Mar 31, 2008To Paint or Not to Paint Wood Moldings?
My husband and I have been shopping for a new house for months and if we ever find a home that we both agree upon and that we can actually afford, it will be a miracle. Here’s one issue. While we both want a vintage place, we are divided on our preferences for original wood trim (husband likes; I don’t). All the real estate ads make a big deal about “original woodwork,” and I when I arrive at these places I feel the weight of history pressing on me the second I walk through the door. If I buy this place, am I morally obligated to carry on this torch of originality? In wanting to paint the woodwork white, am I as evil as all those developers who destroy old buildings to put up hideous new construction? I turned to two interior designers, Laura Soskin and Jessica Lagrange, to get their two cents. Both were adamant: Paint it white! “Just because that’s how they used to do it doesn’t mean that’s how it should stay,” said Soskin. “White is modern—your house doesn’t have to look like grandma’s!” Lagrange added, “Many times, the wood itself is nothing special—just stained pine.” That made me feel better. Now I just have to find the house. —GINA BAZER Living room photo from Jameson Realty. Posted at 07:34 AM in Dilemma | Back to all posts |
Email
Print
del.icio.us
digg
yahoo!
CommentsAbout This Blog
Advertisement
Contributors
 | Chicago Home + Garden’s trends and products editor Barri Leiner has her finger on the pulse of all things stylish in the world of home design |
 | Contributing writer and copy editor Bradley Lincoln is our turn-to guy for everything from placing commas to tracing trends. |
Categories
Recent Posts
- Prime Time | Comments (0)
- In These Times | Comments (1)
- Sweet Dreams | Comments (0)
- Tile, Topped | Comments (0)
- From Russia, With Love | Comments (0)
- PrairieMod Sale | Comments (0)
- Coffee Table Talk | Comments (0)
- Last Minute Gift! | Comments (0)
- Gifts under $50 | Comments (0)
- Amazing Space! | Comments (0)
Archives
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
Feed
Subscribe to the Design Dose Feed »
Design Blogs We Love
Copyright 2009 Chicago Home + Garden Magazine
| A Godengo Technology | Privacy Policy | Copyright and Terms of Service
Reader Comments:
I have this same dilemma in my house! I want to paint it white (feel a little guilty about it, but not horrible) and my husband wants to keep it wood. The white, I think, will make it so much "happier" and cleaner.
If we paint the trim and doors white, what do you do with with a staircase banister and stairs which are also wood and in the same room? Paint them black? Any ideas?
I would paint them black if you want to have a more finished look. But either way, I'm sure it will be fine as is~
What exactly (or, at least, roughly speaking) is a "vintage place"?
Are they the same as simpleyu "old hosuses/appartments", or do they have some certain defining characteristics?
Are vintage places in Chicago different than in say, Boston?
Can one take a decidedly non-vintage place and turn it into a vintage place?
Just curious, what you think about it...
I think that painting wood is ruining wood. You are destroying the woods natural beauty and I think that if you are having trouble deciding maybe you should actually think then you will get the right answer!