Can I work with the pine paneling?

Question

While I love wood grain, I tend to favor light maple or dark walnut. Knotty pine is not my favorite! But I have a small guesthouse with a sauna and 3 piece bath that is ALL yellowy pine. I polled my blog readers to see if I was totally crazy to keep the pine. I shared some inspiration photos of Scandinavian inspired spaces and detailed my plans for how to decorate around the natural wood. It's been so interesting hearing the feedback - and great suggestions - that I thought I would ask the same question here, just out of curiosity! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Here's my blog post with more details and photos:
http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.ca/2015/10/i-need-your-thoughts-can-we-make-pine.html

Here's my blog post with more details and photos: 
http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.ca/2015/10/i-need-your-thoughts-can-we-make-pine.html

B. Enne · Answer

I'm not usually a pine or panelling fan, but in this case I think it is cute...I haven't checked your blog yet. Scandinavian cottage would be cool. Perhaps you could use white accents...I picture longer white muslin/gauzy-type curtains flowing in the wind.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

What a great place.I would love to take on that challenge.I personally love what you choose. Go for it as I feel it will be a great investment.

Style-Sack · Answer

Have you thought of 'Whitewash' for the panelling?

Z · Answer

Another Hometalker (theloulou) recently asked a similar question and another member @Janis Hill suggested adding green and now every time I see knotty pine, I see green. You can find her suggestion at the link below. You'll need to click on the 'see previous' to the right of the number of Answers and the blue Add an Answer. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/q-cottage-kitchen-10406143

Sonia · Answer

I would suggest a white ceiling or white walls.  The knotty pine is overwhelming.  I liked the look of the first picture with the white ceiling.  Good Luck!

Ella · Answer

1 coat white paint and colorful shutters on window.

Vickie · Answer

I would leave it, I love the knotty pine, very peaceful and relaxing for a sauna/guest house reminds me of a spa or mountain cabin, nothing more relaxing than those places! And it will forever be neutral so you can change decor when you want. Also with it being a sauna/guest house it is not a place you spend a lot of time so you won't be looking at it everyday. I let hubby pick a paint color for our bedroom and while not one I am crazy about he likes it and since it is not a room I spend much time in except for sleeping it doesn't really bother me. My suggestion would be just leave as is and decorate it really cute to welcome your guest and when using the sauna, turn the lights down low!

Susan Bechamp · Answer

I have knotty pine tongue and groove walls and ceilings in our converted attic. Two bedrooms and my library/sewing room are all pine wood. Bedrooms have white curtains, 
log headboards and hand made quilts. A painted second hand chest of drawers in each room. When my children visit they enjoy the rooms cause it reminds them of past vacations we had when they were young. Google 'Northern Lodge Style Interiors' for likely images to borrow ideas from. Generous use of leather, iron, and fabric with all that wood.Oh, and painted wood furnishings is Scandinavian going back to the Viking/Norse era .(Another subject to google for ideas)

Cathy C · Answer

This room is sooo beautiful. I would not paint as I love the wood and because I believe no matter how you paint, you will eventually get bleed through particularly around the knots as pine is a very sappy wood. I can see this room with longer curtains, color to your taste. Maybe a nice tapestry on the wall and other accent pieces, again to your taste. I love a room with wood, glass, iron, stone and fabrics. I'd also add some lush plants.....very relaxing place to be, I call my taste semi finished rustic!

Kayo Frazier · Answer

Here's my 2 cents...I would drywall 1-2 of the bigger walls preferably across from each other. This will keep costs down. You should be able to DIY it. This will also give you blank white walls to hang artwork &/or shelves. Keep the pine around the windows & elsewhere that we can't see in the pics For the remaining pine walls & floor I would stain the pine w/ a darker color. I would suggest Sherwin Williams SW 3108 Orangewood or Minwax Wood Finish in Gunstock. Keep the dark blue curtains, but add white sheers for privacy. There are Scandinavian couches w/ or w/o arms that can be pulled out into a platform bed for guests. Then you can add a few pillows maybe a faux fur or some for pops of color. Hope this helps.

Sabrina Shular · Answer

I installed pine boards horizontally like that in our sun room and painted everything white. Love how calming it is.

Tammy · Answer

I used a red stain on my kitchen. Love it. And used two different colours for walls and trim. I painted white but the knots keep showing. I love the white but I have to paint over the knots often

Tammy · Answer

I used a red stain on my kitchen. Love it. And used two different colours for walls and trim. I painted white but the knots keep showing. I love the white but I have to paint over the knots often

B. Enne · Answer

Happy Thanksgiving weekend fellow Canucks! If you choose to paint your pine white, you need to cover it with shellac or shellac-based primer first to prevent the knots from showing through. Zinsser BIN 1-2-3 (red label ONLY) works. http://www.homedepot.ca/product/zinsser-bin-primer-sealer/930208

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