White-painted floors are just plain beautiful, but we just might prefer the slightly softened version: whitewashed floors...
Whitewashing allows a bit of the wood grain and color to show through the finish. The result is a soft, hazy white layer that's a little bit rustic, but still spiffs up an old floor quite nicely, unifying the entire surface in whiteness. Here's a little how-to from the DIY Network. If a brick wall is what you're wanting to whitewash, AT's got it covered here.
(Photos via Flickr.)
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I love white washed! As it turns out, it's not really my style, but I always like it when I see it.
Years and years ago I purchased two pieces of furniture from Gothic and had it white washed. It was amazing to see how the patina changed over the years. One piece went more to the yellow and one went to the pink.
Wow. Love it, it looks so natural and clean. I'm a sucker for clean, fresh color palettes!
Whitewashed floors: So 80's...
Oh, I don't think so...what was 80s was all the red oak floors that got pickled and turned to pink! If it's whitewashed with paint, that's totally different (to me, anyway.)
I love it. Could you do it on parquet floors or would it look too weird?
I had whitewashed floors when I lived in Denmark. They were AWFUL to keep clean, and when it came to washing them, you had to do a special technique involving rubbing on this soapy goop (made from soap flakes and hot water), scrubbing, and then wiping off the goop (before it dries!) while attempting to leave some of the residue behind. It took me days to wash the floor- literally.
that being said, I loved the look of them. They kept the apartment bright and airy.
I painted my kitchen floors (life on the edge...) white and it's been fairly easy to keep them clean. I use windex and a damp mop.
Yesterday I cleaned up after the tile installer wet ground the cement counter and admired the way the white dust and water had settled into the wood grain on the old oak floor, like pickling. It looked so soft and had a lot of character. But she just gave me a funny look.
what kind of whitewashes are there? That is what are the brands and /or types ? organic/green types?
I have unfinished( unstained or varnished) wood cabinetry in my kitchen and two doors that are also unfinished wood or the same type that I 'm thinking I 'd like to whitewash...though need to know more about the subject and possible outcomes before doing anything ...and proposing this to my landlord ...;)
quote:
"Whitewashed floors: So 80's..."
geez... so is your wardrobe.
i'm new to this site. i was enjoying it a great deal until i kept stumbling on your comments.
every single one of them are negative, condescending or rude. There's a fine line between being clever while posting or coming off as a know it all wiseguy. You're falling on the wrong side. That being said, whitewash and pickling are making a big comeback and are lovely when done properly.
Groovy. On the fence about full-blown white vs this. This is a bit more homey/casual. And to bepsf; Dude, (or Lady), exercise more or take some B-12. You are a dark cloud over the sunny picnic that AT is for the rest of us!