Oh, the distant memories of being dragged as a child from one dusty antique shop to the next…..Ginger and her sister searching for unique furniture items that they often found….some looked like new, but often the appeal was in the patina of the piece; the crackling of a finish, wear on the edges, scratches and nicks, all that add character and softness to a look. Very much like the now popular “shabby chic” look. Love it!
While my home is certainly not shabby chic, I do love to mix in items that have patina and I much prefer materials that show wear over time…..

A few years back when we were renovating our home and selecting exterior siding, a salesman told me that synthetic/composite siding would never show wear – I quickly replied, “Neither does a polyester suit.” We went with wood. When it was time to choose the kitchen counters, I heard a similar story about the durability of granite – you guessed it – we went with marble. Have you ever been in an old historical hotel that has a marble bar or bathroom? The wear is part of its charm! (I will confess that while Peter was a good sport about these choices, he regularly seals the counters so I may not see patina for awhile!)

So, what’s the verdict? Are you a fan of patina?