We’ve been working on the study renovation for what seems like forever. We’ve had several “life interruptions” over the last six months, so things have moved along pretty slowly.
I thought I would give you a little sneak peek to see what we’ve been doing in this room.
The study will be my office, and I usually end up spending quite a bit of time in there.
The “before” was dark and dingy, and though I spent a fair amount of time in there, it was a little depressing.
It took me several months to decide what to do with all that dark paneling, weighing several options, and I kept coming back to the same thing, which was painting it.
I know some of you will cringe at the thought of painting over the paneled walls, and may have strong opinions on the subject.
Just know that I didn’t make the decision lightly. It took me months to make the decision to paint it, and I’m so glad that I did.
The old wall panels weren’t in the best of shape and the finish had taken on an “orangey shade” over the last 40 years.
They could have been sanded down and re-stained, but that option really didn’t appeal to me.
I always kept coming back to painting the panels, so that’s what we did and we have finally finished it.
I’m so happy with the results!
(I apologize for the poor quality of photos. The day that I shot these, it was rainy and gloomy so the lighting isn’t the best.)
It took a long time to get the walls painted, first priming the walls and then painting with Benjamin Moore Advance paint, which is an alkyd paint.
It offers the application and performance of traditional oil paint in a waterborne formula that cleans up with soap and water.
The Advance paint leaves a wonderful hard finish.
After priming, we gave the walls two coats of the Advance paint.
It was a bit time consuming, but so worth it.
I toyed with several color options, but in the end, decided to go with Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray, which is the gray that we’ve used on the walls throughout the house.
I considered going with something dark and moody, but I was so tired of how dark it was before that I decided not to go that route.
I love this shade and tone of gray because it works with so many other colors, and I wanted something light and fresh.
We had already planked over the popcorn ceiling and I kept it light as well, choosing to lightly whitewash the pine planks with Minwax white pickling stain.
It’s amazing how much bigger the room looks.
The other element that I wanted to do was adding “frenchy” doors to the open bookcases.
I asked hubby if he could make them for me, and he cheerfully said, “Of course, precious!”……actually, he was less than thrilled, but he did come around to my way of thinking, and made the doors.
I wanted them open to see the contents on the bookshelves, so we added wire screen to each one.
The screen is a wire mesh that is sold for pouring concrete.
We found it at our local Sutherland’s Lumber Company.
It comes in larger sheets than what we’ve used in the past (barbeque grill replacement grate), which we needed for the larger openings in the door.
The screen was originally silver, so I painted it flat black so it would present a little bit of contrast against the gray background.
I love the way they turned out, giving the room a totally different look, and complimenting the mullioned windows that are original to the home.
The French chandelier is also an original piece. I love this chandelier, but it had some major issues.
I had originally planned on replacing it, even purchasing another chandy to go in it’s place.
However, after the walls were lightened, I realized that the chandelier was perfect for this room and it had to stay.
It needed some repairs, so we removed it from the ceiling, and hubby worked on rewiring it, which entailed completely replacing the sockets with new ones. Several of the old sockets didn’t work any longer and they were European as well, so he ended up having to replace all of them.
After it was rewired, I cleaned 40 years worth of grime and dust off of it, and it sparkled!
It had always hung just a bit off center, so we increased the chain length so that we could swag it over to hang in the correct location.
Now that we’re finished with the major elements in the room, I can start the fun part of bringing in the furniture and decorating.
I’ve already started, by hanging a print of a French painting……..more to come!
Cheers,
Cindy
I am in love here… With everything you did. Very elegant.
Thank you, Ivory!
Wow. Your trick about using the wire mesh required me forcing hubby to read that so he wouldn’t think I’m crazy should I suggest it in the future.
The power of paint! Love the new fresh look! The chandy looks perfect in the room and I love the doors on the bookcase! I’m sure you will love spending more time in your study now. Can’t wait to see how you will style the space!
Oh Cindy I am SO glad you kept the little chandy. I have them all over my home (even in the bathroom) and never tire of them. Okay maybe sometimes when I clean them.
