You must paint it. Tell your husband you can buy some beautiful new hardwood flooring or a gorgeous wood piece of furniture to celebrate the beauty of wood. However, the woodwork you have is not worthy of display. It will look 100% better painted. You could post some photos and set up a poll and ask for opinions! Would that perhaps sway him? I wish you good luck with this.

LOL yes, PH, if I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times. But with a little flexibility, some compromise, and some faith, they do come around once it's done.

I just had a client with new dark hardwood floors on her main floor and on her second floor, but smack dab in the middle was her golden oak staircase! I was very firm about painting it, and the wife agreed while the husband was reluctant. Their neighbour/contractor was consulted and he absolutely agreed with painting it, and was hired to do it.

The railings are a deep chocolate/black as are the treads, and the spindles and risers are the greyed-down beige that we used as trim paint everywhere.

The work was done while they were out of the country on vacation and when they returned they were staggered with the beautiful effect of the "new" staircase. It was a major job and not inexpensive, but it was worth it.

Yes, unless that '86 refers to 1886 (in which case keep your beautiful historic wood trim), don't hesitate to paint it. I remember growing up in a house in CA with a cheap 1960's family room addition that had ghastly plywood panelling on the walls. I begged my mother for years to paint it white. She kept saying, "no, you must never paint over wood panelling". So we lived with hideous dark plywood walls that we all hated for 20 years. The people who eventually bought the house from us immediately painted the plywood panelling white. So make yourself happy and paint your trim. Life is too short to live with ugly things around you if you don't have to.

It's great to hear stories like these. I had clients who somewhat reluctantly agreed to have the raised wood paneling, which covered all the walls in their family room, painted a light sage green. They were staggered by the wonderful difference it made!

:-) Hey I love my Daniel Boon DNA but any wood in my home is Mahogany or Heart Pine ! I couldnt take 80's style paneling.

I guess the ultimate solution is paint the paneling when they are on vacation! Forgiveness vs permission.

WOW! I feel so liberated! Especially in reference to the staircase. I have one of those too that smacks you right in the face when you walk in the door. Painting it never crossed my mind. I have so much to learn... starting with the moulding! Thank you all!