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Home Decorating

Paint or stain?

8 years ago

We're planning add built-in cabinets/armoires on either side of this window to increase closet space in our master bedroom. Current thinking is to frame/drywall them, and connect the two with a soffit (maybe recessed lighting?) and crown molding. We would do drawers on the bottom, doors on top for hanging space. Our woodwork throughout the house is a light/medium oak, and our bedroom furniture has a similar color finish. Question is, do we stain the drawers and doors or paint them? I am leaning toward stain, but am not sure if that would be too much wood.

I would welcome any other suggestions you might have as well. As you can see, we also will need to relocate furnace vents and outlets.

We are planning to repaint - probably a lighter color.

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Comments (5)

tibbrix
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
If you're not going to paint the trim in the room, I'd stain the built-ins.

Just a thought: I'd also move the bed to the other wall, the long wall that faces the dresser and put the built-ins on the wall there you have the bed now. That way, they won't hamper any light coming from the windows, and you can even get more storage space. However, the closets flanking the windows are nice as well. Maybe built-in storage bench under the window would tie it all together.
razzymom thanked tibbrix
busybee3
8 years ago
I would definitely connect them with a window seat with drawers or a tilting lid... i would connect the tops with crown only- no soffit. I would stain if you liked the window trim/baseboard color and if it complemented your furniture color... otherwise, I would paint it all- crown, cabinets, baseboard and window trim...
razzymom thanked busybee3
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amberm145
8 years ago
I was also thinking a window seat would be better than a soffit.

I'm not a fan of the built ins around a bed. First, I like bedside tables. Second, they seem to scream "lack of storage!" to me. Something about crowding the bed?

As to the original question, I would paint. It's almost impossible to match existing wood. Plus, the window trim is going to be lost in whole wall of wood, whereas some contrast will highlight it.
justgotabme
8 years ago
I'd build them using carpenter grade plywood and solids. You'll get more space. Either of these would have to modified to fit what you want, but they give you the idea what can be done.
http://ana-white.com/2013/05/plans/toy-or-tv-armoire

http://ana-white.com/2010/03/build-beautiful-nursery-armoire
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Have you considered using PAX closets from IKEA and simply customize them? They are available in white or stained finish. They can be equipped with drawers behind the doors. It's easy to customize pieces to coordinate with the basic closets that are available in a variety of sizes. You can see that you can add crown molding to the cabinets.

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