common ground : patina

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Finding the perfect Greige...

You all are probably like me, and have this little memo board in your brain where you file away ideas and inspiration for projects... ideas that won't go away...but that you're just not yet ready to take on. Thoughts and plans for bringing something to life; it's just that we know it's not the time yet.

Sort of like little Pinterest Boards in your head...

Let me share some inspiration for that...

(remember you can click on any pic to make it BIG)

Last week I ran over to one of my favorite stores, Robin's Vintage Suitcase, here in Springfield. I know most of you have seen the posts I do on Robin's store. She doesn't sell on-line, but I like to share her displays and ideas for decor because there is always something to "take away" from just seeing the pics. I try to convey the atmosphere of her shop even though you might not ever be able to get there in person.

She keeps her displays fresh and current, so you never know what you'll see when you first walk in the door. That day I was smitten with her wonderful "gray" furniture and "whites" tablescape.

So, back to the deep recesses of my psyche where my Dining Room furniture lives. I've wanted to paint those pieces for. ever. But couldn't "get there" with the idea of just white. I've been thinking about the "stripped and weathered bare wood" look alot. Like this pic from Restoration Hardware.

...but, the gray, greige, idea has been vying for my attention. Some of you may remember that I painted my perfectly wonderful "gray" console a couple of years ago. (I'm not going to revisit that, some of you wanted to string me up) But I have to tell ya...that color of gray (with the blue undertones) just doesn't look good in my current surroundings where there's a lot of cream and tan. I need a paint color that has some gray, but with warm undertones. But, this wonderful gray paint patina on this old table just knocked me up the side of my head...

It's authentic, not recent...

see the green underneath peeking through?

As a companion piece,

Robin had painted this fabulous buffet in her homemade paint concoction.

(here are a couple more store pics)

(and for all you locals,

Robin's having a big sale that you might want to check out)

I scoured Pinterest looking for other wonderful gray, greige, beige,
"almost white with a little gray in it", furniture pieces...so take a look at these.

A couple of beautiful pieces from
Kelli Wright at Restore Interiors

Here's more...

My favorite color and technique so far...

Love this one too.

These are all pinned into my Pinterest Board

Gray and Greige Painted Furniture if you want to take a peek.

This is my way of giving this idea in my head some credibility.

It might just be the table, or the buffet and table...

I'm not ready yet to take the plunge...

but I'm working up to it.

anyway, it's fun to dream.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

Joining in with these parties:

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Perfect Patina...

On our trips to St. Louis we always try to make it to at least one antique store, flea, or mall before coming home. The trip before this last one we visited two of our fave places, Big Bend Antiques and Treasure Aisle, both in Maplewood.

This tole basket had some heavily rusted areas,

but it's perfect chippy patina made it impossible to leave behind.

It was really dirty, and even after a soft toothbrush cleaning,

it still had some grungy spots.

And this next piece was love at first sight.

I'm not sure exactly what it came from,

but I think it may have been from some sort of small stove.

any ideas?

It originally had a knob at the bottom too.

It's iron, and super heavy.

Maybe a small wood burning or coal, parlor stove...?

It's on the hearth for these pics.

I'm not sure what I'll do with it,

but it's here for now.

I'm buying much less these days. Being on overload for the last 7 or 8 years selling, I've become much pickier about what I bring home. It really has to be different and definitely call my name. These two patinaed sweethearts really knew how to get my attention. And I've learned if there's something that won't leave me alone, I better get it, otherwise I end up regretting it.
The weather has been amazing the last few days; short sleeve and flip flop weather. Hopefully I can get some plants potted for the deck soon, gosh, I'm so behind on everything. Oh, but I DID see my first hummingbird yesterday morning. YAY!! Hope you're having a great week! See ya Thursday morning for...