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Shooting in and out the house today, saying goodbye to some guests, welcoming others, popping into Paris to collect one daughter + one Ghetto !!
Just wanted to share this picture that I found on Pinterest. There is so much to love here, especially for me as I am longing to declutter and tone down a couple of rooms here.
I ADORE the tall interior shutters, their shape and patina is perfect.
LOVE the flowers, both in the vase and in the cushion fabric
Don’t like the legs on the sofa
LOVE the tarnished mirror.
LOVE the painted wooden floor. I so wish I were brave enough to do this myself, I keep thinking about it but haven’t yet grabbed a brush. I thought I needed a little market research on this one please. Would you mind dreadfully?……
Just raise your hands please if :
a – you have painted wooden floors
b – you regretted it ! 🙁
c – you love it and would do it again in an instant ! 🙂
d – you have spent hours un-painting wooden floor boards – tell me, was that really awful?
Thank you for any help on the above!
Tomorrow I shall bring you some Paris shots, thank you for stopping by.[blank]
59 comments
Hello Sharon, I have painted several floors, wood and cement. It was easy. However, paint will always wear in certain spots more than others so be prepared to re-paint in a few years. Make sure you save some paint and label it. Good Luck, Gina
A pickled effect, which at least on my monitor looks like what's happening in that photo, is easy to do and I personally love the look. I've pickled wood but never tried stripping it later–I think if I changed my mind after the paint was in place, I'd just paint over in another color.
I've never painted floors, so don't have an opinion on the subject, but just have to say that I agree with you about the sofa – I don't like the legs, either! 🙂
Love that pic…I shared this on my FB page! I don't like the legs either….I love painted floors but have only done porch floors…my husband would NEVER let me paint the floors in the house! LOL If you do paint…use deck and floor paint…get it mixed the color you like. Our porches get lots of traffic and weather but only need repainting every few years so that paint holds up very well.
If 'de-painting' thickly painted wall paneling counts as well: we did it and it was quite a job despite the ease of having them down and basically sent them through the electric plain. The much bigger problem was – and that's probably the same with floorboards – the deeply soaked in paint into nooks and crevices. Means getting out as much as possible which was painstaking work. Yet, I'd do it all over again; even more on floorboards since the 'goats-paths' tend to show too much too fast if you don't lock the paint in seriously with several layers of polyurethane – which kills the look and expression.
It's quite up to you since nothing of olden days life was actually easy going or lasting for eternity WITHOUT quite some fussing maintenance ever after. Floor boards especially: scrubbing on your knees after perhaps 'weeks of tolerance' 😉
We tend to call our house an indoor house-shoe-house (due to oiled and linseed-oil 'waxed' and high speed machine polishing; it's sort of compromise for a matching house which isn't really rustic nor elegant!) . YET, the problem is when it comes to people of a trade, having to fix something and/or deliver something: Their work-safety DOESN'T cater for running around in house-shoes, socks or bare footed. Rather the quite opposite!!! And if you think, temporary carpeting would do the trick you might find them opting to walk right along them instead ON them – for safety (skidding) reasons as well. Which means: DIY if you want to avoid any damage to your valuable floorboards which aren't 'plastic-ed'. To be honest in dealing with maintenance personal I'd wish I had the floorboards done old, worn, untreated and indeed occasionally scrubbed as guts when necessary.
Good luck with your decision
LG, Gerlinde
Okay, Sharon & Readers,
First of all, I've got to say that my initial reaction upon reading Sharon's post and these responses is that, unless you've got the legs of Angelina Jolie or Bruce Jenner (or, I suppose, if you happen, as Sharon does, to be a horse trainer), everyone past-a-certain-age would do best to avoid critiques of any legs other than your own. And, even then, only in the privacy of your own bedroom and a full-length mirror.
Personally, I think that couch has lovely, graceful, strong, and admirably shaped legs. Having publicly stated this, I hope the couch will return the favor if it's asked about my legs.
As for painted floors? My impression over the years has been that this is the sort of "effect" that looks beguilingly wonderful in magazines and decorating books…..but which is, in most cases, a bigass mistake for any house where folks (particularly those who have soccer-cleated boys and long-nailed dogs) actually lead actual lives.
