Do you like natural wood or painted better?

[Cormac135]

Prefer it natural.

 

[ronboy]

My parents taught me well.

When the house that I grew up in was built, (circa 1967-68), they had all natural wood trim for baseboards, doors and doorways, and hardwood floors in the living room and in all of the bedrooms. I was ticked off as a kid, because my bedroom didn't have carpeting like all of my friends and relatives did. My mother always said that it was easier to keep clean and maintain them.

Since I now have my parents' house, and it is me who cleans the house, I see the wisdom of my late Mom. I dust the floors alternately with wet and dry Swiffer weekly, and once each year, I use the wood floor cleaner, and sealer. It is a cinch to clean under the furniture, especially beds and dressers.

I like my wood like I like my men...NATURAL!

 

[mbamike]

Natural cherry, maple or oak is beautiful! I had painted white kitchen cabinets once. Prefer natural.

 

[Rickrock]

I prefer natural wood, but painted can also look good in some houses.

 

[SaskGuy]

My house was built in 1976, and my kitchen cabinets originally had a walnut finish, but someone decided to paint over them at one point, as well as all the other wood in the house. I'd like to strip it off, but I just ended up re-painting them a glossy white, with silver knobs and hinges, and at least that looks nice. Not as nice as the walnut would have looked though. Way too many people just get out the paint brush and slap it all over gorgeous wood work after seeing someone doing it on HGTV, but the hot new fad is painting over anything that's even remotely interesting and subjecting yourself to a house that gives you severe sensory deprivation. It's also a shame when someone buys a nice vintage house with the intent on gutting and modernizing it. Every time I see a nice old time capsule go up for sale, I expect to see it on the market again in a few months, looking like HGTV puked all over it.

^ ^
Martha Stewart would be pleased.

I agree on the context, though. When I redid my Grandparent's mid-50's California Ranch in anticipation of having to sell it during the Great Recession, I stuck with the natural wood, although I went with a mid toned maple, removing the old plywood and veneered mahogany color. It was a compromise to not over-renovate versus going balls-out modern. It wouldn't have fit the house, or the neighborhood.

The rest of the trim in the house is all natural wood, so it keeps with the overall theme.

I had to replace the cabinets rather than upgrade, as the originals were custom-built, and things had to change. I had to pull the clothes washer out of the Kitchen, and the old wall-mounted oven had seen its last days and the size wasn't replaceable.

(Sorry, I can't figure how to put the pictures in order. Click to enlarge.)

Ah man, I loved the ribbon mahogany!

It depends upon the wood tone. I have grown to hate honey oak. A dark cherry is nice.
When I put new cabinets in my kitchen I painted them, if I tire of the look I can go to a we color

Honey oak was so overdone that I'm still not a fan of it. At one point, it's all you'd ever see in kitchens. Just like subway tile, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, etc... it's so overdone that I'd be happy if I never saw another god damn subway tile again in my life.

 

[Kulindahr]

My parents taught me well.

When the house that I grew up in was built, (circa 1967-68), they had all natural wood trim for baseboards, doors and doorways, and hardwood floors in the living room and in all of the bedrooms. I was ticked off as a kid, because my bedroom didn't have carpeting like all of my friends and relatives did. My mother always said that it was easier to keep clean and maintain them.

Since I now have my parents' house, and it is me who cleans the house, I see the wisdom of my late Mom. I dust the floors alternately with wet and dry Swiffer weekly, and once each year, I use the wood floor cleaner, and sealer. It is a cinch to clean under the furniture, especially beds and dressers.

I like my wood like I like my men...NATURAL!

I'm finding that restoring old wooden floors can be tough -- but I think it's worth it; just seeing the one upper room sanded down and the cracks filled with the floor's own sawdust (mixed with clear finish) is uplifting.

I'm going to go with clear epoxy for a finish -- the wood seems to be old old-growth Port Orford cedar, and with dogs, any other finish is still too soft (clear epoxy is what the NBA plays on; it's like invisible armor).


Just don't try wrestling "naturally" on that natural surface.....

