Have you all noticed the white paneling that is half way up the walls all over the SO house? Is this simply called "white paneling"? I'm asking b/c I'm seeing it more and more on the home flip shows that seem to originate in California.

Decorating trends tend to start out there and I'd like to recreate this look using the 70's faux wood paneling that is half way up the wall in my mom's family room. Who knew that if we waited long enough, our home decor would circle around and come back into style..hehe

I'm just not sure what color of paint to get. Would you call that paneling whitewashed (which would require watered down paint) or simply white paint or creamy white? Thanks for any suggestions.

• RE: SO house decorating question - white paneling,Snidget, 08:37 AM, 03-29-06
  • RE: SO house decorating question - white paneling,cleogrl, 08:56 AM, 03-29-06
    • RE: SO house decorating question - white paneling,florabunda, 11:05 AM, 03-29-06
      • RE: SO house decorating question - white paneling,Shazbot, 01:20 PM, 03-29-06
        • RE: SO house decorating question - white paneling,SOWayz, 10:31 PM, 03-29-06
• RE: SO house decorating question - white paneling,JavaT, 06:23 AM, 03-30-06

LAST EDITED ON 03-29-06 AT 08:40 AM (EST)

I think this is the term you are looking for: WAINSCOTING

Here is a site that sells it. That style goes in and out of fashion over time, but has been around for quite a while.

http://elitecrownmoldings.com/home.php?cat=36

ETA: To paint the existing paneling you might want to talk to the home supply place. You might need to sand or prime it to really get the paint to stick. I'd go with a white or cream that looks good with the other colors in the room.

Thanks so much for the info and link.

I figured I would need to sand and probably prime the faux wood paneling.

And along the top of the wainscotting, there should be a piece of molding, running all the way around the room. Painted the same color as the wainscotting. You can buy lengths of it at home depot type places. It's called a chair rail. I think your plan to paint will brighten up the room and make it feel bigger. Good luck.

Florabunda

Strange... I had a dream last night of all things - white panelling, maybe it's going in subliminally. Oh-oh, what else is going in subliminally?

The most popular wood for that look is "bead board" which is sold as paneling or as 2 1/2 inch strips. You can also paint over existing paneling, and detail it by adding a horizontal strip of moulding at wainscotting height. The best white paint in the world is Benjamin Moore White Dove, it goes with everything

Read your post and thought I'd add that in the first house we owned, we had a small paneled den. I painted the paneling in there, and before I did so, was advised by the people at the home supply place that I did need to prime it. They told me to paint it with a product called Kilz (http://www.kilz.com/) which deadens the shine on the paneling, for one thing. Makes the surface "paintable."