First things first, I looked at the newly painted retro wardrobe today and felt it was lacking something. It looked a little too prim and proper. I’m always slightly restrained when it comes to distressing my pieces, but they generally do look better with a bit of sanding here and there.
It just adds to the aged, slightly shabby vibe.
So today I rubbed around some of the edges and corners with a sanding sponge – didn’t go mad – and waxed a bit more. It’s fairly subtle, but I think (hope) an improvement.
Now on to the main event; I love how everyone seems to be embracing Annie Sloan or Autentico paint – even blending their own versions of chalkpaint – and giving neglected retro cupboards and vintage dressers everywhere a new lease of life.
But what do you think about slightly more antique furniture? Is that ever ok, to paint?
The reason I ask is because we have this neglected old Victorian blanket box.
We got it about 8 years ago and it cost about £100 then.
Buying it when we had a toddler and a baby on the way, for toy storage, probably wasn’t the best idea. Add a third son to the mix a couple of years later and… well suffice to say, it has probably had more use and abuse during its time with us than in all its decades before.
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve wiped yoghurt, Ribena, jam, ketchup, pesto, felt tip pens, poster paint (you get the picture) off its surface. It has been stood on and jumped off countless times.
We added a soft closer inside so that it wouldn’t bang down on any chubby little fingers. The lid had to be repaired another time.
To be fair, it was tending towards the shabbier end of the scale when we bought it – indeed that was part of its charm – but now it is simply crying out for some TLC, as you can clearly see.
I’ve just not had the courage to paint it, though, because of its age.
However today, I saw this…
Source: Katie Bonas – a luxury online lifestyle and interiors boutique celebrating great British design and country style.
A lovely rustic Victorian pine blanket box, which has been hand painted to give it a fresh new look. It is for sale in this lovely online boutique.
What would you do – paint a lovely soft shade? Or just sand it, wax it and leave it more natural?
Decisions!
Lovely piece of furniture. I’d definitely sand it back and then oil it with a hardwax oil like Osmo – we’ve used it on our 130 year old Victorian pine floors and they look absolutely gorgeous. I’ve also used it to succesfully revive antique furniture. I’m obsessed with the stuff! Tell you what, you do a sand & oil project and I’ll have a crack at a chalk paint project
Ha ha, that sounds like a good swap! Thanks for the advice, I’ve never even heard of Osmo, so will definitely check it out x
paint it paint it paint it paint it – but what do I know!? (nothing)
Ha ha, thanks – all viewpoints will be taken into consideration! x
Paint it! But I always say that! It looks like it’s suffered some water damage to the front? I doubt you could get that looking dood again. And there’s a hole. Perfect to fill and paint! And make that delicious cushion while your’e at it!
P.s. Have you ever tried painting in two colours, one underneath the other and candlewax on the edges in between? That would look good here!
Hi, Emma Kate – yes it has had water spilled all over it along with everything else
The two colour/candlewax technique, is that what you used on your own blanket box recently? I must re-read your post. (Sorry if being thick, but what does the candlewax specifically do – keep the colours separate?) xx
Yes, it makes the distressing easier so you can distress back to the underneath colour rather than the wood. Useful if the wood doesn’t look great. xx
Ah, I see now – that’s a really good tip, I will remember that, thanks.
Hi, what I used to do back in the days was buy a second hand furniture and then either paint it or wax it in the way I liked. I don’t do this on my own anymore, I leave it to a professional. You have to be very careful in choosing the material which you will use to paint/wax. Make sure you scrub off a little from the surface before you renovate otherwise the paint/wax might not stick correctly and will scale of. Wish you luck !
I wouldn’t paint it. Just a light sand to remove some, but not all of the stains, then wax it and buff.
It would look lovely with a vintage style graphic traced onto the top. A nice rainy afternoon project.
Jackie
Thanks Julie, I think you are right – it’s all about the preparation!
Jackie, do you know, I hadn’t thought about adding a graphic… hmm, that’s got me thinking!
Have a great weekend everyone xxx
I’ve been meaning to comment on this but have been rather ADD lately! I would totally go for painting it. Love the graphic suggestion in the comments, too! My take on whether to paint or not to paint is to do what makes you happy. Of course there are super valuable antiques that you’re not supposed to paint but I don’t personally own anything like that so if I think I would enjoy the piece more painted rather then stained, then I do it! I think furniture is to be enjoyed and used, not handled like a museum piece. So do whatever strikes your fancy! Can’t wait to see what you do!