We are rocking along on the house. I’m down to the last big room to be painted and that is the den. Yowza, at the brown wood paneling in that space. I have never been a fan of wood paneling and vowed if I ever inherited a house that had it, it would be painted in no time flat. That time has come and I tackled it last week. This paneling is actually made of real wood (thin for sure), but I don’t have a problem covering it up. Bye-bye 1970’s!
If you have wood-paneled walls and want a lighter look, don’t hesitate to paint them!
Use drop cloths to keep paint off your floors. A thicker roller helps get paint into the panel grooves. I used an oil based primer on my paneling. It will definitely not chip off with this primer, but you can also use shellac as well. Open windows to keep the fumes down. Use rubber gloves to keep paint off your hands.If you want to be extra careful, use painter’s tape to mask off trim and baseboards. Keep a damp cloth handy to wipe up any spills.
In its brown glory, the befores. I’m still debating on what to do with that ceiling. It’s a drop ceiling, not my fave, but underneath is ugly ductwork and pipes and so I can’t just take down the ceiling. I’m sure those tiles are original, cause they are very saggy and stained and even the vents are duct-taped in the top, which will have to go.
I’ve painted over some of the stains to make them less noticeable, but eventually I’d like to just replace them all with fresh new tiles. That seems to be my best bet on this one, but I will probably live with them for awhile and then change them out. I haven’t even priced them out, so I need to take one down and haul it with me to Lowes to see what they have that will fit this grid.
UPDATE: I may have found a great solution, just need some $$ to do it. Saw this website, Ceilume, on another blog (Dixie Delights) that I featured in one of my Feature Fridays and they used a drop ceiling in their basement. They have a nice selection of 2×4′ tiles which is the size I need and look at these:
This is one of their best sellers (and most economical) and these break it up into 12×12 squares which would pop right into my ceiling. Love this look and that could completely update my ceiling. All I need is about $600 to replace with these. This will definitely be on my list of things to do!
So, back to the walls. I know painting the paneling will lighten this space up so much and I’ve been dying to get it all primed and painted. That door sitting on the floor will get painted black and it will replace the open door there going up the stairs. That one has a hole in it and the door on the floor came from closing up the door going into the kitchen from the living room. Got that change-out?
Once again, Zinsser cover stain oil base primer came to the rescue (big thanks to the Rust-Oleum folks for sending me so much primer for my project). I’m currently on gallon 6 of primer, this house needed a ton of white to cover up the ugly. It’s an oil based primer and will work great for covering this paneling and preparing it for latex paint. I rolled it on with a thick roller and a paintbrush for the cutting in. The thicker roller helped get into those grooves. Be sure to wipe down your paneling before starting to paint.
I don’t think there’s a need to use grit sandpaper before painting, since using a good stain-blocking primer takes care of that.
It takes some muscle to move the roller around and get it all into the grooves, but for the most part that roller worked great.
All primed and ready for the real paint color, which is Comfort Gray by Sherwin Williams.
From the stairs and door looking down the room. All primed, yay! I’d love to add another window to this room eventually on the left wall. A nice big double window would be nice, since this room is not below ground, it’s level with the ground and another window could easily be cut into the wall. On my list!
After two coats of Comfort Gray, we have a room really starting to look like a room I could live in.It’s amazing what a new coat of paint can do for a room!
I love this soft blue/gray and it will look great with my existing den furniture. I wanted this space to be light and airy too and this color should do the trick, especially after I change out the overhead light fixtures.
I am not sure what I’ll put up there, but something besides what is there now. Those are UGLY! You can see I’ve already got two coats of my Dark Brown door paint on there too. It’s so hard to photograph carpet that is beige. This carpet is not pink-toned at all, but comes across in these pics that way. It’s a nice medium beigy tone.
The door to the left of the stairs goes down to the garage.
Other side with Comfort Gray. Looking good! So, this room is coming along. I still have all the white trim to paint, but I’m getting there.
If you have old-style 70’s paneling, by all means paint that stuff! It is not precious wood at all, so talk your husband into it and you won’t be sorry. Men sometimes have a really hard time painting wood, but this is just a wood facsimile and deserves to be painted. Go for it!
If you have REAL wood paneling, that’s a different story, so you’ll have to duke it out with the man at your house. You know what I’m enjoying so much on this renovation? I don’t have to argue with a man over what I want to do. Yeah, that’s awesome! 🙂
Moving upstairs to the front door, I got out my black paint and got one coat on the inside of the front door. It’s already black on the outside and now will stand out from the inside too.
