Why Paint? Why Not!
The better question is, 'Why not paint?'
Phyllis Giordano
June 25, 2007
One phrase has guided my design approach and my paintbrush since I started painting furniture in 1993.
“Who says it has to be that way?”
It's a good question to ask as you stare at a vintage piece of furniture or stemware longing for a new lease on use and utility.
The vintage furniture I use as my canvas has its own strengths and character — it can only be enhanced by a unique approach to color and design. There’s more than one way to look at any issue in life, and I strive to find the unusual viewpoint in my furniture designs and in my approach to home décor as a whole. My inspiration comes from many sources — the pinks, lavenders and greens in a field of lupines, a chance pairing of color swatches in my sample ring, or from the piece itself as I prepare it for paint. Staying open to the possibilities enables me to transform a heavy, black 1940s piano bench into a joyful garden bench, or an otherwise drab 1950s maple bureau into the focal point of a room.
When considering a new look for vintage furniture, don’t be limited by the original use for the piece. I recently completed an accent piece that originally served as a hallway table. As you can see from the “before” photo, it tends to fade into the background, causing us to wonder what possible use it could be today. A fresh new design and color scheme opens up plenty of possibilities for the piece — a server in a dining area, a focal point to brighten a low-light space, or as a unique showcase for family photos or treasured collections.
www.paintedtreasuresbyphyllis.com
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Reader Comments:
Hi Painted Treasures,
I very much enjoyed reading your advice -- I agree that judicious use of color can liven up any room needing a modern facelift. Life is too short to hang on to drab furniture and I appreciate your enthusiasm for helping the hapless take the plunge.
As you are the expert, I do have a question: How can you tell if an old piece of furniture is a valuable antique that loses its worth when it's stripped? Do you advise your customers on this sort of matter?
(Just so you know, while living in London years ago, I purchased several lovely pieces of painted furniture for my childrens' rooms, but this furniture was brand new -- definitely not the interesting old pieces you describe as stripped and turned into sophisticated-yet-functional art.)
I look forward to reading your thoughts on this vintage-verses-antique question.
Thank you so very much,
Sally, in Portland
Hi, Sally,
I'm so glad you enjoyed the article.
Your question is a good one. When I started Painted Treasures, I realized that I needed to educate myself on that topic, so I spoke to several local antiques experts and found some wonderful print and online sources. Now, there are things I look for in terms of construction, type of wood, and identifying marks in order to determine whether I should paint the piece or not. If a customer has a question about a piece they own, I refer them to the antiques professionals.
Phyllis