I'm a long time reader, but decided to join just now. We purchased a home last year and it's a bit outdated, IMO. We're looking to sell in a couple of years and would like to profit. We've been updating the curb appeal, painting, put new tiles in the dining room (to match the kitchen) and both bathrooms.
I have one major issue that concerns me. We have dark wooden door frames, doors, window frames, and base boards ALL through the house. My husband said they look nice, they give the house a "custom" look. I think they are dark and drab and look outdated. The doors are the - what I call the 1970's doors that are hollow just ugly slab doors. (No better way to explain it). I want to get new doors (white) and paint all of the trim white to freshen it up. He thinks the paint will not stick because the trim has a shine to it. (I don't imagine I will have a problem if I prime it with Kilz or something similar).
Your opinion, is the wood look better or white paint?
I would post some pictures but I'm not sure it's allowed.
I also vote for painting it out to white...especially if you are going to replace the doors...Although - those doors can look better my just painting them white...My mom did that, & I was surprised at how much better they looked...I'm just keeping budget in mind....To paint the trim - clean the trim, paint w/ a BONDING primer, then w/ your finish paint...
my friend has dark ebony stained pine from the 70s in her home - when they built their house...and it would give the place such a fresh look by painting it...but she thinks it looks great ......It's her home & what she likes...
You can post pictures by providing a link to a photbucket, flickr type account. At the top of the box when posting a reply, there is a URL tab...click on that tab, and copy & paste where you want us to go....
Your opinion, is the wood look better or white paint?
How can we tell without looking? I am sure we all have different px in our mind so any replies are just guesses. If you use this to try to convince your DH he will just say,, they have not seen it.
Posts: 1616 | Location: North MN & Northern AR | Registered: Oct 01, 2002
I've seen posts where someone posts the same question and the response is overwhelmingly to paint. Then the poster will post a link to pictures and just about everyone reverses themselves. You can post a link to pictures and then you'll get a more informed opinion.
It would help to see pictures, but the bottom line is, if you think that as is, your doors look outdated, you're probably right and others probably share that opinion. If painting white is the only alternative (and it's a good one imo), then I say paint away.
I used to have a house built in the 80's with doors and trim like yours. When I bought new windows I painted all the doors and trim white. Wow! It looked like a new house. Unless you have rich woods like in a Craftsman, Victorian or other period home, I say paint them.
I agree - white! If you're going to the expense of buying new doors, you may want to consider buying new knobs in a brushed nickel finish perhaps in the lever style - I can't quite make out the color of your current knobs so perhaps they already are update.... and although you didn't ask, I'd ditch the wallpaper border too when you go to sell as people tend to think it's way harder to remove than it is.
Originally posted by viticc: I agree - white! If you're going to the expense of buying new doors, you may want to consider buying new knobs in a brushed nickel finish perhaps in the lever style - I can't quite make out the color of your current knobs so perhaps they already are update.... and although you didn't ask, I'd ditch the wallpaper border too when you go to sell as people tend to think it's way harder to remove than it is.
The current knobs are in an antique brass, I agree very outdated. As I'm redoing the other items in the house like light fixtures I'm going to a brushed nickel. I just want to be careful and not overdo the budget and then not be able to recoup the money. Thanks about the wallpaper border also. You wouldn't believe the wallpaper in the kitchen. It's fruit all over the place. My husband is going to have a heart attack when I mention it but it is definitely on my list to remove. We're concentrating on floors now, not sure if you noticed but we don't even have the quarter round down on the tile yet lol. We'll get there, slowly but surely. Apparently in just enough time to sell and let someone else enjoy the hard work!!!
I agree with the white paint, and also agree, you do need to get rid of all of the wallpaper... Crown molding is a pretty inexpensive addition as well, and everyone loves that....(especially when it's a crisp white to match your new trim.... )
Posts: 3902 | Location: Northern Virginia, USA | Registered: May 29, 2003
We just got new windows last summer and all the white from the new windows made the woodwork stand out like a sore thumb, just as I hoped it would. Gave me the reason to paint the woodwork white. This summer I finally got the walls in the bedroom painted and plan on putting up molding (already primed white) so now I need to do the trim around the doors and baseboards. The windows look 100% better with the trim painted white.
Re the present paint having a "shine" on it, your husbsand is right, the paint will not stick. However, that does not mean that you cannot paint it. It just means that you will have to do a lot of prep work. I don't know about using the Kilz as I have never delt with that. (was not around the last time I had your problem)I would suggest that you go to a Paint Store,( not HD or Lowes) and talk to them. If the Kilz is the answer, great. If not then what you will have to do is use a a product called a "Deglosser(sp?)".That will remove the shine from the woodwork. Then wash down all the woodwork with something like TSP and water. Dry the wood work as you go.Once you have deglossed and wash all the woodwork down, sand it well several times, using decreasing grades of sandpaper.Use a tack cloth to remove all the "sanding dust",between the different grades of sandpaper. Doing the sanding will give the woodwork a "tooth"(sp) for the paint to hold onto. Once you have done all of that, you are ready to paint. However after you have done all of the above to clean the woodwork, take a look at what you have. If it is just ordinary builder stock woodwork, then by all means, paint it. But if it is something "special" like oak, then rethink about painting it. If it is something special, then think about doing something like just cleaning it up,and using some kind of finish that will protect it, yet let the beauty of the wood show thru. I remember a home that I lived in as a child where my parents spent a year "reclaiming" the orginal woodwork.When I was sick, I would lay in bed and "see" all the "pictures" that the grain of the woodwork formed. I know what I am suggesting is a lot of work, but if you have great woodwork, then the work will be well worth it. And might increase the value of your home "down the line". HTH, msmarymac2
......It's her home & what she likes...
It's fruit all over the place. My husband is going to have a heart attack when I mention it but it is definitely on my list to remove. We're concentrating on floors now, not sure if you noticed but we don't even have the quarter round down on the tile yet lol. 
