Shabby Chic/White walls/What color picture frames?

[Clutterbug Jen]

Hi!

Okay, I have white walls [or I will within the next few days as soon as painting is done.]

I am doing a shabby chic decor for my livingroom [our walls here have to be white].

I really don't want wood picture frames and I'm sure that white frames on white walls just wouldn't work [obviously!]

So, my question is ... what color of frames do you think would go right in the room?

The only ideas I had were either to paint the frames either pink [light], light sage green or gold frames [the gold frames I don't mean painted but the ones you buy that way.]

What do you all think would look right?

Also if I were to paint them the pink or light green, I'd sure go over them a little with white paint [is this called white washing?]

I am so out of my element when it comes to this kind of thing [decorating.]

Anyways ... help!

Love,

Jen

[FrugalWitch]

I'm not really sure what trend de jour "shabby chic" is, but with white walls I would go with wood (but you said no wood) or gold. Classic. I think pastel frames just look well....cheap and tacky. (no offense...everyone has different tastes)

[Moor]

what are the colors that are going to be in the room?
get some paint to match and paint wood ones. also, mix white paint with the other paint, to tone it down some, so that it's not all about the vibrant color, but subtle color.

[Clutterbug Jen]

Hi Gals!

Thanks so much for your input.

As for what colors will be in the room, it'll be white of course with the walls being white and also some of the furniture [stands mainly.]

Other colors will be light pinks and light sage green ...

Pretty much, as much as I can - I want to stay with those colors as much as possible but if the pinks and greens wouldn't look right, I'm pretty sure the gold would [I hope!] *lol*

Like I said, I am so way out of my element with doing this stuff.

Love,

Jen

[Clutterbug Jen]

Moor, I guess when I read your reply the first time - I didn't get what you were trying to say.

I just now re-read it and got it that time.

You're saying get the wood ones and then take the white and the other color and paint over the wood with that paint, am I right?

Love,

Jen

what are the colors that are going to be in the room?
get some paint to match and paint wood ones. also, mix white paint with the other paint, to tone it down some, so that it's not all about the vibrant color, but subtle color.

[MommyBliss]

We have a shabby chic decor and I love silver frames, I think they fit beautifully. I'd paint the frames in silver, sage green, and pink. Have a few of each color.

[Moor]

get a sage paint and a light pink paint.
paint some of the frames with the colored paint only.
then mix some white with the colors, to lighten them. then paint some with the mixed colors.
that way they are not all the same, but still within the same color scheme.

[Clutterbug Jen]

Thank you all so much!

Now I can't wait to get the painting done and then ...

Oops, I guess I'd best get the pictures to go in the frames first and then to get started on the frames.

I know that totally re-doing a place takes time [and patience ... ugh, that's a dirty word! *lol*]

Still, I just want it all done at once so I can see what it's gonna look like.

Love,

Jen

[Frugal Nurse]

I was going to suggest that what was already suggested.
The chabby chic is the washed-down look.. which is the whitewash we know of today.
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewash[/ame]

If your colors are sage green I would go with a washdown version of sage green. Unless it's too much in the room. Sometimes all the matching is not the chabby look.

Darn it on the white walls- but it will all go together anyway.

You know what would be cooler!?
Getting some real old antiquey looking frames. Not the new looking kind.
And giving them a whitewash. The frame could be silver or gold or wood. But giving them all a whitewash will pull them together.

Want to make your own whitewash?
http://fiascofarm.com/recipes/whitewash.html

Want to know how to do a white wash? (which includes store bought paint.)
http://www.dominomag.com/howtos/diy/...s_whitewashing


Oh! Have loads of fun decorating on a shoestring! That's what chabby chic was first all about.
Funny how they charge so much for "the look"

I love decorating!

[Clutterbug Jen]

Thank you so much for the advice and the encouragement!

Yes ... darn it on those white walls [I so totally agree. *lol*]

I'm not doing the frames right away but did want to get ideas ahead of time.

Right now after the walls are painted, my first priority is to find a new love seat or something to be done with the one I have.

I wish I loved decorating but when it comes to that stuff, I'm more like a fish out of water.

Love,

Jen

Darn it on the white walls- but it will all go together anyway.

[itsahumanzoo]

I really like the frames with the crackle paint. That really looks shabby chic IMO!

You could have them different (but coordinating) colors, and have them all crackly.

Something like this: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_fau...268370,00.html

[cea0628]

You don't always have to stick to the frames for adding color. If these pictures are going to be on white walls, I would assume that you want them to capture peoples attention. I think black is a very simple (if its done right) color to add that can go a long way. Its going to stand out from the walls but not be distracting.

And if you want to add color to the frames why not change the matting? Its super easy and if you can't find anything that you like it wouldn't cost more than a couple dollars to make your own by using cardstock. That way you can pick out any color that you want, and you can also add in patterns as well.

Just think how pretty it would be with a black frames with sage and pink mattes with family pictures in them.

[dinah]

I'd paint the frames in silver, sage green, and pink. Have a few of each color.

exactly what i was thinking. i would even sand them after you paint them to give them the 'shabby' look. or i would do the crackle finish for the 'shabby' look. throw in some silver frames to give it the 'chic' look.

i do think that white or cream frames would work...as long as they have an aged look and have something going on (either a big matte or curlicue frames).

[Judi Dial]

What my immedaite response was: get plain wood frames, wax 'em put some white paint (or off white) on them and wipe off most of it. The wood becomes the background, the white paint remaining in the cracks, etc. is "antiquing."

What I described above is more like "pickling." Or, buy some crackle texture and do whatever color you want. But you're not just trying to match the wall, if you put stuff in the frames you need to have something that looks good with that too.

This is sort of what I had in mind, link:
Vintage Picture Frame Pair Pickled Painted Wood by InheritedTraits

Here's a how-to link:
Whitewashing and Pickling Techniques : Home Improvement : DIY Network

IHTH!

Judi

[Dancing Lotus]

What my immedaite response was: get plain wood frames, wax 'em put some white paint (or off white) on them and wipe off most of it. The wood becomes the background, the white paint remaining in the cracks, etc. is "antiquing."

What I described above is more like "pickling." Or, buy some crackle texture and do whatever color you want. But you're not just trying to match the wall, if you put stuff in the frames you need to have something that looks good with that too.

This is sort of what I had in mind, link:
Vintage Picture Frame Pair Pickled Painted Wood by InheritedTraits

Here's a how-to link:
Whitewashing and Pickling Techniques : Home Improvement : DIY Network

IHTH!

Judi

I agree with painting them white and distressing them. Shabby is all about white on white. Your pop comes from the art work.

I also like silver best with shabby but not a bright chrome silver.
You need to darken it with the same techniques you would do with white.Think of old mercury glass or an aged mirror.