My mom grew up on a farm in Michigan and as a little girl I absolutely loved hearing her tell us stories about her childhood. She would recount the time that she and her best friend were determined to sleep in the barn one night only to be frightened out of their wits by her older brother who couldn’t resist tormenting his little sister.
She would tell us all about what it was like attending a one-room, country schoolhouse with her aunt as the teacher and how she loved having her very own cow. But, in all of those years, somehow the story of the fire was never apart of her repertoire.
When my mom was 16 years old, she arrived home after working her shift as a carhop at A&W to find the road to their farmhouse completely blocked off by fire trucks. She ran towards the house and upon arriving saw firemen shoveling burned debris, water and her belongings out of her bedroom window. She tells me that she vividly remembers seeing the charred remains of her favorite doll lying in the yard. The fire, caused by faulty wiring, had started in the attic which was attached to my mom’s bedroom. Thankfully, it didn’t spread further than that but the damage, both emotionally and physically, was still significant. Among the surviving pieces of furniture were her oak bed and dresser with an attached mirror.
The same pieces which now reside in my daughter’s room.
And when we decided to give her room a makeover this summer, we faced the same dilemma we always have with her room.
While it has SO much going for it, this room has an awkward layout. It honestly feels more like an attic room with its angles and the window seat might be adorable, but with the way it’s set back in the room it makes it VERY dark even on the brightest days.
As my mom and I stood in the room one day strategizing over how to brighten the space, she casually mentioned that if I ever wanted to paint the oak furniture a lighter color that she would understand.
And, I’ll admit, I thought about it…for about 5 seconds.
Painting the bed and dresser would make the room brighter.
But I remember pretending that oak bed was a wagon. My sister and I were Mary and Laura Ingalls bouncing over the prairie behind the horses, heading out on another adventure.
And that oak dresser served as a changing table for both of my babies. I know every single nick and scratch and watermark like the back of my hand.
I just couldn’t fathom taking a paint brush to either piece.
It would be like I was covering up their history.
A history that has spanned generations and one I hope continues for many more.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally against painting furniture. I’ve done it myself here.
But, there is a time to paint.
And I time NOT to paint.
Yes, oak isn’t really considered ‘in’ anymore. You won’t see much of it on Pinterest or in home decorating magazines.
And yes, it presented a bit of a challenge as I worked on giving my girl’s room a makeover.
But, when I imagine my mom at 16 years old racing to see how much damage the fire caused to her room and then seeing that her oak bed and dresser survived, well, I simply can’t bring myself to tamper with that memory.
In the end, that memory makes it worth figuring out how to incorporate them into my vision for my daughter’s room…just as they are.
And it’s that memory which makes the results of the makeover all the more beautiful!
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29 Comments on "When You Don’t Paint Furniture"
I totally agree! I love looking at what other people have painted and the way they transform wood furniture but I rarely have the will to do it myself – especially if it’s a family piece. I’m glad to know others resist the urge to paint everything in sight!
I agree- some pieces should not be painted. We have a tiger oak dresser that belonged to my husbands grandfather and other ancestors in his family. It is the only physical thing that my husband has from his family. It has made many moves across the country and even to another continent. It does need to be refinished but I just cant bring myself to do it yet. It is one piece that I am totally opposed to painting- restoring- perhaps!
Oh, my goodness! I have a dresser exactly like that minus the mirror. The difference is I bough my at a second hand shop and someone had refinished it – and didn’t do a good job of it. I plan to paint mine, but if mine were as special to me as yours is to you, I wouldn’t change a thing. What a wonderful way to keep a part of your mother’s childhood alive. Your set is beautiful!
They say the eyes are the first things to go and I believe it. I meant “bought mine” – sorry for the typos.
I don’t care what is popular or not, oak wood is the best. It’s a hard wood with a beautiful warm look. I hope you keep that wonderful dresser & headboard unpainted as it represents a time when people enjoyed & loved that look.
If you had said you painted it, I would have said how lovely but your story made me cry and personally I love oak so I am glad that it didn’t turn out that way.
How wonderful. Keep those amazing pieces My grandmother left me 5 complete bedroom sets when she passed . Sadly, my mother sold them all when my husband and I were stationed in Japan. I still hurt when I think about them. I used to play with all the sets up in her attic. Loved the huge mirrors and the love chests. Hang on to all of it. Glad you didn’t paint it.
I would have done the same, the room looks lovely, and what a nice history.
Jeannie
I have the same piece of Oak. I have a lot of old vintage Oak pieces and I would never paint them. I love looking at them and like you, I know where the nicks are. I am also from Michigan and we have several antique stores here! Thanks for the article. I love your blog!
Yes, yes, yes:-) That is what makes a house a “home” — the story.
It’s so sweet that you, your mom, and your daughter have such a warm and connected relationship. I think you’re honoring that by keeping the furniture the same.
Thank you, Vanessa, for lovingly caring for “the family” bedroom furniture! It warms my heart every time I peek into that darling little girl’s room and see that she, too, is enjoying sweet dreams in the same bed that I, your sister and you did too! So thankful for that! Love you, Mom
I had a very similar dresser growing up. My mother refinished for me as a baby. It is now in my daughter’s room. 🙂
What a meaningful story. I can’t help but think that someday wood tones will be the “thing”. I love the look of the furniture. It is beautiful!
I am sooo glad to see that you did NOT paint that gorgeous dresser & headboard!! For the glass ring stain on the top, have you ever tried Old English Oil for Light Wood? You rub it in & adds some color & some oil. Let it dry & you will be amazed at your results. There is one for Dark Wood also. No, I don’t represent Old English, but have used it on several occasions on my wood furniture. Hope it helps!
That furniture was meant to survive and be in your daughter’s room….Yes, some things are not meant to paint!
I love the oak headboard with the beautiful pillow shams! Can you tell me what pattern and who makes the pillow shams! wold love to purchase some!
Hi Sherry! The shams are actually from the Better Homes & Gardens line at Walmart. I purchased them over the summer so I’m not sure if they would still be in stores but they may be online. 🙂
It is so true that the pieces from an old house don’t always work as well in a new one, but rearranging helps make things work better and make us feel more comfortable in our space in the mean time. However, your pieces are absolutely stunning and I can definitely see how well it will tie in with your home. Keeping a memory alive is so important, and teaching that to your daughter is wonderful of you. Thanks so much for sharing!
I am so glad you have decided not to paint this beautiful furniture. A soft yellow on the walls with bright white trim, a colorful quilt with a crisp white bed skirt/pillow sham, and this furniture would add warmth to happy, feminine room. The memories will continue to collect for another generation.
Thank you Mary Beth!
Great touch story!
there’s time to paint your furniture and there’s not.
Nostalgic!
I think the love and respect you have for your mother and the memories she has and shared with you are priceless.
I agree with you whole heartedly. I have a lot of inherited furniture in Mahogany, including my Great Aunts solid mahogany dining room set. I can’t imagine painting it. My grandchildren may feel differently, after all, they have no memories of having Christmas Eve dinners at that table surrounded by family and the feeling that you are loved. There are plenty of pine and laminate furniture to paint, these will stay unpainted for this generation.