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Pick my new walls!
So as I think I maybe mentioned here a few times that we are currently re-doing the basement apartment, after a ten-year tenant moved out, in hopes that I can move down there (more-or-less) and have my own place while still not leaving Mom alone.
Mom was hoping for a quick redo, but the tenant had planned to only be there six months or so while they arranged permanent housing, so we had left a lot of things that already needed fixed undone to get them moved in fast, and the things that needed fixed were then ten years further on, plus the tenant had never been a tenant before and hadn't really gotten the hang of "tell the homeowner if something needs fixed, don't just jerry-rig and make do" so among other things there were several long-standing water leaks we didn't find out about that had messed up some of the walls and flooring.
Anyway, that is lead-up to: I need to buy new wall paneling for three walls: two short walls in the kitchen, and one short wall in the main room. The rest of the place is 70s fake-wood paneling directly over studs/furring. The ceilings are old off-white suspended panels. I want to get the new paneling the same for all three walls.
It needs to be;
4x8 foot panels;
heavy-duty enough to go directly over studs without drywall or other solid underlayer.
This already limits our options a lot, because neither of those things are the currently trendy kind of paneling.
I would prefer:
mildew-resistant;
light enough in color to not further darken a basement apartment;
not heavily textured in a way that will attract grime and be uncleanable;
not terribly clashing with the current 70s-tastic decor, and also not almost-but-not-quite-a-match;
I can go down to the shop and pick it up curbside.
It would be nice if:
I like it;
It wouldn't be dated immediately;
It would go reasonably well with my general bog witch/mad scientist/tiny used bookshop decor theme.
Here's a collage of the best options I saw, that at least fit "needs" and most of "prefers":
New tan rubber flooring in living room
Large gray stonework fireplace in living room
Cabinet doors in kitchen and brown wood paneling on all other walls
Old brick vinyl flooring in kitchen (probably staying, unless rest of kitchen fixes utterly destroy it.)
The molding is all going to be white because that's the only option for pvc and given the recurrent water problems and general damp I wanted pvc.
My thoughts:
1. Won't clash; classic; will definitely brighten space; will show marks really easily; just enough texture to collect grime, not enough to hide it.
2. Pretty; enough texture & pattern to hide grime and marks; might be almost-but-not-quite a match to the fireplace in a bad way; enough texture to be hard to clean.
3. Won't clash; classic; will brighten space; easy to clean or paint; will show marks really easily; boring.
4. Light, but enough color to not show marks; not heavily textured; very different style of wood than the other paneling - is that good or bad?; gray weathered wood is super trendy right now but I'm not that fond
5. House exterior and basement window wells are brick; some of the paneling that's coming down is a dark brick, so this would lighten up a little without a huge change; will hide marks easily; might be just too similar to the brick vinyl flooring; textured enough to be hard to clean
6. Looks pretty similar to current paneling, which has been very durable and livable. Might be just different enough to look weird in comparison. Not actually super fond of current paneling.
7. Less textured than current paneling; like it more; not really any lighter; is real wood, might be harder to install, or might make other paneling look extra cheap/bad/old
8. Classic, but might clash with current wood; will hide marks more than white but be less bright; same texture question
9. Will brighten up space, but not flat glaring white; similar to current paneling in texture but a different color - might pass as a different finish over the same paneling? Would that work?
I'm actually kind of leaning toward 9 right now but I'm changing my mind every ten minutes. (And of course it would be nice to be able to go to the store and look in person, but, you know, plague.)
Mom was hoping for a quick redo, but the tenant had planned to only be there six months or so while they arranged permanent housing, so we had left a lot of things that already needed fixed undone to get them moved in fast, and the things that needed fixed were then ten years further on, plus the tenant had never been a tenant before and hadn't really gotten the hang of "tell the homeowner if something needs fixed, don't just jerry-rig and make do" so among other things there were several long-standing water leaks we didn't find out about that had messed up some of the walls and flooring.
Anyway, that is lead-up to: I need to buy new wall paneling for three walls: two short walls in the kitchen, and one short wall in the main room. The rest of the place is 70s fake-wood paneling directly over studs/furring. The ceilings are old off-white suspended panels. I want to get the new paneling the same for all three walls.
It needs to be;
4x8 foot panels;
heavy-duty enough to go directly over studs without drywall or other solid underlayer.
This already limits our options a lot, because neither of those things are the currently trendy kind of paneling.
I would prefer:
mildew-resistant;
light enough in color to not further darken a basement apartment;
not heavily textured in a way that will attract grime and be uncleanable;
not terribly clashing with the current 70s-tastic decor, and also not almost-but-not-quite-a-match;
I can go down to the shop and pick it up curbside.
It would be nice if:
I like it;
It wouldn't be dated immediately;
It would go reasonably well with my general bog witch/mad scientist/tiny used bookshop decor theme.
Here's a collage of the best options I saw, that at least fit "needs" and most of "prefers":
Poll #25220 Paneling
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 54
What kind of paneling should I get:
View Answers
1. Beaded white wainscoting (but full-height)
17 (31.5%)
2. "Canyon stone"
12 (22.2%)
3. Just plain white
8 (14.8%)
4. Gray "Homesteader" faux faded wood planks
12 (22.2%)
5. Fake aged brick
4 (7.4%)
6. Fake brown wood that's very close to current style but maybe more golden?
4 (7.4%)
7. Natural-finish "real" ash
19 (35.2%)
8. Beaded wood-finish wainscoting (but full-height)
2 (3.7%)
9. "Chalked hickory" white washed fake wood
28 (51.9%)
New tan rubber flooring in living room
Large gray stonework fireplace in living room
Cabinet doors in kitchen and brown wood paneling on all other walls
Old brick vinyl flooring in kitchen (probably staying, unless rest of kitchen fixes utterly destroy it.)
The molding is all going to be white because that's the only option for pvc and given the recurrent water problems and general damp I wanted pvc.
My thoughts:
1. Won't clash; classic; will definitely brighten space; will show marks really easily; just enough texture to collect grime, not enough to hide it.
2. Pretty; enough texture & pattern to hide grime and marks; might be almost-but-not-quite a match to the fireplace in a bad way; enough texture to be hard to clean.
3. Won't clash; classic; will brighten space; easy to clean or paint; will show marks really easily; boring.
4. Light, but enough color to not show marks; not heavily textured; very different style of wood than the other paneling - is that good or bad?; gray weathered wood is super trendy right now but I'm not that fond
5. House exterior and basement window wells are brick; some of the paneling that's coming down is a dark brick, so this would lighten up a little without a huge change; will hide marks easily; might be just too similar to the brick vinyl flooring; textured enough to be hard to clean
6. Looks pretty similar to current paneling, which has been very durable and livable. Might be just different enough to look weird in comparison. Not actually super fond of current paneling.
7. Less textured than current paneling; like it more; not really any lighter; is real wood, might be harder to install, or might make other paneling look extra cheap/bad/old
8. Classic, but might clash with current wood; will hide marks more than white but be less bright; same texture question
9. Will brighten up space, but not flat glaring white; similar to current paneling in texture but a different color - might pass as a different finish over the same paneling? Would that work?
I'm actually kind of leaning toward 9 right now but I'm changing my mind every ten minutes. (And of course it would be nice to be able to go to the store and look in person, but, you know, plague.)