2. Make the ceiling a more neutral wood tone (less orange) paint the wall beams white. The labor involved scares me .. I’ll have to do more research.
Also, I love the look of this, but it isn’t realistic without applying new wood.
3. Paint the ceiling and wall beams white, leave the ceiling beams as is.
or neutralize the beams ..
4. Paint everything white.
5. Paint everything white and the walls a soft gray blue/green.
6. White beams, wood ceiling (added per barksandbaking comment, let me know if you’d like to see something and I’ll add it, if I can 🙂
7. Black ceiling beams and window trim, white wall beams and ceiling (added per danielle oakey’s comment)
8. White ceiling, beams as is (added per lindsay z comment)
9. White wash the beams, paint the ceiling white
10. Paint the beams white, white wash the ceiling
I know that painting the wood won’t be for everyone, but in the end we have to follow our instincts and do what we love. Good thing we have plenty of time to think about it! If you have thoughts, I’d love to hear it! We’ll be in Ohio till the end of March/April, then we’re not sure where David’s job will take us (hopefully to MD or closer!) It’s hard not knowing, but we’re making the best of it. In the meantime, we’re busy making plans for our house and projects that will go our house!
#1! beautiful and simple 🙂 🙂
I like the second one the best. But if you can't replace it all with new wood, maybe do version 3 but replace that wood with the wood you like better.
Paint, paint, paint!!! I love the last two options, but I think I like the all-white the best. What a great canvas for so many different styling options. And imagine waking up on a sunny morning to all that light reflecting around in there– like being inside a cloud. Mmmmm. So much work, but so much reward!
I LOOOOOVE option 2!!
I like option 3! And your photoshop skills 🙂
I'm gonna dissent and vote to keep the wall / ceiling beams wood and paint the planks the same white as the wall. I love the post and beam / white wall contrast though, so I'm biased here.
Option 3 or white washing – for sure.
BTW – I am so excited you bought in Maryland! I'm in Arlington, so now I get to know all the sales in the area through you! 🙂
I love 2, 3, and 5! 🙂
#2! Instead of replacing the wood, maybe a white/gray wash will tone down the wood a bit.
Figure out how to make #2 work. If anyone can do it (without having to replace the wood), it's you guys!! 🙂
My vote is for option 1! (if option 2 really isn't realistic)
I'd like to offer option #6: Paint both the wall beams and the ceiling beams white, but leave the ceiling paneling as is. (Actually, #2 with white beams for both wall and ceiling would be ideal to me, I prefer the more neutral/non-orangey wood tone, but I understand if that's not feasible.)
This is hard, as I am kinda partial to the rustic wood look, so I have to go with option 1.
Maybe applying option 2 to #3 would be a nice compromise and slightly less labor intensive. (Make the beams a more neutral wood tone (less orange) paint the wall beams white). You've got great style.
option #1 or option #2 but stain the beams darker so it fits your style a little better!
option 1!! You can always paint the ceiling like option 3, but I would live with option 1 for right now and see how you feel.
This!
Option 2 or the whitewash. The orange wood should go, but I think all white is too sterile. It's going to look great whichever way you go, though 🙂
i like 2 the best, but 1 would work also. i think the wood ceiling is gorgeous!!!
My vote is Option 2 because it definitely tones down the orange – you can do a wash over it or stain the wood. The all white kind of takes away from the character (just my opinion of course)! 😉 Whatever you decide to do will be great!!
#3 is what I prefer 🙂 And I'd want to stain the beams darker (or lighter), to change the orange-y-ness of the wood. Good luck!
Firstly, I think your instincts are always spot on….so go with them. You are a very talented lady. But. For me, any option that involves painting the beams on the walls so that the paint stops at the ceiling beam looks awkward. I would paint the walls and ceilings white and wash or stain the beams to tone down the orange and bring out a cooler tone of wood. If that involved sanding and staining then that is absolutely where I would start knowing that the beams cover less square footage than all of those grooved panels on the ceiling. Good luck and go with your gut!
I definitely agree! I love the look of a white ceiling with wood beams, but it isn't a good fit with our house since the beams on the wall run into the beams on the ceiling. I think the beams on the wall definitely need to go white ..
