Paneling Paneling Paneling

12 years ago

We just bought a family owned home on Lake Norman... We got a great deal, but it was still more than what we would normally do. The property is beautiful so it will all be worth it in the end.

The living room is filled with solid wood paneling. What can I do to lighten things up and give it a more contemporary feel?

Featured Answer

Cynthia Farnsworth

12 years ago

Hey, all that paneling is there, why knock it? Yes, it is cheap, but use it to keep the room warm.

Think how clever you could be:

Consider:
Leave the paneling (way too much work to start removing),
Paint wash the brick (much easier),
slipcover the dark couch into light, or through kantha cloth
and continue with your big blocks of white,
like your curtains and table.
Add a white hide rug
and get some really large white frames for the wall, or blue.

Consider:
Painting that angled ceiling wall (rust or taupe)
and that will help the paneling blend
And paint brick same color
Ya know how much people like orange hues with blue

Search houzz for paneled rooms and you may feel inspired to live with it for a while before you rip it out when you do a renovation.

Consider:
Shelves that go all the way across the room, then lean large frames (cool gallery style)

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Comments (57)

MarleneM
12 years ago
Julie, I believe you could do it yourself. Clean , sand as mentioned above from deco. Prime with a good primer. Then I would paint walls a light grey. When dry wash over walls in some thinned out white paint. (Thinned with water or glaze) use a brush for the last step. You don't want to completely cover the grey. If you get too much paint in one area. Have a dry brush handy to wipe some off. If you have any pieces of wood around, experiment on some to get the feel. Anyway, It's not supposed to be a perfect finish.
There may be other ways to achieve this look, maybe someone else has better ideas...
Good luck!
karelina
12 years ago
I have paneling, too, and intend to paint eventually. Behr has a "faux" quick start guide to textured paint and Martha Stewart Living has a brochure I picked up at Home Depot which gives several methods for creating textured walls of various kinds. I haven't tried it yet, but I went to a how to class and the instructor thought the textured painted walls would minimize the vertical lines in the wood. If you try it, please let us know how it goes.
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Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
Duxborough, this is a very interesting idea. Do you have any photos of a project that has been done like this? Sound intimidating to me.
edithsmom
12 years ago
Julie, as someone who installed panelling in a room in the 70's, and painted it in the 80's and 90's, I suggest you paint the panelling. I never sanded after washing down with TSP, and the paint adhered well after two Zinsser coats. If you can't afford to hire someone to paint it all, maybe you could do the prep work and hire someone to paint the downstairs. You can paint the upstairs rooms as you have time.
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
I love the photo posted above but I also love this look minus the animal heads. :) I love his whole "lake house" project! Do you think I could get this type of look with what I have to work with? http://houzz.com/photos/797060
PRO
Design Details
12 years ago
I think chrisinky is right. If that were solid wood paneling it wouldn't have a break at the 8 ft. mark. If it's just 1/4" paneling try pulling it off.
Cynthia Farnsworth
12 years ago
http://houzz.com/photos/1833955
Julie Dail thanked Cynthia Farnsworth
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
Yes, it is 1/4 inch paneling. It was installed when the house was built in the late 70's… have no idea what the condition of the walls are underneath. My husband would LOVE to rip it all off but we have too many priorities on our budget right now- like an addition (garage and upper room), and updating the kitchen and bathrooms.

Polkadotcity- I love how positive you are! You offered up some great ideas.
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
Polka- I like this image. Maybe if I painted SOME of the walls I could leave some of the natural look once I add some lighter accents.
Cynthia Farnsworth
12 years ago
Painted brick is still kind of seventies looking. And you will still want to upgrade it.

If you add stone over that brick, and end up with a fire place of your dreams, then you can build the room around that.
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
The fireplace actually needs some major work. There is a crack down the center and apparently it never pulled well. So we will be doing some extensive work on it at some point.
PRO
Hyde Evans Design
12 years ago
If you are willing to do a lot of work, strip, beach and stain the paneling driftwood grey. Or, and this would be much easier, paint it white.
Julie Dail thanked Hyde Evans Design
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
Hyde Evans- I love your idea, however, I have three young children so I would be worried about all the chemicals. And yes, finding time to do it. I think I am going to paint. Now I just need to find the right color. I love the Beach pictures above with the blue accents but I am going for a "Lake House" look. The starch white is a little overwhelming to me… I need something calming and warm but also sharp.
qam999
12 years ago
You can use paint/stain treatments to achieve a weathered driftwood look without stripping. Any decent house painter should know how. Weathering or painting it will look fabulous. I'd leave the FP alone until you can fix it, and then reface it with limestone, river rock, slate, or something other than brick.
Kathleen Jamison
12 years ago
Way to much work. Try some easy steps first. White wash the brick fireplace . Paint the stair railings black like the picture you liked. Brighten up under the stairs. Give the furniture more punch of strong color, graphics. Then if you can't live with it gets some help. Cuz this is a lot of paneling.
Kathleen Jamison
12 years ago
White washing the fireplace only takes a day. You can rebuild and or add stone, when budget allows. From the pictures this is the fake wood paneling and not the real wood that can be stripped.
chrisinky
12 years ago
Some lake house decorating ideas.....
Hoegger Lake House Kitchen · More Info

Bayhouse · More Info

Lake House · More Info

Rush Lake 2 - Living Room Fireplace · More Info

Lake House · More Info

LakeBridge Seven · More Info
chrisinky
12 years ago
More ideas. If you need to optimize sleeping space, there's a couple of ideas for bunk beds too.

If you don't want white, but you do want light, go for a pale gray, blue, taupe or green. There's so many colors you can use in a pale shade that would lighten your space up. Go pick up some color cards from a paint store & try to envision what they would look like. While you are thinking about color, you could go ahead and prime the walls. Warning-you will probably think the primer looks awful as you are putting it on. It looks much better after another coat of primer or paint!

