To think that a lot of 'upcycling' is bollocks?

[thereareflowersinmygarden]

Lots of it on Facebook selling sites.

People get a lovely old, wooden piece of furniture, slap some white paint on it and think they've actually done a good thing. Often, they've taken a beautiful 1930's walnut sideboard or such like, and vandalised it.

Just why? Why can't these people get a useful hobby?

Yab a bit U. We've inherited some beautiful quality dark wooden furniture that is amazing quality but overwhelms our narrow London home and wouldn't sell for anything like it should for the workmanship, just because it's not what people want now.
Sometimes I wish I had the courage to just sand the damn things down, even if they are objectively far more beautiful as they are, a slightly rubbish Annie Sloan job is sometimes easier to live with!

Why does it matter if they've improved the piece or not, if they're enjoying it in their own home?

There is not restoration that I'm talking about, this is about changing the fundamental nature of a beautiful thing for the worse, on a whim. Yes, a lot of it was mass produced but that doesn't matter. The beauty that was available to the ordinary family is just as meaningful as the stuff in stately homes, more so in a way.

@ProfessorMoody

I'm not suggesting that a law be passed to stop you doing this, just wondering if others share my opinion on this small-scale, historical vandalism. Can you accept that?

If someone wants to sell it and finds a willing buyer, then their taste is none of your business. I could tell you that anybody who wears a polyester blouse or owns a glass dining table has a horrible taste, But it's still my opinion and irrelevant to you.

No. You might think it's "for the worse", but many, many people wouldn't.

Taste is subjective, lots of people like the look, even if you don't.

People are allowed to like different things, have different tastes and do whatever the hell they want with their own furniture, be it paint it, sell it or display it. At least it's being used and enjoyed, not sent away to landfill. Jeez.

So what? Not asking you to agree with me.

Go ahead, vandalise beautiful furniture. There is nothing I can do about it.

Still think it's a sad thing to do.

Why do you care what I think anyway? It doesn't affect you....

I thought "brown" furniture was coming back in to fashion anyway?

Taste is subjective, lots of people like the look, even if you don't.

Exactly, and lots of people don't like the look even if you do.

You cant give away brown wood furniture now days. So at least its kept out landfill.

Does seem a shame though.

Its the decoupage I hate. Random napkins modge podged on. Awful.

People are allowed to like different things, have different tastes and do whatever the hell they want with their own furniture, be it paint it, sell it or display it

And people are allowed to not like it

Some people do ruin some really fantastic pieces of furniture, but some people also act like anything old is an amazing antique that needs to be protected

Totally agree. There is some amazing stuff out there that has been ruined by crappy paint jobs.
But lots of midcentury stuff was basic at the time, everyone had it and it's not particularly special.

I was speaking about this with my dad - we inherited a lot of their original Ikea stuff from the late 1980s which is now as old as I am. It's still sturdy and good, especially the tables and shelves. Given that people obsess over things that are only 30 years older than that stuff, at what point are we going start getting upset about people "ruining" original Ikea things with their upcycling efforts!?

I've got a second hand ikes table and chairs that have clearly seen better days. DD wants to sand them and paint in mismatched pastels (not the distressed look). So, fine by me.

If it were a good quality old piece, it would be properly restored.

I have a lovely mid century Gplan table and chairs - was en route to the tip, so free. Had it 20 years, I've recovered the seat cushions. Now daughter isn't into crayoning the table top I may lightly sand and revarnish, but it's lovely wood.

I'm in two minds about this.

Yes, there is some amazing wood furniture, but you can't give it away if it's brown. If a coat of paint means it will be used, then that's a good thing.

I'm in a few mid century Facebook groups. The members generally hate painted furniture but there are a few exceptions that seem to be approved of. Some very dark Ercol styles for instance. It's interesting how people justify painting some pieces and have a conniption over others. I generally wouldn't paint unless it's to cover damage/repair.

I generally wouldn't paint unless it's to cover damage/repair.

^ This ^

Professor Moody is taking this personally. The threads not about you. People are allowed to look down their noses at lovely old furniture slathered in Annie fucking Sloan.

I know someone that spends hours doing fancy paint finishes on stuff...then calls it 'stressed'

Intentionally distressed stuff is awful, but I quite like the 'shabby chic' French café chairs I picked up at the local dump. Nobody wants them over there.

Completely agree. Ruins it. Saw an Edwardian walnut dressing table covered in grotty grey paint. Could have cried.

I inherited my parents' Errol, it makes me want to cry when I see the dreadful things people do to furniture like mine.

I'm not taking it personally, I just think it's a particularly cunty thing to do when people start threads on Mumsnet slagging off things that other people like and enjoy.

I don't start threads about how awful people who drink alcohol are, or how it's criminal to wear clothes from Boden, because I'm intelligent enough to realise that just because I don't like them doesn't mean everyone has the same opinion as me.

And those who are saying people aren't allowed to like painted furniture too, cool, that's my point. Like something, dislike something, that's up to you, but why start goady threads on Mumsnet slating those with a different taste to you? It's a twatty thing to do.

A lot of these fancy paint finishes would be called 'dated' if they were on walls.

Light coloured furniture is 'in' atm and if a pice of furniture gets further use, then paint it whatever colour you like.

However, if armed with a collection of chalk paints and an Etsy or a Facebook account, you try inflicting your handiwork on the general public (who could do as good a job as you, if not better), don't bother.

The previous owners of our house left an "upcycled" dresser in the house. The chalk paint comes off in flakes. Both DH and I grew up with a lot of furniture that was "cannot-afford-to-replace-it" shabby, so we are really, really not into shabby chic. Sometimes it seems to be more like "poor face". Freaking hate it.

If I recycle or build something, you'd think it was something we bought new. Because I actually read up on the craft before I start and am pretty handy with a hammer and a saw. I hate the "but you are supposed to be able to see that it is homemade" trend. Homemade by who? Does it have to look like it was homemade/upcycled by someone who is still in primary school?