I am assuming that the dark colour of the wood is natural and not stained (hard to tell from the photos). If that is the case then if you decide to keep the natural wood look, then I agree with the previous comment that it looks too busy. One option might be to paint over the wall paper (depending on its condition of course). That would get rid of the busy wallpaper pattern and help to offset the darker colours of the wood and slate, whilst keeping the room light. Here is a link if that idea interests you "2 Easy ways to paint over Wallpaper"

Thank you everyone. The paint I'm looking at using doesn't come in a semi-gloss but does have a satin, is that similar/the same?
With the picture rail, I assume you're suggesting painting all the trimmings the same colour and picture rail trim, above that, the part between the picture rail trim and the ceiling trim, should I paint it the same collour as the trim or the ceiling? And with the ceiling, would going "ceiling white" look too drastic if everything else is off white? Should I get it tinted?
Thank you for your help so far!

Hi Melissa,

We suggest painting all the doors and frames the same colour - preferably a glossy white. Although wooden colour is beautiful, if the doors are quite dated it would be perfect to freshen up the atmosphere with white paint.

Best of luck with your project!

The Schneider Electric Team

I agree, paint all trims white.

Thank you. I've already had it in mind of getting rid of the wallpaper. It's peeling in places anyway so wouldn't be a good base to paint over and would just cause more issues in the future if it peeled more. And I'm getting paint from the local Paint Place because they had the best quality paint around me and great pricing and very helpful. Would recommend the independent paint places. Been to 3 and they've all been lovely and helpful!

glosses are different between enamel & acrylic ie semi gloss enamel (need turps) is more like gloss acrylic (water based) - so check the look you want and ask the paint people which name it is for the look you want.

Try and remove the wallpaper - go to your local bunnings or your paint shop and hire a steamer - will make it quicker for you.... check out first how they pasted the wallpaper in a hidden spot cause if they used ghastly glue it can be a swine to remove but it may simply peel off (fingers crossed for that type).

Get rid of the wallpaper definitely!. It looks like it might be vinyl, in which case a steamer is useless. I've found nothing better than lots of hot water (+sugar soap) and a massive scraper. The good thing about vinyl is once you get a good go of it, it comes away in 1 sheet.

I cringe at the thought of painting those architraves. It can be a bit of a no win situation....it's old (oil) stained timber (which will really resist new paint), will need sanding and then a truckload of Zinser to seal it, then probably oil-based enamel to prevent chipping which I've found the water-based enamels so prone to doing (especially on difficult surfaces like this). Then the oil based enamel will yellow in a couple of years.

Without having any idea your budget or how handy you are- is it worth looking at removing all the architraving and replacing it? It isn't a big job, and would allow you to put some bigger skirting on. This way you can paint the whole lot white, no fuss or worry about bleed through or yellowing- getting a consistent result in a water-based enamel. You'd just need to be careful of not disturbing the plaster- it might be asbestos.

Agree with auks. Seeing its an old house you probably have a lot of enamel paint which will require a primer before you put the acrylic. Don't be overwhelmed by all the feedback - it is to arm you so that you can prepare properly and ask all your questions so that you do it right and not find out after you have done it that you should have done it another way and you have spent all this time.

Dulux now make a good primer (and isn't as smelly as the older type primers and it is an "acrylic" which you CAN place over enamel paint!!!) to put over highgloss enamel/varnish but you do need to wait a few days (I think min of 1 day for setting/gripping) before applying your acrylic colour. Primer can also be tinted to the colour you wish to finally use with your paint colour. Cause you are dealing with varnish I would still give a light sand, even though you might be told you may not need to with the newer type of primers, which will give the primer more gripping power.

I would sand up a spot of the painted areas and see what is underneath - in reality you will find if you just strip the painted doors they will then look different to the wooden ones so they will both need to be treated the same. I agree with you about the wood and stone together it creates a good mid century vibe which is timeless.

Re ceiling white - it is pretty hard with natural materials - I would look at a low percentage tint of a Resene white which picks up the tones in the fireplace- 1/ 8th Thorndon Cream possibly.

