The above townhouse was owned by a designer in Hamilton Heights and shows the two variations. At top, one can see that the natural woodwork pops nicely with a saturated green hue. Rich colors in blues a reds also work to achieve the same affect. For a cooler modern variation, white painted woodwork can be accented with neutral pastel green, blue and gray shades for an interesting update. The final element that adds a third layer of contrast is the dark stained floors which add depth to the overall look of the interior.
The original brownstones massive woodwork, moldings and other details are so rich in themselves, a white background brings them out and the resulting interior is naturally gorgeous. Any more color takes away from the natural beauty. I am all for natural wood details and floors and exposed brick and white walls.
ReplyDeleteI used to think it sacriligious to paint wood! However, many of the townhomes in Harlem seem to be overwhelmed with wood features that drag the interiors down and make them too heavy. This coupled with the old wallpapers often seen in vintage photos made Victorian interiors oppressive. Painting the wood brightens the interiors considerably.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, old wallpaper and rich drapes can look oppressive but I still think it sacrilegious to paint over natural wood, even though painted wood can look very nice. I prefer to work with and celebrate what is existing rather than sanitize it.
DeleteI used to think it was sacrilegious to paint over wood too but not anymore. I painted all the wood trim in my Victorian home because all the darkness of the wood was giving it a different feel and look to the home. I have been in some brownstones where there is so much dark natural wood that it was depressing and even scary to be in it at night.
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