Don't ruin that house. It has a very specific Late Century Contemporary style, sometimes termed 80's Contemporary. The use of wood, brick, and stone, is deliberate. It's as integral to that home style as gingerbread is to a Victorian. This is a style that has begun to really appreciate in many markets. It's an outgrowth of the high demand for original Mid Century homes that are in insufficient supply. They are currently the more affordable style, compared to MCM, but won't remain that way long. But the ones with the original details are the ones that will command the premium prices.

This is the paint color I’m considering!

PS managed to find the listing..they meshed styles there of course..the house is not very cohesive right now. Yet I'd rather refine/define other parts.

Being the owner of a nearly 110 year old home with original quartersawn oak I fall into the “don’t paint” camp! However, at the very least live in the home for awhile to be absolutely sure you want to paint. Once you have painted that beautiful woodwork it is virtually impossible to go back! Other posters have mentioned ways to lighten up the interior through rugs/furnishings/wall colors. Here’s a link to an article “When you shouldn’t paint your paneling”... https://carlaaston.com/designed/paint-wood-paneling

Laura, I go back and forth about it. It’s just so MUCH wood paneling (all four walls and two stories). We are going to live in it for a bit but we need to make a decision on the floors ASAP (my allergies can’t take the carpeting). And it’s hard to pick floors without vision of what’s happening with the rest of the room.

My style is more traditional with some French country elements!

A neutral dark gray slate, or a natural oak would complement the existing wood very well.

That is so gorgeous! Do not paint cherry! Do a great complimentary floor like the slate or maybe a terra cotta tile. That could tie into your love of French Country without dishonoring the house.

following

@GreenDesigns, I love the charcoal slate idea for the flooring. And she could also put a coordinating slate stacked stone on the fireplace. That creamy brick is really dated, IMO.

@aprilneverends I’d love to hear more of your ideas! I don’t know how to message you on Houzzz.

Don’t paint the paneling ... it will only cheapen the house & make it look like every other ticky-tacky tract house “updated” to sell. Concentrate on adding quality finishes to enhance it. There are so many directions you could go ... If finances are an issue I would just wait on some things until I could do it right.

I would replace the railings with either an iron, or modern railing style. No painting of the paneling.

@Klaurence, what suggestions do you have? Specifically?

Quality flooring & I agree with the suggestion to redo the banisters. It’s really a beautiful space. If it were mine I would seek professional advice. Good luck, it’s really special IMO.

following ...

Taylor I managed to find a "message" button on this newly-mulfunctioning site lol(they changed the interface lately..)..when you click on somebody's profile the message button should appear on the profile picture(the banner or how it's called) to the left, next to the Facebook button. Thanks to you I found it by the way, because I also couldn't find it recently.

I'm afraid though I won't live to your expectations:)

And I did think of your place, and remembered one of my favorite books..you're in Louisiana right? There's this book I love-by Valorie Hart-"House Proud: unique home design Louisiana". I don't remember if any of the showcased houses (she describes modest to grand but all indefinitely cool) has such paneling, but no matter-I always admired big style you guys have there in general, and this book, it's a wonderful source of inspiration. Maybe you've read it?

And I just want to add.." And it’s hard to pick floors without vision of what’s happening with the rest of the room. "-you're absolutely right, that's the way of thinking about it, going about it. You get the overall vision, even vague in the beginning, and you go from there

Of course it's overwhelming to see all the wood paneling at first. You don't have much yet next to it, it's just tons of paneling.

To see just studs is very overwhelming too, believe me:) Especially as studs are not pretty at all..

I think it's normal. It's a normal beginning. It'll be great.

This house is actually contemporary: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4629-Argonne-St_Metairie_LA_70001_M88275-64778#photo8

I'd get rid of the carpet, go contemporary on the rails and the floor.

@groveraxle That is amazing how you did that! I love the new balusters and getting rid of the carpet stairs look!

I’m not sure how I feel about the dark charcoal floors. A few people have suggested it but the space is actually pretty dark and smaller than it appears in the pictures (wide angle lens pictures done by the Realtor). And I’m not a huge fan of very dark floors. But I don’t think the current floors complement the wood very well. I’m currently leaning towards doing a wood in a slightly lighter stain than the paneling and putting lots of rugs!

