Ceilings will for sure be flat, it's too shiny!

Is sanding these down easy enough to do? That would definitely lighten them up and make them less of an exclamation. Can be done by hand?

I like the beams as they are. It looks like the placement provides a natural break in the usage of the open room. I think they look best with a version of white walls though - a grey as dark as Pewter Grey doesn't seem like the right color for the style of your home or your floors.

Ask the floor refinishers to give you a bid on sanding and refinishing the beams. They may want to sand a foot or two to see how much work it would be.

I'd paint them the same color as the rest of the kitchen walls so that the various kinds of wood would look unified.

@calidesign
What color would you do the walls in here?

Treegeek, I think if your other alternative is to paint them, you might as well try sanding them to see if you are up to the job. Of course, sanding overhead is tiresome. But I wouldn't do it with a manual sander, I'd use an electric sander to speed up the job. There are a lot of good ones on the market that could make quick work of it that are not expensive. You'd need to protect your eyes and wear a mask due to sawdust. They do have sanders that can capture the sawdust somewhat as you go, but I'm not familiar with them.

The thing is that even if you paint, you'd have to sand enough to prepare the wood for paint anyway. I've never done it but I've read up on how to do 'white washing' wood. Seems like an easier process, of applying paint and then wiping it off, to leave just enough to lighten it up but still see the grain. Again, another option you could try to see how it would go, and if you didn't like the result, you could always paint in the end.

So basically, in sequence, try the sanding, see how that goes, if you don't like the result or the effort, try the white washing, and if neither of those fit the bill, you can always paint them.

I also like the idea of asking the floor refinishers to give you a quote on doing it for you. [g]

I like the idea of having white ceilings with either lightened natural wood for the beams, or white washed, with any shade of white you want on the beams, with a different color on the walls. I definitely think all white walls and a white ceiling is way too much white in that big space. And I'd choose a color you LOVE. To me that is the only requirement of a color choice. :-)

And you could try looking for images of rooms with beams that are white washed and light colored wood or painted beams....I'm sure you can find a lot of examples to look at, in a google search using the 'images' filter. So you could get an idea ahead of time of what it would look like. And you can do a search on Houzz too.

Prairiemoon said it all. Here's a blue kitchen in case you love blue.

I noticed in your other post (bathroom) that the doors are heavily painted, including the hardware. You could see if there are "dip and strip" places near you that could handle removing the old paint, considering there may be lead paint in the layers. If you go that route, try a door from a not very visible location to see how it turns out because the processes don't work well on everything every time.

The hardware can be stripped more easily than the doors, just look online for instructions. There are services that will replate old hardware in case the hardware doesn't polish up nicely.

Thank you Apple Pie for mentioning 'lead paint' - I forgot to mention that. But without looking at the beams, you can't tell in a photo whether they have a coating of urethane on them or something else. And I thought it was just wall paint that had the potential for lead, but, it's always better to consider it and make sure there is no coating on the beams or other surfaces for that matter, that could have lead before trying to sand them. They do have lead paint test kits at hardware and paint stores and I used one of those to test for lead.

As for having a door dipped and stripped. I considered doing that, and after looking into it, I decided against it because of the condition that process leaves the wood on the door. I don't remember specifics but something I read lead me to believe it was not a good idea.

Thank you all!

I think Stonington Grey will be the wall colors.

Definitely some old, paint in here, thick and doesn't chip. It stretches more than anything. Either way, it's getting covered up, not stripped.

Hardware.... That could be cool. Although, there's only 1 or 2 original doors, the rest have been replaced haphazardly over the years. This was a caretakers apetrment and wasn't looked after as the gem that it is. Layers and layers added to the floors for instance. Carpet over two layers of vinyl which is over at least one layer of paint, maybe two.

Will be really nice once the floors and paint are redone!

We had a DIY owner before us in our house and he had put down those 'peel and stick' tiles over hardwood in the kitchen which we were happy to remove and refinish with the rest of the first floor.

Good luck!

I've pulled up more odd flooring this past week that I care to remember. Here's "before" photos.....

I don't think these will sand down....they look rough-hewn to me. Maybe they were architectural salvage pieces?

Stonington Gray is still fairly dark with your low ceilings, smaller windows, and lack of ceiling lights. If you want the gray tones, try a lighter version of Stonington Gray which is American White. At least try samples before you paint.

That's a lot of work, Treegeek, it's going to look great when you finish. I hope you find enough time and good weather to make it a comfortable remodel.

Just curious: what's the story of the house and your renovation?

Love the beams - old and distressed - great character.. boring to paint them out... IMO

I'll leave them until the end and see how they look with the floors redone and the walls painted. Just getting the walls and ceilings ready for paint is a massive project!

If Stonington is too dark, what do you suggest? The other Grey's I liked (based on blogs and online photos) were Edgecomb, Gray Owl, and Revere Pewter.... All by Benjamin Moore.

I'm thinking semi gloss for trim and doors and eggshell (or satin?!) for walls. Flat for ceiling.... Help!

If leaving them (and, yes, you should,) consider an oil to blend the dark and light sections. I like Danish Oil (in walnut). If you consider this, do it first. Brushing this on, which you will have to do because of how rough the wood is, will spatter and won't come off a new paint job.

Also, of course, you need to clean this off the walls before painting...