House on Lake Wequaquet · More Info

Idea Cottage in the Hamptons · More Info

Tiny House · More Info

Tiny House · More Info

Traditional Dining Room · More Info

Lake Houses · More Info

Seda Deck · More Info

Lake House · More Info
chrisinky
12 years ago
Also, paint your trim white as you go. It will really make whatever color you choose pop.
MarleneM
12 years ago
Julie, I would go with the lake house look you like by painting the panelling tan/beige colour and railing black. If this is just a temp facelift for the room while you are working on other areas of home I would leave FP as is. Painting panelling can have its own challenges too, like getting the paint in the grooves. And if it is a temp facelift, I would consider the TSP wash, and then using a paint/primer in one paint for the panelling, but using the separate primer/paint for the railing.
PRO
JudyG Designs
12 years ago
I would rip it off. It is not authentic, probably from the 60’s/70’s. The wall are probably fine underneath.
Kathleen Jamison
12 years ago
JudyJ , the paneling does look 60s 70s but typically there is no wall behind just study's. Sheetrock etc would be expensive for home owner who said budget tight. But ideally you are right to tear out panelling.
qam999
12 years ago
Far better to paint the plywood paneling than to tear it out. Although it is not precious or special, painting is a quick and easy job, whereas patching whatever you may have after ripping off the paneling as a bigger, messier job.
PRO
JudyG Designs
12 years ago
This is not tongue and groove paneling which looks great when painted. I still suggest you pry off a panel and see what is under it. Many of us covered up perfectly good walls because that paneling was “the look”. It is worth the peek.
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
So very excited! Look what we found under our paneling!
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
Now I'm in search of a great color scheme!
chrisinky
12 years ago
That's awesome! Congrats on the real walls. You now have a blank palette. Create or go to an idea book you've already created on here & see what speaks to you. Search for lake house pictures. Please keep us updated on your decisions.
karelina
12 years ago
Sounds exciting! What did you find? A door? An intact wall?
MarleneM
12 years ago
Great find Julie. I bet you are sure glad you didn't just paint over the panelling! Before recommending or deciding on paint colours, remove all paneling and prime. Then take some more pictures, including any furniture you are keeping in the room. This would give everybody a better sense of the light coming into the space. The lake house inspiration pic you previously showed has a lot of windows and also skylights, so might not look the same.
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
Marlene... You are amazing! I will keep posting pictures. Getting windows installed this week to bring in more light! I am so crazy excited.
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
Karelina, I found perfect walls... And there wasn't even any glue on the paneling. Tapped and mudded and ready to go! We are on a tight budget and trying to do a lot of the work.
MarleneM
12 years ago
Julie, thanks for your comment. New windows and removing paneling will make such a difference. I'm happy for you!
Julie Dail
Original Author
12 years ago
New windows!
MarleneM
12 years ago
Julie, Wow, what a difference already! And it looks like you have a wonderful view!
Cynthia Farnsworth
12 years ago
Great job. The windows are brilliant.
laurabristow
12 years ago
Wow! You are so lucky! My house (my in-laws former house) was built in the 50s and the paneling is nailed to the studs. I think I have to paint. Your windows inspire me though. I could brighten my brown and black everywhere living room with a new glass-filled front door and side panel windows.
MarleneM
11 years ago
Julie, I would love to see some updated photos if you have some to share.
PRO
Design Details
11 years ago
Julie, congratulations for having the courage to explore! That's the way to finding a home you really want to live in.
Julie Dail
Original Author
11 years ago
Updated photos! We added a natural trim from reclaimed wood then added black beadband. We've also replaced all the interior doors with solid wood and painted them black. We still have a ways to go but I am happy with our results.
Julie Dail
Original Author
11 years ago
Julie Dail
Original Author
11 years ago
Julie Dail
Original Author
11 years ago

Still needing a rug and new furniture. I also scraped the popcorn ceilings and painted. This made a HUGE difference but was VERY messy- worth all the mess.
Julie Dail
Original Author
11 years ago
MarleneM
11 years ago
Julie, thanks for the updated pics! Your updates look gorgeous! Love the black and reclaimed wood together. A lot of work I'm sure, but as you said, worth it!
Julie Dail
Original Author
11 years ago

Thank you, Marlene! The reclaimed wood has a lot of personality- a nice grain in the wood, some nail holes and even some tar stains. I am lucky that my husband is an amazing carpenter. Also, thank you for your interest and follow-up with our project. It makes me happy to share our updates!!
Julie Dail
Original Author
11 years ago
Y'all have been so helpful so I'm asking for more advise. I love the shelves but would like to give them a facelift. They are in the living space where we just took down all the panelling. Any decorating ideas?
Julie Dail
Original Author
11 years ago
And yes, that is panelling going up by the stairs. We have found that there is no drywall behind the panelling of the interior walls. So, we are either stuck with it or need to rip it out and install drywall.
Sam Telfer
11 years ago
There is definitely a lot of options, so be excited! I think you can take it in two main directions; light up the whole room with whiter walls and lighter bricks (when decorating go for a more minimalist approach), or embrace the deep tones of the space and run with it (dark wood stains, rustic decorations, etc.). Don't be overwhelmed and enjoy every step, you have a beautiful home!
MarleneM
11 years ago
Hi Julie, I came across this photo when I searched shelves under stairs, and I love it, (except for the book display)!You said hubby is a master carpenter, so I'm sure he could build some drawers and add some vertical pieces to create cubbies. I find cubbies easier to style than a long shelf.
http://houzz.com/photos/6978652
As far as the panelling, I would opt for the drywall. The panelling doesn't seem like it measures up to the new woodwork you've done.