yes, I want some cheese with that whine
Make it smoked gouda, please.
Well, I got what I wished for…it was 60 degrees here in the windy city today! A perfect painting day if there ever was one.
So I painted.
and I painted.
and I painted.
And I painted.
For six hours straight. And I’m still not finished! Is there such thing as “painter’s elbow?” Cause if there is, I’m pretty sure I’ve got it. 🙂
When I started this project a few weeks ago, I was using Annie Sloan’s Pure White Chalk Paint. Not one of my smarter plans. The paint was great, but I would have gone through a truckload of quarts and a fat stack of cash before the room was finished.
So I switched to Sherwin Williams “Extra White.” I love how nice and clean it looks next to the old paint which was guh-rody. Like, totally. 😉
It went on like buttah. The only problem was the 5 billion ridges in the beadboard. It required a brush and was major time consuming!
Okay, I’m done whining now.
Now I need your opinion. You better write that down, cause I NEVER ask for opinions. 😉
Usually I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do. But in this case, I’m stumped. Ya ready?
Okay. This is the floor of the sleeping porch. I am totally digging the chippy grey paint.
My husband thinks I’m cuckoo for cocoa puffs.
Now hear me out…the floor needs a good ol’ scrubbing. No doubt. But I think the juxtaposition of the chippy grey floor with the fresh white paint and and the crisp white linens on the bed will be divine.
Am I alone here? Can anyone else visualize it? Tap, tap…is this thing on??? 😉
So, do YOU think I should:
a) clean it up and embrace the chippy beauty?
b) find a close match to the original grey and give it a new coat of paint?
And I have a feeling that some of you wonderfully ambitious peeps will suggest that I strip it and refinish it. That was gonna be option C. But I’d rather stick toothpicks through my eyeballs.Â
Plus, you know I have this painter’s elbow thing going on. 😉
So unless you want me to send you a plane ticket to come and help me, it’s A or B.
Lemme have it!
Maple & Magnolia 
Embrace the chippiness!
For sure go with a) clean it up and embrace the chippy beauty!!!
Embrace it! You can always change your mind later.
I am loving the gray paint. I would wash it and leave it. I think it adds to the feel of the porch. And yes, painting beadboard is a definite pain 🙂
Leave it! Give it a good cleaning but it will look divine! And then I will come for a visit!
clean and chippy is my vote too!
You are such a trooper.
a) clean it up and embrace the chippy beauty?
I vote to leave it as well. Love the shades of gray..will lose that if you repaint.
Leave it the way it is… character is something that can not be added with paint, only age.
That’s my feeling also. Character!
Choice “A” ! Chippy old grey would keep the soul of the room, linking it to its past. Tas you probably already know, the antidote for painters elbow is a really good glass of wine. 🙂
Hi – I choose A. A good scrubbing and embrace the old floor. I would also use some throw rugs – maybe a nice old faded floral or rag rug. Good luck!
yep…rag rug!
I LOVE it just the way it is!! I think it will look great with all the “new” finishes……I don’t think you want it all to be new and fresh.
Chippy chippy chippy! I think it’ll look amazing! Can I come over and help you paint?
Leave it…it’s beautiful!!
a) clean it up and embrace the chippy beauty?
I really like Shabby Chic – and when it is adorned with furniture, throw rugs, dogs, and homey clutter, I mean, decor, it should be superperfect!
I totally go with leaving it all chippy. I painted such a floor — regret! The clean look is nice but the texture and depth of age cannot be matched!
I think you should start with the easiest thing first and go from there. So, that means cleaning the floor and seeing if that’s enough. If it is…..you’re done! If not, go to the next least challenging thing etc. I would only do the hardest step as a last resort! I always look for shortcuts! The beadboard is looking good. Btw, I have beadboard in my family room and I used a roller on it after the brush took too long and required too many coats. Just go back over the beadboard with a brush to get up any excess caused by the roller and it will be easy peasy! You’d be amazed how fast it will go and it will look great. Just don’t overload your roller. Good luck!
Definitely leave it. Live with it see how it feels. You can always change it
I’m for leaving it as is. Gives it character!
chippy paint with a soft white throw rug…..
