I know, I’ve taken far too long to show you the ‘after’ photos. The problem is that I don’t really see the dining room as a completely finished room yet! It does look a million times brighter with its painted white trim though.
Here’s why I decided to paint the wood trim, and here’s what the room looked like before. Still to do:
- Paint the wall above the picture rail and the ceiling. Probably the same color as the background of the wallpaper.
- Paint the doors.
- Paint the trim in my office and in the living room.
- Find new window treatments. Maybe simple white shades?
- Either get new chairs or reupholster the ones we have. The fabric isn’t very practical for our expanding family.
- Remember to flip the handles on the buffet back the right way before taking pictures next time. Eleanor likes to flip them all up, and I hadn’t noticed until I was editing the photos!
Before and after shots:
138 comments
Ashley
I’m sorry but anyone who throws cheap white trim paint on beautiful original wood trim in a HISTORIC home really should have his/her head examined. You made a mistake.
Susie
totally agree…it looks sterile now, no character. Sorry.
Karen
Love the white trim. I think it makes your dining set pop – and the wall paper. I think you could get away with doing something bright in the hutch, behind the dishes. Looking through all your rooms makes me want to redecorate my home!
Ashleigh
I just read today’s post about painting the trim in your LR and clicked through to this older post. The white trim is an obvious and vast improvement! It elevates the look infinitely. But I must ask: Who are these commenters who a) think it’s their job to tell you what you’ve done “wrong” IN YOUR OWN HOME and ON YOUR OWN BLOG and b) have such dated taste? Methinks they should start their own blogs and bite their tongues unless they have something nice to say!
C.Shamis
Of course it’s all a matter of perspective, but I think where you went wrong was in the wallpaper. A modern (well, for 1989) wall paper print, just doesn’t sit well with 1910 original wood trim no matter what. —But, if you’d have left the walls in their original plaster surface and went with a neutral buttercream or flat alabaster the trim and walls wouldn’t have clashed, and the trim simply would have added definition to the doors, windows and built-ins.
So, it looks like you changed something timeless (and very difficult/expensive to un-paint) to suit the inexpensive and (ultimately) disposable wallpaper.
What you have looks good too, but the price was too high for that look. I’d have gone with another look had it been me. But, it’s your house. So, rejoice!
Matthew
A) I’m in love with your wallpaper.
B) Painting the trim is beautiful.
Where on earth did the idea that painitng wood trim was a sin come from anyway? In my opinion… floors: wood… furniture: wood… but trim?? Not unless the room has full wood paneling or wainscoating or it’s some exotic wood that is a focal point of the room or its a hunting lodge… otherwise… PAINT IT!
Wood trim looks unfinished or too DIY. I mean, imagine Versaille had they not painted or leafed the trim!
Kristy
Am I seeing right? Did you leave the door oak? That has been part of my dilemma in painting my own trim. I rally hate to paint the “oak” doors. Granted they are not real oak but they do look nice. I have been wondering if it would look okay to paint the trim white and leave the doors “oak”.
jj
I like it both ways but I think the dining set coordinates much more smoothly with the dark wood. Somehow it morphs from sophisticated with the natural wood to drab with the bright white.
Wrenaria
I like the white trim much better. Looks clean and crisp and there’s enough going on in the wallpaper to still keep it interesting. Lovely.
Annie
I hate to tell you, but it looked loads better with the wood trim. I’m not opposed to painting wood. But in your case, the whole effect was a sterilizing one. Perhaps it will look much better when the ceiling and the space above the picture rail is painted another color.
anna
love the white trim, I WISH I had the heart/time/energy to paint our trim. We live in a 1950s 1.5 story and the little charming details I love, but the trim really gets to me!! It would be so much easier to decorate/paint with white trim. some day right?!
Kristy
I like the room both ways. I have been considering painting the oak trim in my house too. My house is a 5 year old modular and they use cheap-fake trim in them. What worries me is whether the paint will stick to it. I hate the idea of painting it only to have it chip every time I bump it.
I also love the modern stuff which is kind of strange because I was totally into country for years and years and years! I went from one extreme to the other.
I applaud your bravery in tackling this! ENJOY!!!!!