You’re absolutely correct about the mid-century modern style of the living area. The problem I have is that the updates in the other areas of the home are very traditional. So we are already clashing styles and the house is a bit all over the place at the moment. I think my vision will complement what is going on in the rest of the house well. However I don’t want to just bulldoze over the original style of the home. Personally I love wood elements but it does seem like a lot of wood and the color of the stain wouldn’t be my personal choice. The panels are in need of some TLC. They have dried out some and the stain had faded significant or taken other damage over the years. But I can’t imagine the cost of sanding it all and re-staining it.

I’m considering hiring an interior decorator to help us out but I’m afraid that will be out of my price range as a first time home buyer.

I’m no pro but I can appreciate the beauty of original features, but if that were my home I’d paint it every day of the week.. a soft white/gray color. Change the floors and the brick fireplace. In my opinion the brick really dates the space. Either way, I hope you do what you like- it’s your home. Best of luck!

I think the problem is the colour of the stain, It’s too orange. I’m not versed in wood paneling at all, but is it not possible to have it all refinished in a more contemporary stain colour? I imagine it would be quite expensive though.

I think the problem is the colour of the stain, It’s too orange. I’m not versed in wood paneling at all, but is it not possible to have it all refinished in a more contemporary stain colour? I imagine it would be quite expensive though.

I am also in the minority.

That paneling is way too much wood--even though the wood does look good. All that wood overpowers the space.

IMO-paint

Still following, but rats, I can't see Groveraxle's comment (and, I gather, mockup). I feel cheated.

Only go with what SPARKS YOUR JOY. Nothing else matters. imho, I think the paneling looks very orange. I think the grey would look much prettier. But what would make YOU happy is the ONLY voice you should listen to :)

Mock-up for everyone!

I can't see groveraxle's comment anymore too and it was there yesterday. maybe website's misbehaving and it will reappear?

in any case, wanted to add-to paint properly, one needs to sand too..as far as I know. It's a very big endeavor. I can't even imagine the cost, but I bet pros here would know. And there are other things to attend to in the house which'd serve it better like flooring and ballusters(I like groveraxle's mockup) and tweaking some other things around the house just a bit so it'd read more cohesive.

I like the current stain of cherry, but that's my personal preference. I like cherry being either natural or warm like that. I think it'd be a very handsome background for art. With rugs, furnishings of different textures and materials, etc-I think it'd be amazing.

You could work successfully with the wood paneling if you embrace the style and add Arts & Crafts style furnishings.

Look at doing a terrazzo tile for the floors in a light color rather than adding in additional wood tones. Fritztile.com check out their $2.99 sale section.

Have you thought about selling the house and buying one that is more in your style? I would not want that much wood paneling in my house either, but I also realize that painting it will decrease the value of the house.

I did live in a house once that had beautiful dark wood paneling, and while I did not like the paneling (it was dark and depressing), I could not see painting it. I have painted wood paneling before, but it was cheap paneling. The wood you have was not meant to be painted, but if you plan to be there for decades, then it is yours to paint. If you will be there for a short time, then it probably is not the best idea to paint.

Consider hanging art or tapestries over some of the paneling to lighten it up. I like Beverly's rug and chandelier selections.

I'm in the camp of paint the paneling. It's not like it is raised paneling or something super fancy. I would also take it a step further and remove the thin trim pieces placed in the middle of it. This will also modernize it some. Those trim pieces actually bother me more than anything. Particularly under the cat walk area. That area looks odd to me.

I have not considered Arts and Craft style and I will look into that! I definitely want a big chandelier or some other light fixture. It is a great space for that.

@Lyfia it is funny you mention the trim pieces because the more I look at them the more I want to remove them. They seem to me to be relatively cheap pieces of trim nailed to the wood paneling. A few of those pieces are loose and the paneling is not significantly discolored beneath. I would think some wood oil would bring back some life to it! The trim pieces also don’t match the panels themselves but are closer to the color of the beams. So I am thinking I should have them removed!

Respect the house. Respect the architecture. Respect what is unique about the house. I know you are in the enthusiastic planning phase right now. Let it wear off a bit. Move in and think about it. Stare at it for a while.

While this may not be your style, I suggest living in it for two years. My best decisions have come with waiting and thinking. Don't do anything rash. You can't undo a painting decision when it comes to wood paneling. Be prepared to change your mind a dozen times.