It’s super Tuesday and I get to vote! Love the original floor. You couldn’t get any better. I vote to, keep it as is and give your elbow a break:)
Don’t you just love painting beadboard? NOT!
DEFINITELY embrace the chip.
You have great taste. Go with your first instinct, chippy ! Def chippy!!
I say option A. Once the floor is scrubbed it will be beautiful!
I am totally with you on the scrubbing and leave it natural. It would be a lovely contrast and it would certainly suit it’s purpose, a sleeping PORCH. It would be natural and relaxing. You always have great ideas so whatever you do to it will look wonderful…and we don’t want you sticking toothpicks through your eyes!
Follow your heart, embrace the chippy wood floor!!! You have good insight.:)
Yep, embrace it. You probably would have to clean it anyway. Live with it for awhile and then if your husband still thinks you’ve gone batty….then paint it. I like the chippy though. Good luck deciding!
Embrace it!! The chippy paint is the best!!! Nice and clean it will be amazing!
Clean it and leave it. If you change your mind later, you can always paint. If you paint now, well the old chippy finish is gone.
Definitely A!! Love the visual of the crisp, white linens against that gorgeous, worn wood!!
Painting bead board is a pain, but so worth it in the end. Leave the floor. I am sure it will look fabulous.
You can’t recreat that kind of beauty…..please leave it. Can’t wait to see it finished.
A! And maybe a clear coat after?
Loveeeee the floor leave it like it is!!
Chippy! I would wash it down with bleach and let it be.
When we first moved in we painted for a week straight. My hand was super swollen!
I say embrace the chippy greyness, but maybe with a coat of something to give it a bit of shine
Yeah, and shine makes it easier to clean housework wise.
Definitely leave it clean and chippy. If you don’t like it then, consider it a wonderful reason to buy one of those charming Dash and Albert rugs which can be laundered so easily….. happy
solution!
Leave it! People pay good money for a patina like that! Love It!
Yup, I vote option A also. Your hubby is going to think EVERYONE on here is “coocoo for cocoa puffs:):):) XO, Pinky
Keep the chips. It looks like my mud room floor which I love. You can always go back and paint it if you want. Plus, remember your elbow…
do not paint it! just clean it up and enjoy that ol chippy look! its beautiful and just know it will look devine with your decor design 🙂 you rock!
Of course you should leave it!! It’s a sleeping porch and that looks wonderful like it is!! Tell hubby to read all the post:)
Keep CHIPPY !
PAINT!!!
Clean it and leave it the chippy grey
I love choice A ……..
Option B, paint it!
Re: the chippy grey paint! I say clean the floor really well. If you want a little gloss, put something over the cleaned floor. I think it will look beautiful.
LOVE the chippy gray! The contrast of pure white and fresh clean look with the aged beauty of the floors = masterpiece!
Leave it with it’s personality. It’s going to be great!
Oh do I ever understand about painting the grooves on old beadboard. I have the same on my walls and ceiling of my office and porch! We use a paint sprayer for the porch. My vote is for embracing it. I think the chippy gray will look fabulous!
keep the floor. It’s already great.
I say A….love it
I think you should just give the floor a good scrubbing! The floor makes the white linens look crisper and the clean white paint stand out even more. Many people work really hard to get that look and you have it already done for you. All you had to do was add the clean fresh white! I can visualize the look I think you want to accomplish and if this helps the room gives me a comforting feeling. It is very pleasant and congenial. Besides, I’d rather you not stick toothpicks in your eyeballs 🙂
clean it and leave it grey! love your lingo 🙂
Well I already listed my vote on FB but I’ll say it here again, EMBRACE the chippy! But do a sealant to keep bare feet from getting splinters. 🙂
I’ll second that,,,a good scrub, let it dry gooooood and a coat of sealant and whala !!! 🙂
Looking great !!
I say keep that wonderful chippy gray clean it up then maybe add a bit of oil to the floors (wood finishing kind of stuff whatever) and take it from there. Who wants to look like a brand new house anyway? Be one with the floors. nancy settel
Why don’t you try cleaning it with the stuff you use on decks. That should “bleach” it out a little. Live with that a little while because you can always paint later if you’re not happy, right?