There is not a really easy way to paint a metal door, but I used the foam roller on the flat parts and brush in the grooves. Hopefully, the 2nd coat will smooth things out. I did tape up the doorknobs and inside the glass with FrogTape.
And it’s looking better already. We still have to rip out the old wood down there and repair plywood that is rotted inside the door. The reason I haven’t painted the trim yet is because it’s all wonky and weird and has to be worked on. Whoever put the door in didn’t trim it out right and we will have to try to fix things with some additional molding, so I will get to that eventually and get it fixed and painted. I did get the railing painted and installed again with my newly sprayed hardware on the right.
Outside, we got new gutters installed. That was huge too, since the house had no gutters at all. We found out from the neighbors that about 2 years ago, the new concrete siding was put on this house, as well as a new roof. When that was done, apparently, they didn’t replace the gutters and it has been gutter-less all this time. Not anymore! Yay for the new siding and roof, that is a biggy!
My dad worked on getting some shingles up on the little roof over the backdoor, so that is coming along too. It will be awhile before he finishes trimming it out completely and I’ll wait a bit before painting it all white, but one day it will really be cute.
He added some trim to the ends too and has a little more trimming out to do and then it will be ready to paint. He’s going to put some metal up in the ceiling part and I will paint it out. Pretty impressive, isn’t it, this little roof. How many almost 85 year old men can still do this? That Daddy o’mine is amazing!
Back in the kitchen, it is finally time to tear out the last wall of base cabinets that houses the sink. We left it as long as we could and now it’s time to rip it out.
He got off the old faux butcher block backsplash that was oh, so ugly. Behind that was more filth! This was such a dirty kitchen, it was unbelievable. But tearing everything down to the bare walls at least lets me get the walls primed and clean again.
Dad worked hard on getting those nails out that held the cabinets in place and finally we got them all out and in the backyard.
The old cabinets were so rickety and unstable and I’m so happy I didn’t try to keep them.
Because look what was behind just this row of cabinets. YUCK with a capital Y! More roach crap to get out of there.
Disgusting, I know!
So, I brought my primer out and got busy priming all those walls and at least covering up and sealing the filth.
And now at least it looks better and feels better.
Clean and white, I will take that. Now we have a blank canvas for those new kitchen cabinets from Ikea. Can’t wait to start on that, but first we’ve got hardwood floors to install. That’s going to be a big job and we are tackling that ourselves. Bought an angled floor nailer from Floor and Décor and we are ready to start nailing now. It might take us weeks, but we will get ‘er done eventually.
That’s it for this week. Hardwoods arrived on Tuesday and I’ll tell you all about those later.
Thanks as always for stopping by and following along on this house renovation journey! I appreciate all of you out there reading along.
Suzan says
Rhonda, Everything looks so nice. I can hardly wait to see your new hardwood floors. I bet this house is just breathing a huge sigh of relief for all of the love that you are putting into it.
Suzan
Ladybug Cottage
[email protected] says
Hi Rhoda,
I can just imagine how rewarding it is to see your home coming together. And it is just for you and your taste. It is looking amazing and has really increased in value since you started. I can’t wait for you to move in and be able to enjoy it. This makes me want to paint my house.
Becky says
Wow!!!! Everything is looking beautiful! I always look forward to your weekly progress pictures. Your house is going to look like a new house when you are finished. It’s lots of hard work… but so worth it. I know you will be so happy to move furniture in and start decorating. At the rate ya’ll are going it won’t be long!
Miss Kitty says
I adore painted paneling! That is one huge room to tackle and get paint into ALL THE GROOVES…what a job. Lookin’ good!
SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says
Rhoda, I am constantly amazed at what a difference paint makes- your bonus room looks 100 times better already, and I’m sure you’re so excited to get the rest of those cabinets out of the kitchen. The floor is going to be a ton of work- Richard & I did our bedroom, can’t imagine trying to do the whole house ourselves. Let me know when you get started on it and I’ll help however I can. Do you have a chop saw for trimming the boards?
Beth says
Just saw your update regarding a solution for your ceiling tiles. Love it!!! I was liking the suggestions of the tin ones…but these look fabulous and from the pictures I’ve seen of your old house, it seems these tiles would be great and fit in with your decor nicely. Very classy! Love the white color and they look like you’d have an expensive “paneled wood” ceiling. Have faith about the $$. Your blessing us and we know God is blessing you! It will all happen. I like that you are doing this sans credit and paying as you go. Wise decisions you are making. An example for all of us and you are inspiring so many! Good luck on replacing your stove too….great decision. I’m in the same boat and appliances are expensive. Hang in there….you’re doing great!
