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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

To paint or not to paint...

That is the question. I have two vintage goodies that I love just the way they are. But I also can see them painted all nice and pretty as well. Would you paint them or leave them as is?
If I were to paint this vintage Cosco step stool, I would be true to its origins and paint it yellow again. It needs some tightening and a little clean up. The seat has lots of rust, chips and dings. I think it adds character. If this stool could talk, I wonder what kind of fun stories it would tell us!?!
Then there is my gate. I am less on the fence (lol) about painting this one. I kind of like it the way it is. Layers of green chippy paint and rust. I don't even know what color I would paint it if I did!
Both the stool and the gate are outside items so they wouldn't stay looking "brand new" for long. It wouldn't take very much time at all for them to return to their "before" stage.
So, what would you do...paint or leave as is? I can't wait to hear what you have to say so I can get help with making up my mind on these!
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at

35 comments:

  1. Jana FaithJuly 17, 2012 at 9:59 AM

    Paint the yellow stool and leave the gate alone are my votes. If they were things I owned...that's what I'd want to do.

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  2. Helen and her DaughtersJuly 17, 2012 at 5:30 PM

    I love the gate just like it is! I wouldn't change a thing about it. Visiting from Knick of Time.

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  3. UnknownJuly 17, 2012 at 7:48 PM

    Oh Gosh! They are both so cute. I think that if they are going to stay in the garden I don't think that I would paint either of them. But that's just me.... :)

    ~Liz

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  4. UnknownJuly 17, 2012 at 7:51 PM

    Lovely! I'd give the chair a paintover but would SO leave the bed frame thingie! :D I love the both though! Lovely choices!

    Hugs,

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  5. DonnaJuly 18, 2012 at 8:47 AM

    What great finds! Don't you just love old step stools? They just don't make them like that any more. My mom has one very similar to yours, hers is yellow too! I would paint it, but I love, love, love the fence as is! Have fun with them!!

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  6. Lynn-TeacupstitchesJuly 18, 2012 at 8:58 AM

    Hi Trisha!
    What neat treasures you found!
    I think if they are for outside I'd leave them as is. I love the look of chippy old things in the garden!
    Cheers,
    Lynn

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  7. LVJuly 18, 2012 at 8:41 PM

    Do with it the way you like. It is a blessing everyone does not like the same things. If they were mine, I would paint them.

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  8. Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. OlsonJuly 18, 2012 at 10:40 PM

    Hi Trisha, I love the gate just the way it is. The patina it has gathered through the years is wonderful. I think I would paint the stool, but either way it's a great find.
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  9. TaraJuly 19, 2012 at 12:03 AM

    The gate is perfection.
    I think the stool would look great with a lick of paint..
    Trisha,I'm having a giveaway if you'd like to pop over..xx

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  10. Jeanne, backyard neighborJuly 19, 2012 at 6:57 AM

    I love the stepping stool and I would paint it. The gate I wouldn't paint. Both things are a great find. Lucky you.
    xo, Jeanne

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  11. DonnaJuly 19, 2012 at 7:50 AM

    Great finds! Paint stool (red)? leave gate

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  12. Kathryn Ferguson GriffinJuly 19, 2012 at 8:14 AM

    Oh, what lovelies! Paint the stool, leave the gate alone. Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Ivy and Elephants. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-6.html Wishing you a grand week. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  13. Sally Annie MagundyJuly 19, 2012 at 9:29 AM

    I adore both of your pieces! I would leave both as is if they are living in the garden - I'd paint the stool if it's coming inside. But that's just me. You can't go wrong any decision you make, they're darling.

    Happy VTT!

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  14. NanEJuly 19, 2012 at 11:22 AM

    I love both of these and coincidentally, I just bought one of those step stools too! I am definitely painting mine because it has a lot or rust on it and doesn't look as nice as yours. I think I would leave the gate just as it is! TFS Nan

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  15. MelanieJuly 19, 2012 at 11:54 AM

    Love them both!! I would paint the stool and leave the gate as is. Great pieces!!

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  16. allisamazingJuly 19, 2012 at 12:25 PM

    They are both awesome pieces. I would paint the stool and leave the gate :)

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  17. CynthiaJuly 19, 2012 at 1:02 PM

    Love that stool, but I would paint it, myself. Yellow or pink are good choices. The fence is awesome exactly as it is, however. I would not touch it at all; it looks to have the perfect patina. Great, great finds and I'm so jealous!

