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Need decorating advice!

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions: 2004 May - July: Home and Garden (ARCHIVES): Need decorating advice! users admin

Author Message
Eliz87
Member

07-30-2001

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 9:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I am horrible when it comes to interior decorating, so I thought I would start a thread for those of us who need advice on it.

Here's my situation...

The family room in our new house has paneling. Yes, paneling. The old kind. Dark. Besides tearing it down and replacing it with paint or wallpaper, what might I do to brighten the room up a bit??

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 9:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
We had original dark paneling in our house. We primed and then painted it.

Rupertbear
Member

09-19-2003

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 7:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I agree with Texannie.

I did the same to dark panelling. I painted over it with a gorgeous linen colour...it turned out beautifully and made the room look so much bigger, in comparison.

Danzdol
Member

04-21-2001

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 10:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Eliz paint it a nice happy color that matches the rest of your house or that might bring out the rest. Yellow/gold palettes are always nice as well as the sage green family. It makes any environment cozy.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 10:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
just wanted to add, that most of the houses in my neighborhood had dark wood paneling, and most of the owners in our neighborhood have painted over it!

Eliz87
Member

07-30-2001

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 11:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I hate to sound dumb, but isn't it difficult to paint because of the cracks in the paneling?? You know...the black parts in between the brown? Doesn't the paint collect and puddle in there? Is it easy to get it even?

I am to interior decorating what a brown thumb is to houseplants!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 12:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
How did you find your house long distance, Eliz? How does it compare to where you're at now?


Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 12:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Oh, just use a smaller brush to get in between the panels. It shouldn't be too big of a problem. Then roller the rest.

Rupertbear
Member

09-19-2003

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 12:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Those little sponge-tipped paint brushes are perfect for the cracks.

Ddr
Member

08-19-2001

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 12:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Eliz, I've painted paneling before too. I have always deglossed the paneling prior to priming with Kiltz primer. This helps in adhering the primer to the wood. I brushed painted the lines and then rolled the paneling. Came out great!

Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 1:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
There is also a Benjamin Moore product called "fresh start" that is sorta the same as primer but you don't specifically have to take the shine off first....at least I didn't when I painted a dresser.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 1:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yeah...what Ddr said!

Cancunkid
Member

10-01-2003

Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 2:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yeah what Ddr and Texannie said! I painted my my paneling (it was an ugly orange toned 60s mess) white and then dry brushed a very very pale blue grey. It looks just like weathered bead-board at a beach house which is just what I wanted! Try a product called No-Sand it will strip the paneling gloss right off just paint it on and then apply the primer right over it. It really is a huge improvement with little cost over to cure paneling horror.

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 2:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    


Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 2:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Another solution is to hang a quilt or tapestry over it. You can nail framed wall paper covered panels about two feet wide over it with the paneling showing in between the papered panels and leaving some of the paneling showing at the top and bottom which will add interest. Or you could hang painted shelving or set an open work painted shelving unit in front of it. The paneling shows through it from behind, but the shelving increases your decorative space to show off knick knacks, books, vases, etc. and the dark paneling behind it is much less noticable.

Vsmart
Member

02-10-2003

Monday, May 31, 2004 - 8:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
In our previous house, we stripped the white paint off the paneling. Discovered it was ugly dark redwood panelling. So we ended up repainting it. We put a wallpaper like covering over it first to fill in the paneling cracks.