Trim Challenges

3 years ago

Hi y’all! I’m overwhelmed and stumped.

Just bought a 1955 build ranch in IL. My dad is a retired carpenter so it’s been a busy couple months. We have knocked down four walls, ripped up ALL the mismatched flooring, gutted the kitchen …

Now I’m trying to figure out what to do with the trim. It is a varnished ash wood trim, and there are built in book cases that also have ash. Though the back of the cases and doors are ash veneer I suspect.

I LOVED it initially. But now that I’m trying to find flooring etc, I am finding that the way the wood has yellowed over time due to the varnish is making it clash with flooring samples.

I’m trying to preserve the home’s character a bit and am going for a midcentury modern/Scandinavian/Japandi vibe. Any advice is appreciated.

I suspect the wood cannot handle bleaching because it’s very dried out. There’s a TON of natural light in the house, which is amazing, but hard on the wood, which hadn’t been touched since it was installed I suspect.

I’m attaching a “before” image from the listing, the current mess (just to give an idea of the more open floor plan concept), a photo of some flooring samples along with a dining chair, and some scrap trim I’ve been playing around with.

The bottom piece is original, untouched with the varnish.
Middle piece is most accurate, since it was sanded first. Top piece was raw ash casing so probably not accurate in terms of what the finish would look like.

Far left is just water-based polyurethane in matte. Middle is oil-based “classic oak” (poly + stain), and right side is oil-based “antique walnut” (poly + stain)

Sorry for the length and thank you so much.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

Amanda Insalaco
Original Author
3 years ago
TLDR; how to I make old, varnished ash wood less yellow and more blonde
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
3 years ago
Ash is yellow, as it ages it gets even more so. Then they used oil based poly which is natutally amber and gets moreso with time. So what you have now is very amber. The only way to get it lighter is to strip it and use water based poly or paint it. Honestly I vote for paint for the trim and built ins, let the new floors and stone be the stars. That said re visit your floor samples, on my monitor they all look very grey which will date the interior.
Related Professionals
Hopkinsville Home Remodeling · Albany Home Remodeling · Terre Haute Kitchen Remodelers · Saint Joseph Kitchen Remodelers · Covington Bathroom Remodelers · Beaumont Bathroom Remodelers · Minneapolis Cabinets & Cabinetry · Merced Cabinets & Cabinetry · Toronto Carpenters · Vidalia Flooring Contractors · Alpena Flooring Contractors · Jacksonville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Spring Furniture & Accessories · Binghamton Furniture & Accessories · Harrisburg Furniture & Accessories
cat_ky
3 years ago
I would keep the wood, since you seem to like it. The yellowing is pretty normal for when the house was built. I dont like any of your floors you have picked. They are too light, and the wider boards, just do not go with your house style. I agree, the wider boards could fit in better with painted wood trim, but, hoping you decide not to do that. The era of that house would have had wood floors closer to the color the trim is now, and the boards would been much narrower.
Amanda Insalaco
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks. In person the “wood” vinyl looks more white blonde…. I totally agree on plank widths but the luxury vinyl plank seems to only come in super wide widths. Grrr. I wish solid wood floors were in my budget and practical enough for my needs. Fortunately, the bedrooms have 1/2” solid oak
Amanda Insalaco
Original Author
3 years ago
If y’all know of any Nucore performance or waterproof flooring colors you think would work, let me know. I was looking at buttered toast and Dessert Tundra. thanks!
ci_lantro
3 years ago
You can get LVP in more narrow widths--like 4.5" & 5" wide.

8mm x 4.5" x 72" vinyl plank
cat_ky
3 years ago
Or you can put in hardwood as much as you can afford right now, and save up for the rest of them. Maybe engineered hardwood.
Amanda Insalaco
Original Author
3 years ago
As long as I’m not totally off base looking at blonde/lighter wood… we are pretty sure the oak in the bedroom was original and it’s actually quite dark.

Ugh! I’m having such a hard time visualizing everything with it all tore up in there and never having lived there
Amanda Insalaco
Original Author
3 years ago
F/u Q. What about playing with contrast? Like a dark bamboo floor and keeping the blonder ash wood trim. Perhaps trying to warm it up a bit with a fresh coat of stain.

My bedrooms have original, dark(ER) oak and they look lovely

(Kinda like these folks have done in their MCM home reno)
Amanda Insalaco
Original Author
3 years ago
https://thedesignfiles.net/2023/01/homes-natashia-ting-peter-rosser-beaumaris