Edwardian Panelling Restoration

[Turbo-G]

Hi there,
New to the forum and period properties. Me and my wife have recently moved from our 3 bed semi-detached new build to a beautiful 4 bed detached Edwardian property.

The hallway and landing are lined with original wood panelling, which seems to have been painted with an almost black paint/stain previously. We don't really know what to do with it, we originally wanted to paint it white/off-white, but the wood has a certain charm to it, although quite dark. We think it would be best lighten it, and return it to a more original colour, but sanding seems like a near impossible task due to the design and scale of it!

Looking for opinions what we could do with the wood (paint, strain etc), and potentially what techniques/products we are likely to need. We also have no idea what type of wood the panelling is made from.

Couple of pics below:


DSC_0073 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Closeup shot showing how the paint/stain has worn away showing the natural grain/colour:

DSC_0067 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Let me know your thoughts, cheers!

 

[JoceAndChris]

How absolutely lovely, I'd leave it just as it is, though I might consider gilding lines around the mouldings of the panels. I'd get rid of the floral runner which is at odds with the nice floor, and I'd pick out that blue which is in the floor, and use it for the paintwork above the panelling. I'd then have fabulous damask curtains with swags and tails in gold and blue with a heavy chocolate fringed trim. And lots and lots of paintings with gilt frames.

I think that's pitch pine under the paint though it could reveal itself to be a mix of woods. That's the finial on the bannister isn't it? It may not be the same wood for the panelling. Is that an owl? How wonderful!

The Edwardians didn't like naked wood and if you strip off that paint for a stripped wood look you risk fighting against the spirit of the age, which wanted to emulate the elegance of neo classicism.

A blue-grey chalky paint would also look nice.

More pics of the house please!

 

[DJH]

Yes, I agree with Joce that the finial certainly looks like pitch pine. As for the rest I would leave it as it is. It looks absolutely lovely to me. Sorry that's no help...

Doug

 

[plasticpigeon]

I would put money on the dark stain being the original finish. For my money your hall looks amazing, I would kill for a house with such a beautiful hall!! My old neighbours live in a large 1880s house which has very similar finish on the doors, which with the original ornate brass door furniture I think looks amazing. I've seen a load of dark oak paneling stripped in Birmingham art gallery and the result wasn't very satisfactory.

Can I appeal to you, that if you don't really like it, that you live with it for a few months, as although it is not contemporary taste, it could be something that you learn to love!!

 

[worms]

I'm afraid I am another vote for leaving it as it is! And for getting a less lurid runner! I would bow to Joce's wisdom on the curtains (but don't listen to her on picking out the detail on the panelling! )

 

[Feltwell]

Yet another vote for leaving it as it is, and getting rid of that runner (and the cable going from room to room!). Plus ignoring Joce on gilding those panels, leave them as they are, sorry Joce!

The floor is gorgeous - I'm jealous. Despite being only a stone's throw from one of the biggest encaustic tile factories in Victorian Britain, the builders of this house chose to use quarry tiles from 50 miles away

 

[Nigel Watts]

Keeping it as it is would be my preference. I would use wallpaper above the panelling, something arts and crafts like a William Morris one perhaps. Or something like this:

Green walls and a red floor with dark panelling in between is a nice late Victorian combination. A red runner is a good idea, but the current one seems a little bright.

 

[Turbo-G]

Thanks for the kind comments.

Yes it is indeed an owl, his head even tips back to reveal some hidden storage:

DSC_0060 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

We are seriously considering leaving the wood as is, and perhaps opting to clean it up instead. The more I think about it, painting it could perhaps be a big mistake as it would lose the character which we loved about the property in the first place.

Regarding the cable going between dining room and living room, it's only a temporary measure! Sky installed our TV last weekend, and installed the cable into what will be the living room, however we're currently living in the dining room whilst we decorate the living room! Priorities are living room > master bedroom > bathroom > kitchen > remaining bedrooms.

The finial (shown) does look to be a slightly different colour to the other exposed areas of wood, so it could either be a mix of timbers, or simply a mixture of wear.

A few more pics:

Rear:

DSC_0083 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Front:

DSC_0106 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Entrance:

DSC_0101 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Breakfast room (eventually kitchen):

DSC_0093 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Master Bedroom fireplace:

DSC_0090 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

 

[Turbo-G]

Thanks for the kind comments.

