It’s your house. Do what u like. Why don’t you start in the darkest area and see how you feel. Taking down the net curtains will also let in light

I love it. So rich and warm. Furniture would break it up and textured rug.

Wow it's gorgeous.  I'm usually not a fan of that much timber but it truly is stunning.  If it was me I'd try to find ways to add extra windows instead

Yes it would be a crime. You risk turning the panelling into looking like a white Pinterest DIY Board and Batten project. It’s a nice look but backwards compared to what you have now. Blinds you can raise fully, light coloured vintage-y rugs with texture and light furniture (and not top much of it) all couple with updated light fittings would add up to lovely spaces. I live with quite a lot of original hardwood - floors, trims, some cabinetry and some panelling (nowhere as nice as yours) and I’ve been debating with myself for over 10years to live it or lighten it. So far it’s stayed as is. But have what you love.

Thanks so much everyone. i sdore the house and want to do the right thing by it. My first instinct was to get rid if the curtains, and play up to the timber with gorgeous rugs, an art gallery up

the stairs and clean-lined furniture (avoiding too much wood) It seems i wasn‘t too far off the mark!

It's not a crime to paint it. While it's beautiful, it's not unique, it's just a house. However I do think you could lighten the space a lot without painting and I would personally leave the beautiful timber.

As mentioned I'd remove the net curtains and add light furnishings. But I'd also change the lighting to a brighter daylight tone light (not yellow).

I would also look at your garden and prune anything that's blocking light from entering. If the garden outside is dark and shady it doesn't matter what you do inside it will always be dark.

The timber is really beautiful  but there is just too much of it with the timber staircase. There is no contrast and is too overpowering and heavy. I would paint the staircase wall and lighten up your lovely space without detracting from the rest of the timber. An art wall up the staircase as you have suggested would look lovely.

Do what you like , but I'd look at it differently -- add some plants in white pots , modern lighter toned rugs ( yes , a bit of work with dirt ) , some big abstract art but in a frame that has 120-150mm of white before you reach the frame and/or use white frames . If you can , add a couple of brass wall fittings each room , with white or wheat shades . Too dark ? Turn a light on ! The white shades alone ( combined with maybe a white lamp on a table , and art with some white , and lighter rugs , will all lighten the look -- it is an optical illusion , as no more light is coming in , but it looks lighter .

Living in a very similar climate I woud say, get rid of all curtains or blinds, cut cut/ clear any vegetation away fr the house and leave the timber.

You would have red soil and high humidity, the unpainted timber will have less mould and not show red soil marks.

Some great suggestions, you could really make a statement in this gorgeous room, I would go a bit contemporary to highlight its gorgeous features, a beautiful light rug, a table with a black frame, white top, a modern chandelier, black and white planters.. gorgeous

Or a bench seat, large artwork or a mirror to reflect light, if you wanted window coverings maybe day/night roller blinds would look beautiful, artwork up the stairs , maybe change the wall sconces for a bit of an update, it’s a beautiful room, show it off .

Agree. Get rid of the net curtains. If you need privacy at night, light-coloured blinds that you can roll all the way up in the daytime. Light furniture, rugs, artworks. Better light fittings.

Paint the stair handrail and timber piece below (I don’t know the technical term) in white to match ceiling but leave beautiful panelling. Then agree with previous comments- large light rug will lighten the floor and lots of lots of colourful art on walls with modern furniture.

The timber is beautiful but it makes your rooms look smaller because it is so dark. I would love to see it painted white it would brighten the room and make it look bigger. You can then colour with your furnishings and paintings and a few plants etc.

Also add new light fittings

Thanks again everyone. I totally agree with so much of this! We hate the curtains but had to put something there while the place was tenanted. My plan so far is for very discreet blinds, if anything. There is a bench seat going in under the stairs, an art gallery up the stairs and wrought iron balustrades. We’re deepening an existing window at the top of the stairs to throw extra light down the stairwell and into the dining room. All the existing lights will go. After that, we’ll revist the paint!

Absolutely paint it. It will look stunning you have a nice box ceiling and its quiet low so the white will open up the space. Don't be afraid its just a wood.

Try the least permanent things first.

I agree with the comments to add in lightness using other details like furniture, light fixtures & removing net curtains.

See how that goes. If it is enough.

For me, I'd be asking when the paint-it-all-white fad ends, would I still like the all-white look? Or miss that beautiful timber & regret the paint?

Your home has that natural timeless style.

We are all diff. I like to see it in others home but not mine

I just noticed that you've got vintage light switches beside the door. So many beautiful features. Please post photos after you first go at lifting the space without painting yet. Good luck.

You could keep the timber and add light coloured rugs, white linen curtains and furniture to take away from all the dark wood, but I think if you did paint it, you would not regret it. You still have great detail on the walls and living in a dark house is actually depressing. I have the same dilemma in our house. We have lovely timber ceilings but combined with wide verandahs shading the windows , it is just too dark so have made the decision to paint the ceilings white.