Paint original woodwork or not?
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Anonymous
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Our old (110 year) bungalow has dark brown, stained woodwork throughout. Baseboards, doors, window frames, etc.
There is old vanish on it, and it is really showing its age. Stripping and refinishing sounds like a nightmare. I would love to paint it all white or off-white, but hesitate because I feel like I'm ruining the 'historic' nature of the house. We've lived in the house for 16 years and will probably be there at least another 10. WWYD? |
Anonymous
| Historic preservationists hate people like me but I strongly prefer painted woodwork. I say do what you like! Though you may have to strip it anyway to get a good coat of paint on there, unfortunately. |
Anonymous
| My father in law was so upset at me and my husband when we painted all the woodwork in our DC rowhouse white - but we prefer the painted look. |
Anonymous
ugh re having to strip it anyway... I was clicking through this HGTV contest home in Milwaukee and noted that the 'before' woodwork is a lot like mine, and I liked how fresh it looked white and it's got me thinking about this again. https://www.hgtv.com/design/hgtv-urban-oasis/2018/before-and-after-at-hgtv-urban-oasis-2018-pictures |
Anonymous
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You can strip the wood and refinish it by putting a new stain and varnish on it.
It’s not that hard to go, it’s just a lot of detail work. |
Anonymous
| omg wtf did they do to that house. that is appalling. |
Anonymous
| We painted ours in your situation. The original color was just so ugly and depressing. I would have been happy to strip it all out but that was expensive and our contractor told us it may lead to more work if it ended up pulling out chunks of wall. We painted it a light color and it looks great. |
Anonymous
| I would not paint it - I like the wood. |
Anonymous
| When we were house hunting we really valued the places with unpainted trim - ones that said "original woodwork " but had painted it, we didn't really consider to be different from new builds. |
Anonymous
| I didn’t paint my 12” old molding in my first condo. But it’s the first thing I did in my house. I knew my condo was a temporary home for me so I didn’t want to ruin it. I plan to stay in our current home forever, so I’m doing anything I want. |
Anonymous
Oh wow! They completely ruined that house! Some people should not be designers. |
Anonymous
I'm OP and posted the link. And agree that the house is a little crazy now. But I do like the white woodwork in the entryway over the 'before.' |
Anonymous
+1. That house is a damn travesty. FWIW, OP, we kept our original woodwork and I love it. |
Anonymous
NP here. I agree that in the link you posted, I like the white better for that house. In that house, the house seems very dark and heavy in the "before" pictures of the entry and living room. If your house is like that, I'd definitely lean towards painting it. If you could lighten and brighten the rooms another way though (or if they already get a lot of light or seem lighter) then I might reconsider. But in the end it's your house and you plan to be there a while, so i think you should do what you like. |
Anonymous
| Oh no! Don't paint it! Beautiful old wood work is so rare and precious! |