What to do about original mahogany trim?

We are stripping the layers of gooey paint off the the staircase in our brownstone, and we’ve discovered that everything– the stairs, railings, and the chair rail that runs up the side of the staircase– are all original, 100+ year-old-mahogany. I happen to love the look of really old, dark mahogany (I’m half Cuban) but I am also a little worried that exposing it all might darken the house, which is only 15 ft wide. I’m inclined to expose it, also because I love letting original elements, but I’m curious what you all think?

Guest User | 6 years and 4 months ago

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cate | 6 years and 4 months ago

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Test everything in advance and you cannot go wrong.

powell5424

in General Discussion 6 years and 4 months ago

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@Twinkletoes3 – Farrow & Ball Strong White is a good option; if you’re partial to that, they also have a more understated white called Wevet with the slightest hint of grey that could look really nice.

Guest User | 6 years and 4 months ago

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Hi Bolster, what fun for your Park Slope couple! Its always exciting to uncover original elements. I think we’ve decided to return the chair railing, the balusters, and handrail to the mahogany, but we will use a runner on the stairs (both to lighten it up and because I think it’s safer for little feet) …. and paint the stair risers white. While we do have some very large windows on the parlor floor, they don’t seem to give a ton of light, and the house is long and narrow, so I feel we do have to proceed carefully. Is there a particular Farrow & Ball white you think looks nice with the mahogany?

powell5424

in General Discussion 6 years and 4 months ago

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What a pleasant surprise! We’re currently doing a gut reno for a couple in Park Slope in a similar situation. Their brownstone was built at the turn of the century and is rife with original interior details, including custom millwork and coffered ceilings. What’s your natural light situation aside from the skylight? The couple we’re working with is lucky to have some large windows and a lot of natural light, so they decided that they wanted to preserve as much of the original wood as possible. However, our architect working on the project knew that in a different situation without so much natural light, too much of the original wood would make the space feel dark and overbearing. However, if used as an accent, the mahogany can be spectacular! The materials and colors you pair the mahogany with will be critical and largely depends on your personal taste. If your space is narrow and you don’t get a lot of natural light, you may explore different ways in which st rategically-placed lighting can brighten it up, or choosing a light paint color (as many others have mentioned). We’re partial to Farrow & Ball – excellent choice.

hancockone | 6 years and 4 months ago

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Hi Twinkletoes, yes that’s my house. All woodwork was painted and it was just dead. After the wood was revealed and finished it just glows. Makes the wall colors more intense. You will be happy you have lovely woodwork.

coconut | 6 years and 4 months ago

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[IMG_2212](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:8jpZ:img_2212.jpg.jpg)

coconut | 6 years and 4 months ago

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If you have dark wood and you want to contrast then the walls have to be a pearl white flt . If you want to give it more life then do a victorian stencil on the wall with a shade darker than the pearl white but in semigloss. It will make the wall look like wall paper.

Guest User | 6 years and 4 months ago

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Thank you for the advice on the paint colors. I’m thinking Strong White by Farrow and Ball… it has a touch of warm gray in it

nf85 | 6 years and 4 months ago

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I share your pain. When we moved in to our house the wood (cherry and oak) was very dark and very intact. We really couldn’t see painting it, because it was original and because painting is so hard to undo. But I agonized over it. We ended up leaving it, and while I still agonize I’m at peace with our choice most days. The things that made a difference to me: 1. choose a white that really works with the wood. If it’s too stark the contrast can feel busy and distracting, and if it’s too creamy the effect can be dowdy. We changed whites at one point and it made all the difference. 2. Embrace the luxurious, warm feeling that wood can provide. You aren’t going to have a bright Scandi interior if it’s full of dark wood, so forget that and play up the luxe coziness. 3. Pay attention to your lighting. Make sure it’s layered and glowing and not harsh. And then just tell yourself that if you wait the current dominance of all-white will pass, as all things do, and you will be glad you didn’t give in. Some things to think about. But at the end of the day it’s your house, and you should do what you want and love it. Good luck whatever you decide.

Guest User | 6 years and 4 months ago

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Goodness! It that your house? I love the way your woodwork looks. I’m sold. We’re going to uncover all of it. Thank you for sharing.

hancockone | 6 years and 4 months ago

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I have stripped and refinished all of the woodwork in my house. It glows, it adds richness. It doesn’t seem dark. It shines. https://www.brownstoner.com/interiors-renovation/interior-design-ideas-brownstone-brooklyn-bed-stuy-french-polish-wallpaper-refrigerator-drawers/

roesteve80 | 6 years and 4 months ago

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We faced same issue in our house. We ended up stripping newel posts and handrails and painting ballisters. We’re very happy with it.

brokelyn | 6 years and 4 months ago

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Carpet stair runners can do a lot to lighten the mood, plus shades of soft white wall paint. I find that Benjamin Moore’s Affinity collection goes well with mahogany. Whatever color science they use to ensure every color complements each other seems to work well with wood tones.

Guest User | 6 years and 4 months ago

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Thank you, that’s great to hear. We do have sky light, but its a ways up! And the light if gives isn’t tremendous. Did you pair your woodwork with light walls?

ela50 | 6 years and 4 months ago

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We restored all of the painted trim including this stairway spindles to its original color. We have never regretted doing this and have gotten so many compliments on this. If you have a skylight from the roof it will not darken the appearance and you can compensate by painting the walls a light color 2 offset

Guest User | 6 years and 4 months ago

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Hmm, its the chair rails I’m wondering about. I think the dark mahogany could look nice contrasted with white walls… and Bob Marvin, that’s some lovely woodwork you have there!

NeoGrec | 6 years and 4 months ago

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It’s such a personal thing but, bearing in mind the current trend for painting old woodwork black, navy or dark grey, I can’t see how refinishing the wood would hurt if it’s your preference. But I agree about painting chair rails and pictures rails — at some point too much dark wood just starts to look fussy.

yudashasom | 6 years and 4 months ago

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It will darken the building, but if you paint the chair rail, balusters, stair risers in a lighter color, it might work for you. Mahogany is beautiful – seal and poly of it as much as you can.

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 6 years and 4 months ago

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I have dark-colored original woodwork on my parlor floor, staircase, and upstairs hallway. I don;t think it unduly darkens the house. [135 Midwood 8 LR](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s2/:brownstoner:kPYy:135midwood8lr.jpg.jpg) [135 Midwood 9 LR](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s2/:brownstoner:5YNk:135midwood9lr.jpg.jpg) [135 Midwood 12 LR](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s2/:brownstoner:WPRJ:135midwood12lr.jpg.jpg) [135 Midwood 13 LR](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s2/:brownstoner:w3Eq:135midwood13lr.jpg.jpg)