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Design Dilemma Polls Hallways

Opinions on painting or not painting this dark wood?

4 years ago

I have a cottage with lots and lots of dark wood- I am in the process of painting all the skirting, window sills and door frames white (so in one photo yes I know I need another coat yet!) to try and lighten the space (the actual windows themselves are dark brown) and am wondering what is people’s opinions of painting the actual doors? There are different doors upstairs and downstairs. And also if I should try and do the very difficult job of painting up the stairs too because it will be hard to get around the back of it as you can see on the photo (please excuse the horrible carpets by the way as they are the next thing to be changed after the dark wood is gone!!) Also of course I am not painting any original ceiling beams or anything like that

Paint only door frames and leave doors dark

Paint doors and frames but leave stairs

Paint doors and stairs

Featured Answer

Jonathan

4 years ago

I don’t think this wood has much character as it is new and has a Bovril coloured stain. I would paint it all out and choose soft whites and greys

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Comments (15)

arc3d
4 years ago
What about in between?
Gina Plover thanked arc3d
Gina Plover
Original Author
4 years ago
I don’t know what you mean sorry? I can’t see your attachment either
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arc3d
4 years ago
Paint the spindles white but keep some of the dark colour too, as in the picture.
arc3d
4 years ago
Sorry, I've attached it again. I can see the previous one too, so maybe you could try refreshing your browser?
Gina Plover
Original Author
4 years ago
Ah I see that one! Hmm yeah maybe especially as my partner is a builder so white banisters would get dirty...
Carolina
4 years ago
I'd leave the stairs as they are. And would paint the panelled doors. I'd be tempted to leave the more cottagy doors as they are. But then again, I also love how that door under the stairs turned out. Super nice.
Gina Plover
Original Author
4 years ago
quite contradictory Carolina haha but I get what you’re saying... yes i love the cupboard under the stairs too but it was added in recently so the door was completely plain wood and I didn’t want another wood colour but also didn’t want to stain it dark which is why I painted that one! but am worried about everything looking whitewashed if I paint the other doors.... :/
Sonia
4 years ago
If it were my house I would leave the stairs natural, they are beautiful, but paint the rest, architrave, doors etc, white. Of course there are many other colours you could use, such as French Grey, but I think white will brighten everything up but still have that cottage feel. I sometimes feel if doors are ancient it’s nice to leave them natural, but there is no right or wrong way, just your way.
PRO
homekarma
2 years ago
HI Gina,

Definitely paint it out - doors, windows and stairs (leave handrail dark to contrast ). I spent 10 years at our previous 1930's house debating whether to paint the original bannisters which had been varnished by previous owners. Prep it all well - sand and clean and prime or you may get away with no sanding and use Zinsser B-I-N primer. I used white eggshell on bannisters and stained the handrails dark. I also painted the hall and landing walls/ceiling in Pavilion Grey (valspar colour match) and white. I can't tell you what a difference it made to the brightness and feel of the area and we already had big stained glass front door and long window on the stairs but the colour scheme really brightened it up. Will try to add photos.. Good luck.

BTW we've recently moved to an 1830's weavers house and its dark, dark, wood EVERYWHERE!! Lots more painting to hone my skills..!
PRO
homekarma
2 years ago
Here are x3 after photos and one taken beforehand from the top of the stairs!
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homekarma
2 years ago
Few more b4
kazzh
2 years ago
👏 stunning!
Sonia
2 years ago
What a magnificent transformation. It doesn’t even look like the same house! Well done 😊
PRO
homekarma
2 years ago
Thank you. It was hard work but totally worth it and it saved us a fortune. I spent a long time prepping and wish I'd have discovered Zinsser primer at the time as the dark stain kept coming through each coat of eggshell (I used a water based primer). I don't recommend Dulux Quick-Dry (used it for the first coat and it was awful) . Ended up doing at least x3 coats , the final one being an oil based Johnsons (I think), Eggshell. In hindsight, sand, clean, Zinsser prime and x2 Eggshell or Satinwood if you want more sheen. It was a learning curve for me!

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