By now, for those of you who have not yet met me in person, or who don’t know me on a more personal basis, would have gathered that I am not in the thirty-something or even forty-something age bracket.  This means that I have seen trends come and go, and come again.

One such a trend is the Vintage Revival and more particularly the painting of furniture pieces – the furniture from the 50’s and 60’s era.  (Frankly, I was surprised to find so much of it hanging around still).   This is stuff that my I grew up with – so what is it doing back here again? The truth be known, I just simply did not appreciate the style when growing up.

However, the beauty of the revival of vintage is that I am able to see it with new eyes and the application of paint is giving it a new look as well.

I have a few pieces that I have inherited and suddenly the ball-and-claw coffee table and chairs, which I thought was too awful and could not wait to get rid of, have become meaningful again.  This together with my mom-in-law’s old 50’s radiogram cabinet as well as the 2 Queen Anne high back chairs – plenty of potentials.

But do I paint them or not?  I am a whole lot slower in applying paint to furniture, only due to the fact that many years ago, we used to discover the most amazing piece of wooden furniture hidden under layers of paint.  And the declaration of the time was: “how could they do this to a beautiful piece of furniture.  We thought they were all “Eijeets” (idiots pronounced EEGGIITTS – by the Irish).

So, I have decided to apply a standard against which to judge whether to paint a piece of furniture or not.  I take a long hard look at the quality of the wood and the finish.  If the condition is still good, showing natural movement & texture in the wood – NO PAINT (like my little ball-and-claw table).  BUT, if the wood has no particular value or happens to be non-descript and just generally in bad shape, then PAINT IT.

I doubt you will find me painting Yellow Wood or good Mahogany grain.  At times, I am even hesitant to tackle an Oregon Pine piece.  I realise that I am somewhat of a purist.  But by contrast, something like the Radio Cabinet – it is coated with layers of furniture polish which has made it particularly ugly to appreciate – being painted will grace it with a new lease of life.

Vamp Furniture is a shop that I have noticed exercises discretion as to what to paint and what to keep in its natural state.  Let’s follow the trend with discretion – evaluate what to paint and what not to paint. We don’t want to be the Eijeets of the future.

Check out these painted furniture heroes:

Vamp Furniture: website

Restore: website

Once Upon A Time: website

4 Men 1 Lady: website