Two of my longtime friends spent gobs of money commissioning artisans to paint their floors. One had her pine-floored, enormous kitchen painted in a checkerboard pattern. The other had something purportedly "Swedish" done to her hallways (of all il–advised places to have painted floors in an old house).
Both of them deeply regretted doing so, after only a year or so. One unhappily coughed up even more gobs of money to pay for stripping the floors once they began looking like merry-hell, and the other opted for re-painting the design before sealing it with about three solid inches of polyeurathane.
A prevous commentator was completely right in advising that this ruins the entire effect. My friend's kitchen floor, with its checkerboard pattern, now looks like a very large, plasticene serving-tray from Walmart.
I'm lucky. All the floorboards in this 220 year old house are wide, dark heart-pine…fastened with those diamond-headed, thick, handmade 18th century nails. Best of all (as was the case with my previous house) they spent 100 or so years (until the recent restorations) covered with linoleum and other more "practical" innovations. As a result, they're in perfect shape…and lovely to contemplate.
Now (having moved here two weeks ago) I'm facing the prospect of actually keeping them minimally vacuumed and mopped for the next thirty or so years.
And THAT is My Personal Dilemna…..
I did, actually, hire a cleaning lady this past week. She'll come every Thursday, is named "Nadine", is 75 years old (the mother of my yardman), and is ferociously active (also very deeply funny). she told me that, when her husband died at age 38 (leaving her with two boys to raise), she simply opened up her own cleaning service….back when women of her class never thought of doing anything beyond FOR other people.
According to Nadine (whgo was born and bred in this town, the daughter of textile mill workers), "I like working in houses. The day you stop DOING things, you start dying". She's no doubt right.
For a long while, folks in the big houses hereabouts have fought over who gets to "have" Nadine on which-days. Apparently, she doesn't accept bribes or ridiculous pay "raises". She works only for folks she happens to like.
Fortunately, she seems to like me and the dogs here, so I got on her weekly dance-card. Of course (and as I told folks later) I felt as though I were the one being "interviewed"….and I was right.
In any case, my own floors are settled. I may ask Nadine what she thinks of folks' painting and stencilling their floors.
I bet you a shiny red apple that her answer will be "I wouldn't work for them".
Sincerely,
David Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
I have them in my kitchen and love them! I'm considering painting all of the floors on the first floor of my house now.
Because I had a dog and was worried about the paint fumes, I used latex paint the first go around and that was a big mistake. I couldn't keep it clean and it never seemed like the paint cured. A few months later we redid it in an oil based paint and it looks great and is easy to clean.
Of my experience I agree with Gina. You need a very good paint product, especially for floor boards which is available at Farrow § Balls. On top of it you should have a varnish, "diamante-hard". Hope that helps……
Apart from that, painted floors could lift-up rooms!
good luck, k
I have painted a wooden floor, due to blogs I've seen and liked, I do not regret it and intend to paint another one. You can always get rugs or carpet. In fact I painted my floor white and then threw down an all white cowskin rug. I like it alot.
I love the look but am afraid a light-painted floor would be a bear to keep clean and keep looking fairly unscuffed. In my townhouse, I have a narrow, enclosed staircase that descends outside to the lower level. It is a utilitarian space, and I did paint the staircase treads and risers a dark grey with porch paint. It has held up quite well, but the dark color hides a lot. I sweep and mop it regularly, and each autumn, I slap on another coat of paint–that only takes me about 30 minutes. (I don't have to do the edges anymore.)
I agree with you on all the details of the photo even the legs of the sofa!However, no help on wooden floors as I have done brick throught out my little abode!Just like an Italian farmhouse and yes they arenot easy to clean!
