By the way, I only showed the entryway. This same trim and doors continue throughout the entire house.

As for the stairs, do I stain just the hand rail itself or stain the base part of the railing too? I feel like that part should be white.

What are you hiring out and what are you planning to DYI? The oak will all require serious prep work before you can restain. Think this thru whatever you decide.

I believe all the staining (floors and hand rail for sure... probably doors as well) will be hired out. We will likely do the painting, have done that before.

Just mostly looking opinions to help to decide WHAT we want to do and then make the plan from there. :)

Did you plan on painting the walls? You may change your mind about the color of the wood once you get some color on the walls. The stair spindles would look nice painted black.

Would you consider changing the trim around the doors (rosette/fluted trim)? Or did you want to just paint those.

Paint it out. All of it, including the railings on the staircase and the doors. Work with someone to help you select colors for the walls that will coordinate from room to room. It should feel cohesive, but it doesn't have to be the same colors throughout. I think white trim (neither too cool nor too warm) will brighten the space and make the house far more up to date. I like Simply White (OC-117 from Benjamin Moore) for this--ceilings, too.

A bluish gray or greenish gray would look very nice against the wood trim. I would paint the walls first and then decide how you feel about the space.

I would paint all the trim white and leave the floors as they are.

If your house is a Victorian I would paint the trim white. If it’s not I would rip it all out and replace with white trim that goes with the style of house.

Thanks for your input everyone! We’ve started the process of painting all trim/baseboards/windows white. The base of the railing will be white as well leaving the railing, doors, and floor to be stained at a later time a darker walnut-ish color. The walls had already been painted and are staying the color they are for a while.

Ok so another opinion needed. Knowing that the floors will be stained a darker color (walnut-ish) and the baseboards painted white, should the trim under the step down to the carpeted room be white or stained the same as the floor? I’m thinking white to match the baseboards and other trim.

Second part to the question: The windows and trim are being painted white, should the sill be stained the same dark color as the wood floors or painted white? I’m leaning towards staining to match the floors. And if so, the trim under the window sill should be stained to match the sill or white? I’m thinking again white to match the baseboards and other trim.

Thank you all again for your insight and opinions!

Your floors are gorgeous, classic, and easy to maintain. I would live with them for a while before making darker,

I would treat the step as part of the floor. Again, I would keep them that color.

The problem is not the light oak, it is the wall color.

It's totally your preference, and I would paint the trim all the same color. Staining the floors and railing a darker wood tone is a great idea as well. The photos above look beautiful but the wood is definitely better quality, and the proportions correct.

The trim under the step-down should also be painted white. I'd say that as a rule of thumb any vertical trim should be painted and any horizontal stained like the floors.

I think the fluted door trim and rosettes should be replaced, if possible, with something better suited for the home. I don’t think the size or the style is right. Also, noticed the museum of Apple computers...what an interesting collection! Can you tell us more?

Maybe check with a friend about the dark stained floors, I have heard they are very hard to live with, especially with pets.

I think light walls and oak trim can look fresh and modern if the rest of the space is updated. Rugs, lighting, furniture, etc. Personally I'd paint the walls and then spend the money and time on "fun" stuff and leave the trim and floors alone.

@hemina Good eye! We have been Apple enthusiasts for decades & collect vintage Macintoshes and other Apple products and related items. Didn’t expect Anyone would notice that. haha

Thanks again for the suggestions! What I can say for sure is the light oak is definitely going, leaving it alone is not an option. We’ve been in the house for about 8 months so we have had time to adjust. Also, the walls were painted when we first moved in... might change colors down the road but it will stay for now until we get the trim painted and floors done which, again, is 100% happening. Another reason for painting the trim/baseboards is many parts of it have damage (Dings, scrapes, chewed on, etc). Wood fill and paint will take care of those issues no problem & ripping out and replacing the trim all together is a bigger task & additional expense we are not looking for at this time. Also, taking advantage of the extra time we have at home to get this big project done!

We’ll be living with light floors/doors for some time until the world gets back to normal.

@Diana Bier Interiors, LLC I like your rule of thumb, thanks for that.

I would have upgraded the lighting to LEDs in the 4K range and selected new wall color first. Then I would have lived with that for 6 months while deciding if I really wanted to tackle the trim. Very likely I would have painted trim and railing black and left the floors alone. I see farmhouse stools, MCM breakfast table, Colonial floor clock and a contemporary credenza, so it looks like you have eclectic taste. A touch of the unexpected black in a satin finish would be special in your home.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/8-reasons-to-paint-your-interior-trim-black-stsetivw-vs~33297593

I don't blame you for not wanting to replace all the trim--that's a much bigger job you don't need to do.

As for the floors, I'd do a medium neutral brown--Special Walnut is a great choice, not too light or dark, not too reddish or yellowish.