Q. nearly two years back I gotten a two-storey house, around 80 years old, which a previous owner had renovated. All the woodwork had been returned to its original honey colour. I refinished all the hardwood floors, which appear to be birch. The general feel of the downstairs is as well dark for my liking. I would like to paint a few of the woodwork in a creamy white, however just cannot bear to conceal the wood that somebody has so painstakingly refinished.
— N.A., North Bay, Ont.
A. Your issue is one that we hear over as well as over again. based on experience alone, we feel that in a main home, rather than a cottage or cabin, you will most likely be happier with the results if you paint over the woodwork. Now, if you occur to online in a home with grand details such as oak raised-panel moulding, we don’t suggest painting it. In the situation of basic want moulding with bit or no detailing, however, we no longer think about it a criminal offense to cover the grain. We suggest that you paint everything, including the door frames, french doors, baseboard moulding, chair rail, wall panelling in the kitchen area as well as staircase stringer. eliminating the wallpaper by the staircase is definitely a great idea. From here, you might paint the woodwork as well as the walls creamy white. Benjamin Moore’s Alpaca (1074) or palace White (956) are both appealing choices. You might likewise produce a subtle contrast between the walls as well as the woodwork. Take a look at Benjamin Moore Cloud White (OC-130) as a possible trim colour.
If we have terrified you with all this talk of paint as well as you discover yourself missing the wood already, there is a jeopardize that would enable you to lighten as well as brighten the area while preserving a few of the wood. You might paint out whatever with a creamy paint, except for the window as well as door frames. We believe you must paint over the baseboards, since they are as well similar in colour to the wood flooring. painting them will produce an appealing contrast between the floor as well as the walls while restoring the true visual height to the walls. The area will still be unified, with an general sense of lightness.