The painted panels are lovely and the doors your Hubby made are just the right touch. I have been anxiously waiting to see your office/study. I cannot wait to see how you finish the space. Best to you and your family.
Thank you so much, Debbie!
I am always amazed at the difference paint can make. It was a very beautiful room to begin with, now it sparkles! Awaiting the stunning reveal!
Thank you, Gee!
This is fantastic. The room has a whole new personality with the white finish. The doors really made a difference and I noticed the floor looks even more beautiful than ever.
Thank you so much, Liz!
Dearest Cindy~
I have been thinking about you and prayers of comfort for you continue, and I hope your brother in-law is finding comfort in knowing our Lord hears prayers.
The “study” is absolutely beautiful, I love the floors , and the chandelier woo la la ! Your hubby did a super job on the doors too ! I know how it is waiting and waiting on a decision ! I can NOT decide on kitchen counter tops at all 🙁 , I have white cabinets, so I am thinking the black soapstone , and then marble on the island , or cherry butcher block Or marble all around , or or or !!!!??? geesch. HeLp !! hehe
Take care if You !! Hugs hugs
Paula
IN.
p.s. we found out on Monday our Lexi girl Boxer has cancer, poor old girl 🙁
darn cancer 🙁
Oh, Paula, I am so sorry about Lexi! Our fur babies are such special family members, and it’s so hard to lose one. I will keep you in my prayers! P.S. The soapstone sounds fabulous!!
that was really fun to read and see. thank you for sharing it with the people that read your posts.
Marjorie Gaestel
Thank you for following along, Marjorie!
Oh my goodness…I LOVE the walls now! So fresh and clean and sparkling! Wonderful job!
Thank you so much, Sue!
Cindy,I’m really liking everything you are doing to your home. Can’t wait for the decorating to begin. My popcorn ceilings are planked and whitewashed thanks to your inspiration. Thank you for all your sharing and advice.
Thanks for your sweet comment, Sue!
Cindy!! Well done you…and hubby, too! Love love love the paint color, it’s so you. It sure made a difference, huh? When I opened your email my phone kept ringing and I could hardly wait to see it all. But, when I did, I just gasped at how beautiful it looks. And I hope you keep that wood floor, it goes so well with the diamond pattern in the windows. Maybe a beautiful pastel rug and a doggie basket under the desk for the baby Ruby. I’m in love with that little cutie.
Great look on the cabinet doors, and your hubby is a genius! I would never thought of wire mesh for pouring concrete…..geez, so clever. I had to show my hubby how to use a screwdriver (hehe) he is such a desk dude, and rewiring a chandy would freak him out (and he retired from NASA!!). You are saving so much money with a handy hubby. The colours in the chandy are very pretty and go nicely with your chest. Congratulations, It truly looks lovely and elegant.
Much love,
Suzanne
Thank you, Suzanne! The only tools Hubby owned when we bought this fixer upper was a screwdriver and a hammer….now he has a garage full of tools and equipment! We are learning as we go! Thanks so much for commenting!
Cindy, everything about this room is stunning! I especially love that the vertical boards on your wall paneling are chamfered. I had that same look in a previous home and always thought it more interesting than straight-cut boards. The parquet flooring is also more elegant, and more European, than straight-laid. The room looks so much brighter and happy. I am so in love with your room! Great job!
Thank you so much Bobbi!
You are so daring Cindy, but whatever you do always turns out amazing! Light and fresh does describe it and happy! I’m looking forward to the furnishing part too! Your husband’s work is also wonderful, what a team!
Thank you, Celia! It is so much lighter now, I know that I will enjoy working in there now!
Beautiful Cindy! I love the painted walls, so much brighter and energetic for your office space. I’ve toyed with the idea of painting my sunroom walls white (currently dark stained wood planks) but I like the cozy warm look in winter. Still, white would be lovely the rest of the year. Your opinion? Looking forward to seeing the furnished room. I’m sure you’ll be even more productive in that pretty room. Hugs, Pat
Thank you, Pat! I think the panels would be beautiful painted in a lovely, warm white. Then cozy it up with accent colors and furnishings. But….just be sure before you do it. It took me months to make the decision to paint!
