On 1 Jun 2006 16:47:40 -0700, Banty wrote:

In article .com,
grodenhiATgmailDOTcom says...

We have a 1950's ranch and almost everything has been updated thus far,
except for what we call the mud room. This is about a 15x15 foot
heated room between the garage and rest of house that has glossy pine
tongue and groove walls and ceiling. Originally I was planning on
tearing out the walls and ceiling and replacing with standard drywall,
but I'm starting to wonder if that would be a big mistake (maybe we
should keep it for character). I'm starting to think I could paint the
panelling white (using a strong primer then oil based paint). This
would sort of give the beach house/cabin look I think. Does this sound
doable? Do you think this will look all right or cheesey, or am I
convincing myself that it will look decent knowing it will save a lot
of time/money? Would you do BOTH walls and ceiling white, or just
walls leaving the ceiling a glossy pine?


I would leave the ceiling, possibly knocking down the gloss a bit with steel
wool, and then prime (Bin or Ben Moore Fresh Start) and paint the walls either
off white (if it were me, it'd be Ben Moore's White Dove) or a neutral that
works well with neighboring rooms. Might take more than two coats. IMO,
painted panelling looks quite nice.

Besides, if you try the paint first, find you don't like it, then you can knock
it out and go for drywall. You can't go the other way around. Worth trying
first.

Banty

Find a local artist, buy a couple of really big paintings from them,
and hang them in that room. That will cover enough of the wood so
that the remainder won't be overpowering, support a local artist,
be cheaper, and is easier to change, later. FAiling that, try
tapestries. Tapestries are cool.