Me too - especially a dining room where a dramatic light and cozy feel adds to your appetite. An entire house of it would be too dark, but one great room of it . .whether library or dining, feels right.

Me three. It's separated from the other spaces in the house, so I would let it be. It makes it special.

Keep it as it is.

Back to the splendor of 1907. Painting is hiding the wood's charm, (IMHO).

Thanks for your input, folks! It's been very helpful.

Keep the wood and either strip the painted woodwork or replace it and stain it to match if it doesn't strip well.

I agree to keep it - you are in a best of both worlds situation now! I painted some wood in my old home because everything else already was and I regret it.

Don't have to do it in a day....strip painted when you can. It's not easy, but it's oh-so-worth it!!

Heat gun & good scrapers....and LOTS of patience!

keep it as is.. Looks great

@ intown123: this was really good to know from someone who's been there, thanks!

@ bungalow mo: well, I really *wish* I had the last of your three items!

Everyone has been so great, I'm going to ask another question:

I'm not very fond of coffered ceilings; they feel very oppressive to me. So what do you think of painting only the ceiling beams? I am thinking of keeping it the same, or very close to, the ceiling color.

Would this be heresy?

yes . .

instead, make it feel all the same by painting out the voids a special metallic tone or an accent color that you've been dying to incorporate . . . with this wood tone being nearly plum (if that isn't just the color tone of the photo / computer) you might go into a deep cobalt / purple iris navy ..

or neutral . . towards gold / with a metallic wash on it depending on the light fixture . . .

or something mid tone that speaks to your decor elsewhere to bring it in here . . . it will give you a unified look

@ libradesigneye: Thanks, this sounds like a great way out of this dilemma! Plus, I had been thinking of painting the arched ceiling of the adjacent foyer in a metallic color to bring more light down the hall.

Gorgeous wood! I wouldn't paint it. What a beautiful, dramatic dining room. No need for it to match the rest of the house.

I think one room different is fine, but....
If you feel you MUST have all the same, that wood is too pretty to cover up. I would say my prayers, stock up the wine fridge, and start stripping paint.

Oh, please leave the wood as is...my house was built in 1907 as well, and your dining room reminds me of mine. (See Pic below) However, I LOVE the coffered ceilings. We had a water leak from an upstairs bath, and had them restored.
I am jealous of your wood inlays around the perimeter of the room-- lovely.

Why buy the house if you don't like the charming aspects of it? And please leave the wood alone. I am so sickened by people painting beautiful old wood...

That's too nice to paint! It has a lot of warmth to it.