I did cringe at the thought of painting all that paneling and the bookcases. Not because of covering the wood, but because all of the work. I’ve done the same thing and could not have been happier with the end result. It looks great and I think more in keeping with your style.
Thanks so much, Karen!
Cindy, love the new look in your study! You are so fortunate to have such a handy husband. Now that I have copied so many of your projects, we just sold our house to buy a Tuscan home in the country. Some of my furnishing will work, but not all. It will be a little challenging! Going to try for a Tuscan farmhouse look. What do you think?
Linda, your new home sounds beautiful! Some of your pieces might transfer to the new style and it will be so much fine searching for new things! Good luck!
L.O.V.E.
Lovely, lovely, lovely! Did you have the BM advance paint tinted SW Agreeable Gray?
Thank you, Beverly! Yes, we had the Advance paint tinted with the color Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray.
Yes!
Lookin fabulous!!
Thanks, Kay!
What an amazing difference!…So love what you have done! What a most beautiful room to spend time in. You two make a great team and your work is perfection!
Thank you so much Shirley! I’m looking forward to working in this room now!
Oh so SPECTACULAR!! Lucky you to have a hubby who knows how to make new doors for a cabinet! Is he for rent? I’m staring at my ceiling as I write this and am determined to get some planks in my kitchen as well… This room has turned out so beautiful! Congrats to you both on a great job.
Aw, thank yo so much, Mary!
Wow! Love ,love, love!
You have breathed fresh air and restored the life to this house!
Thank you thank for taking along for the ride!
Thank you so much, Gaylin!
What a difference, looks great! I love stained and painted paneling. For your house the painted was the right decision….do you think sometime later you will add french molding to panels? You sure have talent….I would not have thought of that kind of wire for doors! I’m so excited to see this room decorated!!
Thank you, Nancy! French mouldings would be lovely if I could find just the right ones.
Cindy, it looks beautiful! The dark wood dated the room. Love the fresh look with the white. It really brightens the room up. I would have painted it too. Great choice!
Thank you so much, Tammy!
I knew all along you would choose to paint the walls. 😉 It looks fabulous and I enjoyed reading about the details of this reno. I can’t wait to see more since your decor is always so inspiring. Have fun with it!
Thank you for your sweet words, Robyn!
It is beautiful, but the wood paneling was gorgeous. You are very brave.Can’t wait to see the finished room. Love looking at your beautiful home while I enjoy my first cup of coffee in the morning. Looking forward to more.Cheers
Thanks so much, Charlotte!
Love what you have done Cindy. Have been looking forward to a peek of this room, and it is as wonderful as I expected! Great job!
Thanks, Linda!
Beautiful, love everything about it! And that chandy is the best and belongs right where it is 🙂 Thanks for sharing your amazing new room with us.
Thank you so much, Sheree! I’m loving the changes, and you’re right, the chandy belongs there.
Cindy–You SOOO did the right thing in painting the panels! It’s much better in every way, and more “you.” Love all the changes you made, just lovely….
Thank you, Marie!
I absolutely love watching the progress of your beautiful home. We have just moved into a fixer-upper and your blog inspires me. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much, Julie! Congratulations on your new home!
P.S. A while back you asked for dining room colors. I originally suggested Felted Wool, however I just painted our dining room in Functional Gray (Sherwin Williams) and it is perfect! All of our surrounding rooms are Agreeable Gray.
Compliments to your husband! The doors he built look amazing!! I can’t believe they’re the same bookshelves .. or room, for that matter. All your hard work has certainly paid off. Truly lovely room. Looking forward to your reveal. Take care.
Thank you, Cynthia! I agree, Hubby did a great job on the doors!
Looking great, Cindy! I wouldn’t hesitate to paint over dark paneling. I think you made the right choice! Looks so fresh and bright! Your hubby did a great job on the doors and that chandelier really is perfect! Who wouldn’t want that room as an office! I look forward to seeing all your finishing touches in there!! AWESOME!!!
