Beadboard 101

Kimberly, in response to this post said:  

I really want to do my bookcases and then send you an after picture, but I don't know when it will ever happen!

 

By the way, what is beadboard and how do I install it?

Kimberly-

Beadboard is a wall treatment, door treatment, drawer or cabinet treatment.  It comes in sheets, or individual planks.  The sheets are simpler to install and less expensive, the individual planks have a more genine feel and more texture.  How do you install it?  Check out a site like this- or have it installed by a "trim guy."  Keep in mind that you need to trim out everything it touches- windows, doors, floors, etc.  You don't want exposed edges.  Installing it in the back of a bookcase, like I suggested to Kimberly- is probably the easiest of all installations, because the extra trim wouldn't be necessary.  (Unless the installation lacks precision) 

Check out the kitchen in the top photo.  The hood, backsplash and back of island are all finished in beadboard.

Beadboard is also used as a cabinet or drawer style, as shown above.

This dining room shows a wider beadboard used as wall paneling.   Older homes back East will have a lot of beadboard in them, whereas, here in California, we need to add it.

Beadboard is a very common wainscot treatment.  This photos came from Country Living.  Wainscot is traditionally a provincial feel; however, it is very appropriate in a traditional or coastal environment as well.  For a more contemporary feel, I have seen it used in Abercrombie and Fitch showrooms, installed horizontally instead of vertically. 

Don't think you always need it to be a wainscot. I really like it as an all over wall surface.  It adds so much character to otherwise dull walls.

The Beadboard Backsplash

Hi Christine,
I'm in need of your expertise. What are your thoughts on beadboard backsplashes in the kitchen? Can I do it and pull it off without looking too country? I would also beadboard the island and paint it the same color (white/off white-ish) to pull it all together. Do you hate it? I'm also considering doing a tin backsplash like this one. Overall my style is shaker/mission/coastal, but my house is anything but that. Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Jen Dear Jen,

As soon as Abercrombie and Fitch decided to put beadboard all over their stores- the whole idea that beadboard is too country went right out the window. I think the beadboard backsplash look is great- and certainly can be incorporated into many kitchen styles that seem to fit with your home. Take a look at the pictures in today's post. They are all country on some level- but certainly can be more of a Coastal Pottery Barn Country rather than what you might consider too country. I would take a look at your room- and beadboard the walls as well as the backsplash.

Do I like the tin backsplash?- Yes- it is also a great look- especially the real deal. (Always a richer look than the fake wallpaper look.)

Keep in mind that deciding to beadboard your walls will also require casing your windows- and adding trims and mouldings- I would consult a professional.

Thanks,

Christine

Photos from Country Living and Sub Zero

Set up for Selling Success

Martha Stewart: Brown Gray

Hi Christine,
My husband and I currently have two places...our homes before we met. He has a great 2000 square foot town home that we want to do a few projects on to help it stand out from other town homes in the same neighborhood, before putting it up for sale.
The first is losing the carpeted stairs and replacing with wooden risers (going for the modern family phials house stairs) for the dark wood and white look.
The second area I'd like to discuss is the window from the kitchen/bar into the great room. Right now it is basically the big hole that has barstools... From the great room...it is a focal point. I am looking for ideas on how to make it go from a boring hole in the wall to gorgeous and interesting? Please help!
If you write back, I'll send photos :)
Cindy

Hi Cindy-

2 words: trim and paint.

When you are getting a piece of property ready for selling, it is a very different thought process. But to stand out from your neighbors, I would start with ramping up the trim. See the photo at the top of the post? This is not a fabulous photo- but showed exactly what I had in mind. I would add a piece of half trim above your baseboards- and then paint the whole area. This is a great way to inexpensively change your baseboards from being 4 inches to 7 or 8 inches. It is work- but not terribly expensive. Even if you just did it in the main living areas- it would be so much richer.

Keep the wood saw out and trim out the opening, and add beadboard on the entire wall below the opening. Keep all of the woodwork a crisp white. Check out the beadboard in this post.

The gold paint is absolutely the wrong color with the carpet.

1. Select a paint color that will make your carpet look great.


2. Select a light colored paint- but not white.


3. Select a neutral colored paint.

Look at the paint color in the Martha Stewart photo at the top of the post. A soft Brown Gray like this will go great with your carpet- keep it light and neutral- and yet is dark enough to give you a great contrast with your white woodwork. It will look great with your stairs also.

Your light fixture is OK. But- if you want to stand out a little more- you can get a more updated drum shade like the one below from Uttermost. A fixture like yours will go unnoticed- which is not necessarily bad- but a really fabulous light will get the right kind of notice from perspective buyers. The one below is a little too warm in color- but check out this one.

Good luck selling your place. If you choose to not stage it with furniture- still add some really beautiful plants and uplights.

