I love the woodwork and would NOT paint it. Instead I'd add colors with the drapes, carpeting on the stairs, etc. I think the problem is that everything else is so neutral right now the wood stands out. If you add brighter colors on things that can be changed out like the carpets and walls you wouldn't notice the wood so much. Just adding a bright stair runner could draw attention from the wood and there are so many to choose from!

I agree a runner would look beautiful on those stairs!

I wonder what the wood would look like with a darker stain (espresso). You can go both modern and traditional with darker wood. See if you can use a software to simulate that look before touching it.

I see why you'd not want to paint the beautiful wood. Tough choice.

I have alot of wood in my house and I have chosen to paint the wood in some rooms to create a focul point and leave some wood the natural stain. I'm not sure what your style is but you could paint the fireplace. Low cost starting point.

I do so like the wood. As suggested I would work around it, I think it would loom weird if only sone of it was painted. Maybe only in a closed room and in that room I'd paint all of it. What I think definitely needs to be changed are those (textured?) ceilings. There was never ever need for artex !!! :)

I really want to paint the fireplace, the stair spindles and risers for sure. Do you think just those areas being white with the wood around it would clash?

I will also be re-tiling the fireplace and getting rid of the top posts at least to make it a functional place to hang tv

I've used some software before. Do you have one you recommend?

It has to reflect how you feel in the space. For me, I find that much wood overwhelming and heavy. I'd paint and never look back!

I wouldn't paint an inch of it, and I'd find another place for the TV. How old is the house?

I painted the built ins cottage white and I still have wood trim.

Don't be afraid to paint wood, paint brings the details out in the wood:)

Here is a darker stain. Please notice I removed the wood desk and the wood picture frames.

That wood is a treasure. Don't touch it! The only wood I paint is the cheesy cheap stuff. The rest I work with to make its charm stand out.

How old is this house and is that woodwork original? If so I would not paint very much of it, and would not touch that fireplace and overmantle for the sake of a TV. If you don't like this wood and style, I guess I'm not sure why you bought this particular house...please save the woodwork for the next owner who would appreciate it.

Grocer axle. What software are you using?

Groveraxle. I'm so happy you did that. It 100% made up my mind NOT to paint it white. However I do love the darker option. Would you be able to do an even darker one?

its beautiful the way it is, floors and wall color need a change!!! love to see an updated pic on what you do!

Please, please do not paint that beautiful wood! Please leave the fireplace as is, it is so gorgeous. Television will find a place. You have a timeless classic look in your new home that cannot be duplicated. Enjoy!

I'm typically in the painted woodwork camp but, I would never paint your woodwork. When you refinish the floors, make sure the color on the floor is different enough that there will be a significant amount of contrast between the two woods. That will help temper the abundance of wood.

I also think the wall color is doing the woodwork no favors. Take advantage of the color specialist at your local Benjamin Moore paint store. Let them guide you to a color that will enhance the wood instead of detracting from it (what is happening now).

I wouldn't paint the wood, I would rip out the carpet and put down hardwoods. Then add color using rug and runner

What year was your lovely home built?

I would stain it a dark mahogany color.

If you leave the wood as is you need to warm up the walls with a soft green more on the khaki shade throughout. Clean the wood work with Murphy's oil and that wood work will be a real gem. I have this similar wood tone in my home too.

anyone know if darkening the stain would require sanding down all that wood and reapplying stain, or is it possible to just do a light sanding and use a darker gel stain? very curious about this thread/dilemma cause' ive got a lot of wood i'd love to stain darker as well.....

absolutely beautiful house by the way! cant wait to see what you do.

Yes if you want to stain the wood darker you have to sand the finish and treat the wood with mineral oil to get an even coverage before you apply another color of stain. A very tedious process. Then you would need to apply polyurethane, lightly sand and apply a final coat of poly. That's why in my previous post to clean the woodwork well and use mineral oil or Liquid Gold.

omg just...no

The house is built in 1920. I'm not moving in for a couple weeks yet. First we are taking all carpet out and refinishing the original floors throughout the whole house.

