I wouldn't paint the whole built in, because you can't unpaint it (at least not easily).

I would consider inserting some panels at the back of the shelves that could be painted whatever color works with your scheme.

I agree, the room is very nice just like it is, except for that door, that sticks out like a sore thumb. I agree, leave it alone. Those floors are gorgeous. Paint the rest of the walls, and that white door, and it will be all done.

Thanks everyone! The floors are definitely going to be re-stained brown to match with the rest of the house we are going to re-stain. Would that look ok to have a cherry wood next to brown wood? I’ve been looking for pictures. I’ve been thinking, with the help of the comments, to paint the wainscoting navy, walls off white/beige and door navy as well. I’m not sure though!! Any more ideas haha.

Hmmm what to do? Take a classic cherry wood and cover it with a trendy paint color or leave it as is?

Have you thought about how the ceiling will look with a brown floor?

Well, I don’t know if I want a “trendy” color haha. I actually like wood as is but I’m not a fan of cherry (reds and oranges). Yes, I am definitely concerned about the ceiling not matching the floor. A very seasoned interior designer family friend assured me the ceilings would be fine with a different floor stain. But I’m not sure about the built in. I definitely lean towards not painting in general but the red! 😳 I’m here asking for advice on realistic solutions, re-stain cherry, paint or leave as is. But we are definitely re-staining the floors because we are doing the entire large main floor and much of the floor needs to be redone anyways. Thank you!

I dont think I am going to buy a new house because of one room built in. This is not good advice.

I suggest you live with it for a while and see if the cherry built ins grow on you. I like them and would not paint. Once your own things are in there you might like it. Yes to painting that white door. I can’t suggest colors. Congrats on your house!

I agree, live with it a while. Those floors are absolutely gorgeous, as is the ceiling and the built ins, and the wainscotting. Its just the white door, that looks bad. You may just decide to love all that beautiful cherry.

Do you have a picture of what the floors will look like redone?

Sorry more questions. What are you going to use this area for and is it closed off from the rest of the main floor?

Agree with living there awhile ( & no to painting everything cream & navy), while househunting a year or so all the cheap ”flips” had that color scheme or white with grays. As my realtor commented while walking through one of the houses : ”It looks like someone’s been watching too much HGTV!”

There's nothing wrong with keeping the floors as-is in that room -- it is a closed-off room so okay if the floor doesn't match the rest of the main living area. But, I can see where it does make sense to just get the whole first floor re-done at the same time. In that case, see if you like the different colors of wood together. If you're using a neutral brown, I think it will look fine with the cherry ceiling and built-ins. I think people get too hung up on being matchy-matchy with all their wood, wood just all sorta goes together as long as it's in the realm of what you'd find naturally.

If you find you don't like the two wood tones together, then buy a room-sized area rug and cover it up. Viola! problem solved.

She said that she is staining the floors and only asking about the cherry wood. But I also agree with others to leave as is. Warm colors are coming in…reds, oranges, yellows. And after using the space, you/your family might enjoy the cherry more than you do now. Paint the door and find a rug that has warm tones.

Don't paint it. It just needs wallpaper.

A solid wall color will never look as good as a pattern on the walls. Because solid is out of proportion to the rather bold, organic pattern in the wood. I would go larger scale pattern than the wood so it doesn't get too visually busy. Pull the background color from the paper and paint the white door to match.

Whatever goes on with the floor won't be a major issue with everything else going on: paper, rug, furniture, decorating, etc.

Full disclosure I like white trim. I would paint the ceiling and all the trim white. Leave the bookcase cherry (or better yet strip it and clear coat it without the red stain, I’m spending your money not mine).

on reading your response I will add

" I would consider inserting some panels at the back of the shelves that could be painted whatever color works with your scheme. "<------if you cover the backs of the shelves there will be less of the dreaded cherry you don't like.

Can you have the unit and the wainscoting stained along with the floor rather than painting the wood? Staining is easier to undo or change later as opposed to painting. With a 10,000 sq ft house I'm sure you are hiring this job out. Talk to the contractor. FWIT I moved into a house with dark walnut doors and trim. I loath dark walnut. Over the years the wood and my opinion mellowed into a peaceful coexistance.

Also once you change the paint colour to one that doesn't actually clash the wood will not be so awful looking to you.

I've had mixed wood types/colors at my previous house and I think it worked, didn't bother me (we replaced the floors - used to be green/beige carpets, we kept built-ins and trims as is):

I'd paint the ceiling white - in my experience, a dark ceiling is really darkening the whole space - and leave the built-ins and wainscoting as is.

Wow, thank you all for the advice.
Kat: the floors will be a medium brown. I have a billion pictures and samples of everything but unbelievably do not have one from the floors. We haven’t fully decided on the color but were given a few choices that can be done with our cherry floors (I believe they are bleaching first). That room will be used as a study and “school” room for our kids. I’m going to fix it up to be for our three kids to do homework and tutored. Thank you!

Lori: I am definitely doing wallpaper other places in the house. I love wallpaper especially the “easier” kinds they have now!

Rho Dodendron: that’s a really good idea to insert panels in. I haven’t thought about that. And that’s something the kids and I can do. I am definitely a fan of stain over paint! I’ll think about staining the wainscoting.

Thank you!

Einav B wow thank you for these pictures, that helps a lot. Those do look pretty.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I know my contractor will be a little relieved. I think I saw him cringe (very subtlety because he’s very kind haha) when I told him I wanted to paint all the cherry haha. The photo I added makes the room not as intense as it is when there’s nothing in the room! But there will be things in the room so I need to see it as such. As someone who doesn’t like red wood it’s very intense to walk into that empty room with red wood everywhere!
I might change my mind but so far I think I’ll leave the ceiling and built in. Paint the wainscoting and doors navy (my husband really wants navy) and wallpaper or paint the walls a lighter color.
Thank you!!!!

Debbie: love the name! Have you listened to Rachel Dratch (snl Debbie downer) podcast?
Anyways! It’s actually pretty amazing that they can bleach the red out of the cherry wood and stain it a variety of stains. The floors will be walnut brown.