I agree, the image of that lovely room makes me want to pare down and declutter too. As for painted floors, the only experience I've had is with painted concrete ~ a different animal. We've always had wood floors throughout our home, but never painted wood. I'm no help here. I tend to agree with David Terry. I think it would be a mistake to paint your wood floors that have a the beautiful patina of age. Good luck with the decision. You have exquisite taste! ~ Sarah
I've always felt painting wood floors was a sin. Something so beautiful should have its grain showing through. Paint just covers up an amazing and beautiful product. I also think over time it will start to look bad as it continues to wear and scratch. That look is good for a bit, but it will become too much in high traffic areas. Thats just me. If you love it go for it!
Hi Sharon!
I loved Mr David Terry comment!!
Then, I have painted 3 floors (new) but would nevere ever have painted the ancient ones, that would be outrageous I think!
And I suppose you floors are as ancient as mine (at least) or even more……
Let us know your decision!
Fra
i have painted floors-
but not beautiful antique floors-
most of the floors i have painted were sub floors after carpet has been ripped out-
no loss-
john in nc
a,c,d… LOL
If you have a really good, old floors, don't do it! Usually you paint the floors when the wooden boards are really crappy and exposing them would be pure misery.
Painting itself is easy. Ish. Blisters on your fingers. Sore knees. But that's about it all. The trick is – painting thin layer after layer instead of one thick layer at a time. But it will wear in a year or two so re-painting every second year must be planned for future.
Well, if you have a painted floor and decide to remove the paint… The only option is to use polisher thus taking the top layer of the board off along with the paint. It
So, the main question is – what state are your floor boards right now? Are they really crappy? If so, paint might be a solution. If the wood is old, well seasoned floor already, better do not do it. IMHO.
I love the look of painted floor but have a neighbor that painted a new floor white and regretted it. She said it showed every dog hair and piece of dirt and got easily scratched, not in a good way. I agree old wood floors are like a piece of art, enjoy them, let life show in them, and they will become more and more beautiful each year….
Glad you asked. I have all Berber right now and it is impossible to keep nice – the wear is costly to replace and I have been SO unhappy with carpet.
I would love to get wood flooring, but our home will seem cave-like if it has dark floors….I have been looking at wooden white-washed floors as inspiration and wanted to know the same thing.
I think your inspiration pic has whitewashed floors and they sure don't look like they're varnished, or if they are it has to be a non-gloss varnish b/c those floors aren't shiny.
David's comment above was hilarious – but I am going with the majority – the sofa's legs aren't substantial enough and make it look cheap. Should be thick turned legs.
Such a gorgeous photo! I love the fabric on the pillows…jaw dropping beautiful as is the rest of the picture. I don't care for the legs on the sofa either…would love to see casters with a thicker more rounded leg instead.
I don't have any experience with painting floors but I really like the look. The only issue I would have would be if you painted it white. How hard would it be to take care of them? Would they always look like they were in need of a good scrub? 🙂
Sounds like you have a busy day! 🙂
I love painted wood floors, and If I had the chance I think I'd paint them….with chalk paint and then Polyurethane them….I hear they scratch without the polyurethane….I have dogs…don't think anything can stand up to dogs running through the house…
Let us know what you decide
I love the look of painted floors… but I've never tried it myself. Curious to hear how it goes if you do decide to take the plunge. Agree, there's so much to love in that image – would love to curl up with a glass of wine and a good book. Looking forward to Paris photos — and perhaps a picture of Ghetto or two? Merci!
Oh (and coming back a few hours later)….I'm glad that folks liked my previous comment. I expect that my so-called opinions about painted floors are as up-to-debate as any other opinions, but my good guess is that folks were responding to the comments about Nadine.
75 year-old Nadine IS right, of course….."The day you stop DOING things, you start dying".
So…questions about painting floors and doing other projects aren't, finally, at all "shallow" or superficial. One's lucky in this world, of course, to have the leisure to contemplate such household changes….but they're still changes, and doing them does require work and effort…..and lot of WORK.
By the way?….I'm highly aware that this is a blog read mostly by smart female readers of a certain age (in short, this is not Katie Perry or the ever-self-congratulating Gwyneth Paltrow's Twitter feed). I happen to find this an invigorating venue (and, thanks, I'm obviously not a decorator or seeking new clients of any kind).