I agree with Melissa on your talent & instinct! Would sanding & staining the wall & ceiling beams to match then painting the ceiling panels white be an option? Allowing the beams to create the flow. (The wood color of option 2 being my optimal choice)
Here is a link to a picture of matching beams:
http://www.houzz.com/photos/2631445/Equestrian-Estate-farmhouse-kitchen-boston
Ohhh SO many beautiful options! I think I like #2, #3 and #6 but maybe with a dark stained wood? That way would wouldn't have to replace the wood, you can just stain it instead? Maybe a color like this: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/57702438947603331/
I also really love the grey/blue wall option with all the beams white!
Can't wait to see what you choose!
xo, amy
I like the look of the third option – everything white except the top beams. Think they would look great in either a darker or more greyed tone too!
Numbers 2 and 3 are my choices, but whatever you choose to do, it will look amazing. Can't wait to see the house's progression over this year.
option #2 all the way! I love the look of the wood on the ceiling…maybe just with the orange toned down!
first or second option for SURE. It makes the room look soooo big and the ceiling looks so much higher. I actually think I like the orangey color – it's more warm. I say start by painting wall beams white and then see how you like it from there.
Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget
Okay I would apply option 2 to option 3. Grey washing the beams with the exception that I wouldn't paint the wood that goes down the walls. I would grey-wash that too.
I like option two the best, but probably would prefer the ceiling beams painted white as well. I love the more neutral tone of the wood over the current orange tone. Whatever you do I'm sure will look beautiful!
i found a bunch of pins on my pinterest that i can email to you if you want 🙂 i saved them to my desktop so just let me know….sometimes it can be hard to sort thru pinterest!
so excited for you!
allie
alliemp07@live.com
i like 3 the best- i feel like the beams NEED to be wood and i think it ties in nicely since the beams on the walls will be painted.
I like 2 and 3, but I know whatever you guys choose will look great!
My first instinct is also always all white! It can't be wrong. Thats for sure.
But I also adore the look of the pin that I sent you last week 😉
I like #3, but any in which the beams are left in their natural wood state! I agree with darkening the wood though to something like this photo: http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm;jsessionid=EF32B4E62B4ECFE59C7AC7243D786154.worker1?photoId=104540&index=20&spaceId=23
white wash it all (=
Hi Sarah, love love love your blog. Try Varathan, Woodstain in sunbleached. Check out My Sweet Savanah's Blog Dated 1-10-2013. She used this same stain on her mantle to tone it down. Looks awesome!! I will try to link it here.
http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-01-17T05:37:00-08:00&max-results=5&start=5&by-date=false
I really love option 5 with the soft gray walls. I feel like it adds more than just white. Also, whitewashing the beams sounds like it could turn out super good!
So many great options…although have you considered all white (walls and ceiling) and black beams and windows?
LOVE option 1!
I love the look of 1,2, and 6. But I would definitely still paint the walls that soft blue/green color you used for 5. I think it would work with any of those as well.
Could you gray wash the wood?
I like the last one the best. Ceiling can be painted also later if your furniture doesn't look good with the wood ceiling or if you prefer lighter ceiling.
I love number 2 but like you said seems labor intensive. Number 1 would be pretty too. Love the look of natural wood!
I like number 2. It keeps most of the wood and gets rid of the orange. I say keep as much wood as possible! You can always go back and paint it in a few years, but you can't undo it so be sure you really want it.
I like number 2 but maybe treat the beams on the wall the same way? I just love how they look. Also, what do you think about painting the walls a darker color? Maybe the right dark tone could visually tone down the color of the wood? I can't wait to see because I am instantly in love with your house.
I like option 1 better than I thought I would. However I think painting all the walls white and whitewashing the ceiling would look best. Maybe a similar treatment to what Sarah Richardson did to this ceiling. http://www.sarahrichardsondesign.com/portfolio/sarahs-house-3/living-room
I like the last one the best because you have a lot of natural light coming in and the white will balance the room making it feel warm and cozy and very much your style from all your home decor you've been styling. =) Love love
I meant I like the 5th not the last. ALL white room. =)
White wash it all the way! Then you still have some of the grain but you have the backdrop that is not going to compete with all the amazing items that you have spent so much time creating. Maybe make the beams a soft gray?