Melissa
I love the painted trim! It makes your table pop out now and your built-in looks so great. Also, really ties into the wallpaper so much more. Looks great!
(sorry, I’m catching up on blog reading when I should be wrapping :)
Natalie
P.S. aww I just read a few of the other comments on this post. I’m so sorry you have to deal with the occasional snarky/blunt/downright rude comments, especially from anonymous posters. But I love that you always respond so politely! Though I guess it must help to know that your entire home is drop-dead gorgeous. ;)
Well done…again :)
Natalie
I literally gasped when I saw the “after” pic. No joke. The trim looks AMAZING!! Don’t get me wrong; I loved your dining room before, but WOW that white trim is fabulous! Well done :)
Joey
Haha! I grew up in a house with a built in buffet and my sister and I lived to flip up the drawer handles too! Your post brought back a memory I hadn’t thought of in a long time.
nancy @ {COZAMIA}
You did an incredible job, I think it looks so much better, I enjoyed the natural trim too but I think it just made everything else feel a bit…old. I don’t know if that makes sense but now it feels like a new room with a modern retro vibe. Love your blog!
Bridget B.
very nice! i’m such a wimp about painting wood cabinets/ trim, but i always love the way it looks.
your dining room looks great!
Nikki
White trim lightens the room so well! I am curious about the window treatments you’ll chose. Roman shades in a bright pink to highlight the accent color? Maybe a layered look with pink “peeking” out? Looking forward to more pics–
Nikki
Kristin
The crispness of the painted white trim and buffet looks great! Looking at your pictures with the ceiling currently white, my mind keeps going back to wondering how the room would look if the picture rail were painted black. Maybe it sounds strange, but I think that it might nicely tie together with the black in the wallpaper and the dark knobs of the buffet.
Anja
to be honest, i loved the old natural wood trim. “what a pity”, i thought, when you told, you´d paint it. referring to the condition of old wood, i´m very tolerant. and it gave this special charme and character to your dining room.
i like the after, though. And i admire your great ability of painting even such difficult things like this.
but if i was in your shoes, i would definitly change the chairs (a bit more black could add more contrast) . Or/and the table. and if you go for a reupholstering: what about bold black an white stripes?
Sara @ Russet Street Reno
I still like the way the wood looked unpainted. However, I know woodwork always look better in photos than in real life. One thing you must do is paint the wall above the picture rail and ceiling a slightly different color (as you said) because otherwise, that picture rail is completely lost.
Julie
Love the transformation! And, do you have the wallpaper info somewhere on your blog – totally in love with it!
Thanks for sharing!
Enjoy your turkey day!
Married In Chicago
I love the way it looks!!!!!!!! I think you made a great choice!
Becka @ Life as an Artistpreneur
I like it so much better! I’m a white trim fan.
Fiona
And for what it’s worth, I think the painted trim is SO SO SO SO SO much better than before. But everyone has an opinion. :)
Fiona
No idea why, but I’d love to see the ceiling and rest of wall be gray. I think it would look great.
Krissy
What a beautiful transformation! It looks great. :)
urbanblonde
I love it painted!
Not a fan of the current seat upholstery either, think a fabulous stripe picking up the trim and wall paper colours would look great to tie everything together.
Starr
I liked it before better also. I do agree that is a feature in classic houses that should not be painted. But I can’t wait to see your final ideas!!
ann
I love it…maybe the overhead light fixture could be dropped a little lower??
Livi
I think a really mod (maybe round), white dining table (and chairs) would look fab in here.
That or mod white chairs w/your existing table.
Nice job – I like it.
Jenny
Nicole! It looks awesome!! Like a completely different room! It’s so light and friendly and just beautiful! Great job!
Suzie @ cupcake monkey
I think it looks fantastic! …and I think black chairs would look awesome!
Leah
LOVE IT!
Michelle Harrison
You made a wonderful decision to paint the woodwork!
amanda
it looks so good!! i think you should paint the trim in the whole house!! i like the white a lot better than the wood.
Erika
Ooooooo…so much better!
Mona Idriss
Love the white!!! Modern and fresh!!
D. Marie
I absolutely love that you’ve painted the trim. I have wood trim – the same color as yours, actually – all over my house and I hate it. I’m apprehensive on painting it because I’ve heard horror stories (regret, chipping, peeling, looks tacky, etc.). You may have just convinced me otherwise.
