Can you guess what my first thought was when I saw the image above on Live Creating Yourself? Give yourself a point if you answered "Where are the painted wood pieces?" It seems like you can't open a shelter magazine anymore and see a room without at least one piece of painted wood furniture.
In recent years I've been all about the trend of painting wood. (My neighbors don't realize it, but I sense their concern every time they see me, yet again, in the garage with a mask on my face and a can of spray paint in hand.) For certain, painting old furniture with a bad finish is an easy and cost effective solution for anyone without the experience or inclination to try their hand at staining. But lately when I see a gorgeous finish on a dining room table coated in paint to get rid of the "old- fashioned" feel of the piece, it tugs at the part of my heart reserved especially for traditional design.
Call my thoughts antiquated if you will, but I still think there is a certain elegance to a beautiful mahogany cocktail table paired with a white sofa or even *gasp* dark stained kitchen cabinets with a cream subway tile backsplash. The masses may call it old-fashioned, but I won't be giving up my natural wood furniture anytime soon.
Where, if at all, do you drawn the line on painting furniture?
Just found your blog and boy did this post hit home!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm old fashioned as well. I love painted pieces, but if the piece is a true antique and has really good patina or finish or embellished with burl, I wouldn't dare paint it.
I also have a hard time painting new furniture. I envision my traditional french china cabinet painted grey, but I don't have the nerve. It's only 3 years old.
Amen!! Yes,there are pieces screaming for paint, but there are also so many pieces that just need a little bit of love to restore the beauty. They just don't make real wood like they used to. I love the look of a mix of both. As a decorative artist, I must admit, most of my pieces in my home are wood!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen-
ReplyDeleteI have been painting furniture for a long time. and don't see it as a trend. Back in the 80s furniture was painted solid colors, then stenciling furniture became popular. Once that look was over painting freehand floral designs were all the rage then the trend was trompe loeil and then distressing. Now it is back to solid bold colors that go with the modern trend in furnishings. I don't think painting furniture in itself is a trend - it is how we paint it that is. I have been around long enough (Yikes) to see these changes. I kind of like the look of the solid bold colors the best. It is actually the easiest and less fussy.
My best- Diane
Hi Karen -
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add that I love the mix of painted pieces with natural wood pieces. I think it adds interest. If every piece is painted in a room I think it is too much of the same thing and the focus is lost in the room.
My best- Diane
I like a bit of everything, painted and not. I have a gorgeous old oak library desk that we use as our kitchen table. It was my first DIY project when we got married 20 yrs ago. We lovingly stripped many layers of paint and now enjoy it's natural oak colour. I think paint is fantastic because you can re-invent pieces. But I like to decorate with what makes me happy and not what is trendy {I only use trendy accents around the house}
ReplyDeleteGreat post as usual Karen!
I love painted furniture, but have to have a mix of both. I prefer things to be all mixed up - wood, iron, mirror, paint, etc. Hope you doing well!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I just can't paint some types of wood. It would break my heart. My friend Tori, who owns the store I frequently mention, told a client that we may be in the period of painting a lot of wood pieces, but it gives the next generation something to strip. People will always find the need to reinvent things. Someone down the road will get just as much joy out of stripping off the paint and revealing the original wood as the person who painted it to begin with. Isn't life funny like that? :)
ReplyDeleteKelle
xx
I have stripped painted furniture and just put a coat of tung oil on it. I've also painted furniture that was really beat up and just too much of a hassle to strip. For me it all depends on the furniture but what I like gest is a mix of both. Too much dark wood furniture is just too... well dark.
ReplyDeleteI think it's all in the mix. All wood pieces in one space = matchy-matchy and boring. All painted pieces in one space = same thing!
ReplyDeleteIf a piece is still in excellent condition and is well-made, but is simply old, then it shouldn't be painted. Perhaps changing the hardware or using the piece in an unexpected way would be enough to update it.
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly, I can't bring myself to paint any piece of furniture. There are pieces I have considered, like my bamboo chairs, and I can't even do those. Yet. Maybe. We'll see. However, our oak kitchen cabinets are a different story.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! Thank you allowing another point of view!
Camille
P.S. Cheryl Crow's house is right of my alley! Neutral, classic, lots of contrast.
ReplyDeleteI love it all. I often think that in 5 or 10 years the trend will turn again and I'll be spending endless hours stripping everything that I'm currently painting. Just keeps us out of the mall, right?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! There is such a thing as too much painted wood. But too much brown stained wood can be overwhelming too. So I think the trick is in the mix... stained wood, with cushy upholstered furniture and painted wood as the accent.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :)
Mixing wood and painted furniture gives it a collected over time look. Adding a piece of painted furniture mixes it up and makes a room look fresh and new.
ReplyDeleteJust added your button to my blog! All fancy now!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to everything Diane said (I'm showing my age too!). I do like to have one old unpainted piece in each room.
ReplyDeleteSuzy xxx
I tend to like a mix. I love my traditional dining table (dark wood) with the modern white chairs. It is nice to make an old piece new again with paint. I don't at all regret painting my perfectly fine armoire. Love the new white finish. =)
ReplyDeleteI still have several stained pieces. I like the mix as well. I have one piece I would never ever paint. The patina of the wood is what I love most about it.
ReplyDeleteI have a mix of painted wood and stained furniture in my house. I think it depends on the piece and the overall look of the room that I'm trying to achieve. I have no strong feelings either way :)
ReplyDeleteKaren, I'd like to pass on the Versatile Blogger Award to you! Stop on by today for more details.
I never regretted painting my dark kitchen cabinets for a second, but having just removed layers of spray paint off of a brass light fixture, I will move forward with more consideration when deciding to or to not paint an item!! Funny how trends turn and we start to ask ourselves what on earth we are doing! Janell
ReplyDeletewhile I am very tired of looking at painted white pieces or bright orange or turquoise buffets I do enjoy the occasional painted piece. But nothing is as beautiful as a gleaming piece of natural wood furniture lovingly restored or just left to bare all it's scars of a lifetime. I am afraid that we will all look back on the chalky white furniture pieces placed next to an orange buffet and it will scream 2010.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic today! I paint furniture for a hobby that I hope to soon turn into a business, but there are some pieces I just can't bring myself to paint over. If I like the wood, I simply stain it instead. The two-toned look adds warmth and character. As I was stripping down a set of endtables, I discovered they had a burled wood border all around the top. No way could I paint over such beautiful detail! I think there is a fine line between painting or using stain, and that depends on each individual piece!
ReplyDeleteMotherNatureInspired.blogspot.com
Hi Karen!
ReplyDeleteI love painted wood pieces but our kitchen remodel is going to have some beautiful reclaimed wood accents. :) I love the mix of both.
I like the black but if you think its too dark try the gold. You have experienced the black so why not try gold.
ReplyDeleteI cant wait to see what you choose.
Karen - This is such a great post. I recently bought a bench from Craig's List and I love the way it looks as is. I've debated whether to paint it or not but I'm really leaning toward leaving it as is w/ the dark wood stain. I'll probably just update it with some fun pillows or cushion.
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