I love the last one the best, but do the non-orange wood on the ceiling
Leave the beams alone!!! How about just painting the planks white like the walls? That would be STUNNING, wouldn't it? The contrast with bare wooden beams is a look not many have so don't cover it up!!! (Though, I'm sure whatever you do will look great.)
Love the "other color" wood and white or blue/green walls. That orange has got to go, but love the look of the wood.
I love option #3, #2 would be very close too 🙂
I dislike the orange too — and have been super careful (and vocal) here with our wood doors and beam/plank ceiling to keep the orange out! I like the painted white walls and planks (of course!) because it's very similar to what we've done in our great room at hopefulgardner@blogspot.com
How awesome and grand is this project! I am a fan of simple and modern – there's only one option for me: everything white. There is a LOT going on with the ceiling and walls being broken up by all the beams – any contrasting paint or wood colors are just distracting and clutter the room, even more so after you hang art and move in furniture. You have a beautiful room to work with! – cody
I like option 1. Love option 2. You could do option 1 as phase 1 and then option 2 as phase 2. That's a lot of work and something that probably cannot be undone once it's on. Either way, what you ultimately choose will look great, I'm sure!
Mara
I love option 2, though I know it would be a ton of work. BUT, if you painted things now, it would be extremely hard to undo down the line, if you ever wanted it natural again. Just my two cents 😉
I agree with Jennifer of chronicles of home
Make the ceiling a more neutral wood tone (less orange) paint the wall beams white. I think that's the best option because it tones the wood down without taking it out the picture altogether. It balances the room and leaves character from the wood in the ceiling and gives an updated version.
Hello, I love Option #2…that orangey wood color just has to go. Of course, I do love me a good cottage-look, so I am also in favor of painting everything white. There is a picture on this website (http://seesawdesigns.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-11-02T03%3A45%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=20) of a bed tucked under rafters that look like yours. Wonderful! Have fun choosing!
I cannot wait to see what you pick! I agree that the wood is great, but I cannot, repeat CANNOT stand orange-toned wood. I know some people would tell me I'm crazy, but it's one of my pet peeves hehe. The awesome thing about this is that you have a ton of options and an amazing sense of style, so no matter what you do, it's going to be great! 🙂
Whoah! These look awesome, I'm definitely leaning towards the whitewashed ceiling. I love the look of wood and all, but you'll still be able to see a bit of wood grain which is nice. I have this SAME issue in my kitchen. Tall, dark wood ceilings – and we are light limited so I'm definitely going whitewash. Problem is, we already moved in….. so it's going to be a pain! I like the option with the beams remaining brown too, though that changes the amount of work you have to do 😀
Option #2 is my fave ! Or whitewashing that would be amazing too, great project!
Kate
Number 3! I love mostly white but keeping the wood beams. It's so hard to go back after you paint… so you could always do one phase of painting the things you KNOW you want painted, seeing how you like it, and then deciding whether or not to paint the rest.
#2 would be my first choice. If this is a 5 year + home, make it something you really love. #6 would be my second option.
2 and 5 are killer — seriously, love. I can only imagine how much work this will be but I'm sure it will pay off in the end. I can't wait to see what you decide and how your house progresses. Jealous.
Number 2. Like the mix of white and wood.
I like number 5 and 6 the best. What about not painting the wood beams on the wall and paint the celling white? It´s so much fun to follow the process of decorating your new home.
What about painting everything white except the ceiling beams- BUT then doing a similar treatment to the beams as you showed in #2… That way they wouldn't be too orange. ??
I think i'm partial to two of the options, for option #2, what if you painted the ceiling white and only changed the color/stain of the larger beams? a little less labor intensive. Otherwise i say go all white. The orange stain is torturous.
My favorite is whitewashing all the wood with soft blue-gray walls. Option 3 is nice but that wouldbe a lot of work at a very dangerous angle. Can't wait to see what you decide to do.
I love options 1 and 2! Or what Jenna said above. But of course, it's your house and you should do what you feel is right for you and your family. Always go with your gut, girl!
Liz
http://www.liz-makes.com
I would white wash the wood versus painting. By whitewashing, the wood grain shows through and won't be opaque. All the wood looks very heavy because all the walls are not tall so whitewash!
I may be the only one suggesting this but I'd paint everything white and make the ceiling beams darker, like almost black wood.
I would start with option 1.
