Wednesday 7 October 2015

To paint or not to paint?

Should I paint my dining room dresser?  I can't make up my mind!


It is quite dark and I know that my kitchen dresser which I painted white a few years ago really shows off my vintage china really well.


Love the way the wood has changed over the years on this dresser, though.  Had it for over 25 years. Help!!!  What should I do?!



Love, Liz

23 comments:

contentedkitty said...

Yes, I think you should. I had bookcases made by my Grandad and I really wasn't sure about painting them. We were brave and did them a lovely pale blue (free from the tip!) They look lovely. We also painted a cupboard and the bookcase on top of the cupboard made a lovely dresser. My Grandad would approve!

Deb said...

I think it would look beautiful painted. White, cream, yellow...

C Carter said...

I say yes, paint it! I love wooden items, and have had several that I have kept 'original' as often I think it's a crime to paint lovely old wooden pieces of furniture. But I think painting your dresser a nice cream maybe would bring out the pretty colours of your china. Xx

Lilly's Mom said...

Hi Liz, you have a beautiful collection of antique china. It's so pretty and interesting to see all your special pieces. I love your cabinet too. As to painting it, I don't know as I'm a bit old fashioned in liking natural wood. I'm sure you will decide what you like best. Wishing you a great day, Pat xx

LEfting said...

I think it would look lovely painted! It would show off your beautiful china.

Debbie said...

Hi Liz...I too had this dilemma. To paint or not to paint. We have an Ercol Welsh dresser that my mum gave us and my partner hated....it was very dark. We desperately tried to sell it and no-one wanted it. After about 18 months we decided to paint it the same colour as our kitchen units, which were hand built and it is just perfect. We love it. It fits perfectly into the space we have in the kitchen and it is now looks after all my glassware, vintage teacups and treasured nik naks....I love it. Maybe I should find some before and after photos and blog about it.
Debbie x

cristina said...

no, don't paint it. it looks well now. at most you can refresh it with a translucent paint and that's it. the texture of the wood gives it personality.

Unknown said...

I would usually say don't paint it I love to keep wood natural but in this case I can see it a lovely pale green I think that would show your china off beautifully. dee :-)

mamasmercantile said...

If you love the wood and have fond memories, why change it. It looks good as it is. Only you can decide...

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Thanks for all your lovely comments - looks like it is a dilemma a few of us have had over the years! Will wait till after Christmas (always a good dithering ploy!) and make it a winter project!
Liz

Fee said...

Hi Liz!

I think you should paint it! I'm obsessed with painted furniture at the moment. I think a contrasting colour like a duck egg, or a pale yellow, or even a soft grey, would show off your china beautifully.

Hope all's well with you - I missed you at the terminal this year!

Fee xx

Vintage Jane said...

I would paint it a lovely pale grey! M x

galant said...

Yes, paint it! I'm saying that, mind, because I dislike intensely orange-coloured pine furniture. I think this would look lovely in a pastel shade, perhaps a pastel blue or green (not pink or lavender, heaven forefend!) or a French grey. Farrow & Ball have some lovely shades, and their Estate eggshell is super interior paint. We have used it on several pieces of furniture.
Margaret P

Unknown said...

Maybe painted a nice vintage colour.
Love your china
Fondly Michelle

Mac n' Janet said...

No, I wouldn't paint it, but I might sand it down and stain it a different wood color.

Daisy Debs said...

That is a coincidence ...we too have been thinking about taking the plunge and painting our old dresser in the lounge....so I know it's a hard decision ! One minute you love that gorgeous natural wood ( mine is dark wood ) and then you'll be looking through a magazine and come across an ivory one usually in a white room.....sigh .....I have another small one in my little kitchen which is painted green : )
No leave it ! Its gorgeous ! : )

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

I would paint...something like a farrow and ball white/green/blue/grey, shaker type colours, if that makes any sense! I think with F&B type paints you get historical colours...I bought a Welsh dresser, 30 years ago, wish I'd kept it! I have an old pine chest of drawers and I'm trying to find a glazed cabinet to go on top. I will paint them grey I think and pop all my China in, I get fed up of washing it! :) xxx

flowers on my table said...

Hello Liz, I think you should paint it too, but I'm biased! It is a lovely dresser but your pretty china would show up better against a colour rather than the pine.Your probably wise not to rush into it though! Have a lovely weekend, love Linda x

Carolina Crone said...

Yours is a dilemma that I have faced too, Liz. You could do a wash of color on the back of your hutch. To see if you would like this look, merely paint some poster board and try various colors. I have seen hutches and dressers where wallpaper was used on the back. For Christmas his year I might use a lovely plaid/tartan wrapping paper on mine. This might be splendid for yours, as you are fortunate enough to live in Scotland--my favorite country in the world!

Caz.P. said...

Well, as my old teacher used to say " When in doubt....do nowt ", and you are in doubt.

Jo said...

I'd say paint it as I think it'll look fresher and show off your china beautifully. I definitely don't regret painting my wooden dresser green. It is a personal choice though and perhaps depends on how much wood you have in the rest of the room. I personally don't like having too much wood in one room as it can look overwhelmingly orange but one larger piece of wooden furniture looks lovely (if that makes sense) It makes it more of a feature!

Unknown said...

What about using some lovely vintage linens under or behind the china? Hate to see lovely wood painted.

Unknown said...

Hi,I painted my dresser Annie Sloan old white and I am really pleased that I did it especially as I recently saw it on a photo before it was painted and mine looked really dull and painted white the things on it do look so much prettier!