Dianne1 said:Hi, looking for advice on what would look better in our Victorian semi - painted or stripped and left bare wood?
Thanks
Dianne
Stripping is a modern idea.Dianne1 said:Hi, looking for advice on what would look better in our Victorian semi - painted or stripped and left bare wood?
88v8 said:Stripping is a modern idea.
mostly painted, rarely stained, some large well to do townhouses, - search for nigels' post on his amazing grained doors in a large islington georgian townhouse - were grained to look like oak or mahogany.Before we get too carried away with the thought that paint is the only genuine Victorian look, remember that very often the wood would have been dark stained/varnished rather than painted. Also in rural Scotland (and the OP appears to be in Aberdeenshire) varnished pitch pine was a common interior-design feature.
mostly painted, rarely stained, some large well to do townhouses, - search for nigels' post on his amazing grained doors in a large islington georgian townhouse - were grained to look like oak or mahogany.Before we get too carried away with the thought that paint is the only genuine Victorian look, remember that very often the wood would have been dark stained/varnished rather than painted. Also in rural Scotland (and the OP appears to be in Aberdeenshire) varnished pitch pine was a common interior-design feature.
very few 'normal' houses with rosewood or even french walnut - oak was not pushing it, almost all oak would be stained or clear finished and would specifically be set as show wood amongst mostly pine areas which were painted, often newel's, handrails were executed in oak in the hall to match a herringbone oak parquet floor which sometimes extended into the front reception room, oak panels are rare outside of expensive townhouses and manor houses. some later 1910 -1920s arts and crafts residential houses have oak dados, picture and/or plate rails sometimes with an oak external door, never usually painted.I agree. The Victorians were ashamed of displaying cheap deal timber - that was for servants' sculleries and so on, or the meanest peasant hut.
Only proper wood was displayed bare - rosewood, mahogany, walnut etc. Even oak was pushing it a bit.
Unless your bare wood has fine inlay or linenfold panelling.
With paint however you can let your imagination rip - and change it later if you feel like it.