Celia
Thank you so much, Celia!
My 1980s house had the same paneling and I finally painted it a few years back. What a difference. Beautiful room and I know you will love being in there. Great job on the doors on the bookshelves. I love the screening, that’s a really good idea. The room is elegant, warm and inviting. As usual your design ideas are spot on. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for your sweet words, Laura!
So beautiful Cindy! What a transformation! I love that you didn’t need to remove the popcorn ceiling and could plank over it, and the colour is great. So creative to use concrete mesh for the screen and paint it. Looks fabulous!
Thank you, Patricia! I’m loving the lighter look!
The painted paneling really brightens up the room! And I’m so glad you kept the original chandelier in there as well. It’s gorgeous! I can’t wait to see the final reveal. I really love your style!-Dell
Thank you, sweet Dell!
<3
Cindy, I love your taste and style. Your office is going to be such a joy to spend time in.
Thanks, Rebecca! I’m looking forward to working in there now!
Normally I would be one of those people who cringe at painting over wood, but I LOVE how the room turned out!! Gorgeous! And that chandelier is stunning. BTW, now that I am about to turn 65 I decorate the way I like…it’s my money, time, and house and I’m the one who has to live in it! (Hubby lets me do what I want, thank goodness). So do what your heart tells you to do; your home is your sanctuary, after all.
Very true, Roxanne! Thank you!
Look great Cindy, it’s amazing what a little paint can do for a room!!
Thank you so much, Debra!
Beautiful. And French. And so you!
Thank you, Peggy! I’m loving the way it’s turning out!
It looks beautiful!
Thank you, Florence!
Cindy, this room, as well as all that you and your husband have done, is beautiful! It’s so light and cheerful!!! Thank you for sharing your talents with us…it’s encouraging to know that we all can do things we never thought we could! Your work us just gorgeous! Smiles, Deborah:-)
Thank you for your sweet words, Deborah!
I did cringe at the thought of you painting the paneling but, it looks fantastic!!!!
Thanks, Jeanie!
Love it gf! We have built-ins in our library that are oak. I’d have to divorce hubby to paint them white (tempting, mind you!) He loves the wood and it’s “his” room. But the white looks way better! Great job as always.
Thank you sweet Gay!
I love it Cindy! You will have a lovely room to work in now Chandelier looks great. Is that a closet in the room?
Thank you Vicki! Yes, it is a storage closet. This room could convert to an extra bedroom very easily!
The color you chose is perfect and makes the house just flow bautifully! The doors you had your husband add to the bookshelves are so frenchy, just love them. Also, the chandelier turned out to be just perfect, gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing Cindy, you truly are so inspirational.
Thank you, Nancy! I’m so glad that we decided to keep the chandelier!
I absolutely love everything.
Thank you, Alexa!
It is beautiful. Good job guys.
Thanks, Linda!
Love love love the painted walls! After all they are your walls
Yes, indeed, Vicki! Thank you!
It’s gorgeous can’t wait to see it finished. Loving that chest too.
Thanks so much, Candy!
LOVE IT !!!!!!! so gorgeous and you did the right thing in painting all that depressing wood, way to much and now the room sparkles…x
Thank you, Janette!
I recently put an offer on a small brick ranch built in 1968. I’ve had multiple contractors come out for estimates on the popcorn ceilings (in all rooms and closets ), and have received outrageous and drastically varied estimates as well as completely different opinion on the best options, i.e. Scrape, rehang drywall, skim coat etc etc. I have opted not to have it tested for asbestos as I will not be scraping it. I’m curious, if you don’t mind me asking, what is the age of your home, and would you be comfortable applying your paneled treatment to a painted popcorn ceiling? I noticed that some of your rooms have smooth ceilings. Your images are absolutely exquisite! Any info or tips you might provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance, and thank you for the gorgeous inspiration! Sincerely, Candace Tremaine
Hi Candace! Our home was built in 1972. We have applied the planks directly over the popcorn ceilings in two rooms with not problems at all. Check out this post for more details: https://edithandevelynvintage.com/plank-popcorn-ceiling/