What's Your Chippy Factor?

Those of us who are vintage furniture lovers,

and that still swoon over a flea space filled with white chippy pieces,

have all asked ourselves some variation of this question...

How much "Chippy" is too chippy?

I'm not a purist even though I totally respect those people who cannot for the life of them take a paint brush to an old painted piece. I "get" the preservation of the past, and a need for maintaining the integrity and authenticity of an old, antique, or vintage heirloom... and then again sometimes all I see is a really poor paint job that needs to be "fixed".

Many, if not most times, I just try to "help" a piece out a little. I like distressing and chipping, and genuine "wear" of most pieces, but I still like to even things out, cover up any obvious signs of "contamination" like other paint spills, uneven color, abuse, and sloppiness from a previous paint finish. It's very rare that I find a piece that's chippy from genuine wear, that will suit me. A few times, I've just left things alone. But that doesn't happen often.

My little cabinet for the bathroom...

I didn't touch it,

even though I was tempted.

...same with my old door in the kitchen sitting area.

no. no. no. don't touch my perfect little white picket fence gate!!

I love chippy, but I don't like flaking off, usually from lead paint.

I had this piece on the sunporch at the old house, but it was behind my wicker settee and the kitties used it as a bird watching perch. It wasn't in full view, and evidently Hubbs had never noticed it before. But then I found it in the garage over here and it was the perfect size little bench to add into the kitchen sitting area. I like to have a place within reach for a cup of tea or a place to put up my feet.

"What's that? When did you get that?

Did you find it in some old barn?"

"And... the problem is?"

He thinks it's a little too chippy, and that the legs look "chewed".

Yeah, I get the point...

But I don't think I can touch it.

Chewy legs and all. 

And besides, Miss Jenkins isn't worried about it...

So it's staying as is.

more of my Late Summer Sitting Area, next time.

See you here Wednesday Evening at 6 Central for

Check out my Pinterest Boards,

White and White Rooms for more chippy goodness.

I'm joining in at these parties:

The Scoop at Stone Gable

Inspiration Monday at Red Head Can Decorate

Show and Share at Coastal Charm

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Style at Common Ground

Dream, Create, Inspire at Lehman Lane

Shabbilicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique

Foodie Friday and Everything Else at Rattlebridge Farm

Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush

xoxo,