Monday 20 May 2013

To paint or not to paint...

I have to confess to having been suffering from a bad case of itchy paintbrush lately. I seem desperate to paint something. The first idea I had was to paint the black metal fireplace in the sitting room a nice rustic white colour to lift the room.


I would paint the surround only and leave the insert black, like in the photo below. Although I'm a little unsure as to whether it would make the room too wishy-washy - that's the thing about painting things, you can't really get an idea of how it will look until it's done!


The next thing I think I would like to attack with the brush would be the old pine dresser in the dining room. I have always felt that this room was a little "wood heavy" and think that this would be a perfect way of lighting the feel of the room.


And after see photos like the one below I get quite excited about the idea of a lovely aged creamy white painted dresser and can't help but notice that the background colour does seem to set off the china to perfection.




Maybe I could paint the backboards a slightly different shade like in this photo?


Or keep a bit of the pine showing like they have done here? Although I don't have quite as chunky a dresser top as this one in the photo so leaving it au natural may look a but silly. And then I remember that I would need to sand down the entire thing as it has all been covered with a coating of beeswax and that I would probably have to paint the dresser base in situ as we only just managed to get it in there when we bought it!
What do you prefer - black or white fireplaces? Painted or natural wood?

23 comments:

  1. Yes definitely paint the dresser! it would look wonderful and really makes your china stand out, but leave the fireplace black looks great agains't the green walls :)

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  2. All the furniture in our house is pine,as that was what was in fashion at the time.I'm itching to paint one of my dressers as I agree with you that the china stands out so much better than on the wood.My other half doesn't agree with me though..GRRRR!
    I like your fireplace as it is but I think it would look very nice painted as in the photo.
    Have you heard of Annie Sloan paint? It comes in a range of lovely chalky colours and you can just slap it on,you don't need to do all that boring prep beforehand.

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  3. Hi just thought I'd tell you that your cottage is lovely! Thanks very much for sharing it with us - I always love to see how other people decorate their homes.
    If I were you I'd probably leave the fire surround as it is as it looks really nice & ties in with the room. With your dresser I must admit the colour of the wood is very nice as it is but if you were thinking of painting it you don't need to strip it completely (I didn't find this out until too late for my own!). What you could do is use some fine sand paper on the wood to create a 'key' then use a couple of coats of wood primer and follow with an eggshell colour of your choice. I tend to use Farrow & Ball as I love their heritage colours. I kept the top of my dresser wood as well as the handles, I sanded it down then applied a few coats of danish oil which came up nice. I've used Annie Sloane paint on other items & it is great that you can paint directly without priming but you must use a wax afterwards to protect your paint job. Also I find that Annie's paint gives more of a 'rustic' effect & can show brush strokes. So it can depend on the finish you are after. Sorry for waffling but I hope this helps!

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  4. Black fireplace and Annie Sloan paint straight over the beeswax polish....
    Julie x

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  5. I've never regretted painting my pine dresser white! As you say, it shows off the china really well.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  6. Oh I know that itchy feeling. The dresser yes it would look lovely, but the fireplace I think not. I inherited 2 fireplaces in my house where the surround is painted white and the centre left black but I do wish the previous owners hadn't painted them. The one that they didn't touch looks so much better - yours looks stunning just as it is.

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  7. Ooh yes, paint that dresser! But pAinting pine is not straightforward! If you're using Annie Sloan you don't need to sand first but you DO need to seal the knots. If you don't do this on a waxed piece the knots will bleed into your paint and creep through one or two years down the line. You can prevent this with 2 coats of BLACKFRIARS problem solving primer (waterbased). Not Knotting solution which is meant to be covered with oil based paints like gloss. You can paint over waxed pine with Annie Sloan but it's not cheap. You can also make your own chalk paint with plaster of paris and emulsion which is cheaper and just as effective.
    Not sure about the fireplace and I'm normally pro painting EVERYTHING!

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  8. While I would leave the fireplace well and truly alone, yes to the pine dresser. Pine, or deal as it used to be called, was never meant to be left unpainted. It was a cheap wood that was painted - the vogue for stripped pine is a new one. So I'd paint the dresser, perhaps in a lighter shade and a darker shade of the same colour. I love your fireplace black and if you wish to add some colour to your room, do this first in accessories before you splash out - sorry about that - on painting the fireplace!
    Margaret P

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  9. Definitely paint the fireplace. These metal surrounds were never intended to be left unpainted - this is a contemporary fashion, rather like stripped pine. The fireplace would look great painted in a pale eggshell finish and, as you say, leave the insert black.

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  10. I have been having the same dilemma, I have a pine dresser too but I have bit the bullet and decided to keep it wood. Afterall its old and it is kind of beautiful all weathered and old. I shall post pics so you can see! x

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  11. Definitely paint the dresser. I'm a bit iffy on the fireplace. If it had more detailing like the one in the picture, I'd say go for it. Anyhow, let us know what you decide. Your cottage is absolutely lovely.
    Blissful tidings,
    Sandra

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  12. I really want to paint our dresser, so i am so pleased you posted this. now im going to take away all the hints and tips, esp seeing the beautiful pictures you've found for ideas and inspiration.
    X

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  13. Leave the tabletop natural and paint the rest. Then you get the warmth of the wood and the freshness of the creamy shelves and drawers. Can't wait to see the end result.

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  14. Ooh I'm undecided, we have an old painted fireplace but it's in a bedroom so the decision to paint it white was easier. I love a painted dresser but just worry I'd want it wood again in a few years time! Sorry I'm really not much help!

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  15. Hi, I think the fireplace looks beautiful as it is,perhaps you could just paint the drawers on your dresser?Happy bank holiday to you whatever you do.Pam

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  16. I love the fireplace the way it is. It is so elegant and grounded.

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  17. Your Blog are really well. I like it.
    Grüße aus Deutschland

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