Elaine
Wow, I came across this too late, but D. Marie, you could probably stain your wood a lighter color, which would remove the problem of chipping, dripping, etc. I found this company (just by Google, no affiliation!) that shows some color choices: http://www.cabotstain.com/colors-and-finishes/families/Custom-Tint-Colors.html
As I’ve been trying to strip all the gloppy, flaking, causing-windows to stick paint on our trim, I noticed the original treatment in our 1922 house was actually a very light green stain, so the wood looked bright! So…I may give it a shot once I have the trim stripped and start a blog, though I don’t have style like this lady!
Ashley @ sunnysideshlee.com
I like the change a lot, that now that I see the wood in the other rooms through the doorways, I want you to continue it through the house. Ooooh lots of work! But, I think it looks great though and I heart that wall paper!
-ashley
Dana @ House*Tweaking
It looks like your dining table is in a different {lighter & brighter} room! Great work. I love that you kept the back of the cabinet a wood tone.
Meghan
This looks fantastic – just the inspiration I needed to get going on finishing painting my own trim, so thank you!
Elizabeth Nixon
It looks amazing! I love craftsmen homes with their trims! Both natural wood and painted (usually!)
Jaimie
It’s a big change. I can’t wait to see it with the wall and ceiling painted; I think it will feel a little less austere compared to right now. The dining table doesn’t blend as much as it did before you painted the trim. I think it looks good though.
Katie
I love it! So fresh and fabulous!!
kelly
great job, it looks very nice! i, too, am in the process of painting the wood (2000 era oak) trim in my home, room by room.
Kristi @ Visible Voice
We are also painting out all of our trim and our built ins. It’s a HUGE project but will be so so worth it! I think yours looks great!
Kylie
Opps hit enter before I finished.
But with that, I think it looks alot fresher and bright which gives everything a lift and make the wallpaper look fantastic.
Kylie
I think I like the before picture. Seems very cold now. Where as the wood really make the room feel warm.
Alexis L., The Studioist
Anom., There’s really no need for such an outburst; the room isn’t ruined, whether you like it or not.
My opinion is that though the trim matches the paper (of course), it doesn’t do justice to the home. The architectural interest has been obliterated for a decorative flourish (wallpaper) that likely won’t be there in a few years and I think that’s unfortunate. No one should have to live in a home they don’t love but it seems that perhaps a different home would be better suited to a light, bright, punchy aesthetic if the dark heaviness isn’t an interesting counterpoint. I’m glad you’re happy but I do have to say that I think this would have been a better choice for a contemporary build with MDF mouldings.
Making it Lovely
I think that once the upper wall and ceiling are painted, the trim will be better showcased. Right now it blends into the white in an unfortunate way.
Beth@Just{Heart}It
I love the whole room, but think the white walls with the white trim are gorgeous. Of course, you’ll do what you want, but my opinion is it looks great as is.
Julie
I knew I’d love it in white, and I do!!! It looks so crisp, clean, and modern. I feel like it goes better with the rest of your house (except the living room, which you’ve already said you’re repainting the trim in there too). I can’t emphasize how much I like it, and how I admire you for taking this bold step. Given the condition of the wood before, it seems like it’d be a pretty obvious choice, but I can see why you struggled with not preserving it.
Anom.
I think it looks horrible! =( The room looks incomplete now, like there is something missing. I really loved it before. I really can’t believe you ruined it!
Jacinta @ modelmumma
I LOVE IT!! It makes the room brighter and the wallpaper pop out and become a feature.. not overpowered by the wood trim like before. Well done!
Clair
Wow! It really has made a huge difference in the brightness of the room. Looks great and can’t wait to see your other plans come to light!
Fleur
Love it Nicole, looks so much nicer with painted trim x
Robin
nicole, as in your case, our only eating space is the dining room next to our galley kitchen. i reupholstered our dining room chairs with laminated amy butler fabric from fabric.com and am so happy with the results. cleaning up after my five year old and other messy guests is a cinch. i highly suggest you take a look at the fabric choices.
