Natural wood, white paint.

[sheddie]

As many of you know I used to be involved in stripping pine mainly!! Everyone wanted things back to the bare wood and then a little bri wax.

Then it went to a painted distressed look with part painted white and part left natural wood, then all painted mostly white, now the new white is grey, how dull but that's what appears to be happening. X:eek:

[franbee]

The antique shop we like in Leek is full of furniture painted grey, is that a French thing, d'you think?

[sheddie]

I really don't know Fran and a lot of the pubs and businesss' are being painted that colour too at least in our local area, it looks very drab. I saw a woman sell a chest of draws with very little age, painted grey for £295, in auction it would have been bought very cheaply I'm sure. X

[jazzactivist]

Yes, sheddie, I have noticed that grey seems to be the in-thing at the moment. I love natural wood, and also quite like the distressed, off-white and wood look, but I think that it would be hard to live with a lot of grey woodwork over time. I read somewhere that in times of recession grey clothes and interiors become very popular. I quite like grey clothes, but don't know whether I would like it in my house.

[sheddie]

I think it is such a drab colour on the stonework of buildings too. Who on earth thought this one up eh? I also wouldn't want to live with a grey dressing table or whatever. X

[dragonfly]

I find grey dull and drab. I love natural wood that is nicely polished.

[Crocus]

Our house is painted a light grey and it actually looks very nice. Everyone's house in this town was/is painted either white, cream or the colour of wheat, so I decided to be a bit different and we painted the outside light grey. I can't tell you how many people afterwards painted their houses grey! I think grey with blue in appear to be cold, but the colour of our house is grey with hints of brown so it has a warm appearance. Grey furniture I'm not so sure of. Actually grey is a natural colour of you look at foliage, the sky, the sea sometimes, tree bark, leaves, etc. What I don't like is dark grey, that looks quite drab and depressing. xx

[jazzactivist]

Our previous house was also painted a light, warm grey with white trim, crocus, and it did look nice. One of the rooms in this house is painted light grey and I think that it looks a bit like a concrete box. Maybe grey is better outside where the light can refelct off it. I also bought a couple of big pots in a grey / mauve glaze and they do go well with the green leaves of the plants in them.

[Crocus]

Hi Jazz! I think you're right when you say grey looks better outside. We have grass on the front of one part of the house, on the other part we have light brown coloured gravel, perhaps a bit bigger, and the house actually appears to have two different colours grey because of the reflection of light and sun. Mauve and grey actually goes very well together and adding the green of the leaves it must be quite a nice feature.



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[jazzactivist]

That's so weird, crocus, your house is exactly the same colour as our previous one. Your entrance way looks lovely. We also had light brown gravel next to one part and grass near another and the wall next to the gravel seemed a mauver grey than the one near the grass which looked a warmer grey. I suppose that all houses that are painted a colour other than white have that look.

I really dislike that exterior coating of greyish brown harling. A lot of houses in Scotland have that finish and I have noticed that it is quite popular in Cumbria too. In my view, it looks so drab and I wonder why people don't paint it. Flowers just seem to disappear when they are next to it too.

[sheddie]

This is what I mean, I took this this afternoon obviously after I had staggered out yet again. x lol:D

[franbee]

I suppose they think it looks smart.

[jazzactivist]

I like the look of the grey on that pub alongside the brick. I know that Farrow and Ball do a grey that is especially meant to blend with brick. I think that it makes the old bricks stand out more and shows up their beauty. I went to see the film Coco before Chanel yesterday evening and all of the interior woodwork was in different shades of grey. It did look very stylish and not as stark as off-white, but I think that you would have to combine it with the rest of the French look to make it work.

I also dislike dark coloured wood, Pippa. I know what you mean about new pine going orange. It has happened in the house that we live in which has a lot of 70s pine cladding. I like paler hardwoods that have a more ashy tone and try to keep new wood looking that way by waxing it with bees wax. In our previous house the owner had made all the wood mahogany brown and it took months to strip it all back to it's natural colour and wax it all. Apparently, the new owner has now painted all the wood white, including the beams in the sitting room which were an absolute b****** to strip!

[Crocus]

Hi Jazz, thanks, we quite love our grey house. THis pic was taken in summer with roses in full bloom. Now of course it's cut down , but is starting to push out new leaves etc.

