I think the wood is pretty, but when I see it painted out in design shows, I really like it. I would start slowly. Paint the baseboards. See what you think. Then choose the next thing to change. It may be that you like the fireplace and doors as is or you may think they need paint.

Based on the style of your windows and front door, the beautiful natural wood trim is an integral part of the home's architectural style. Unlike modern trim that is meant to be painted, your wood is valuable and painting it will harm your home's overall value.

The natural wood looks great, but if you want to paint it... I start with the base and see how it looks. We have painted a lot of natural wood.. it is all preference. Let us know what you decide to do. Good luck:)

Here are three photos of rooms from a similar era to yours, all painted a beautiful white. For me the highly shellacked dark woodwork is depressing, regardless of whether it's original or not. You can combine painted and stained, painting the woodwork and leaving the doors stained.

You know, I agreed with bluesette about keeping the original wood because it suits the Craftsman style, but then I looked at the pics bluenan put up and have changed my mind. This house is not a rare example or an architectural gem(sorry) and for modern living, the white woodwork looks terrific in each of those examples. What a difference...so light looking and feeling. Paint it!

If you want to paint, how about painting black instead of white? It's less jarring to the eye than white:

I disagree. The rooms bluenan posted show rooms stripped of their original character. It might as well be MDF instead of beautiful wood under white paint. Celebrate the original period details your house has. Think of the maintenance hassle of painting and re painting woodwork.

I would say paint - white is so modern and fresh looking - maybe false cover over the brick of fireplace, extended wall to wall would enable you to put shelves each side.

We also had a challenge with our wood door wall. Every time we picked a paint color for our walls, it didn't look great with wood. So we chose a color for the wood, then it didn't look good with the furniture. Finally after a long battle, we went for it and painted it White Dove by B/M. OMG. It looks amazing. It goes with everything. Updated but still warm. My vote. Paint it

Here's a combo with painted woodwork and a stained door.

Yes, yes, yes. I say paint the trim. It is so fresh

I agree with painting the trim. Always brightens and lightens the room.

Leave it! Or give it to me! You couldn't afford to buy custom hardwood trim like that today - those generous baseboards alone would be a fortune. And once it's white, who will ever know. As saratoga said, it might as well be MDF.

Paint it. Leave doors natural

Paint. Try each type in turn till you get the look you want. I'd start with the fireplace.

FWIW, I live in a 1910 Craftsman with painted wood. Mine was always meant to be painted. It was a lower end home at the time, so they didn't use fine wood. That said, I can spend hours with a rag and a bucket of soapy water just cleaning the miles of woodwork. And with dogs, you can guess how long it lasts. Just sayin...

If the trim throughout your entire home is the stained wood, I would keep it only because it might make your house look a little "choppy" being different everywhere.

My husband and I had this discussion when we purchased a home with original custom woodwork, and decided against painting it. (I told my husband if we wanted to paint all the woodwork white, we should buy another house.) Instead, I think if you did more dynamic/dramatic wall colors, drapes, floor coverings you could highlight and enhance this valuable feature of your home.

Can I beg you not to????? And an even bigger request...don't paint the fireplace either!

I do have one question...is this to be your "forever" house?? I have a 1916 Craftsman Bungalow. When I saw my place for the first time, the one thing that really drew me in was all the unpainted woodwork.

If a home has been around for the ballpark of 100 years without getting painted, please don't be the one to do it.

I agree with nwduck.....go with bold wall colors & window dressing. I cannot wait to have my Chrysanthemum dining room!

I can only imagine that all those that say to paint it likely have no idea the craftsmanship that went into it. I know that just my windows had something like 37 removable pieces when I reglazed them. Old school craftsmanship is becoming a lost art.


Ok....I'll get off my soapbox for now. Sorry, it's just a passion of mine...

Just one more thing...I covet your front door!
I have my original as well & it's pretty, but I REALLY like yours.

Mine is glass, so I covered it & the sidelights with film from Lowes...

Go ahead and paint it. Then it will look like new construction. But it will still be an older house, it will still have a potential for lead paint, asbestos, older systems, foundation, and plain old more maintenance, but it also won't have any character, so when you go to sell it people won't be able to see its character, only the fact that it looked like new construction in 2014 (which in 20 years we all will be on here complaining about how painted white woodwork and how we wish we could afford solid stained millwork). Remodeling projects done in 1990 currently look dated, yours will someday too. I vote to keep the historical integrity of the house, unless, say your millwork has been destroyed and needs replacement.

On a side note, keeping white baseboards clean and scuff free if you have kids in the house is a constant battle.

Don't paint the wood work! You have an architectural treasure. To build something like this today will cost a lot of $$$$$. I know, I've done rooms with trim like this and some with all cherry paneling and trim. If you want a new, bright, trendy house go buy one, don't destroy history, cherish it. In a few years all the designers will say to keep the woodwork and be telling everybody to remove the paint. Just hang in there and you will be historically trendy soon. If you want lighter wood refinish it lighter. And oh, don't paint the brick either. Build an period appropriate mantle and bookcases around it.

Do. NOT. Paint. The. Woodwork. !!!!