CJ
It looks beautiful! What a great transformation.
luuve
sooo nice….i loooove the after!!! im soo glad you did it…its so much nicer and like everyone said..”looks crisp and clean!”
i think painting the wall above the picture rail will look awesome as well…
wow…you have a wonderful eye for design! congrats :)
Beth
It looks nice and crisp, but I think there is too much white. I really think that painting the wall above the wall paper and ceiling (like you mentioned in your ‘to do’s’ will really help to finish the look…and perhaps a different light fixture, that’s not white would help to make the space more rich looking. Love your blog!!
Making it Lovely
Exactly.
Anna Elena
love it! and it will pop even more once the ceiling/wall above the picture rail are painted, I think.
Miss B
It really makes such a difference! I am usually all for keeping the natural wood but in this case the white just changed the feel of this room and really pulled it together, excellent job as always!
Evelyn
It looks great! I wasn’t sure before but I think with a new dining set it would look much more finished.
Holly at decor8 painted her dining set in her first German apartment, maybe you could continue the transformation?
Making it Lovely
I’d rather sell this set and get something new than paint it. I don’t know if I will or not though.
Emily G.
love it! The white trim looks so clean and really lets the lovely wood on the dinner table be a great focal point in the room!
Cherry Baby
Wow so much brighter. Really looks great!
Sarah
Looks great! Really improved the space and I liked it before!
Jane
It’s lovely and bright! What a giant undertaking it must have been!
The Sister Of
Much better! It’s really nice!
amanda
Stunning transformation! It’s amazing how different it makes your wallpaper look too. I always thought of it as a dark (though pretty) wallpaper, but it looks so bright and light now.
Carla
Where is that light fixture from? It is perfect!
Making it Lovely
It was from west elm, but it looks like they’re no longer carrying it.
Nat
I would paint the ceiling the same as the wall. The room is so bright that it wouldn’t be too much. Just a thought :)
Making it Lovely
Yes, that’s the plan.
Nat
Awesome, can’t wait to see the results! :) I’m painting my own ceilings tonight. Hope it goes well.
Jody
The painted trim really changed the room!
Karrie
I love it! LOVE, love, love!
Corie
I love it, Nicole! I think it looks so fresh and bright in there now! Lovely!
Danielle@Newlyweds Paradise
I had no idea there was a mirror in your buffet! The white really brought it out. I have to say I really like your dining room set even more now with the change in the room. I think it is just enough contrast to the white.
rachel
wow, it’s a totally different look, isn’t it? i have to admit, i liked the plain wood, but the white is nice too. i’d be tempted to paint the wall above the picture rail a contrasting color picked from the wallpaper! but i like a lot of color. :)
Making it Lovely
I’m considering a darker version of the background color from the wallpaper. If I were to pull an actual color, there are only four choices: white, warm gray (the background), berry pink, and black.
Kara @ KSS
Looks great. :) I love white trim so much more than wood-colored.
Ashley
After such deliberation, it looks fab! You have excellent style and taste. Thanks for letting us peek inside! xo
Carrie
I love it! And I’m considering painting my own trim. Did you already talk about how you did it? Did you sand? What primer did you use? How much time did it take? I’m a little nervous about the whole process. :)
Making it Lovely
I didn’t sand (the wood was not glossy at all), but I did clean the wood first with diluted wood soap and a scrubby sponge. I used Zinnser primer and two coats of semi-gloss latex paint. It did take a long time, but it would have gone faster if I had been able to tackle it all in one long weekend.
Lena
Which specific primer? Oil? Latex?
Thanks!
bungalowbliss
P.S. And for what it’s worth, I love the natural beadboard inside the built-in. Your white pieces just pop! Are you still considering painting it the dark gray of the wallpaper?
Making it Lovely
Thanks. I’m going to leave it as-is. Maybe not forever, but definitely for right now. I can always tack up fabric again if I want a quick change.
bungalowbliss
I will admit that I (silently) struggled with your decision–not that it matters one teensy bit, I realize. I have been anticipating this post and withholding my opinion until seeing the result…and I’m glad I did. This room looks amazing, and I’d have been eating my words, for sure! Even though I lean toward purist preservation when possible, I also don’t believe in people telling me what to do to my own home. It IS important to make it YOUR home. I’m glad you stuck to your vision and created the room you wanted. It’s truly gorgeous.
kelsey
oh, that looks so great! i have a hard time visualizing stuff like that. great job!