The walls will look better painted - don't go too dark - look at a double or triple of the ceiling colour. The warmth of the wood doors would be helpful with these colours, good accent colours would be warm orange, rust tones creams and a little black here and there.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are good - possibly polished floors under the carpet - it may be possible to have a peek in an unused corner . This may influence your decisions with the doors.

Depening on whether you want to just spruce it up or renovate it for the future i would look at removing the picture rails and plastering for a paint finish.

As it seems quite bitsy and busy with the current finishes it is important to use the same paint tone to blend - decide on one or two features and conceal the rest. All the best with your plans.

Given its your money...

I look at the room and would pull the carpet and wall paper, paint the walls a natural tone, doors and trims gloss white and invest in some nice door hardware and drapes. Maybe extend the slate all the way to the ceiling or put some thing above it. Should be a nice space when you're done.

Hi

agree with Scott, pull the carpet & refurbish the wooden floors, use rugs for contrast/ colour/warmth, stone above fireplace to the ceiling, remove doors for open feeling, skirts/arches left paint in one eighth the strength of the walls, so base is the same giving you a more subtle a likeness, update fireplace with gas log fire, put in wooden stained chunky mantle above fireplace and mirror to reflect light around the room, also give sense of space. Colours should be continued thought out with only soft furnishings as your colour splashes, easier to keep up with colour trends then, main wall colours to be sift neutral maybe on trend soft grey or greige (beige with grey tones)

surprisingly cheap to recover your couches in lighter neutral tones to make areas appear bigger or if budget allows, look for furniture that fits your rooms

goid luck, I am looking forward to the reposted finished project

My house is a similar age to yours. I stripped off the wallpaper and needed to have the walls skimmed (thin finishing plaster coat applied by professional) before painting as the old plaster surface was not finished to a paint quality finish. I then painted my lounge with a darkish grey-blue and ALL the joinery white - timber doors, wooden window frames, skirtings and architraves, ceiling etc. Curtains are white with a smoky leaf pattern. Looks fantastic.

I used a chartreuse green in the kitchen/dining, same white on all the timber. Lovely sunny spring colour.

And in bedroom used Resene Tasman which is a pale watery gray-green, with a delicate patterned wallpaper on one wall. Trims all white - lovely restful room.

So I would definately recommend painting all the trims doors etc white, then go with your gut on the walls. And dont be afraid of colour! And heres a suggestion; if you cant afford at this time to get the walls skimmed, just paint on top of the wallpaper (do a bit of patching first if you have to) - hang lots of art and use pretty cushions to decorate your room. It'll look grand!

Ooo! Have to see what I can do!

In my last house, after adding a living room (the area you see this side of the arch) and also updating bathroom
etc I couldn't afford to reline the ancient walls in my little lounge (when I removed the purple wallpaper I found a mixmax of boards, gib, pinex, plywood and holes!) so I
plastered walls all over with layers and layers of newspaper and
wallpaper paste (papier mache), then after applying primer/undercoat I painted with 2 similar colours (rich reds in this
case), and stippled the surface with a plastic bag. This made it look
just very slightly textured like leather and successfully disguised the
uneven surfaces. Gallons of gap filler filled the gaps between the old
T&G ceiling boards and evened out the mismatched skirting and scotia. Again white paint on all the trims. Amazing what can be done when you have to make do! This was a great cosy little room! (Before photo is the 3rd one)

@nancymiller48, just lovely

We've decided to remove the wooden door because the wall behind it is more beneficial to us than the door being there. So with that, we'll be removing the pelmet from above the windows and painting them.
We're looking at replacing the skirtings with this style:

Your plan will really lighten and brighten your home, good to take your time..you will get there in the end.

Hi Melissa, I think this is a great decision. You will have a fabulous result that you will not regret. If you are doing the skirting and picture rails- it isn't a big leap to then do architraves. You are guaranteed a consistent colour result that way all around.

I do remember 'accidently' stripping wall paper from horsehair plaster around 10yr at a reno we did in Goulburn. What a nightmare!!. Little did we know it was there. And little did we know the damn ugly wallpaper was holding the very fragile, flimsy horsehair plaster together! In hindsight- we would of left the wallpaper and wallpapered more neutral over the top. We were renovating to sell, and it was too late. Worst paint job ever!

I know I'm not helping your budget ;-)