Help with us with our 1950’s knotty pine paneling! (Please...)

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

So, for a bit of a twist, it’s my husband that wants the knotted pine walls painted, in our 1954 cottage. I thought men were supposed to love wood, haha...!

Below is the east facing knotty pine room in question:

I actually like it, however everyone else that has seen it HATES it; and are very vocal about it. Comments are usually as follows: dark, depressing, tear it out, paint over it.

Poor little ’50’s home, still in his awkward stage of life; I guess you could say he’s still in his teenage years. Not young enough to be fashionable, not old enough to be considered historic or worth saving.

I have decorated around it with lots of white ( trying to work with it) but after living with it for almost a year, hubby still doesn’t care for it. The paneling was poorly glazed years ago, so it probably needs to be stripped anyway. I could fill in the knots and paint over it, pretending it’s vertical shiplap ;)

I change my mind everyday. But I’m afraid it will look like lipstick on a pig if I straight up paint it.

I want whatever I do to still feel true to a 1950 cottage, and not like I’m trying to hide the fact that it’s 1950’s paneling. I did find historic proof that paneling was not always this honey brown that we are use to (very interesting...)

https://archive.org/details/WeyerhaeuserPortraitsinPaneling0001

https://archive.org/details/Sherwin-williamsHomeDecoratorAndHow-to-paintBook1958

and it was painted in some cases (but I don’t think it was knotty pine?...)

My current idea is to wash with paint. A balance between knotted pine and painted paneling...does it still feel appropriate to the 1950’s?

In Benjamin Moores...Quiet Moments, or Healing Aloe

Or I could go white...

What do you think? Thoughts?

Thank you!

Featured Answer

Beth H. :

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

i think it's easier to drywall over them (unless you want a country/shabby chic look)

and if you don't want the knots to bleed through, you'll have to cover them w/a shellac or oil base primer.

http://housebyholly.blogspot.com/2012/11/to-paint-knotty-pine-or-not-paint.html

re: those stains. the current finish topcoat will have to be sanded off, and if going lighter, the original darker stain removed/stripped. Otherwise, those lighter stains will not look like the pictures.

painted white, it actually looks pretty good

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Comments (17)

yvonnecmartin
7 years ago
I think that some of the color washes look good. I really like the pale green one. Probably you have to read up on how to get the effect pictured.
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R.D. London Studios
7 years ago
I like knotty pine but would really like to see more interior photos to help advise as well as an outside photo to understand the architectural style and finishing of the home.
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raromeo
7 years ago
The house that I was born in had knotty pine in the finished basement installed in 1953 when house was built. In the late 90's we had it painted and it came out beautifully. It was primed then painted an off-white and not one knot bled through.
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PRO
Norwood Architects
7 years ago

I'm rather liking this photo that was posted. I like the shabby chic quality although maybe it could be painted to be a little less shabby and a little more chic. This room certainly is bright and cherry and isn't out of character for a 1950's house. Whatever you choose please post some after photos. Good luck!
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ptreckel
7 years ago
As I recall, Sarah Richardson white washed the pine paneling in her family’s lake cottage in Ontario. The photos of that project are available online. Loved her series on HGTV! I wish they were still on!
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Patrick Raynes
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I love the knotty pine as well. I think it would be a shame to just straight out paint it and hide all the character. Of course, white washing it would be a good compromise and would brighten it up and still show the character.

But personally, I would consider sanding it down and staining it a lighter color. I know, it’s requires much more time and effort than just painting it or white washing it. But, if you like the stained knotty pine and the only reason the others don’t like it is because it’s too dark. It could be a happy medium that would make everyone happy.

Just thought I would throw that suggestion out there. I hope you will be able find the best way to work this out. It’s most important that you all are happy with whatever you choose.
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Lucy
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Ptreckel, I just looked at Sarah Richardson’s cottage, and it’s adorable! Her website gave me to a new idea, and I’m curious if anyone else has tried it?

http://www.sarahrichardsondesign.com/get-inspired/tips/2017/06/02/paint-it-whitewash

She mentiond how she used a solid color stain for her paneling.
User
7 years ago
Painted over paneling can look fine for something like a cottage / shabby chic room. I like it! Maybe do a small section just to see how the process goes or if there's bleed through.

Personally, I wish our own paneling wasn't painted over, but I like super kitch. I don't think it looks so bad painted (it's the rumpus room so I'm not really willing to put in the work to drywall or replace the paneling).
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Kendrah
7 years ago
I wonder if you can show us more pictures. Perhaps there are other tricks you can think of that will allow you to keep the walls as they are and have it not look so heavy and dark. I think that white washing it makes it look pretty 1990s shabby chic.

Here are some inspiration photos:

Beach Cottage Living Room · More Info

Is your ceiling paneling too?

Mid Century Master Bedroom · More Info
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Lucy
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Oh, I’m definitely not doing whitwashing then if it looks like the 90’s- we are trying to take that out of the house. Thank you!

( I would show pictures of our room, but we are finishing our floors in our living room, so everything is in here right now...) not much room for you to see.

No our ceilings are popcorned, that’s next to go. We have a fireplace, and a large floor to ceiling window opposite of it.

I’ve have found probably every picture out there with paneling, and a lot of them are beautiful. I think if it was a room were weren’t in everyday I could win this battle, but it’s our bedroom.

That leaves us to painting then (he does live here too...haha...)

I actually think paneling looks stunning when painted navy.

I may even let the knots show through and not make it perfect with that color...hmmm?
Kendrah
7 years ago
I think navy is super attractive but don't know if it takes care of the issue of darkness issue.
Lucy thanked Kendrah
Therese R
7 years ago
not exactly on topic, but I think I'd frame some of the old picture/ads you showed and hang them on the "new" walls!
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Sonya Oden
7 years ago
I love the navy idea with white linens and prints it could look lovely!! I also really really really the shabby chic white photo you shared.
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heatheron40
7 years ago
Hmmmmm, we didn't have 50's paneling, it was 70's! We thought about painting it and decided against it for the same reasons you are having second thoughts, knots and not having a smooth surface.

So, we flipped it, literally. The back had fewer knots and was much lighter. We finished it with clear waterbase poly. 1 room took a weekend.

Good luck!
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User
7 years ago
Another vote for paint wash or straight up paint. So many of the photo examples others posted are inspiring!
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User
7 years ago
I agree that the navy would look stunning. you mentioned other people's comments that your current paneling is too dark. do they mean that it's too dark for a wood color? or that it makes the whole room feel too dark? if it's the latter, then navy is a poor choice. but if YOU think the current room doesn't feel too dark, then navy will look amazing.

think about how you're going to use it too. will there be times you wish that room is brighter during the day, or do you pretty much only sleep in there?
Lucy thanked User