Many of us agree that Knotty (Pine) is Nice — but what about its flashier cousin, 1960s-1970s wood paneling that got kinda … designy? Elisabeth is new to her 1968 house and her eyes are a bit in shock at her two-tone inlaid wall paneling. This sure must have been hip back in the day. She asks us: Should it stay or should it go?
Hi,
I’ve just purchased a 1964 home. It is exciting but a bit overwhelming. There is a lot of paneling in the house. Looking at the May 1968 House and Garden magazine I can identify it as Georgia-Pacific Inlaid Paneling. I know it was marketed as the affordable option to real wood inlay work. It is not tongue and groove and it is not knotty pine. I am in a quandary as to whether to keep it. If it were real wood I would not have a question. I don’t mind trying to keep it with the intent of staying in keeping with the spirit of the times. However I would probably need some kind of confirmation that it is a good idea. My first instinct was “ugh, paneling”. I am new to this. Also the expense of remove and replace is weighing on me. Thanks for your time and any advice.
Best,
Elisabeth
Wow, Elisabeth, you are so ingenious to find that ad. Which wood is ‘yours’? Elm with walnut inlay? Pecan with walnut inlay? Cherry with walnut inlay? Or Walnut with pecan inlay? Surely a reader will know.
I have my own opinions, of course, but first, let’s hear from readers:
Should Elisabeth keep her circa-1970s paneling…
Or should she rip it out or paint over it?
Anita says
We have a ton of painted paneling in our 1939 house that was wreckovated throughout its history. Maybe you will have better luck, but ours looks just awful painted and it chips and peels off all over the place. All the ambiance of a little tykes playhouse. We tore it out in one room, returning to the plaster and it turned a dark, creepy room into a showpiece. The before and afters are amazing.
My vote is to get rid of it. Unequivocally – BLECH!
Elisabeth says
I understand. I am really going to have to get a feel for it. thank you.
Murray says
I think that’s the stuff we put up in our Columbus OH house in’78! It’s had it’s day – not everything from that era was great. Sometimes, you just collect your own taste through the years and if your inner voice has reservations, take it down. I think you’ll be happier. If I was still in that home, I’d have it long gone.
Denise says
As to whether it stays or you do something with it depends on its context in the room and the overall interior of the house. I would love to see a picture of the room and the house to see what direction you wish to go in.
Robert E. Oakes says
I’d keep some of it as a nod to the home’s history, and it can make for a great era-correct feel. I wouldn’t hit paint the other walls, though, I’d have them textured to match the rest of the house. My brother had his paneling textured over, and the ridges have never re-appeared as crack lines.
Nancy says
I am in both corners. My parents house was filled with knotty pine in all the bedrooms and they were all painted which not a soul regretted. When I bought my first house the dining room was a dark wood paneling with flocked wallpaper above to the ceiling. It was enough just to take the flocked wall paper up to lighten up the room and it was actually a very cozy dining room with a lot of light coming in from the slumped glass window and the living room. I was happy to keep the wood original because the paneling was beautiful wood.
Barbara Caldwell says
We have paneling in pur kitchen and I hate it. Also in the 3rd bedroom/office which is not so bad. My opinion is this was an u*** [edited] trend. It must go!
judy h. says
BTW, Has the “KNOTTY IS NICE” blog been retired?? I so enjoyed it!
Pam Kueber says
it’s still there! https://knottyisnice.com/
judy h. says
Elisabeth should most definitely paint her panel! I think the “newer” dark panel of the 60s and 70s is dark and suffocating. There are an abundance of colors and treatments which would look beautiful and give her room a nice sense of light.
Our home was built in 1953. In the den, all four walls are knotty pine, finished with a slighty “buff” tinted but mostly clear natural satin glaze treatment. One wall has floor to ceiling bookcases and cabinets and another wall features a large 5″x7′ window We’ve tried to find the product used on our walls for 22 years had no luck. All this to say, the room is very light, not like the dark shiny varnished look of most knotty pine. Even with the light and brightness of the room, we still discuss the possibility of painting the room a rich cream color.
Ernie says
I do remodels and retromodels on a daily basis. Clients are always ready to tear out and remodel as soon as they move in, in some cases before that. I always tell them if they are undecided, just live with it for a few months to see what their lifestyle pattern is in the new home. You might really like it once you get your furniture and live in the house awhile. My preference in this case would be to leave it as one accent wall or if it is a full room, cut it down and use it as wainscoting with a nice chair rail on top. That way you get to keep some of the old with some of the new.
Rick G says
Oh, I like your idea, I hadn’t thought of cutting it down to chair rail height – great option
Elisabeth says
haha there is already some chair rail height in there too, on an opposing wall but separate area. I might think about letting that go to help tone things down a bit. not sure yet.
Angie says
I have found that a lot of things about my old house have grown on me over time. I say keep it for at least a year then reevaluate.