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Can I paint trim on dark brown windows?

Stephanie Pichner

8 years ago

Our 1966 house has windows that are dark brown trimmed in really drab brown. All of the doors, trim, baseboards, etc is stained dark brown and it really makes the house look outdated and drab. The wood floors are a lighter, reddish oak that doesn't match any of the trim. We would really like to paint the trim to brighten it up and update the look. I am hoping to paint the main areas BM Gray Owl or Stonington Gray. Other rooms I have already painted and I love the colors, but cringe when I look at the windows and see the poop brown windows and trim. The doors are so dark that it makes the hallways seem dark. Changing out 20+ windows is way out of budget, and the windows are efficient and in good shape. So until I hit the lottery..am I stuck with the brown or is there a way to paint the trim around the dark windows and give it a brighter and more updated look?

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Comments (5)

PRO
Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
8 years ago
Clean, lightly sand,clean, apply quality bonding primer(Zinsser's 123) apply 2 acrylic top coats
Stephanie Pichner thanked Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
Michael
8 years ago
Keep in mind that a light color will enhance the brown window. Which do you prefer?
Stephanie Pichner thanked Michael
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Are you planning to change out your backsplash? Brown might look good with your current countertops if you're at all interested in keeping them. What material are they? I think white or cream would look better with your floors than the dark, but it is hard to tell from the photos. I have a similar tile in my laundry room but it also has swirls of brown so my dark brown cherry cabinets would look great with it. And for those of us who missed the sunshine ceiling, please post. Sounds like I missed something great :) Anita
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Before our current (in progress) renovation, we sort of had the look you describe: the risers were white, the stairs were medium stained oak, the railing was a tiny bit darker than the floor, and the splindles were stained a much darker brown. I really liked the way the different woods worked together. Still, ours were stained and not painted, and I think what pulled it together was that you could see the grain in all the woods. I don't know if brown paint will give you the same look.
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What your seeing is completely normal and I'm not sure there is anything that can be done. Actually if you look at your second photo you'll also notice the white on the right side of the photo. Where the left sash slides over the facing of it is white. Now if that photo were to show the window closed you would see all that white in the center just as you do on yours. This also typically happens with double hung windows also. The jambs aren't painted because the operating panels sliding will rub/scratch the paint off if they were to be painted.
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Stephanie Pichner
Original Author
8 years ago
I think all the medium, outdated brown wood of the doors and trim bothers me even more than brown windows. And with the walls, outlets and switches in the house being bland almond, I am in desperate need of some color! I think I will be able to live with the contrast of the windows and trim, since there is no easy fix for any of it that I can find. I'm just hoping to find the look that is easiest on the eye and blends the best that it can. Many have recommended BM White Dove and I've used Simply White in the past.
Stephanie Pichner
Original Author
8 years ago
I posted lots of house photos on the decorating forum about this and it shows more of the outdated look that I am trying to move away from.

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/what-color-can-i-paint-my-interior-doors-and-trim-dsvw-vd~3141798[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/what-color-can-i-paint-my-interior-doors-and-trim-dsvw-vd~3141798)
Michael
8 years ago
The best sample is your very own. Paint a window and decide.

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