I don't know about the rest of you readers..but I greatly appreciate Sharon's creating and cultivating this remarkably unpretentious, lovely, and uplifting (a cliche/word I use carefully) blog. For various reasons, it's become the blog I go to each morning (and I invariably get up very early) after I've let the dogs out, made coffee, and want to settle into reading for a bit. It's always lovely….and plain-out, unaffected fun…..full of surprises and Sharon's discoveries.
Quite frankly (and I should emphasize at this point that I've never actually met Ms. Santoni), her blog makes me recall Virginia Senator Langhorne's comment, from sometime in the 1920's:
"Fashion is for those who don't have style, just as etiquette is for those who don't have manners".
Ms. Santoni, rather obviously, hasn't any need for fashion or etiquette. Her blog indicates that she's already got style and manners in abundance.
All of which is to say that I like this blog a lot and am grateful to have found it, courtesy of Vicki Archer's "French Essence" (which I enjoy equally).
There are three blogs (all written by women and having nothing to do with my professional interests/obligations) that I regard as "My Daily Vitamin Pill"…a phrase my grandmother used to use in regard to certain friends of hers.
"My French Country House" is one of those, for me.
Thanks again to Sharon for sharing so generously….
Quite sincerely,
David Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
Rarely do I enjoy the comments sections as well as the actual blogs but David Terry has changed my opinion on that 🙂
This is all such perfect timing for me/us.
We are selling our flat here in Buenos Aires and moving back to the US, where we will live ( hopefully) in an old ( very old ) house in Upstate NY where old floors and creaky stairs and porches and faraway views will be a daily fact of life.
I gobble up all the old house blogs and magazines online and imagine how I will do this and that.
I love the old floors, I am in a 100 year old building with 16 ft high ceilings and moulding and chandeliers abound. I expect my new old home will be much the same ..
So thank you for all the ideas and facts and inspiration ~ C
Oh dear, David, you are making me blush, and if you leave many comments like this, readers will start thinking I'm paying you!! 🙂
Thank you for your kind words that make me very happy.
A & B for me, loved them after I painted them then hated the way they looked in a few very short months. Spent a fortune having them sanded down and stained. We live in our home so paint on the floor does not work! I would never do something like that again!
XX
Debra~
Hi Sharon
We had a large old farmhouse for many years and got tired of sanders buzzing, so I decided to paint all the upstairs bedrooms. I loved it and so did our guests.
Farrow & Ball have excellent floor paints. I don't think you will regret it.
Easy to mop and and clean. I found a urethane, which was non yellowing and applied it to one room which received heavy traffic. (some urethane yellow and you will not want that)
I love the shutters too.
Helen
xx
Sharon – I love painted floors! I have bleached and whitewashed floors in my home, and have painted floors for clients. We all love our floors…..we also love imperfections, patina, and antiques. It's not for everyone, but I think you would like it 🙂
Loi
I love the looks of homes with wooden floors that are painted white–mostly because I love an airy, open look, and I'd love to have floors like that in my future "dream" home.
But I can't help but think of all of the disadvantages–every speck of dirt will show up on the floor (I have white tile floors in our bathrooms and I'm constantly sweeping them!)
Also, even though I've liked an all white palette for years and years, I can't help but ask myself if my reason for wanting them is because they are trendy. And how will I feel about them when the trend has faded?
The ultimate factor that would help me decide would be the age and condition of the floor. I wouldn't dare ruin nice wooden floors, especially in an old home. That's why all of our floors are stained. Even though I'd love to have painted floors, I realize that it would be impossible to "undo" that design decision.
Mandy
I love this look, and the painted wood floor just adds to the look.
I wouldn't like to do it to our wonderful old gum floorboards although I love the look. The thing that really puts me off is we have a white tile floor in our bathroom and it is IMPOSSIBLe to keep clean it shows every speck of dust!!!I have to constantly wash it very fussily on my hands and knees as I can't stand it!
Michele,
there are a few very light colours around in Timber – none of them matching to your house style?
We've found nice wide baltic pine floorboards under – as David mentioned – a covering of Lino.
