Hi there:

I'm helping my fiance update a 30 year old tudor style home that he wants to sell in the spring. The home is very dark and dated in every aspect. I am hoping to get some advice from the experts (anyone knows more than me).

My question here is about painting the interior. There is a lot of old wallpaper that has to come off. As in the traditional tudor style, all the trim around doors windows etc. is very dark. Doors are dark, banisters are dark. And there is not a lot of natural light inside the house. Could all of that trim, doors, banister etc. be painted white or an off white? I think it would brighten it up considerably with new neutral colors on the walls??? But would it look ok?

thanks

A hallmark of the tudor style is the dark woodwork. It would be a travesty to paint it and it would disappoint buyers who come to the house expecting it. It would also cause the interior to not match the exterior of the home.

Instead, play off the darkness by choosing beautiful wall colors: sage green, melon, wedgewood blue, etc. And, use a lot of table lamps to help add light.

Excellent response by Jewel. Very good advice.

Jewel is right. Tudor is a style all its own...don't mess with the character, i.e. dark wood. Lighten the walls after you remove the wallpaper..love the colors Jewel suggested. Polish up the wood. Use reflective surfaces, i.e. glass top tables. Keep away from heavy drapes, and use light colored 2 inch slat (plastic) blinds..with maybe side curtains.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: real estate lady,

I agree with Jewel totally.

Absolutely!!! If a buyer is looking for a Tudor, they'll run screaming at the sight of painted white banisters! Jewel's color suggestions are perfect. Dark, glowing, polished wood is what's expected in a Tudor home and you're very fortunate to have it already.

Another one agreeing w/ jewel!!! People look at tudors because they love the tudor style. If you're not familiar w/ that, then do some searches for tudors to see what you see. And don't be surprised w/ the darker color choices, because that is part of it.

good luck

Thanks to all of you for being open and honest. A Tudor is a Tudor. You either love it or hate it. It's a style within it's own. It's very much like Gothic style. Furniture large and ornate. Candle-like lighting.

I agree that any change to interior trim and woodwork would be a travesty to a Tudor lover. Tudor style does not have mass appeal, despite appreciation and its many fans. If you have never taken a tour of a historic Tudor home, you can not imagine the ornateness, the richness of the dark tones, low lighting, etc.

Painting tudor trim would be a travesty. The trim should be a highlight and can be done so with the right paint selections. Also, how you stage the home can make or break a sale.

Stick with clean lines, beiges, browns. Dark wood paneled rooms can be updated with a lighter wash if required or sanding down to raw wood and staining with lighter stain or leaving natural, despite objections from Tudor fans. Lack of natural lighting requires the need to capitalize on artificial lighting. A savvy decorator could make a transition between Tudor, Traditional, Contemporay or whatever. Do some research and consult with other interior designers. Consider this a challenge and a test of your skills.