I know this will be a big job to darken the woodwork but I think it will be so much better! I'm up for the (probably year long) challenge. I will post some pics along the way. I'm coming from a 1887 home that I've redone over the last couple years and many before that. So I have lots of experience. I think I just had a moment of "same old..." But I need to remember that's why I love it and what makes it special. Thank you for all your comments. They turkey helped me so much!!

Groveraxle I still very much want to know what software you are using. I would get so much use out of it.

For those who would like to follow this project-
I will call this the Aubrey House for follow up pics.

Funny enough. I have been on Houzz for a long time now but have just now discovered this forum area lol. So glad to be joining!

Camy, the problem is not the woodwork but the wall color. Find a Certified Color Consultant in your area that can help you find the right paint color for your wood work. I'm not a fan of window treatments on windows with beautiful mouldings. Add fabrics and rugs with complimentary colors to add interest. Don't forget lamps and accessories with color. I would love to help you with this project, I'm a big lover of these type of homes!

Yes I agree. I do have a great color/stain specialist I work with. She has helped with a couple houses now. I can't wait to get her into this new one.

I don't have the pics but upstairs bedrooms are blue, purple and green with floors exposed and redone already. They are very pretty. I'm super excited to get this carpet up and see what's underneath.

camy, I'm using Photoshop Elements. Here's an even darker stain:

Thank you!!!

Now that is a hard decision. What do you all think. The dark one or the darker darker one?

I like the first "darker" stain, I think. I suppose it would depend on the floors too. Isn't Grover so very helpful? :) The side by side of the white vs the darker stain really makes the choice obvious!

camy, since we are looking at the realtor's pics you posted, I can see why you wanted to change the wood (so thankful Grover was able to help you clarify your choices). The homeowners furniture and wall color choices are all bland and tans/browns, making you (and us) see soooo much brown.

I gave the same wood- it's everywhere. It's irreplaceable- would never paint. You can tone it down with rugs, art work.

I have the same issue, wood everywhere. Would never think to paint it-can tone it down with furniture , rugs and art.

Paint the walls a nice light blue. Leave the woodwork alone. What was that blue colour of the year again ?

The living room will be very much along the lines of this. I have new Greyish blue sofa and chair coming. (Not exactly like this pic but same color scheme)

I think we have decided on the medium dark stain too.

What color do you think the floors should be finished in then?

.

Thank you Grover. You've been such a big help. I looked into Photoshop elements. It looks very "involved" did it take you a long time to learn it or have you already worked on it for years?

We like the medium floor tone with the medium trim.

However I've heard the trim Should usually be lighter wood than the floors. How do you feel about this?

You didn't say the look you want. This looks like a old home. If going for a updated look. Yes paint all trim, stairs, everything, not just some. White. Paint walls a dove gray. Ceilings white. Update all hardware to brush nickel on doors and kitchen cabinets. All finishes should match. Incl. faucets . Ceiling fan is dated try chandelier in a drum style. Window covers depends on look and budget. I like Roman Shades. Hardwood floors, with big area rugs will finish your look. Recessed lites will give you a updated look too. Try in all rooms.

How about just staining the floors dark and not changing the trim? I like the carpet runner on the stairs from an earlier post. Also, warm colors look best with the trim, in my humble opinion. And I'm happy jealous of all your gorgeous woodwork!

I'm glad you aren't painting. :) to the poster directly above: buying an historic home with this lovely, well kept wood only to paint it is sinful. Especially adding drum shades: hello, bad 60s remodel look when put into a period house.

I would go with the lightest floor color so that it will contrast from the other wood tones. For the walls, I would choose a soft white to brighten everything. Your current wall color has a lot of pinkish beige in it, as per my computer, and this beige tone is adding to the brown shades throughout the house. I would suggest having silver grey patterned or embossed carpeting bound on the edges to make large area rugs for each room, leaving one to two feet of hardwood exposed on each side. Then, I would suggest silver grey curtains in a texture or in a soft pastel print to take away from the "brown-ness." Your home has so many lovely features. Please post again.

I agree with another poster about tiling the fireplace and hearth. I would suggest a white tile, perhaps plain or with a pastel figure for the fireplace and a white marble with a grey vein for the hearth.

I would never paint such beautiful wood.

Post is from 2014. It would be interesting to know what she decided to do last year.