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lindsay_c52

Edited below for more questions. Kitchen wainscot or ship lap help!

4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

Hi everyone!

I am looking to add some interest to our kitchen but I am unsure how to do it. I was hoping to do either a wall of ship lap or wainscoting. Our largest wall we could do ship lap, but it connects to the hallway opening and then to another wall. Would we only do the largest wall or need to carry it over to the next wall? If we did ship lap or wainscoting would we need to do all the walls in the kitchen? Would wainscoting be smarter so then we don't have to worry about carrying the ship lap over the hallway entrance? There are other small walls on the opposite side of the room of the large wall. I am leaning towards wainscoting and wondering if all the walls should be done. I hope this is making sense :) I have added pictures below. Thank you so much for your time!

This is our large wall I would like to add ship lap or wainscoting to:


Here is the wall that connects to the large wall (which is on the left). The opening to a hallway and a play room. Wondering if ship lap would need to be carried across the top of the hallway wall and then down these walls. If we do wainscoting, would you do these small walls in addition to the large wall.


This shows how the walls connect. Large wall to the left. Possibly a piece of trim and the top to stop the ship lap?


Here are the smaller walls opposite the big wall. Would we need to do ship lap over here? Wainscoting over here?



Sorry. I can't figure out how to reply to one person. I have added more photos below. The brick is a fireplace. Any suggestions on what type of lighting over the kitchen table to go with our island lights?







Comments (14)

  • 4 years ago

    I wouldn't do either. You already have brick for interest adjacent to the wall in question. It will become too busy. Instead, I would invest in upgrading wall art, drapes and lighting. Consider closing off the classroom/office with doors, so the untidiness can be kept out of sight. I would also eliminate the baker's rack in the corner for a more useful piece of closed storage. If you think you won't be happy until you've done something with that wall, try faux shiplap; if you have a steady hand, I've heard you can do it with a marker! They also produce shiplap wallpaper for a not so permanent installation.

    Lindsay Creel thanked decoenthusiaste
  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Can you take a picture with your back at the kitchen so we can see the full table and the brick wall?

    I am leaning towards doing nothing - maybe move the table towards the door and put a side board or decorative side table with artwork to help fill that wall...

    Lindsay Creel thanked Debbi Washburn
  • 4 years ago

    M Miller- do you think ship lap is out of style everywhere? I thought of putting it in my small laundry room.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Shiplap or other inauthentic decor was never IN style. Except in certain HGTV one trick pony shows where imported faked rustic materials substituted for talent. Unless your house is a 1900 cottage with the enclosed porch using authentic shiplap exterior siding on the house wall, skip shiplap. It isn’t a look that even appears realistic. Inauthentic design is always doomed.

    Lindsay Creel thanked User
  • 4 years ago

    Does anyone have a recommendation for a small laundry room as far as walls? It is a dark color right now and I really don't want to just paint it a light color. I was thinking of ship lap or ship lap peel and stick wall paper. However, after reading comments I don't want to go that way. Looking for something besides just paint.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Seeing your other pictures -I still agree with not doing anything on the wall by the table except for narrow furniture or some art pieces.

    As far as a laundry, I happen to disagree with the others. If you love the look of ship lap then do it! Who cares if its in or out? If you enjoy it, then go for it...


    Good luck!

    Lindsay Creel thanked Debbi Washburn
  • 4 years ago

    If you’re going to do something that is no longer a fad, go big, and just do a 70’s groovy wallpaper. Own out of style in a much less insipid and bland Grand Millennial way.

    Trippy Wallpaper, Orange, 20x396 · More Info


    Lindsay Creel thanked User
  • 4 years ago

    It looks like you may have painted the fireplace to neutralize the brick. Right now it's pretty neutral but it could be the feature you're looking for on that side of the kitchen. Have you considered resurfacing the fireplace, making the mantle more substantial and lower, etc? Even just a lower mantle would allow you add a larger piece of artwork.

    Lindsay Creel thanked pricklypearcactus
  • 4 years ago

    I'm no expert, but I don't think you should do shiplap or paneling, even though I have a house full of dark paneling from the 60s that I painted white in the 90s and I am reasonable happy with the look. I would remove the framed mirror from the dining wall and leave that wall blank. I would also remove the white relief artwork from the hallway--I don't think that every wall needs to be decorated. Remove the "C" above the sink and the tchotchkes over the kitchen cabinets and elsewhere else in the room. I would also look at inspiration photos to figure out something simpler and bolder for the mantel decor, because I would think that's where you want the focal point of your kitchen and dining area to be.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I love shiplap, it's clean and classic (and no it's not going out of style lol) but I don't think that's the right wall for it. You have crisp white moldings and ceilings I'd repaint the brick on the fireplace white, add some molding around the box and paint the kitchen chairs also, try to get rid of all the off-white/cream you have going on.

    Lindsay Creel thanked itsourcasa
  • 4 years ago

    If you don't have door casings, there's no place to end paneling. And if you don't have door casings, your home isn't traditional enough for wainscoting anyway.


    And yes, Itsourcasa, anything that goes from nobody's doing it to everybody's doing it the way shiplap did will go out just as abruptly.

    Lindsay Creel thanked cawaps
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    You won't be able to open your, farthest to the left, kitchen cabinet if you do wainscoting or shiplap.

    Lindsay Creel thanked theresa21