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?
Elisabeth writes:
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?
Holland says
With its nicely defined grooves and booked grain pattern, Elizabeth has paneling that’s elevated far above the typical stuff. It’d be nice to see how much there is, en scene, because features like the ceiling, floor and lighting can completely transform the feeling of “too much” or “too dark.” I’d love to see some colorful and bright, large abstracts hung on that background. How they would pop!
Elisabeth says
sounds cool!
Jacki O says
Good advice from Elisabeth McKechnie. People, contractors and acquaintances have tried to get me to paint my all wood birch cabinets, and replace my in perfect condition gold Formica counters. Lived in our “Brady Bunch house” 3 years now. So glad I didn’t listen to those folks. Love all my original features of our 70’s rancher. :). Live with it a while before you decide.
Jeff says
I enjoy doing period renovations – i.e. I presently live in a 1949 house, I want it to seem like a fresh 1949 house. If the paneling is from a later time than the house was built, I wouldn’t feel the need to keep it. Unless I simply like it. I would echo the recommendations to live with it a while. You can replace it at any time you’re sure you want to, and when know what you wish to replace it with. I’ve done exactly that with a previous house and really enjoyed the results. Good luck!
KStacey says
I kind of think of my house as a progressing vintage, not something that has to be 1960. I’ll admit to not embracing much past the 70s, but I’m probably the typical Gen Xer, basing my style on “Grandma’s house”. And even grandma got new things/upgrades from time to time during my childhood. We will not talk about my uncle ripping out grandma’s pink kitchen complete with pink steel cabinets and a pink sink and stove and … yeah. My therapist says not to revisit that trauma, and focous on my own pink kitchen. Lol!!
Elisabeth McKechnie says
We moved into a house with knotty pine paneling and wooden kitchen cabinets. I was ready to paint everything but my husband talked me out of it. Now, 5 years later, I concede that I like what we have. I realized that painted cupboards are all the rage TODAY, but in 10 years will look passe (and so will granite countertops!), while honest decoration from time past will be unique and desirable. So, I’m keeping my formica counter top, knotty pine and wooden cabinets for the future. For your house, live with it a while and you may find that you like having a home with its own vibe that’s different from everyone else!
Marie Gamalski says
Sincerely can’t think of ANYTHING I detest more than granite countertops…. sigh…
Laurie says
So dark! I would remove it.
Retro Retro says
There are lots of ways to “lighten” up the look of the room without touching the paneling however.
Leslie says
We have paneling like that, and love it. PLEASE let me know if you get rid of it–I could totally use it somewhere.
jani says
I agree with some others, Keep it for a while. When we moved into our 1905 house, a couple of rooms had white ceiling tiles. I thought they were awful, and I wanted to change them. But, I’ve lived with them for a while,2 years actually, and I love them now. They remind me of my grandmom’s beach house and they just feel right in our beach cottage. You might end up loving the paneling!
Whitney says
Out mid-century rancher has tons of wood paneling. The real mahogany we left alone. The cheaper and thinner veneer we painted over. I love the look of painted paneling, unless it’s the real thing, and then I would leave it alone. So, we basically have a mixture that flows nicely while keeping the house mostly original. I definitely wouldn’t rip it out.
Lilly says
It doesn’t look like cheap low quality big box store paneling. I would keep it as long as it wasn’t rotted or moldy.
It has a very Mad Men vibe to it.
Linda says
I have a vivid memory from the early 1960s of Dad installing paneling in the kitchen of our 100-year-old rural home. Paneling was his solution to crumbling plaster walls, and I remember him pushing hard against what was left of one wall so the thin paneling would lie flat. We kids thought the wood grain paneling with a greenish cast was beautiful. Mom still owns the home.