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  18. The Summer Kitchen GirlsJuly 19, 2012 at 3:49 PM

    Yep....i think we'd paint the stool and leave the gate alone too....super cute pieces for outside :)

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  19. StephanieJuly 19, 2012 at 3:55 PM

    Either way - paint or not - I don't think you could go wrong. But I would love the gate just the way it is.

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  20. Ivy and ElephantsJuly 19, 2012 at 5:39 PM

    I am sure I'd not paint the gate, you don't mess with that kind of perfection! The stool is a coin toss if it's going outside. But I saw one like it on another blog painted black and looked super gorgeous in the kitchen.
    I'm sure it will be fabulous whatever you decide. Let us know what you did!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  21. UnknownJuly 19, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    I have a stool like yours that belonged to my MIL. I painted it, and love it. It's in one of my older posts. I keep it inside. I think I would paint it and leave the gate as is.

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  22. Liz @ Quirky VistasJuly 19, 2012 at 7:34 PM

    Gosh i would NOT paint either. Why ruin that perfectly great character. Once that stool's painted, it becomes ho hum if you ask me...and remember you did :). Thanks for sharing your beautiful chippy items. They sing a sweet song just as they are.
    Liz

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  23. Life can be Lovely!July 20, 2012 at 12:02 AM

    I would not touch the lovely old gate at all - it's fantastic as is!
    The stool I might want to "freshen" up a little but seeing it's going outside..why bother?
    They are both really great decorative items!
    Visiting you from VTT
    ~ L.Grace

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  24. The Charm of HomeJuly 20, 2012 at 6:10 PM

    Both are wonderful treasures! I wouldn't touch the gate but, you might restore the step stool depending where you were going to use it. Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  25. AnonymousJuly 20, 2012 at 6:53 PM

    I Love the yellow stool. My grandmother had one just like it in green and I wish to this day I had it because we played on that so much as kids. Found you via the blog hop and am now a new follower!

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  26. Cottage and BroomeJuly 20, 2012 at 10:44 PM

    I have a gate like that also in green, I like the rusty green and would leave it. I think Vickie at Ranger 911 recently painted a chair like that in a turquoise is came out great. Might want to pop over there to see how hers turned out. Stop by if you get a chance, Laura

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  27. Alicia@ eco friendly homemakingJuly 21, 2012 at 8:23 PM

    I think the stool would look great painted but I agree I would leave the gate just like it is!

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  28. Shabby Brocante, KarenJuly 21, 2012 at 10:00 PM

    You're funny...on the fence :) I agree, the gate looks great as is. I love the chippy, shabby, rusty stools as is too, but like you, would be somewhat tempted to re-paint. I love them. I am big on red and might be tempted to do a shiny red if they were mine :) You can't go wrong...they are great! New follower!!

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  29. Debra@CommonGroundJuly 21, 2012 at 10:08 PM

    that's such a sweet stool, but I think I'd paint it, the gate looks great, but I've also painted one white. love them both!

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  30. NanEJuly 22, 2012 at 8:08 AM

    I forgot to say I love your blog and you might want to check out this uber cute step stool I found on PINterest! http://pinterest.com/pin/147915168982073785/

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  31. Kathryn Ferguson GriffinJuly 22, 2012 at 8:15 PM

    Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  32. Linda@Coastal CharmJuly 23, 2012 at 4:39 PM

    Two wonderul pieces you have here. Paint the stool, but don't touch that charming gate!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  33. Stan and Jody GabaraJuly 24, 2012 at 3:13 PM

    Thanks for sharing these great finds on Simple & Sweet Fridays. I love them just the way they are, rusty and old.


    Jody

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  34. One More Time EventsAugust 24, 2012 at 9:20 AM

    I would leave the gate as is.... I have been on the hunt for one.
    just found you and a new follower. would love if you would come party with Share it One More Time...
    http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/2012/08/features-6-share-it-one-more-time-6-and.html

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  35. UnknownAugust 28, 2012 at 2:07 PM

    I think the gate has natural "character" just as it is!

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