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:
Kristy
December 31, 2010 at 8:07 pmI 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!!!!!
anna
January 6, 2011 at 11:01 pmlove 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?!
Annie
January 25, 2011 at 6:12 amI 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.
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Wrenaria
March 30, 2011 at 11:31 amI 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.
jj
July 29, 2011 at 8:12 amI 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.
Kristy
July 29, 2011 at 9:01 amAm 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”.
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Matthew
October 16, 2011 at 1:34 pmA) 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!
C.Shamis
January 17, 2012 at 3:50 pmOf 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!
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Ashleigh
February 13, 2012 at 9:49 amI 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!
Karen
February 20, 2012 at 10:40 amLove 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!
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Ashley
January 11, 2013 at 9:03 amI’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
March 1, 2014 at 11:29 amtotally agree…it looks sterile now, no character. Sorry.
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