 

[Kulindahr]

My house was built in 1976, and my kitchen cabinets originally had a walnut finish, but someone decided to paint over them at one point, as well as all the other wood in the house. I'd like to strip it off, but I just ended up re-painting them a glossy white, with silver knobs and hinges, and at least that looks nice. Not as nice as the walnut would have looked though. Way too many people just get out the paint brush and slap it all over gorgeous wood work after seeing someone doing it on HGTV, but the hot new fad is painting over anything that's even remotely interesting and subjecting yourself to a house that gives you severe sensory deprivation. It's also a shame when someone buys a nice vintage house with the intent on gutting and modernizing it. Every time I see a nice old time capsule go up for sale, I expect to see it on the market again in a few months, looking like HGTV puked all over it.


Ah man, I loved the ribbon mahogany!


Honey oak was so overdone that I'm still not a fan of it. At one point, it's all you'd ever see in kitchens. Just like subway tile, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, etc... it's so overdone that I'd be happy if I never saw another god damn subway tile again in my life.

Come to think of it, I'm sure that the paneling the previous owners put over the nice maple and stuff was honey oak. I am SO glad we got the last of it out a few years before my dad died!


BTW, I've seen a few awesome things done with subway tile, but I agree -- mostly it makes me think of mental wards, for some reason.

 

[bigbj69]

i'm a nature boy. Natural 100%

 

[luckynumbah7]

Haven't done cabinets yet, still trying to get the living room painted. We're probably doing butcher block countertops in whatever color I stained the island. Medium walnut, I think. Thing is neither of us are fond of doors on the top cabinetry and I plan on replacing the bottom cabinet doors with some open worked or cast iron lattices. The kitchen is more my space since I'm the main cook - while he gets a vote I've got final confirmation.

....tho there is this cast iron stove he's vetoed as extrenuous that I'm hoping I can get an 'okay' for, that is, if he ever comes up with something of a similar type I can trade a yes for. Stove we have came with the house. It's new though, so. Meh.

 

[Kulindahr]

....tho there is this cast iron stove he's vetoed as extrenuous that I'm hoping I can get an 'okay' for, that is, if he ever comes up with something of a similar type I can trade a yes for. Stove we have came with the house. It's new though, so. Meh.

Wow -- you live where a cast-iron stove conforms with code? I'm jealous!

 

[Latimer]

^
I'd keep in mind that butcher block performs poorly next to a sink, so if the sink gets heavy use, and if you're planning on sealing the material with linseed oil rather than a heavy "bartop" finish, I wouldn't count on it looking as good 2 years down the road as it does immediately after installation.

I have a friend, a very serious cook with an unlimited budget, who designed a kitchen with butcher block counters. As she didn't want to be inhibited in her use of the kitchen, she immediately attacked the counters with a heavy knife, stained them with red wine, oil and vinegar, and scorched them with red-hot pans. But worst-looking of all were the areas near the main sink, which turned black (with mold?) within a year. They look like hell, but she tells me she likes them that way. An extreme case, but I'd be mindful of the limits of the material.

 

[luckynumbah7]

Wow -- you live where a cast-iron stove conforms with code? I'm jealous!

ogod, code? Fuck. No, I have no idea. Probably not, now that you mention it. I know it's gas, is all I know. There's several floating around in the antique stores/craigslist listing.

 

[SaskGuy]

^
I'd keep in mind that butcher block performs poorly next to a sink, so if the sink gets heavy use, and if you're planning on sealing the material with linseed oil rather than a heavy "bartop" finish, I wouldn't count on it looking as good 2 years down the road as it does immediately after installation.

I have a friend, a very serious cook with an unlimited budget, who designed a kitchen with butcher block counters. As she didn't want to be inhibited in her use of the kitchen, she immediately attacked the counters with a heavy knife, stained them with red wine, oil and vinegar, and scorched them with red-hot pans. But worst-looking of all were the areas near the main sink, which turned black (with mold?) within a year. They look like hell, but she tells me she likes them that way. An extreme case, but I'd be mindful of the limits of the material.

Butcher block patterned Formica is a good option... sure, Formica may not be trendy anymore, but you can't deny the fact that it's inexpensive, and also incredibly durable and it can take a fair amount of abuse. It also comes in any colour or pattern you like (such as butcher block. )