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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

193 replies

thereareflowersinmygarden · 09/09/2018 15:05

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Twittwootoo · 09/09/2018 19:02

Stepping into this thread wearing my armour.

I too have an old, pine dresser that I painted with Annie Sloan. I’ve upcycled free stuff from the side of the road and sold it. I once managed to get a couple of bar stools for £5. I painted and recovered them and sold them for £50. I sold a free upcycled rocking chair for £50.

Don’t worry OP, I’m not offended you don’t like the stuff. I have seen a lot of crap upcycling! Believe me! But when it’s done nicely it can transform a piece of run down furniture into something loved.

There are some pieces that I agree should NEVER be painted! Oak for starters. But crappy orange pine looks nice with a coat of paint Smile

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 09/09/2018 19:02

How on Earth did this happen?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 09/09/2018 19:03

I actually like some Annie Sloan.

Her Aubusson blue is my favourite colour ever.

mimibunz · 09/09/2018 19:05

SoupDragon Sorry, it’s an AIBU! You’re quite right. But I don’t see that it’s in the spirit of the question for anyone to be so very angry and offended. And yes, the PP is very angry. Her wording is angry.

SoupDragon · 09/09/2018 19:06

But I don’t see that it’s in the spirit of the question for anyone to be so very angry and offended.

You’ve been on AIBU before, right...?

Twittwootoo · 09/09/2018 19:06

There are some beautiful colours in her collection and it is amazing paint to cover furniture that is awkward to cover! This thread has made me want to do a project Grin

ProfessorMoody · 09/09/2018 19:09

Still being ableist Butchy? What a lovely person you must be.

ButchyRestingFace · 09/09/2018 19:11

Still being ableist Butchy? What a lovely person you must be

Wasn't it the OP you were accusing of being ableist? I can hardly keep up...

ButchyRestingFace · 09/09/2018 19:12

I have actually never heard of Annie Sloan before this thread. Has she been around a while? Confused

ProfessorMoody · 09/09/2018 19:13

Oh dear. Perhaps you'd better go and find something more on your level then.

mimibunz · 09/09/2018 19:13

SoupDragon Lol, you’re funny. The Aibu threads aren’t about the posters being angry or offended. It’s about asking the question and receiving honest answers. Not, butt hurt answers. Do you want a flower? Grin

ButchyRestingFace · 09/09/2018 19:14

Oh dear. Perhaps you'd better go and find something more on your level then.

No, I'm good on this thread, thanks. Learning all about Annie Sloan. Smile

OliviaBenson · 09/09/2018 19:14

I love dark wood furniture, mid century stuff is amazing!

Anyway, this thread reminded me of this I saw yesterday:

bbc.in/2MUzqJS

OliviaBenson · 09/09/2018 19:14

Ps, YANBU!!

mimibunz · 09/09/2018 19:15

Butchy you’re fine. Trust me, Annie Sloane isn’t the decorators dream. It’s a nice chalky paint for people who like to dabble in up cycling.

30303030old · 09/09/2018 19:17

I have a couple of pieces of furniture which I’ve painted to match my living room. They’re not shabby chic, it isn’t my taste but I have painted over their original colour. It’s my flat, my furniture, no one else’s business 🤷🏻‍♀️

SoupDragon · 09/09/2018 19:17

Do you want a flower?

Eh?

PostNotInHaste · 09/09/2018 19:17

Well i’m pleased about it as are doing extension but no budget for furniture. Picked up pine tv unit someone started stripping last week and assumably lost interest in, giving me a bargain at a fiver with a lot of the hard work done for me.

ButchyRestingFace · 09/09/2018 19:17

@Oliviabenson

A set of 15th Century sculptures have been garishly repainted by a Spanish parishioner in the latest botched amateur restoration attempt to attract derision in the country.

The wording makes it sound like the painter was attempting to attract derision? (perhaps they were?)

At least the neighbours liked it. Grin

OliviaBenson · 09/09/2018 19:20

Lol!! I don't know, but clearly others on this thread might also appreciate her work Confused

TinyBarista · 09/09/2018 19:25

Well, that escalated quickly.
And there I was, I was all set for a nice gentle Sunday evening thread discussing the merits of furniture decoration.

Original poster
thereareflowersinmygarden · 09/09/2018 19:33

Me too.

Oh well, certainly entertaining!

OP posts:
thereareflowersinmygarden · 09/09/2018 19:33

This reply has been deleted

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Pamdoo · 09/09/2018 19:37

Butchy, as someone with complex PTSD, I think that you taking the piss out of something like "Trigger Warnings" is appalling. Some of the people on this thread must have been dragged up. Vile

I think it's appalling you coming on here calling people c*t and tat on a furniture thread, I also think it's disgusting using PTSD to take the moral highground and belittle people.

ProfessorMoody · 09/09/2018 19:40

Pamdoo- ODFOD. I'm not the one who mentioned Trigger Warnings as a piss take. You don't need to star out cunt and twat, Mumsnet allows swearing and it makes you look a little infantile. By the way, I didn't call anyone a cunt or a twat, I said it was a "cunty" thing to do, and I stand by that.

And no, I haven't reported the thread - what's the point? You clearly get kicks out of feeling superior to people who have different tastes to you and if that's what you need to make your life more fulfilled, go for it.