Oh my goodness people. I cannot even explain to you how much
I love wood detail in a house. The character brought in by trim and paneling is
beyond fabulous. It brings warmth and richness to a space regardless of the
color it is painted.
I could pontificate on
trim and moldings for hours…seriously. But today I will focus on just the paneling or wainscoting. Now I understand that paneling had some
bad years, the 60’s and 70’s in particular were pretty brutal. The stain
choices were awful and faux paneling came into play…rough years indeed. But
genuine wood (or even MDF if it’s done properly) paneling with a white wash or
a nice paint choice can really just make a room sing.
V-groove or Tongue and Groove is probably the most common paneling around and it
makes my heart beat fast. I just love it!!! No one does it as good as Sarah Richardson so here are a few of her really awesome
examples of classic v-groove
Horizontal white washed pine
Painted and floor-to-ceiling
Whitewashed perfection
Mixed: Stained ceiling and painted walls.
I just love the mix here. You really just need a hint of the wood tone for it to make a space warm. This feels warm and cozy without feeling claustrophobic.
Board and Batten is another personal favorite for me and one that I am about to take on for my own home. I love
that it can look refined and elegant yet casual all at once. This is a super
versatile paneling in my opinion. It’s easy to recreate and looks pretty
phenomenal in almost any space. Here are a few examples of this fantastic wall
treatment.
Standard Chair Rail height
Floor-to-ceiling
Squares
Embellished Square Design
Isn't this red just fabulous??? I love it when people are daring with their color choices! I'm so not that person so I really like seeing it.
Stacked Molding
Trellis Design
Beadboard
This is a very common wainscoting material and even used for a kitchen backsplash and as panel inserts in other types of paneling.
Panel Molding or Picture Frame molding
There are two major types for this molding and then variations on the concept as well. I'll be sharing the two main versions.
First up is raised panel molding. It has a built up look in the center and is a very traditional look.
The final type I want to share is recessed panel molding. It obviously has a slight "step down" look to the center of the panel. This is also a very traditional style of paneling.
I've been working on my house a little bit lately. I have already completed my horizontal plank wall and there are a few more areas that will have other types of paneling treatments as well. I've also painted quite a bit of my family room and breakfast nook paneling. I am looking forward to sharing more pictures of these spaces soon.
What's your favorite paneling?