Also- you can check out this post on staging bedrooms.

Thanks for writing in-

Christine

Beadboard Wallpaper

Hi Christine,

What are your feelings on beadboard wallpaper? have you ever used it before? do you think it would look half as good as beadboard?Thanks! Love your blog, I've been reading it day and night for the past week. Will send pics of living room for help soon.

Kim

Hi Kim,

I have never seen beadboard wallpaper. I imagine that if it were finished off with real wood, like the photo above- it would look all right- But I have not seen it. Hey readers- anyone have an answer for Kim? Has anyone seen this used, or better yet- used beadboard wallpaper yourself? I think the further away from your eye- the easier it would be to pull it off. For example- if you planned on putting beadboard on the ceiling- - I bet it would be hard to tell that it was wallpaper from that distance.

Three of the photos in this post are beadboard wallpaper - one is real paneling. Any guesses which is the real deal?

The Colors of Sun, Sky, and Sand

Hi Christine:-)

Just back from our lakefront house with MORE pics:-) I am going to clarify all that is going to be done so you don't have to work too hard:-) We are going to be recarpeting the family room........we are going to be repainting the family room a nice neutral medium tone brown.....we are going to be refacing the fireplace, hopefully in stone with a nice mantel and put a tv up there too, we are going to be removing ALL GREEN marble in the family room....Now, here are my issues: It is a narrow, yet long room. We have three grown children who take up a LOT of space when we are watching movies. The chocolate sectional is a favorite as it is very comfortable so that stays. ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES ARE CRAIGSLIST OR TAG SALE FINDS :-) My younger daughter and I made the cushions for all wicker/rattan pieces so we really like those. I desperately want to make it more homey and comfy and accommodating for the five of us.....AND IF WE HAVE FRIENDS OVER WE ARE IN TROUBLE....the white wicker set is in the family room too. However, it is cut off a bit due to a hallway immediately behind the sectional. So basically it is wasted space where we never, ever sit. I would love to somehow incorporate that area into our tv viewing area to give us more seating. The corner where the tv is now I was thinking to put the tall, ladder like shelving to house our components and maybe some "beachy" things:-) We cannot take down the blinds as they are saving us literally hundreds of dollars a month in our heating bill. I would like to have some sort of valance to not mar the view. I did purchase the ones from Target that I am enclosing but feel that I will have too much blue/brown.....I am such a mess. :-(

- Debra

Dear Debra,

I don't like your direction. Harsh huh? sorry....

Anyway- Let's just start with the blue and brown. It is such a drab blue. I would much rather see you pull in a brighter turquoise color. Your little window frame to the right of the fireplace is far to small a scale to balance the window on the left. Let's start with putting a piece of art there- the piece below from Uttermost would be perfect.

Your furniture is all over the place. You have three different kinds of wicker. I would replace the bench in front of the window with a backless bench- wood or upholstered. Get a long one to seat as many people as you can. The little white chair in the corner is too small in scale and doesn't look right so close to your sectional. Of all your wicker pieces- I like the one at the top of the post the best. I would paint it a bright turquoise like the one below and cover the pad in a crisp white canvass. I would put it where your white chair is. Move the rest of the wicker someplace else.

Your rug is too small. I would use a nice large 9 x 12- like the one below from Dash and Albert. In a beach house you can use brighter colors than you might in your everyday home. Bring in the colors of the sun, sky and sand.

I am not a fan of the valances. I would take them back- throw them out- whatever. I rarely like the look of just valances. I find it uncomfortable. It's like someone put their shirt on- but not their pants. There are exceptions of course- but they usually include lower ceilings and kitchen nooks...) You are wrong in thinking that some panels will obstruct your view. Have some single width panels made- ceiling to floor- put them in between your windows. The panels will frame your view. You won't miss a thing- but it will soften that wall- and give you some style. I selected a Beacon Hill fabric for you- below. It is a coral print- bringing in some bright yellow. Not too themey- but still beachy.

I want to shoot down the stone fireplace idea too. I feel like it is too heavy. I would take off all the stone, and find a reclaimed wood surround- paint it a nice crisp white and then add hand painted tiles on your slip.

Provided you don't NEED the fan- take it out and add a fun bamboo chandelier like the on below from Shades of Light. It brings in an unexpected color that you can repeat in a small pillow on your wicker chair.

I am sure you will never invite me to stay at your shore house. You might be mad at me- hopefully not crying- or worse- you might stop reading my blog. Please don't hate me- I am here to make it look fabulous!

XOXO

Christine

P.S.- I would do a turquoise or white grasscloth or beadboard on the walls.... Also- in long narrow rooms- I almost always break up the room into two seating areas. I would put a pub table behind the sofa- the seats will be high enough to see the TV- and it can also be multi-functional.