No. I would not paint the beams. They are a unique feature that makes your house special.

following

Treegeek, I painted my trim work with satin a few years ago and it didn't wear well. So the next time I used semi gloss and that has been just what I needed. Yes to flat on the ceiling. And they may have a ceiling paint. I am not sure on the walls, if it should be flat or satin. But when you go to buy paint, if you go to a store that specializes in paint - there's always someone there that knows what they are talking about. And it helps as you go through a project and end up with questions, to keep going back to the same store and the same person. They may even have some suggestions for your beams.

You will have to try paint samples in your space. You can't pick a color based on a blog or online photos. Your room has very minimal natural light, low ceilings, no recessed lighting, and is a farmhouse style. If you insist on gray, try the lightest version you can find. There is a reason the home was previously painted with a glossy bright white. Mid-tone grays will make it look like a cave.

Calidesign.... I'm open to options. As long as they are not anything beige.

What do you suggest here?

Local painter recommended Revere Pewter, that's why I mentioned it

It is South facing, so lots of light comes in when sun is up

Your painter recommended Revere Pewter because that's what everybody else is using. :-)

Did you try Pale Oak?

Oh, and my vote would be neither cross the streams, nor paint the beams. (80's reference in there).

What color stain are you doing on your floors, if any? You could try to match it, or go with contrast on the beams.

Sea Salt! That's going to be my bathroom color.... You think do the whole place in it? I want one color I can do living, kitchen, and bedrooms with to keep costs in check and keep it simple.

Floors will be poly only. Whatever the floors give me for color is what it is. No need to tint it or fake it.

You think do the whole place in it?

Well, I would, but I always come back to bluey-greeny shades because I find them calming. What do YOU like? I do think it works for the style of the house.

If the floors are to be natural, then probably do the same with the beams. Let them BE different colors, rather than trying to "match" and fail. That tends to draw the eye more than two different woods.

I do NOT mind calming colors, love them. Green and blue are my favorite colors. I dislike passionately - beige and "cold" colors. I work from home and am a big believer in mindfulness. I want a calm, welcoming space that feels natural.

If you are willing to advise, I am willing to listen! If the kids rooms and my bedroom should be other colors, that's OK too!

Bathroom colors? Here is a thread about my tiny bathroom.... https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5726672/what-to-do-with-bathroom-vanity

I own a lot of plants and tropical trees, keep that in mind. The dining table is oak wood, natural color/clear poly, an old table that is gorgeous. I also have a nice oversized leather chair that is deep brown. All elements that will play a factor in this.

The more you all say keep the beams quirky, and raw, the more I am coming around to that idea.

Thank you! <3

I think it depends on your furnishings. I adore Sea Salt and have it in my bathroom...we tested it in the kitchen and it was a no-go for me.

I very much like a white-on-white look (and, no, that doesn't mean literally white...it can be non-white...which, to me, includes any off white, antique white, lighter beige...anything in the "whites" category). My trim is always just straight up white with no tint just because I'm lazy like that....

I feel as if you prefer warmer shades?

Sea Salt for the bathroom I'm sold on! With white trim.

White trim through out is cool with me. Semi gloss so it's easy to wipe down from little hands.

Yes, warmer shades with good reflectivity (lrv?) would be nice.

My current apartment is front to back beige.... No thanks for doing anything beige again!!!

That pale oak could be good too!

Any and all suggestions from you masters is well recieved!

So many great ideas! I would leave the beams and Sea Salt is gorgeous but try it out in your space since it reads green, blue, or grey depending on lighting. I loved it in a bathroom but it went an awful shade in a master bedroom. Tryout samples in your space and if Sea Salt isn’t what you want talk to the Sherwin Williams person and tell them exactly what you like and don’t like about it, ie it went too green, too muddy, too dim and the more information you give them they can point you in the direction of the perfect color. My Sherwin Williams has been awesome for nailing it every time, including on Sea Salt for the bathroom.

Your home would be beautiful in very soft blues and greens with white trim and wood beams. You may want one color in the living/dining areas and a secondary color or darker version of the color in the bedrooms. I think it’s nice to have a change in the feel when you enter a bedroom.

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What do you think of pale Smoke by BM for the open living/kitchen?

The whole entry may be Simply White by BM. Semi gloss for trim/doors and eggshell for the walls (high touch area on the narrow staircase!). This entry does get much light at all, Gray of any shade may be too much!

It's a nice color but it may be too dark. A lighter version of it is Silver Crest. On the computer the lighter color looks more green, but the paint chip shows it as just a lighter version of Pale Smoke. You could try a sample of both and see what you think.

In my minds eye a grey that has green undertones is very nice and calming, and will work well with wood floors and those dark beams overhead.

I think what i will do is get the walls cleaned and prepped, maybe paint the trim and make a new thread for each room/space.

We have Sea Salt in our bedroom and I love it. We have Gray Owl throughout our great room. It can look greenish blue in depending on the light and time of day. We must have tried 10 colors in that space before deciding. We’re using SW Silverpoint in our lower level. It’s a light gray. Revere Pewter was too dark and muddy looking wherever we tried it.

I very much like Calidesign's advice to choose similar but slightly darker or lighter tones to pull the house together. You might vary that somewhat for a child's bedroom, or an office, etc.

Oooo Gray Owl is really pretty...

Look at Beach Glass, too...

I don't have any paint suggestions, and I didn't read through the entire thread, so excuse me if this has been addressed already. The ceiling is sagging most noticeably in the middle of the beam at the kitchen/dining transition. I would hate for you to go through alot of effort prettying up the space only to find out you have structural issues. So please address that first.

This is going to be a really cute house. :)