Your bookcases and desk look like they are oak. I would not paint them. The bookcases and desk are very nice. If you prefer a table to a desk, then put in a table. I would get rid of the other stuff in the room that appears to be when you first walk in as well as the stuff on the walls. Just the blinds would look nice.

I would get rid of the wallpaper. Very, very busy. Paint the walls a solid color and a new carpet would be nice. It is a very nice room.

yes..the bookcases are oak..I guess I'm just tired of the stain..but it would be too hard to change. Plus there is moulding around the room as well. I was thinking of painting since that would be easier! I'm going to start stripping wallpaper this
weekend..thanks for your honesty! Yes, it's very busy!!

I have a home office and it is my principal place of business. I thought you'd be interested to know that (according to my accountant) the IRS expects you to replace temporary floor coverings every seven years! Permanent flooring like tile or wood is amortized over 30+ years, but carpeting (and vinyl, linoleum, laminate) gets only 7 years.

Is everyone else able to look at the photos? For some reason nothing happens when I click on the link.

laurie

I can't see the photos either!

Nope, cannot see them.

Nope.

Nope

She's got several URL's in the link. I used this as an excuse to figure out the HTML stuff, so here's her links:

Now that I can see the photos, I agree that the wallpaper should probably go.

What strikes me about your bookcases is that you can see the backs of the shelves since you haven't stuffed them with books, and that does give the impression of a huge expanse of oak. Maybe once you've decided what to do with the walls you might paint just the backs of the shelves to lighten up that feeling? They're beautiful bookcases, though. I love the arches.

-Francesca

I have similar bookshelfs (much bigger expanse of oak though) so I do feel your pain on the color issue. While they're "nice" the oak gets old. I know it's a lot of work, but here's an option I'm going to tackle that you might try.

Buy some liquid sandpaper and wipe down the finish so that it softens up and all loose finish is removed. Then use a gel based stain (minwax) and it HAS to be gel based, and wipe on, then off (follow directions). I have tried this on three flooring samples (new pieces and old) and what I find is that with a walnut tone gel stain, it does deposit a good amount of color despite the finish you have on the wood. You end up with a brown tone (or walnut) verses the orange/red you have with oak.

But if you don't want to do that, then I'd not paint them...they really are too nice, but I'd line the back of the bookcases with a plain paper or fabric verses painting it to break up the expanse. (I may do that for a while before I get to my project as well). I'd remove the paper, and paint the room a nice deep kelly green. It's an office so that debth of color won't be a problem and it appears to be a comfortable fit with the outside of the room. Kelly green is great with oak so you might find that after doing this you will like the oak better. Make sure to have some gloss to the paint. Deep colors in small rooms should have gloss in them (semi would be perfect).

If you aren't ready to rip out the carpet now, I'd find a nice big rug to set on top of it with a light pattern to it in muted tones suitable to an office. These couple of things (paint and carpet) could make all the difference for you....and if you really want to tackle some fun, try the gel stain on the inside of a cupboard and see what you think....or on a sample of flooring as I did.

WHen I did the samples I tried various removers and found that the best "take" was with liquid sandpaper, and it involved less horrible chemicals which was a bonus. My room (and cases) are 14' high...so I'll have to work with the stuff for a while!

I think the whole room will be greatly improved just by removing the wallpaper and painting the walls. Once you paint the walls, post another photo. The painting may very well be all that is needed.

The finish on the oak bookcases is actually the preferred finish for oak. Plus it matches the doors and molding in the room.

I would not paint the oak. I think the best thing to do is strip that paper off and paint it. I'd also lose the dated blue carpet and put a neutral in. You'll be amazed at the difference.

I agree that getting rid of the wallpaper will have a huge positive impact, as would a more artful arrangement of books and objects on your bookcases.

If you try that and still aren't happy, I'd go ahead and paint the oak cabinets. Doesn't matter how nice they are if you don't like them. I'm not a fan of oak myself and LOVE the look of white painted built-ins. It's just such a classic look.

It's a big decision though, and one not easily reversed without a TON of elbow grease.

I totally agree with everyone that says get rid of the wallpaper. It will be a whole new room with a new color in there. As far as the built-ins, I don't think I'd change them. I think you'll like them better if you change out the desk. There's already a whole lotta oak going on in there. You mentioned that you don't even use the desk, but I noticed a monitor in the built-ins. Is there a pullout keyboard tray in the built-ins? Maybe you don't need a desk or table at all. I noticed a chair and ottoman in the corner to the right as you enter the room. Maybe you'd like 2 comfotable chairs in there instead. If you want a work space, tho, I would use a painted piece or a darker wood. I like the idea of a table instead of a desk. More of an open feeling. Accessories with more color will also help the built-ins. My DH would love to have a room like that.

