DIY – Paint(ed) Windows, Shutters and Doors

What I love most in art and in craft are painted objects – furniture but also windows, shutters and doors. You will find many of them in Southern Europe and in Scandinavia and only few in the Alpine regions. I am wondering why …? If anybody has got an idea, please let me know. – Painted furniture, windows and doors became popular in the 18th century, maybe one of the reasons why I love it (some of you may have read about my Louis XV and Louis XVI passion …).

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It was the century when they (re)invented the light that came now through huge windows and was reflected in mirrors and guilt frames, mouldings and statues. The logical result was that furniture was painted in creamy pastel tones or lacquered and became shiny. Everything looks lighter than untreated wood. Remember the dark brown furniture from the Middle Ages up to the Renaissance. It could be artfully wood crafted, but it was dark. When they started to paint furniture in the baroque era, this didn´t only look good but it was very expensive. Our ancestors couldn´t get “canned paint”, but had to buy pigments then, some made of semi-precious stones or other rare materials.

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There was of course a good reason to make everything lighter: a man in a well lit room is in better humour, likes to work and stays longer awake than in a dark room. Why am I writing this? To inspire you to bring colour into your life! It is nowadays a nice and not too expensive hobby, even if you purchase beautiful, eco friendly, finest water based paint from the well known English producer, – it lasts very long and has a great effect. Especially on grey days you will love it, on bright days you will enjoy it even more. Some years ago I painted two doors in cream and grey-green (and guilt the mouldings, very easy too) to get the Louis XV effect in my home office. It inspires enormously! – Different shades of light grey, grey green and grey blue are very typical for the 18th century. The grey blue, also known as Gustavian blue (very popular in the Skandinavian countries), is one of my favorite colors. It is funny and very interesting that this grey blue can appear totally different indoor and outdoor.

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See the windows and shutters (on the photo above) of a small farm house we painted some years ago and (on the photo below) an original painted baroque door in an alcove. Even if the tone is almost identic it seems more blue on the windows on a clear and almost sunny day and much more grey on the hidden door. Anyway I love both. It´s your choice to even paint everything red or pink or yellow.

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