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Sometime earlier this month I unveiled our newly painted family room. We I decided I was tired of the rich, red walls and ready for a change to a slightly more neutral setting.
I asked my loyal readers, all 6 of them, 🙂 what their thoughts were on painting the ceiling white, like the fireplace, French doors and entertainment center, and each person was wholeheartedly in favor of the idea.
I casually mentioned this fact to Hubby and he acted as though I had asked him to run naked down the freeway. This got me to thinking of the various blog sites that had shared similar stories where they were longing to paint their paneled, orangey pine walls white, and husbands far and wide responded anywhere from mild protestation to downright forbidding such appalling violation of the natural beauty and appeal of wood sans paint.
What is it about men and wood?!
I can appreciate natural wood as much as the next guy, or girl, but there are times when a room needs the lift of a little paint. Besides, the ceiling in our family room is very inexpensive wood, tongue and grove so it’s not as if I’m asking Hubby to paint over burl wood or mahogany.
I do love natural wood in a cabin setting in the woods, like the beauty above. In a horse stable (below), sign me up. There is nothing like it.
Great, old wood floors are amazing. I’ve seen some attractive painted wood floors but I don’t believe I would ever paint my hardwood floors. See, I can be reasonable about wood.
If our ceiling was made from wood such as the two rooms below, I’d want it to be left natural, honest.
This is more like it…see how clean and nice this ceiling looks, that’s the look I’m going for.
And finally…this room probably gives men everywhere the best of both worlds. The ceiling is white but also has wonderful natural wood beams to off set the paint. The fireplace over mantle appears to be recycled wood.
What do you think, there’s no right or wrong answer. It’s what you love and feel comfortable with, right?
Garden, Home & Party 
Kifus said:
White! White! White! White! Lol, your hubby’s going to strangle me! You could go with a: Ok, dear, it’s your choice> white ceiling or white floors? Or better still, just show him this post. I hope you can convince him.
Looking at the images once again and oh, my goodness, Karen. What have you done to me? I want to live in a stable now!
Karen B. said:
Kifus,
LOL! Yep, I think we just about pushed hubby over the edge, he’s agreed to the white ceiling. He knows when he’s outnumbered. 🙂
You are so funny! A stable could be good if it looked like the image I posted, don’t you think? 🙂
xo,
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
I don’t know what it is about men and wood but they go together like peanut butter and jelly! My hubby like to collect wood. Yup, he just likes to stack it up and look at it. He has it stashed in several spots around our property. Talk about weird!
I still say paint the ceiling. Lyn will love it.
Linda
Karen B. said:
Linda,
I have to laugh but it does seem universal, men just can’t give up the ghost on their love of wood. I’ll have to ask to see Tom’s collection of wood. 🙂
Karen
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes said:
Karen,
I would have asked Paul his opinion, but that would necessitate explaining how some women are respectful of their husband’s preferences…
I have a special aversion to unfinished pine. At our old house, we had a finished basement. And we had a bath, utility room, and laundry down there. And Paul bought pine doors for all the rooms and did NOT paint or stain them. And frankly I hated them. He was just finishing the basement right before we were married, and I didn’t really feel like I could tell him that I LOATHED the doors. I probably said I loved them (oh the good old days). But I thought they looked dated. At some point, before we sold the house, I did suggest we paint them. He looked at me like I was crazy… why paint perfectly good doors? Now, of course I’d be happy to trade my house problems for some pine doors…
In your ceiling’s defense it doesn’t look too yellow. It looks kind of creamy, rather than the horrible yellow I usually associate with pine…
Karen B. said:
Victoria,
No sense in opening a can of worms in your home with the topic. But Paul’s comment when asked to paint the doors sums it up, “Why paint perfectly good doors”. I suspect that is most men’s take on wood, why paint it when it’s perfectly good the way it is. Alas, I’ve won the battle and will be painting (or rather our painter will be painting) the ceiling in the new year. I have to wait until after our son’s wedding in December…more outgoing $$$ than in a normal year. TMI. The ceiling was stained with a single coat of white stain, which is why it doesn’t look as yellow as some pine.
I haven’t seen all of your home but the parts that are finished are so spectacular that you must know you’re on track to having the home of your dreams, sans the view and the ballroom, right?
Karen
Carla said:
Karen..I love the walls neutral and will LOVE the white painted ceiling when you get that finished. The family room looks wonderful now but I think you will be soooo happy when you have finished that last detail and can give a sigh of appreciation for a job well done. Who said men should even have an opinion about home decor? I thought that was what we got in exchange for the rigors of childbirth? XOXOXOCARLA
Keri said:
How nice! I hope you guys have a great time!
Thanks for your words of support today on my post. It means a lot!
Keri
aimee {sixteen fourteen} said:
Ugh!!! We need a support group of some kind. I feel your pain completely. I’ve been eyeing a coffee table that I’m planning to defile with some paint the minute my husband is looking the other way. 😉
Karen B. said:
Count me in…we can share our hubby stories and design interests! 🙂
Karen
kellygray620418449 said:
This post is so funny and so TRUE! I live with natural stained wood trimmed windows and doors and wood doors…and I have told him that if I outlive him the first thing I am doing (at age 95 of course!) is paint all those darn doors and trim pieces. I did paint the playroom closet doors, but that room is kind of an exception to the rule. Can’t wait to see how the ceiling looks!