Yes: A 1953 knotty pine den with an original wallpapered ceiling. This is so inspiring, it takes my breath away. When they first moved in, Brian & Keri (of the the 1953 retro kitchen remodel) were not thrilled with the wallpaper. But, they waited a while before taking it down — and now they love it. Brian explains:
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Hi Pam-Our den is small, with alot of furniture in it, so these were the best photos I could get for you.
.When we first bought the house, we were less than crazy about the wallpaper ceiling and planned to remove the wallpaper. However, over time the ceiling grew on us. The wallpaper on the ceiling makes the room darker and appear smaller, but gives it a cozy feel.
.Most people paint over the knotty pine. We love the honey color of the wood, so we plan to leave it alone. We were told the original owners who lived here for 50 years smoked like chimneys, which may account for that lovely dark honey knotty pine. The only thing the room is missing is a deer head mounted on the wall.– Brian
Thank you, Brian, for fulfilling my request to, like, go lay down on the floor of your knotty pine den and take photos in which we could see furniture+walls+ceiling. Did Keri laugh her head off? Gold star!
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Vintage wallpaper on the ceiling of my paneled den! Vintage wallpaper on the ceiling of my paneled den! I want vintage wallpaper on the ceiling of my paneled den! Cozy is good.
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Vintage wallpaper on the ceiling of my paneled den! Vintage wallpaper on the ceiling of my paneled den! I want vintage wallpaper on the ceiling of my paneled den! Cozy is good.
One of the most important lessons
of Retro Renovation:
And, here’s a repeat of that super duper important Retro Renovation principal: LIVE WITH YOUR HOUSE A YEAR, at the least, before you go rippin’ vintage things out (unless there are environmental or safety factors, of course.) Save the regrets by taking it slow. Learn the house you’re in; Love the house you’re in.
Jody says
I love the advice at the end of this post! We just bought a midcentury split-level sweetheart, with some quirks, but I promise we’ll live with it for a year before making decisions.
That said.. we’re getting rid of the giant floor-to-ceiling 80s mirrors in the dining room. Can’t convince us otherwise on that one.
Ann reid says
Our small Dutch Colonial was built in 1923, but our walls-and -ceiling Knotty Pine kitchen was probably from the late ’50s-early ’60s. One whole corner is a floor to ceiling red brick curved fireplace, which never really drew well, and couldn’t be fixed without tearing it all out and starting from scratch, so we had a cream colored ceramic gas fired stove added two years ago that we love. I’d have to be dragged out feet first before I’d give up my wonderful kitchen!
Christa says
I love this room! That wallpaper is perfection.
I really want to thank Pam for inspiring me with the “love the house you’re in” mantra. It’s difficult when you first move into a house to appreciate why certain design choices were made. Plus, for me, I FINALLY owned my own home, where I can design things to my own personal taste. The thing is, the HOUSE has it’s own logic, and in a way it’s like having a kid – you don’t really get to dictate what it becomes, you have to listen to what it needs. With patience, I was able to make some design changes that allowed my original cabinets, counters and fixtures to stay in place. It saved me money, saved the environment (no new resources used, no old ones dumped), and I’m very happy with how it looks. And honestly, it was this website that made me think harder about ways to use what I have. Kudos, Pam!
pam kueber says
xoxoxo!
Betty Crafter says
Divine! The wallpaper on the ceiling is a perfect compliment to the lovely knotty pine 🙂 So glad to see “naughty” pine is enjoying a renewed appreciation! Much of my house is knotty pine (kitchen, dining, and living) and everyone that comes over really loves it. No one has recommended we paint it yet! Although I do think it really helps to have something like that wallpaper ceiling to break it up. In our case our green VCT does the trick I think, combined with large windows and a stone fireplace.
Just another Pam says
What a sweetheart of a house! That corner unit is amazing….the wood is gorgeous!
Just another Pam says
Sorry, I’m sick as a pup and missed a comma in the first sentence run on sentence, Pam. Blush.
Raw linseed oil is not applicable to finishing wood, it’s the stuff used to mix with oil paints. When used large surfaces outside bugs will stick to it before it sets up….ewwwwww
Boiled linseed oil is but it never fully dries, I used it on plank flooring in my log house because it would quickly age the planks and collect grime over time….sounds gross but it works well to age floors. I used it on some furniture I really wanted to look like barn finds but other wise always used teak oil as it was slower to set up and I could get it hand dried before it streaked.
On walls of raw wood it would not really be mid-century after a few years.
Oil finishes need to be maintained by more oil. Work intensive. Sometimes wax, but still labour intensive.
Wood darkens with normal exposure to light so the amber shellac turns this to die for colour in the photos with a combination of it, time, light and smoke…maybe on the smoke if it’s finished, I don’t know. Shellac also doesn’t much like water.
If Pledge or anything with silicon has been used on wood it can fish eye when you refinish it.
Sorry to be a buzz kill but I’d cry if I finished a whole room only to find bugs stuck in it as the oil turned to glue on the walls and wanted to help anyone avoid that.
TappanTrailerTami says
Ahhh….finally! A benefit from smoking! LOL. What a gorgeous room, and the fireplace and wallpaper on the ceiling are the crowning glories.
I might suggest for those looking for a similar wallpaper to look at Graham & Brown…..this is a nice paper, comes in 5 colors, and if you smoke enough, should turn a nice seasoned nicotine color (just kidding)…
http://www.grahambrown.com/us/product/50-153/Lacework+-+moss+color+way/3
Oooh….just spotted this one, very reminiscent of vintage linoleum! If it’s good enough for the floor, it would really be fun on a ceiling too, I think!
http://www.grahambrown.com/us/product/50-256/Grid%3A+Rock+in+Mink
pam kueber says
wow, these sure are nice. hey: i met AMY BUTLER at Alt this year! She reads the blog! But please, don’t take up smoking to get the patina! For wallpaper, Ralph Lauren makes an immediate patina, called SMOKE of course: https://retrorenovation.com/2010/01/12/ralph-lauren-faux-aging-glaze-for-wallpaper-and-wood/
Millie says
There is a house with an almost identical living room for sale in my neighborhood and I am praying that someone who appreciates it buys it. It has a matching knotty pine kitchen too!
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6-Knollwood-Rd-Rhinebeck-NY-12572/30138568_zpid/
Keri says
Hi everyone,
When we moved in, I dusted the walls and then rubbed them down with Howard’s Feed-n-wax. Same people that make the Restore-a-finish line of products, which I also love. It brought the finish back nicely, and smells like oranges as an added bonus. I don’t think I’d have the patience for giving the walls a shellacking…
Keri
Just another Pam says
Oh my, Alice, not linseed oil, even boiled the only kind you should use on your already finished panelling unless it already has an oil finish. Even then it probably isn’t a good choice as it never completely dries….yes, it seems dry but it sucks up dirt and grime forever and those oily rags you heard about starting fires, this is the oil.
There are much more stable oils to choose from if your wood is raw but otherwise talk to an expert as Pam so rightly said that colour usually comes from amber shellac made from insect wings and other ‘stuff’, I forget what. It dries very quickly which may account for your streaking. You can still buy it but the odour is tremendous and you for sure want open windows and fans blowing fumes out. Probably a vapour mask too.
There may well be an amber poly you could use, check with a professional at your paint store.
pam kueber says
I don’t know what you’re supposed to do. Me no know.