Jaye says
Looks AWESOME Rhoda! Thanks for staying so positive and upbeat. I know I find myself in a DIY hell at times and get so depressed. I just have to step away.
As for that ceiling – in the meantime you HAVE to paint it! And paint it a color so that it looks like you intended to put that ceiling in there. We had to put one in our basement but I painted it a coordinating color to the walls and it really doesn’t look that bad. Better than the commercial white! One word of caution though…take all the ceiling tiles out and paint them separately from the grid. If you paint them together, they’ll stick and the minute you need to pop one of those tiles up to get in there, there will be all sorts of issues! That stuff paints up real easy. Roller brush with a long pole with all the tiles laid out in the garage.
Keep up the inspiring work!
Jaye
nancy says
I’m just wondering if you’ve seen what behind those ceiling tiles? The reason I’m asking is because of the roaches from the kitchen. They could be behind those tiles also. Again, I marvel at your energy and how amazing yours parents are.
Kelly Reber says
I read a lot blogs everyday…. but the one I look forward to most of all are your house updates! It is looking so great! I cannot wait to see the finished product.
Delores LeBoeuf says
Whew! Was holding my breath until the white paint covered the paneling….looks phenom. The roof overhang at your back door is amazing and amazingly done……what beautiful work, Dad, WOW. I can surely see all of the tremendous accomplishments. So much progress………thnx for sharing. Love & Blessings, Lady Delores.
Amanda Barnett says
I can’t believe how fast you are moving along on this reno. I can’t wait to read them every week and each week I am amazed at what’s been done. I love and appreciate how you are reusing so much stuff and doing it yourself. Impressive!!! Love your blog.
Amanda
Suzanne says
I discovered your blog several months ago and just wanted to tell you how much I love it. I especially love to read the updates about your new house. Thanks for sharing with us! 🙂
Jeannie-JB says
My Mama and Daddy bought homes, fixed them up and sold them for over 20 years. Nine times out of ten, the person who bought the house would buy all of the furniture as well. The last house they remodeled was my Grandmother’s house in Alabama. That house had dark paneling in the family room, too. After it was painted white, the whole house looked lighter and brighter. I LOVE the Comfort Gray by Sherwin Williams and the very next wall I paint is going to be that color. I’m in awe of your Daddy and all he does – and you too, for that matter. I agree with all the others – HGTV missed an excellent opportunity for a great house makeover show. Love your blog!
Elaine in Laguna says
Wow…Dramatic changes in such a short time. love your weekly updates, and once you get these next big projects done, it’s smooth sailing! You and your parents remind me of our family here…A can do, roll up the sleeves attitude. All in all, beautiful, amazing and you’re going to be so comfortable there when it is finished! Keep your eye on the prize! Blessings to all!
Debbi in Texas says
You are going to love your house. I have been looking at ceiling tiles and found these as drop in alternatives, tin look style http://americantinceilings.com/dropin.html
Debbi in Texas says
You are going to love your house; great changes being made. Here is an alternative drop in ceiling tile: tin style which I love; can be found at http://americantinceilings.com/dropin.html
Connie McCallum says
OH MY GOSH Rhoda, the house is really coming along. It looks so GOOD. That family room is SO much better with the paneling painted! You are doing an awesome job! Your Dad is amazing too, bless his heart.
Always look forward to your posts on the house.
Mark E Tisdale says
Not always a fan of painting wood, but I agree, that old paneling from the 70’s doesn’t count and looks much better with paint. I lived in a little one room cabin/cottage in college that had an accent wall in that stuff?! What were they thinking?? It looked like a different place when they let me paint it.
On the ceilings, I remember a DIY show, I think Trading Spaces, where they cut and stained thin panels of luan to replace the ceiling tiles and painted the grid. Not the look you were going for exactly, but you might be able to paint them instead and paint/cover the grid to look like the panels you were considering – then again, it might end up a wash with the cost of materials and time to create your own version, just an idea!
Heidi @ Decor & More says
You (and your parents) never cease to amaze me, Rhoda! It must feel good to get everything primed and cleaned up and ready for the FUN stuff! Love your Comfort Gray — huge difference.
xo Heidi
Cathy says
You must be the hardest working woman in town! I love seeing the togetherness of you and your parents. I had meant to ask when you did an earlier post about the doors you painted. Are they solid core or what we used to call “luan” hollow core doors? The reason I wonder is that we are spiffing up our home to sell and we have those types of hollow core doors. It would be quite a coup if I could make them look as good as yours. Thanks. http://SemiBlonde.com
Rhoda says
Cathy, my doors are definitely luan type, hollow core, not solid at all. Everything in this house is basic, so anything I do will improve on it. Painting them made a big difference!