When thinking of what to do, we opted – as said above already – for 'non-groove-filling' and polished Linseed-Oil. This provides a bit more resistance to wear and tear YET: the hallway still got a 'sacrificial persian'
(catches caught up rest-gravel and debris).
To be honest (I only realised after this question was showing yesterday): I've been living with timber floorboards of various makes for basically most of my 54 years now.
The best in well-feel (since probably so uncommon)I can rehearse were actually the scrubbed, bare, light coloured ones: despite oversensitive, non part-washable and unforgiving for dreadful spills (of reds, coffee, tea, tomato and 'you name it') minor blemishes get scrubbed and bleached out nicely! It's just 'unfashionable' to work with bleach nowadays – yet: those were the 'good ol'days' 😉
'Plastic fantastic' provides easy living and wear and tear but …
We've the 'easy-going' discussion pretty frequent in our house, since our dining table seems a bit out of an old castle hence the top is only waxed. Cleaning is for dreadful for those in the know since 'water work' doesn't work, chemical detergent is doing 'worst case damage = cleaning everything off' and just scrapping things with fingernails and polishing the blemish over is considered 'unhygienic' yet, my tough response to this: "stay on your plate and with your plate, 'the germs' won't hop onto them!"
I think, we got bloody spoilt and oversensitive to the term 'germs' – not all of them 'bite' !
And back to the floor boards: And lets be honest: in olden days there wasn't the wealth of football-shoes nor the permission to run around a house with them; that's 'modern relaxedness' supported by 'plastified' surrounding. In turn it means: different surrounding – different behaviour (incl. 'red wine party's elsewhere! 😉 !).
LG, Gerlinde
I am sure for all of your comments, you will get as many opinions! I had them many years ago, about 20…and actually really liked them but with two very young kids they were not kid friendly, scratches and marks from their toys and such……but if you don't have that issue, I think they look great, just think they are more maintenance and then if you want to go dark again…its a whole big messy process. But you live life once, right? Thats my two cents…look forward to hearing what you decide Sharon!
'asked' the couch – ordered you in to get your own legs judged – is considering 'favourable' for 'echo' to your own nice words !!! 😉 😀
Sorry, David, couldn't resist this cheeky comment, since I found your veto so very cute and charming. Am considering becoming couch in your household myself – might improve my own legs immediately!!! 😉 🙂 😀
Thumbs up for your defence speech (despite considering those couch legs myself a tad 'skinny' )
LG, Gerlinde
I have painted floors upstairs and natural wood floors downstairs, I love them both and wouldn't change a thing! (so, I guess this isn't really helpful at all! Ha, Ha!) In April of this year I did a post on my bathroom and showed my newly painted floor. https://whitebarnbasics.blogspot.com/2012/04/great-bathroom-reveal-and-slight.html
I had painted the floors dark brown 18 years ago and just wanted to lighten things up a bit. They are easy to care for and don't really show the dusty footprints as much as downstairs (the dark brown did though.) check it out if you would like…
My experience is I stained the color blue wooden floors for a kitchen and it turned out great. It was easy, held up well and the kitchen looked great with the blue floor. It was a dark traditional blue color.
I think you have to take into consideration the type of wood flooring and the age of the property.
David, you do have a way with words, your post is delightful, particularly the part about Nadine; she sounds like she is definitely one of a kind!
did it-hated it because because of the scratch ability making the floor look unkept and took too many hours on hands and knees(due to plaster walls) hand stripping to get it back to the ability to hand stain. the patina of aged wood is pricless. good luck with whatever you do
I have a taupe-colored painted floor in my guest bedroom, Sharon – and I just love it! Granted, it's on the 2nd floor and anyone walking across it is usually barefoot or in stocking feet…but I haven't had to repaint or touch up since I moved in here 7 years ago. I would definitely have more painted floors if it were up to me. I love the look!!
xoxo laurie
I have to say I am not a fan of the white painted floors…I would go for high gloss black, but I know that's not very country.
I don't have painted floors but I'll put my 2 cents in and raise my hands to say "I wouldn't paint them" but I love the images. Have fun deciding!