Quite weird for our houses to be painted exactly the same grey - who copied who I wonder?! The brownish gravel actually tints the house in an almost pinkish or a warm grey. xx

[sheddie]

Perhaps I need to look at this grey again, it's just not a colour I could live with especially inside on furniture.But maybe the young set like it and it has become faishonable. X

[Crocus]

On furniture I won't like it either, I must admit, but outside in a light shade it's not to bad Sheds. Your pic is lovely! Hope you didn't fall on staggering out numerous times ......... ;) XXX

[jazzactivist]

I couldn't live with it inside either, sheddie, but outside it can look very nice. We liked our grey house and it was also a really practical colour as it didn't show any marks. Perhaps this is what appeals to people for interiors and furniture too, as white does show up every scratch. I still think that you can't beat stripped wood.

[dragonfly]

Regardless of what I said earlier, I think the grey pub looks smart. I think it is because it is two colours of grey, in small patches, and not big areas. I couldn't live with grey indoors or wear grey clothes.

[buecherwurm]

I like the way the pub looks. But it would be nicer if they had some hanging baskets with lovely flowers in

[sheddie]

To tell you the truth I thought the grey paint was the undercoat and I was waiting to see what colour was going on top, but no it was the finished article.

The lady I mentioned who is selling grey painted furniture is really selling lots, I must get my paintbrush out me thinks. X

[Crocus]

I agree with you BW, a few flower baskets will really look nice there. xx

[sheddie]

As they have only just finished painting maybe the flower baskets will go up now, if they do I shall take a pic. X

[buecherwurm]

Looking forward to the pics, sheddie. The house really needs them.

[sheddie]

Yesterday there was a man up a ladder putting gold leaf on the pub so as we now realise it isn't finished. So out came my camera and here it is looking much grander. X:)

[Crocus]

It looks quite different and as you say much grander. Lovely! xxx

[sheddie]

I have bought some wooden items today and what colour do you think I am going to paint them? why grey of course! X;)

[dragonfly]

"I don't believe it"

[buecherwurm]

you're pulling our leg, right?

[Crocus]

You're telling a porky Sheds! xxx

[sheddie]

I certainly am not!! I shall be putting them for sale in Country Matters,one has to keep up with what people want. Elephant grey is not for me personally but if the customer likes it then that's what they'll get. X

[Crocus]

Well off you go then, go and do some paintin'. Don't just stand there....... you've got paintin' to do, girl!!! ;) CM can't wait for ever you know!:eek: XX

[sheddie]

It has been closed for 2 weeks for holidays, it has been strange not to go! X

[Crocus]

Imagine how you going to enjoy it the next time you go Sheds! Have a nice slice of something sweet...... XXX

[sheddie]

I hope to be going this week Crocus but Softie may be here. X

[Crocus]

Hi Sheds, could she perhaps go along? XX

[sheddie]

She could but couldn't say No to the cake on show she says. So we'll have to see, she is trying so hard to keep a control of her weight and the tablets she is on aren't helping in that way. X

[Crocus]

I'm sure one little slice won't do her bad will it? I admire the control she has, goodness me. It must be difficult to ignore all those cakes on show - I remember it from pictures you posted a while ago. xx

[sheddie]

No definately not gloss, it depends what you are trying to cover Pippa but eggshell would be preferable. X

[sunflower]

A few years ago, when I bought my vintage three door Welsh dresser, I painted it in Paper white by Laura Ashley. I'm very pleased with the result. Very subdued and goes with anything.

[Crocus]

We've got a oregan pine cupboard and I want to give it a French feel. Not sure if it wil work though. xx

[sheddie]

Well I have put a painted bit in C.M. we will see what response it gets eh? X

[Crocus]

Hi Sheds, let us know how it went eh? xx

[sheddie]

This is a pic of a wash stand I bought today and then I bought a reproduction jug and bowl which fitted in the hole. This painted look as I know it is either termed distressed look or 'shabby chic'. Also if you repair a piece of old furniture with a piece off of something else this is termed a marriage, so me putting a repro jug and bowl in I would have to be clear that although the washstand is old the jug and bowl are new.

Also if you see on a price ticket a C. before something this means the item was circulated around that year, not a precise date.

[sheddie]

Forgot pics.

[buecherwurm]

I would just love to have that wash stand, sheds..........

[sheddie]

I put it up for sale at C.M. I am not sure how it will go but I really like it. Pleased you like it Bue. X

[Crocus]

I won't mind having it either. It's lovely. xxx