There are a lot of moving parts to this solution. Because it's so complicated and because that fireplace is such a dominating feature, you need professional consultation that will understand materials, design and budget. I suggest spending some of the renovation budget on an experienced designer consultation. Do this in person, not on line.

I would keep the cherry, but I love beautiful wood and recognize that this is a very expensive feature of your new home. Others dream about having such fine materials in their homes. You may ultimately decide to paint it, but know what the final plan will be before you take a step that is irrevocable.

BTW I don't think that's cherry or anything particularly fancy as I said before. Not sure on wood species, but it is missing the cherry grain from what I can tell when zooming in on listing photos. I think you should paint it and then the kitchen will look better too and will work better with the house, assuming you'll also paint those trim pieces in the dine-in area by the kitchen.

I would paint it!. That's a lot of wood for a slightly over 2,000 sq ft house. I'd add fairly light/medium color wood floors throughout.

I would say if you are planning to resell then don't paint and find temporary decor to compliment, if this is your forever home, do what you want and your ideas of only keeping the beams and stairway are on point.

NSR HANDCRAFTS- are you just going to give the same exact advice to everybody or are you going to comment on the particular space, ugh AD!

I like Beverly's Arts & Crafts suggestions. The only problem with that is this:

The house is an odd mix of styles that will take somewhat of a deft hand to get them to play nicely together. Still, the Arts & Crafts could work.

Hmm, as someone who bought a beachhouse, of all things, with dark panelling, and opted to keep it, I do see your dilemma. I used light and bright colors on my furnishings and rugs and I used a lot of window treatments (a lot for me) to cover some of the wood.

And while the wood is lovely in and of itself, that does not rule out the possibility that it was a mistake to use it in that house and in that way. I also, and this is just me, find the beams less formal than the panelling and might remove or paint over those.

I think Grover's railings are a perfect choice. They downplay the formality.

FWIW the ceiling fan really does not work.

I tend to agree that the issue is not the wood so much as the stain, that any decisions must incorporate your fpl decision, and that you need to lighten things up.

What are you thinking re budget? All of this will be quite costly; I assume the house was discounted.

For your first decision, I would use seagrass or sisal rugs

ETA - another off the wall idea, but ... along the top row, could you cover the inset panels with an off white muslin? And/or hang a lot of art? Huge b/w photos maybe.

Gorgeous! I love the molding & the character that it provides. I would paint it a crisp white. However, I love white and how it brightens up a room. Congratulations on your new home!

That is simply 4x8 plywood that is not anything that cant be taken down or simply painted over. It is not quality wood or woodwork, sorry.

@Taylor, I just noticed your recent post of the painted paneling in the light gray/blue. Please remember that this paneling is PAINT-GRADE paneling, not cherry. It's most likely maple or even MDF and never meant to be anything other than painted. Your paneling is cherry, and was designed be stain grade to expose the grain. So while I love the painted dining room paneling you posted, it would still really be a shame to paint over the cherry wood.

Wanna says it is plywood?

You know what, paint is the easiest and most straightforward. Why are we contorting ourselves. Even if it is cherry, it is not like it is the last remaining example of it.

Get out the brushes and be done with it.

Trends come and go, right now dark wood is out, and so in your mind your home looks dark. You bought that home for a reason, you loved the wood. Learning to decorate around the more permanent parts of your home forces you to be creative and makes a more interesting space, learn to see it as an exciting challenge. The floor is too light and so is the ceiling. It is actually the lightness that makes the wood feel so dark. Look up craftsman homes. They are only wood; pay attention to the paint colors. I promise you if you paint it all the charm will be lost and the room will feel too big.

Maybe tile floors? We replaced beige carpet with these. Granted it was for a study not a living room...

i would consider painting the stairs charcoal maybe and doing rustic chandeliers since you like French country and painting fireplace cream

What did you decide to do with the paneling. We are moving into a house full of nicer wall paneling, and I cant decide whether I want to paint it and how much of it I want to paint.

follow - we have a similar situation. Mostly heart pine and mystery-veneer covered plywood. All the trim in the house is pine. Built in 1989. House is in Tennessee

This post is so old I doubt the OP will be back. But for the above, what dont you like about the room as is?

Taylor! what did you end up doing with the paneling? I have a crazy similar project and would love to know what you decided!

Yes! Please share end result. Thanks :)