Didn't you love David Terry's comments/ story? Does he have a blog?
Oh! and the floor, I agree with David, it looks fantastic in magazines, but if you really want to do it …just do it!
All of the floors in my 1858 home are painted. One room is tan and white diamond, another, black and white diamond. Love them and easy to care for.
You opened up a can of worms with this question. I love painted wood floors, but I am scared to paint the wood floors in my Queen Anne brownstone. At one time I wanted to paint my wood floors white but was too chicken to do it. One of my neighbors painted her wood floors white but it was an easy decision for her to do it. Her wood floors were not looking the best and it was less expensive to paint t than to have it refinished. It came out fabulously but shows dirt easily. Painted white floors gives a feel of walking on clouds. I do love it.
I confess that I still do think of painting my wood floors. You can see photos of them here: https://www.collarcitybrownstone.com/2012/04/living-room-1.html
I love the photo. I don't really like the couch or its legs. The shutters are beautiful and I love old tarnished mirrors. I have some in my own home.
Sharon,
I have had painted floors in all of my houses-love them! I will be painting the kitchen and family room floors in the new North Carolina renovation. Go for it!
xo, Lissy
Well dear Sharon, have you made a decision? Smile!
We don't have painted floors at home but have thought about it at least for the bedrooms. The rest of the place has Saltillo tile so I like it like that, although I have seen painted Saltillo in a few Santa Fe style homes.
We do have painted wooden floors at the store and their worn out antique-white color works really well with the palette we choose for our pieces. It sort of "frames" them. It steps back and says, "Look what we have here!"
I love the white-washed floors That I see in Jeanne d'Arc Living and in some of the pages of Vintage by Nina. This is personal, but for some reason, a painted floor makes me want to be on a rug and a comfy blanket laying on the floor, reading a book. What emotions do painted floors bring out in you and should it perhaps be just one, a special room: a room of your own?
To agree with David's description of Sharon, we had the pleasure of meeting her and yes, a classy lady with no airs and surrounded by the beauty of her lovely home and geography but especially the beauty of her spirit.
Trino
Hello Sharron!
Al my wooden floors are painting! It's just wonderful and very easy to do and it is very easy to maintain! the Farrow&Ball; floorpaint is the best!
Greetings
Jérôme
C – definitely C – I've painted hallway floors a lovely grey and a bedroom floor chalky white. I don't have any painted floors in my current house but I'd really like to. J
Sharon, no need to blush. It is so true, you have exquisite taste and My French Country Home is at the top of my favorites list. ~ Sarah
I love the Floors.. I was mine to be just like them 🙂
Firstly, this is just amazing because it is so vintage looking. Secondly, I have never painted a floor so I guess I will not be much of a help. However, I actually think it is a brilliant idea. My friend has a painted bedroom floor and he loves it. I do love it, too. I just have to convince my mom, though.
The advantages of wood flooring besides its durability and long life is the ease with which it can be integrated into almost any design scheme in home or office décor.
Yeah, wood flooring gives a special nuance to your floor so many people still use it
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Hardwood floors are more durable than other types of floors. This quality has made them the much preferred choice for flooring, since centuries.
In painting wooden floors, it is advisable to choose a latex paint mainly designed for floors. Floor paints are usually available in semi-gloss surface, seeing that you’re about to top the paint with polyurethane, you don’t prefer that. The polyurethane actually furnishes the glow effect, thus it will conform to flat paint better instead of glossy. Use flat foor paint and apply it in the same method as the primer.
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Many years ago I read the comment by an English Gardner to the question "How can I get my lawn to look like that?"
The response – " fertilize it, cut it, aerate it, weed it and roll it for 800 years and your lawn will look just like this lawn"
Hello which deck and floor paint would you advise to use and do you only do it in thin coats? I'm interested in painting my bedroom floor like this
The farrow and ball paint all looks to be great but as a newcomer to all this diyvwork which kind of farrow & ball paint would you I advise me to use to have an antique finish? And to get this antique finish would you advise to do 2 thin coats to have the antique finish like in the picture- which I adore!!!