — and despite the challenges (and whatever else might have been going on in that room 👀), we got there in the end!

Proof that with the right preparation, a little perseverance and a whole lot of elbow grease, even the trickiest transformations can have a happy ending. 🖤

Would you have taken on a room with a history like this? 👻👇

📍 The Handy Hen | Scottish Highlands
Your local handywoman for decorating, transformations and those jobs that need a little extra love.

10/10/2026

🎨 What can you expect when you book The Handy Hen for your painting & decorating? 🐔🖌️

Spoiler alert: it’s not just slapping on a coat of paint and calling it a day! 😉

✨ Prep, prep and more prep – because a great finish starts long before the paint tin is opened.

🛠️ Attention to detail – filling, sanding, repairing and getting those surfaces ready for a finish that lasts.

🏡 Respect for your home – protecting your space, keeping things tidy and treating your home like my own.

🎨 Quality products & proper techniques – no cutting corners here!

🤩 A whole lot of pride – I genuinely care about the work I do, and I want you to love the end result just as much as I do.

From the first bit of prep to the final brushstroke, you’re getting someone who takes pride in their craft, believes the details matter, and won’t call it finished until it’s right.

Because a beautiful finish doesn’t happen by accident – it happens through preparation, patience and a little bit of The Handy Hen magic! 🐔✨

📍 Based in the Scottish Highlands
📩 Got a room that needs some love? Drop me a message to discuss your next project!

05/10/2026

✨ From dated to beautifully refreshed… ✨

What a difference a little colour and some careful woodwork can make! 🤎

This living room transformation was all about giving the space a fresh new feel while keeping the character of the room. From the colour change to the freshly finished woodwork, every detail came together to create a calm, welcoming space that my customer can really enjoy.

I absolutely love seeing the before & after — swipe through the reel to see the transformation! 🎨✨

Another happy customer and another room brought back to life. 🏡

What do you think of the transformation? 👇🏼

04/10/2026

Want a mirror finish on your window sills? Whatever you do, don’t make this mistake.

Products & tools used:

• 2inch roller sleeve
• 2inch roller frame
• Aqua Guard
• orbital sander
• pre-mix wood filler

30/09/2026

KNOT BLEEDING… BE GONE! 👋🏼🎨

One of those little decorating problems that can come back to haunt you if you don’t deal with it properly…

Here’s how I tackled these stubborn knots 👇🏼

🔨 Step 1: Sanded all of the woodwork back using 120 grit to give me a sound surface to work with.

🎯 Step 2: Spot primed every area affected by knot bleeding using HB42 PS1 Stain Blocker, making sure those troublesome knots were properly sealed.

⏳ Step 3: Allowed the stain blocker to fully dry before applying a coat of primer over the prepared woodwork.

🎨 Step 4: Tomorrow… it’s time for the top coat!

The key to a good finish isn’t just the paint you can see — it’s the prep underneath it. If you don’t deal with knot bleed properly, those orange/brown stains can work their way back through your beautiful new paintwork.

Another job where the prep is doing the heavy lifting. 💪🏼

28/09/2026

That’s a wrap! 🎨🔨

The last external woodwork restoration job of the year is officially complete!

Days of prep, sanding, filling, rebuilding and undercoating have gone into bringing this tired woodwork back to life — because a good finish starts long before the first top coat goes on.

Finished with Weathershield, giving the woodwork a fresh new look and, more importantly, a few more years of protection against the Scottish weather. 🌧️🏡

It’s not always the quickest part of the job, but the prep is what makes the finish. 👌🏼

And just like that… external painting season is wrapped! 🎬

26/09/2026

ROTTEN WINDOW SILL ➡️ FRESH START 🪟✨

This one had definitely reached the end of its life!

The rotten sill was carefully removed before a new sill was made to measure, installed and secured into place.

Then came the prep — because the finish is only ever as good as what’s underneath it. 👌🏼

🪵 Rotten sill removed
📏 New sill made to measure
🔨 Installed & secured
🧰 Prepped & primed
🎨 Finished with a durable, all-weather protective paint

A tired, rotten window sill transformed into a fresh, weather-resistant finish that’s ready to face whatever the Scottish weather throws at it! 🌧️💨

Another little bit of rotten timber gone, and another window given a new lease of life.

Big love to for making up a bespoke sill that fit like a glove!

Would you have repaired it or replaced it? 👇🏼

Address

Tomintoul
AB379ER

Opening Hours

Monday 5pm - 8pm
Tuesday 5pm - 8pm
Wednesday 5pm - 8pm
Thursday 5pm - 8pm
Friday 5pm - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+447540350299

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