Barb

Wow! You guys are the best. I'm going to strip the wallpaper this weekend. That will be huge, I agree. I will post again after I paint. Anyone out there can help me figure out why my photos don't show up on my original post? I'd love to know what I did wrong!! Maybe after I paint..and get rid of the desk...AND get new carpet, the oak won't bother me as much! I'd love to get flooring that isn't carpet, but the problem is the hallway is oak flooring and the bathroom off the office is tile that runs the other hall and kitchen/laundry. I'd never find that exact tile again. Do I have any other flooring options? I have 3 dogs that I adore, but let's face it..mishaps happen! And..not to mention the kids:)

It appears (right click anywhere on the page and click on View Source) that you pasted/entered the url's for each of the 4 pictures into the link box all at once. Resolution is to paste the url for the PAGE where the pics are located. Alternatively paste each pic into the message body itself rather than using the link method at the bottom using the img src tag.

Lovely room -- looking forward to seeing it *sans wallpaper*. :-))

You could put another finish of wood flooring. In our house, all the main rooms and halls are natural finished red oak. Then all the bedrooms are brazilian cherry (also a natural finish). If you make an intentional change instead of trying to match, it looks good :-)

I'm also looking forward to seeing the room minus the wallpaper!

Robbi

Okay! Wallpaper is down. Wow..I forgot that the walls were painted a dark hunter
green originally. Eecks..I don't like it. I am thinking of BM Brookside moss. It's a pottery barn color. Has anyone used it up next to oak? I am thinking something in the green family (light) would be good with oak. Any other favorite greens out there? Or any other colors that would look nice with the traditional oak stain? I'm getting carpet swatches today. And..I found a writing desk from Ballard that I love..pricey though. I want to totally redo this room, so any opinions would be most welcome. When I get the room cleaned up, I'll repost a pic. Thanks!!!!

I am glad you took the wallpaper off and now a nice calm color would go well in your beautiful home office.

I agree with you that I think a light green would be nice.

Hunter Green has to go also since my neighbor had her whole home painted in Hunter Green with a Semi-Gloss Finish that at first was stunning but after awhile (over 9 years that I was living next to her since she had it this color maybe 7 years earlier also) I knew it needed updating which the new tenants did. They painted their livingroom and dining room BM Prescot Green and their family room a nice gold color. Their kitchen they painted BM Philadelphia Cream Which looks great with the Cherry Wood cabinets and their pretty window. I love their Prescott Green but I think you need even a lighter green in your home office.

Green will accentuate any red/orangeish tones in the oak. If you prefer to "quiet" the oak, you might prefer something like Benjamin Moore Natural Cream.

lafonda ranch - don't mean to hijack this thread, but what did you use between the rooms with two different color hardwoods? A threshold, or just one next to the other?

Now that the wallpaper is gone -- try a creamy color like Philadephia Cream and paint out the window trim AND baseboards.

Try darkening the bookcases with Minwax Polyshades -- combine their mahogany and walnut colors for a deeper brown. OR -- for a complete change -- paint them with the Cream color!

I think my husband would die if I painted them white! I would like it, though. But..he would be okay with them being darker stained. Can someone tell me whats involved to use the minwax? Sanding? Also..painting the trim and baseboards, but not the crown moulding? I never thought of that! I take it the dark stain would also be used on the crown moulding. I'm doing this myself, so I keep the amount of work reasonable! I'm also thinking of not putting a desk back in this room and putting big comfy chairs instead. We have a great room and I really have no where to go to read a magazine if the kids have taken over the great room! Any thoughts of this?? I want this room to be functional. Thanks again...I just love projects!

Will_work_for_roses....

If I can describe it correctly, it has a piece of the brazilian cherry going across the threshold. Here is a little bit of a picture when the red oak was just finished. You can barely see the entrance to the bedroom in the bottom right. I can get a better picture this afternoon if you need a better look.

{{!gwi}}

Robbi

Okay..another question! What do you think of making this room a game room? Not a pool table, but maybe comfy chairs and a chess/checkers table. I'm really struggling with how I want to furnish this room. I have the carpet on order and I'll start painting this weekend. I'm still deciding between about 20 shades of green!! Any thoughts?

Oh, I just did this in a section of my living room! I just purchased two leather recliners (wing back looking) with a "game" table. The table has some very nice curvy legs and the tops are interchangeable (slide out) for different games or a solid surface. I haven't been able to find a picture of them on the internet. I'm going to paint the walls where they sit this weekend. If you can wait until I paint, I'll post some pics.

Robbi

Robbi-That would be great! I'd love to see pics. I'm tossing that idea around, also just a library/study. Our house has a great room and when the kids are in there watching cartoon..I really don't have anywhere to go to read or have a drink with DH or a friend. So, it would be nice to have another sitting area option. Good luck painting!

Here is a picture of my two chairs and the chess table. I'm still trying to paint this part of the room, so please ignore the ugly walls! Sorry the lighting is so bad. This particular table has 3 interchangeable tops, so you can play different games. It also has a plain top so you can have just the look of an end table if needed.

{{!gwi}}

Robbi