Old house built in 1960s, paneling dilemma!

13 years ago

My fiance and I inherited his parents house that was built by his grandparents. It is so outdated! I have paneling all around the living room, My fireplace is oddly off set to the far left side of the room, I will post pictures. Any Ideas on how I can renovate this? I do want a colorful Accent wall, just not sure where to put it! I am open to any ideas at all! Thanks!!

Featured Answer

Clarie B.

13 years ago

Paint the paneling out a warm cream, soft gray or white, same with the built-ins around the fireplace, you can either paint the backdrop of the built-ins an accent color or use a beautiful wall paper behind the shelves for some interest, leave the wood beams on the ceiling and the mantle alone, scrape the popcorn (it looks like popcorn up there?), replace the carpet with hardwood floors, call an electrician for some additional lighting in the ceiling and sconces over your fireplace. Use an L-shaped sectional to balance the room - running the long side of the sectional parallel with your couch and the shorter end closest to the sliding glass door. Put two club chairs on the open end, facing the slider. Anchor the area with a rug and a coffee table or ottoman in the middle. I would use really light colors on the walls and on your big furniture and bring in accents with drapes, pillows, or the chairs. This is a VERY dark room and you will need all your tricks to keep it from being a cave. But, I do think you could make it a very warm, cozy family room. Good luck!

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Comments (11)

Nanzi Lay
Original Author
13 years ago
THanks so much for responding Claire! I love the warm cream idea and the wallpaper! and yes its popcorn! yuck! We assume it probably has asbestos in it. Not sure what the protocol is for that. quick question, can you clarify where to put the section, which couch, on the fourth picture, my kitchen is right to the right of that. Ill post a pic to show you. it sounded like you mentioned one end of the sectional along that opening into the next room.
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Nanzi Lay
Original Author
13 years ago
Here is another POV of my living room, on the left would be the "dining room" which i do want to utilize then it goes into the kitchen!
lcullum306
13 years ago
If you're going to paint the paneling don't put hardwood on the floor. All of the vertical lines it would create would make you feel like it was spiralling, cod be bad fengshui. I think I would go with carpet if you were keeping the paneling. Or if you chose a wood floor you could use rugs and furniture to firm a contrast.
PRO
CITYSTRUCTURE Design
13 years ago
The key here is the lighting...rest is about your budget. The lighting could give more justice to the dark panels and brick wall if you add recessed accent lighting. I'm not sure if painting the panels would add any value. You could replace the flooring with a light hardwood flooring.
PRO
User
11 years ago
I beleive the fireplace is centred to an area - zone - that would have been a sitting room. The other side would have been another zone for eating or playing cards or games table. I grew up with this type of panelling in our "rec room" which is what we called finished basements. I like the paneling but hate the flooring. I feel that if you lightened the flooring with tile then bright area rugs would help zone the areas again. White washing the paneling is also a fun possibility - basically clean the panelling with mild TSP solution and then paint on a thinned down version of translucent antique white stain. Idea is to give a wethered barn board look. Again, lighten the floors and add colourful artwork, accessories and area rugs.
Dorothy Reynolds
7 years ago
Where can I find /buy some of the brown 1960's paneling??
njmomma
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Not a Pro.

Instead of an colorful accent wall, why not an accent panel wall. Add bright colorful accents instead.

Carmel Mid-Century LEED · More Info
njmomma
7 years ago

Mid Century remodel · More Info
latifolia
7 years ago
Is there sheet rock under the paneling? If so, I would remove the paneling, patch any holes and paint. We had that done in MIL’s office. It made a huge difference. Then you are free to add wood floors.

If you plan to live here a long time, I would even consider having the paneling removed and the walls sheetrocked. It’s one of the cheaper trades and would make a huge difference.
drdeb1234
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
“ If you plan to live here a long time...”.
Presumably she’s already been there a long time..
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