I'm totally digging white right now…so I love this option, but hwat if you wanted something other than color on the walls later…would you paint the wall beams the same color or leave them white and just paint the walls?
I like the all white option.
Oh I'm famous! heehee I saw this and thought of you- http://www.mixandchic.com/2014/01/stylish-winter-decorating-ideas.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MixAndChic+%28Mix+and+Chic%29
I think you have so much going on architecturally that you could do all white and it would look great! I haven't read all the comments, but if you want to leave some natural wood, what if you did a glossy white ceiling, white walls and beams, and left only the one large center beam a natural, rustic wood- maybe with a stain or wash to make it less orange? I like the one large, rustic beam in this room…maybe something like this would work? http://prettysedaynacar.tumblr.com/post/74474879424/passiondecor-de-marieclaude
Hi Sarah, We too are looking at a lot of houses with loads of wood, so I was very excited to see what you will be coming up with for your house!
I think what I would like best is neutralized beams (ceiling and walls), white ceiling, and white or blueish grey walls. Regarding the wall beams; I would try covering small areas like the window trim white, but leave the solid big beams neutralized.
Of course neutralizing the wood is going to be a lot of work, but I think it would be so worth it… wooden beams like that are so pretty! I think the all white or whitewash options won't do justice to the great architecture of the space…
My sister in law has the same ceilings. They sandblasted them and it looks amazing.
Version 2 & 3 are definitely the best, because the other ones are either too much white or too much orangey wood
#2 all the way. the others have been done to exhaustion and neutralizing the wood creates a nice calming wood tone. and the white on the walls still gives you that blank canvas. the ceiling doesn't have to "match" your style, it's a focal point and wood goes with everything. i'm a pro wood painter but in this case, it just takes away from the beautiful architecture you have. it would be a shame to lose the visual interest in the wood by painting it all white.
I love love love option 2, but I agree the labor to change the stain on a ceiling might be too much! If so I would go with option 1 and maybe a soft color on the walls. So the beams would be white and the walls a color with the ceiling wood. Good luck! I can't wait to see what you do!
Love this room! I would leave the wood as it is but add track lighting to brighten it up.
I agree…the ceiling is too orange. And if you white wash it, it will look salmon, no bueno! Please don't white wash it! It will come off too country, too.
I am pretty sure, it is going to cost an arm and a leg to refinish the wood ceiling…but if not, I would stain the wood ceiling to match the floor and possibly stain the beams and window casings a bit darker? Then, all the walls and "columns" painted white.
I really do like everything white….it makes the space look so much more airy and clean.
Looking forward to the evolution of your house 🙂
Love the idea of #2 but $$$. #3 (neutaliz. would be stunning!!I also love #9 & #10 because it looks so fresh and you can start with a clean canvas, so to speak. 🙂
I LOVE 5 and 7. Espesially 5 looks so gorgeous and so my style haha! I also like the dramatic effect of number 7.
What a tough decision! I definitely think you need to lighten some of that wood up, it will go with your style much more and make the whole space feel fresher and more modern. But I hate to see you loose all of the wood…it's such a part of the house. Good luck deciding!
Well, the wood woud be pretty if stained in a less orange finish, but I have to admit that the all withe room looks a lot bigger, dark ceileings can some times make rooms feel heavy. You can try #1 first to see how it looks and then, depending on how you feel about it, leave it as is, stain and/or paint the rest.
Sorry to come late to the party, but I came from Houzz, so I just found your blog 🙂 And couldn't resist asking, are all those beams really structurally necessary? What about removing the horizontal ones, at least? If you removed all the horizontal beams from the walls, and removed the trim and sills from the windows, it would definitely reduce the choppy feeling in the room. (I'd remove the vertical ones, too, but that sounds more risky… as they could be holding something up!)
I have a similar great room that I nee to update. Like to see all white walls, whitewashed ceiling and metallic darker gray ceiling joists? Your program can do that?
I have a similar great room that I nee to update. Like to see all white walls, whitewashed ceiling and metallic darker gray ceiling joists? Your program can do that?
what did you end up doing? I am in the same place with a 1970’s big wood ceiling. dark stained beams and natural wood ceiling. I love the last option with white washed ceiling and white beams.
Bonnie.
Painting white was the best option for us. I love how it turned out!