Thursday, May 21, 2009

Trends

Ladies and gentlemen, today is the day to share.

There are trends and there are trendsetters. Tell your secrets.

Who influences you? Do you follow anyone in particular? What current trends are you loving? Wood, painted or stained? Or no wood at all? Metal. Chipped, painted or rusty? Colors? No colors? What colors? Plaster? Chalk? Silver? Gold?

Me? I used to like unpainted woods only. American primitives. Oak. Ahhh...beautiful oak! No Euro furniture at all. I am evolving into less woods all together. I am watching clothing styles. I am looking at the big picture. I can't just be happy anymore with what I have always liked.

Ok. So, you don't have to tell all of your secrets! I just like the idea of knowing where you have come from and where you are going. Do tell...

Happy Thursday!
~Mindy

16 comments:

  1. Mindy, I am so tired of some of the things I loved. 30's Deco furniture in my bedroom which I am thinking of painting. When we first married we bought some oak pieces and now I just want them gone. I do like a bit of medium toned maple but mostly I want paint and color. Clear colors, not dusty or toned down. Red, aqua and yellow. Black and white and silver.Certain greens. No brass or gold. Matte, not shiny. I tend to like all the painted pieces I see on blogs as most of my magazines are no longer published. I loved Home Companion. More arty less "decorated". I think anything goes today.

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  2. My problem is my likes are determined by the seasons. In the spring and summer I am dictated by whites and neutrals, paint and pine. In the fall and winter, I want my black and white.
    Right now I am loving the midcentury but not retro...does that make sense? And for some reason I am being drawn to blue. Never have I been a blue girl. My muse was and always will be Carol Bolton. I love her work more than anyone else's. Second is Sister Parish...but that is a little more color than most people want. I have some oak family pieces that I can't get rid of, so I just have to pretend they work in a room. TMI?
    Debbie

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  3. Not TMI at all, Debbie! I like that you and Pam got after this assignment. It's neat to read about other folks' likes. The seasonal thing makes sense. And I remember Pam going back to bold colors. This is fun! By the way, I look forward to checking out your muses. Thanks, y'all! ~Mindy

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  4. Hi Mindy , We had the solid oak pcs. forever and one day I said enough. I painted a couple of them white - oak takes paint very well! When that paintbrush hit the oak I thought I would be arrested by the antique police, Then I discovered painted furniture with the paint peeling off - be still my heart, Or metal furniture with the paint peeling AND rusty. I love silver and neutrals but I'm always drawn to a soft green. And theres something about that old turquoise blue that I love. I do find that I like the look of pine these days though I haven't found just the right piece. And I think hardwood floors are a must!

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  5. Hi Mindy, I am so confused, I don't know what I like anymore! After Roundtop this spring, I loved all the Industrial Chic, French Nordic, whites, neutrals, silver, metals and chippy paint! But alas, I miss color! One more iron grate and I am going to scream! Can we do this white on white look forever? It is very sublime and soothing and very feminine, BUT, when did a galvanised trash can become a thing of beauty. I really appreciate this forum for a chance to vent! Maybe you could have this post every Thursday, I would really like to hear from others. P.S. I love everything in Carolyn Westbrook's book! Angie

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  6. Sorry, one more comment, about influence, in the early l990's, I visited Carol Bolton's Homestead,and was forever influenced. Trash Talk is right, Carol is the best! Angie

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  7. Oh no, Angie! Don't look too hard at my pictures. I have a few iron grates right now! Indeed, the industrial, galvanized look is something I'm not grasping full on.

    Sue, I am still surprised the antique police didn't come. I think I would rather slit my throat than paint American Oak. But, I will admit that I have seen painted oak pieces which have been beautiful.

    and Pam, I usually like matte best. But, I've discovered that I like shiny when I am clear coating rust. I want it to look purposeful. I want you to know that you aren't going to touch something and walk away with rust dust on you.

    Keep 'em coming ladies! ~Mindy

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  8. Well as for me it's still primitives that I'm drawn to, I think it always will be no matter what the trend. Each time I'm in the antique mall there are such pretties to look at but it's the primitives that always really catch my eyes.
    I also LOVE oak, anything oak. It is just such a beautiful wood.
    Now with clothes I'm to the point of saying heck if I know ....... It seems clothes are either as I say "hoochie mama clothes" or "grandma clothes". I get so tired of wearing shorts or capris that nearly show my crack everytime I bend over, UGhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! That drives me so crazy! (sorry if that was too much information this early in the morning, haha!)
    At the Estate Auction we went to last weekend there were lots of Mennonites there. I have always told my husband oh it'd be so wonderful to dress so simple like them. In their plain dresses and tennis shoes, looks so comfortable. They don't have to worry about their hair because it's always up in a bun and under their little hat thingys, and they wear no makeup.
    Ok....gotta get going here this morning. Think we're gonna try to hit a few yardsales this morning. Later today I'm going to try to post some pictures on my blog from the anniversary sale party at the antique mall we're that I took last night. I don't think we sold much from our booths but there was a huge crowd, and we had fun so guess that's all that matters.

    Have a great Friday
    Tracy

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  9. I am a total chippy, rusty, painty wood & metal kinda a girl. Those are the piece that I immediately jump on. Some might call it junk but its way cool junk to me! jojo

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  10. Mindy, sorry about the iron grate comment! However, if you will look at my latest post - there it is right in the middle - an iron furnace grate! This forum has really been great, thanks, Mindy! Angie

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  11. Angie, no apology needed! I just didn't want you to scream when you saw it! haha

    I am enjoying it, as well. It's very eye opening. The likes are as diverse as the commentors. It just goes to show, we aren't all cookie cutter junkers.

    ~Mindy

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  12. That is a loaded question, girl. It changes every day! I'm inspired by so many things. If I had to describe it right now, I would say industrial beach cottage. Wood floors, neutrals with pops of color, and a balance of masculine and feminine qualities. I suffocate under too much frill and feel overwhelmed with too much of any one thing. Like some of the other ladies, I am a seasonal girl. I like to change out the colors, fabrics, metals, accessories, etc. And I enjoy every minute of it!

    Love this post!

    Amy

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  13. Mindy, I love shabby painted furniture. Love the whites and all its variations, in a monochromatic scheme. But the colours I'm always insanely attracted to are seafoam green, aqua and pink. Oh, and I love rusty metal pieces, preferably balanced out with some kind of ruffle, somewhere, somehow.

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  14. Painfully, I follow no one. Just what strikes my delight. Some things speak to me, others do not. I like the old. Always the old. A few good pieces mixed in with the well used. It's all gotta be touched and lived with.

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  15. About 5 years ago I went on a kick to paint all my furniture white. It was all hand-me-down or yardsale anyway, so no big loss. I loved it for the last several years. It was nice, bright, and fresh, but just recently I've found myself wanting to do something different. Slightly more modern, but not reallly. I know that doesn't make any sense. My husband is handy and I have a list of things I want him to build me. A headboard, coffee table (copied from Potery Barn), and a dining room table are all on my list. I like things to be a little rustic and not really too polished or matchy. I also like a few modern or 'retro' things thrown in. My style may be modern American junk. :-)
    -FringeGirl

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  16. I find myself referring back to your comments every few days. It seems that indeed, as Pam said in the first comment, "anything goes"! But, the chippy wood and rust, whites with pops of color, seem to still be much loved. We may do this again in a few weeks. See what others have to say. Thanks, y'all! ~Mindy

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I smile when I see each new comment. Ideas, acknowledgements, sharing. Your words are always appreciated. Thank you!