And yes, you can get painter’s elbow. My carpel tunnel ALWAYS acts up when I paint. (And experience I’ll be partaking in very soon!) Good work!
Embrace the chippy! Love it!!
A. Send me a plane ticket and I’ll come help refinish it….love that kind of stuff.
B. Scrub it really good and maybe some bleach, then put a coat of poly on it. Polyurethene is pretty easy to put on and doesn’t require that you sand and stain too. It’s just REALLY stinky and will require several days of drying with windows open before walking on it.
Those are my top votes but I know whatever you choose will look great! Love your house and ideas!!!
Love the old! Give it a good wash and like others have said, buy a really pretty rug to enhance it’s beauty!
I choose “A” as well. I think it will look wonderful with the chippy grey floor and the crisp white walls! Can’t wait to see the finished room;)
Definitely, leave the old. Make sure that darker area isn’t mold!!! Then seal the floor and voila! Gorgeous!
You must embrace the chippy gray…it will look perfect with your vision for the room!! I sympathize with you on all painting all those ridges in the bead board…ugh! I’m always happy to come over and help and I don’t need a plane ticket, as a fellow Chicagoan 😉
the chippy floor. Hubby is outnumbered, but he probably doesn’t care:)
I TOTALLY LOVE the chippy grey and think you are absolutely right about the linens and white against it. If this were my room, I’d scrub it and leave it!
Love your blog,
Seattle girl – Mareen Katzer
Embrace !!!!!! Once the porch is decorated, it will be beautiful.
Embrace the Chippy Beauty! Definately! It’s gorgeous.
Don’t you dare paint that floor!!!!
That would be a big B for me.
If you ever are going to paint it, I’d do it now while the room is empty. If you like the chippiness, go with it. I’d clean it first, then decide (you’ll have to clean it anyway if you decide to paint). Once you look at it with the rug and curtain panels, you’ll have a better idea.
Why don’t you clean it and then show it to us again? Teddee
Please, paint the floor!
Susan,
Since I have had the awesome experience of seeing your sleeping porch, and chippy floor in person, (globe purchase day :)) I vote for leaving it chippy! A wash, and perhaps light sanding of thick paint edges would be great. Maybe there is a matte finish wax that you can apply for a sealant. Speaking of sealant…did you check that paint for lead content. You have a beautiful old farmhouse, but sometimes old paint can be dangerous. You can get a lead paint testing kit at Home Depot. Good luck and see you at the shop sometime.
I am loving the chippy gray floor. Leave it and love it!
Go chippy or go home 😉
Choice A, definitely!
Embrace the old…love it!
Leave it as is. You know some people pay a pretty penny to make their new floors look chippy:)
I love the “go chippy or go home” comment :). I will also vote for option A to leave the floor as is. I am a little curious about all the comments advising you clean the floor. I can’t quite imagine how you would do that and not pull off the chips, or get mop strings added every foot or so! The comment to check for lead paints under all those beautiful chips is also worth heeding. Good luck and I hope your elbow feels better. Linda S. in NE
I would launch into a song about PERSONALITY, but you wouldn’t hear me…so just sing along and DO NOT paint that floor. I’d clean it and seal it and call it a day. It will look gorgeous!!! Yes, painter’s elbow is a real medical condition..get a massage on those arms(and the rest of ya)!
oh boy, nothing like a good ol’ leave it or change it question to get all the comments, eh? i’m with the rest of the repliers…LEAVE IT!! looking good in there…
Oh you have to leave it. It would take forever to get that look.
Marcia
Definitely don’t paint it!! Clean it and seal it and it will be gorgeous!!!
from one painter to another…FAUX get about it and leave it sista! People pay beau coo mula to have there floors look like that! Luv it! And you know I’m only 4 hours away and any excuse to paint I will be there! Ol painter’s elbow, knees and joints and all! Just call me and tell me when! xo
PUUUULEASE DO NOT PAINT THAT FLOOR!!
LEAVE IT!!!! not only do i love the juxtaposition…i love the word juxtaposition…it will look great
I believe a bit of “originality” would be nice by leaving the floor in it’s present state…however, you know what look you want. There will be many moments in the future to change your mind if the mood strikes! Go with your “heart” feelings for now…they never steer you wrong!!! 🙂