COLOUR corrector

Regular readers will know the story of the first time I saw my current home – although the space was beautiful, it was also very dark, with a ton of wood panelling. I thought I’d just paint all the woodwork white (I believe the exact expression I used was “I want to explode cans of white paint everywhere.”), and the idea caused serious strife between me and my husband. Although it goes without saying that I should win all the decorating arguments (after all, look what I do for a living!), on this one we came to a compromise: “Just wait and see how you feel in six months,” he said.

My husband was right. I changed my mind. The dark oak suited the space, and what I had originally seen as dark and dreary was in fact cozy and elegant.

Keeping wood in its natural state doesn’t work all the time: The ageold trick of painting a room white will, in reality, make many a space feel more open, and it’s true that keeping trim and doors in a wood tone can make your rooms feel choppy. The lesson is to decide each case on its own merits. To help with the decision, ask yourself these questions before you put brush to wall: Does the wood truly add architectural interest? Is the wood an original element in an older home? Is the wood in good shape, with beautiful grain? Is getting your way worth sacrificing your relationship? (I hope the answer to that last one is no!)

As for me, I recently finished an upstairs room, painting some of the wood white and leaving the rest natural – no marriage counsellor required! I can’t wait to show it to you in an upcoming issue.