Starting off

 I've decided to keep the outside paintwork on the house mostly "as is", to preserve the vintage charm, ( I'm not looking to make it look as if it's just come from the showroom) and I don't want to be rubbing down lots of paint that almost certainly has lead in it! Also, the paints from 70 years ago were very different in their consistency and make up, so it would be difficult to replicate the more gentle sheen of the gloss paint from that time. 


However, the fascia board at the top of the house was nagging me, as the paint there was badly marked and also flaking for some reason, and flaking lead paint, as well as not looking good, isn't particularly safe either. So, I rubbed that bit down to get rid of the flaky bits, wiped it with a damp cloth, let it dry and then painted on a primer, to stabilise the surface. 


Then I had fun matching  the paint. In the end I used Tanglewood Park by Valspar in a silk formulation to give a very gentle sheen. I think the house was originally probably painted white (although it would have been a "softer" white than the brilliant white we have today). I let it dry overnight, and then painted  another coat. I'm pleased with how it's improved the appearance of that top fascia, and also with the colour match. 


I also got the little chair that came with the house that someone had inexpertly painted with thick gloss paint, stripped:


and then washed and dried off:



That also needs to dry thoroughly before I decide what to do. I think I'll probably stain it and then wax and polish the wood. Again, I want to give it a "vintage" look, not "straight out of the showroom"!


DH thinks it has a 1930s style, which is quite feasible, as the little mangle that also came with the house also dates to the 1930s.

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