Yes it is indeed an owl, his head even tips back to reveal some hidden storage:

DSC_0060 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

We are seriously considering leaving the wood as is, and perhaps opting to clean it up instead. The more I think about it, painting it could perhaps be a big mistake as it would lose the character which we loved about the property in the first place.

Regarding the cable going between dining room and living room, it's only a temporary measure! Sky installed our TV last weekend, and installed the cable into what will be the living room, however we're currently living in the dining room whilst we decorate the living room! Priorities are living room > master bedroom > bathroom > kitchen > remaining bedrooms.

The finial (shown) does look to be a slightly different colour to the other exposed areas of wood, so it could either be a mix of timbers, or simply a mixture of wear.

A few more pics:

Rear:

DSC_0083 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Front:

DSC_0106 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Entrance:

DSC_0101 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Breakfast room (eventually kitchen):

DSC_0093 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

Master Bedroom fireplace:

DSC_0090 by grantarcher84, on Flickr

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Lovely hall way and you are so lucky to have the original ! Definitely best to leave well alone, and maybe consider the William and Morris wallpaper option to give depth to the hall. Gilded lines not often found on Edwardian panels,.

 

[paulb33]

+1. Its likely original and looks lovely.

Congratulations on a lovely home.

Use of a dark laquer was very common, particularly on pine, where it was used to mimic ''tudor oak'. Certainly, they would not have gone for a 'natural' orangey stripped and varnished pine.

Paring back contemporary chintz will help the original features shine. We're lucky enough to own a 1901 arts & crafts house. Its really difficult to strike the right balance in these houses: all too easy for it to look like grandma's, or a dated "brass horse shoe pub".

Reveal as much of the original flooring, a few scatter carpets, and go pale with the walls above the panelling if you really crave 'light'. But, leave the panelling alone.

Less is definitely more.

 

[paulb33]

Oh, and perhaps don't touch ANYTHING for a few years. We made some changes in the first few years that I now regret. Better to get a feel for a house like this first.

 

[Moo]

What with the panelling and the fabulous floor, the whole effect is geometric, one reason why the floral stair carpet jars so much. Might it be an idea to replace it with a striped one that echoes the colours in the tiles?

 

[worms]

Isn't it fun decorating someone else's house and spending their money!

For some reason it reminds of the stairway scenes in "A room with a view" - I only have a hazy recollection but I think they had lots of framed pictures and photos on the walls.

 

[LadyArowana]

I agree with others that have said to leave it be for now. The carpet ( and the curtains ) must go immediately though! It looks like the stair rods are there already, so replacing the runner shouldn't be too bad. I like Moo's idea of a stripe echoing the colours of the floor, I don't have a picture of one of those ( well I do, but it's someone's house from here and it would be a tad cheeky ) but if you couldn't get a good colour one then a plain would be a vast improvement. The curtains may require a bit of investment, particularly if you want something nice and "arts and crafts" http://www.william-morris.co.uk/collection.aspx?ID=88&P=1&C=12&D=20130501093424

 

[paulb33]

Personally, I'd keep it plain. Striped runners are very 'now' but still rather 'fussy". Deep red, high density wool Wilton (like ours...) or bottle green. Carpet can be changed easily, gloss paint on timber less so (here speaks experience...).

 

[88v8]

Hello and welcome.
Lovely house, whose severe exterior belies the riches within. And you still have the proper windows and doors. Excellent!!
Another vote for leaving the hall alone for a while.
I like the runner, btw, just not in that hall.
The wood is indeed pitch pine, high quality but would look totally naff if stripped.

A bit of gold paint might lift the black. Here's a feature from our previous house. But you'd have to be very restrained, unless you're a fan of Liberace.
Other than this newell, there was a clock case-overdoor, and the top of the counterpart newell, otherwise it was all this dusky off-pink, and cream.

And... if you start overpainting, unless you inherited a tin of paint/stain, you can't go back.

Also, be aware, when you paint panelling the joints always crack to some extent with thermal movement, especially if you run the heating too high - mid-60s at the most. The visual effects of cracking are minimised by painting in dark colours.

The paper in the picture below is William Morris, Standen. It would look well in your hall.

Ivor

 

[worms]

Just looked through the photostream, some nice pics and some very cute poody-tats!*

*help! I'm being seduced by the dark side!