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Paint Home Decorating Design Dilemma

Contempo 70s - handle black trim and doors? window trim?

3 years ago

LOVE my multi-level 70s home - rough hewn beams & mantle, moss rock fireplace, tons of walnut-stained woodwork (Including full walls). It is warm and cozy and a bit "funky." And... it needs an update, I'm painting walls warm grey, got slate stainless appliances, planning to paint original kitchen oak cabinets grey w/ a deep denim-y blue base, concrete countertops. Now, for baseboards, trim, and old hollow interior doors - a satin black feels exciting and clean; but will it negate/overwhelm the wood? Feel too dark? Swore I'd never paint my "real wood," but after 22 years here, it feels quite dated - not cool funky vintage, but actually just kinda old and ugly. I plan to leave all the beams, posts, banisters, and full walls (there are 3 in different rooms!) with original wood - I love it. Secondary thought - looking into replacements windows, and this might impact a decision between wood interior sills vs a more streamlined profile and ready-to-paint.

Whaddya think? Awesome idea that will update and frame & highlight remaining worthy/original elements? Or potentially regrettable decision, and a total pain to fix? Thanks for any words of wisdom!!

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Comment (1)

Nancy Ingram
3 years ago
So I like where you are going. I would look at stain vs paint and one the is sheer enough to still see the wood grain. I love the idea of black but I would think of it more as an accent. So I would stain the beams, and any wood around the slat wall areas. I also like the idea of staining the trim around the doors vs the doors being black. (I included a pic of the door being black so you could see the difference) Also like the idea of black trimmed windows. I’d love to see something like a metal art piece above the fireplace vs. a mirror so that you can see the wood there. If at all possible, you really could use more lighting, especially overhead, if possible.
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