Thursday, August 16, 2012

To Distress or Not To Distress--That Is The Question

 
I need your help. . . .
I can't decide how to finish the keeping room cabinets. . .
We finally have three of the four units in place and painted white--the center one is distressed (too much?), the two side cabinets are not.

My question is--should I distress the two side cabinets slightly--something like this:


Or, leave them white to match the kitchen cabinets?


 Or, should I paint the center cabinet a solid white to match the two side ones?


Or, leave them the way they are now?

What do you think?
I need help. . . .
I really can't decide. . . .



Sharing with: * Tweak It Tuesday

15 comments:

Old Time Cindy said...

Well, I'm no help. I keep scrolling though your photos and can't make up my mind. We're a pair, aren't we!?! I do like that set of three cabinets together on that wall.

Heide at ApronHistory said...

I am not a huge fan of distressing, much prefer the clean white painteded look. So I vote non-distressed. I love your cabinets! Such a good idea to just have free standing units. Can't wait to see the complete look!

ANNE said...

I like them both ways, but are you distressing in the direction of the wood grain? The horizontal lines make me think that you are not... Distressing looks best when you sand in the direction of the woodgrain. Just my 2 cents.

Your cabinets look lovely :)

The Farmers Daughter said...

I think Anne has pointed out my problem with the center cabinet--I did sand with the grain, but it's a homemade 1930s cabinet (truly primitive) and the wood runs horizontally, so it looks very different than the norm.
So, do we like that or not?

Carlene @ Organized Clutter said...

I am a fan of very light distressing. I had a wall of cabinets in my laundry room that I had over distressed and then antiqued and it's not for me. Especially when it's a large wall unit like that. You need some chic with the shabby for it to work (my opinion). Too much shabby and not enough chic and I feel like I'm poor!
Love the cast iron skillets on the wall!

Peggy Meckling-Baker said...

I am a fan of distressing, but I think to match the kitchen cabinets you should leave them white. And because your surfaces are rustic wood, it still "reads" as shabby. The cabinets really look fabulous. I sure wish I had that much storage room just for dishes and china.

Florida Farm Girl said...

I think the white paint is best. Actually, maybe another color on the recessed areas of the cabinets would help, maybe pale robin's egg blue or something similar. Even another shade of white.

cattus said...

I really don't like distressed finishes, but FFG has a good idea. Years ago, the old Victoria magazine would show distressed items that were done in two colors of paint. (You probably remember the look, it was in lots of country magazines, too) Something darker for the first coat, then a lighter top coat which was distressed and/or crackled. This added some color and interest to otherwise bland paint and wood distressing.

Maybe you could add some color trim or do a wash over parts ane lightly distress so the white shows thru instead of the wood?

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Wow! so far you've got quite a range of ideas. I don't know how much help I'd be.
I like some distressing, but like Carlene said...too much and it makes you feel poor! (Most days I'm feeling poor...LOL)
I also agree about the wood grain...but if it's made that way, then what do you do?
What about painting out the center cabinet and let the dark wood play off that, and maybe doing some light distressing on the other cabinets?
...a lot of work, it sounds like. I'm sure you'll make it look fantastic---and whatever you decide on With all your enthusiasm...your readers will tell you it looks great!
WE NEVER OFFER ADVICE UNLESS YOU ASK...he he he!

Pat

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

I agree with the ladies above..I love the idea of painting the centers a blue or some other shade for added interest to make them pop and to break up all the white..maybe just distress the doors and nothing else..just where you would normally find where and tear on an item from opening it etc.)I love those cabinets..they are beautiful.)

Honey at 2805 said...

It's your choice. Although I like distressing, I'm liking the clean white. I do like some of the other suggestions to tweek them a bit!

Brenda Pruitt said...

I can't decide either! I like them both!
Brenda

Susan Freeman said...

I would distress the side cabinets, however, I would paint the center cabinet another color. Pick an accent color from your kitchen and then distress that center cabinet as well. Make it accent piece that blends, but does not match the existing kitchen cabinets. Make it a wow piece.

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Teresa@magazineyourhome said...

I think the center cabinet is distressed too much. Maybe just a bit on the edges and around the knobs would be better. Also like the idea of two different colors on the center cabinet, robins egg or turquoise would be wonderful.

Anne Boykin said...

Your kitchen looks lovely ... I agree that the center piece looks too distressed. I would paint it and then just lightly distress it.

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