Zakiya
Love your wall paper. This is such a pretty room.
Shannon @ What's Up Whimsy
What a huge job!! But it turned out so well! I love it!
my little apartment
I LOVE IT.
Hayley
Looks great! I saw this picture on Desire To Inspire and it looks strikingly like your dining room. Good decision with the white trim.
http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2010/11/17/an-apartment-in-madrid.html
Cheers!
Making it Lovely
Yep, I saw that a while back too! I need to get my dining room to that level of pretty.
Your Mother
I especially love that Eleanor flipped all the handles. That had to drive the perfectionist in you nuts :). Just wait til you have 2. The dining room looks lovely.
Making it Lovely
It’s totally cute the way she does it though. She takes it very seriously, and then she’s so proud when she’s finished!
Sasha
Looks wonderful! It’s amazing what a little paint can do!
Diana Smith
I love the white trim more! It looks more clean and modern!
Kris Mays
It looks much better now! I know it sounds like it might be ugly, but consider having the chairs upholstered over the pink in a heavy duty clear cover. You can get a matt clear, so it doesn’t stand out too much.
I had this done so I could keep my upholstered chairs (I had had them re-upholsteres in the fabric of my choice-blue and gold-already)and be able to wipe them down as necessary.
Of course, this was our maing eating area, so the kids always used it. We do not have a formal dining room.
Making it Lovely
Our only eating area is the formal dining room. I’m OK with reupholstering though – it’s fun to go for a different look (and such as inexpensive, easy way to get it).
Carole
wow, what a difference! I liked it before but I love it now, the wallpaper looks even better next to the white trim.
how’s the wallpaper holding up? is it a practical option for a young family, in your experience?
Making it Lovely
The wallpaper is holding up well, but admittedly Eleanor is a very neat and non-destructive kid. So far at least. ;)
Valerie
Very, very pretty! You have such amazing style and I love how you have decorated your entire house. Gorgeous!
Bonnie
I struggle with the same problem in my old house–loving the woodwork but suffering the effects of many previous owners who were not careful in keeping it free from paint drips, etc. I am just about there in deciding to paint the woodwork in my kitchen and hallway, but still clinging to the woodwork as is in the living and dining room, which is all oak and has a very nice grain. Best case scenario in those rooms would be to strip and refinish the wood, but — oh! — I don’t have the time or skill for that and I don’t have the money to have someone who knows what they are doing refinish it for me. At any rate, I think your painted woodwork looks stunning and beautiful!
Elaine
I think you could sand or strip and refinish more easily than paint…You Tube has some really great step by step videos.
Jess
It looks so breathtaking!
I fully agree with your decision to paint the trim by the way. Sometimes, the natural woodgrain just doesn’t do it for you. :)
Kudos on the transformation.
HollowSquirrel
Love the white trim. I have just as much wood trim in our dining room, but the kicker is the ceiling has wood, too — as if they hardwooded the floor AND ceiling. People love it, but I think it’s too dark (and with our large wood table — it’s just too much). Would I be crazy to paint it?
Making it Lovely
I think a painted wood ceiling would look pretty cool. If you really want to, then go for it!
Megan
I really love it! It brightens things up and modernizes things as well.
Just a thought, but a nice striped fabric blind may work if you pull out the colors from your wallpaper.
meryl rose
Looks AWESOME! Have you thought about going with dark wood for the dining set now that you have nice crisp white trim? It might look really cool.
Making it Lovely
Ideally, I would like black chairs like these with a wood table in a similar tone to the one we have now.
meryl rose
oooohhhhhh. I love 2 + 3, ESPECIALLY 3, the trim above the spindles is especially elegant
Grace
Wow, what a transformation! I am on the look out for a new dining set, as I have a mid century table and chair that has seen better days. Also I think that the white tones down the too much wood that was in the room before. You did good!
Erika
I LOVE it! Love it love it love it!
Loren
Looks fantastic. So glad that you left the back of the cabinet unpainted. Really makes your white collection pop.
Katrin
Yay for painting wood. It looks great!
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