I'm glad I'm not the only one who paints knotty pine paneling! I can't stand the stuff, but there seem to be a lot of people who think it's sacrilege to paint clear-finished wood of any sort, even the ugly stuff.

A tip for anyone thinking of doing this: seal the pine with pigmented shellac primer first. It's the only finish that will seal the sap in the knots. If you don't seal the knots, you'll end up with dark rings all over your newly-painted paneling.

spanky: i've never heard of pigmented shellac primer. can you recommend a brand name by chance? thanks in advance! (agree that all knotty pine paneling should be painted over immediately, btw)

It doesn't look like they painted the pine - they just removed it and used the bookcase depth to entirely redo the built-ins.

My Mom's friend invented a word, back when "French Provincial", and then "Mediterranean" were in style: Flatbush Renaisance. That flouncy bed skirt around the TV is just gorgeous! A Genuine Louis XIV plasma!

Zinnsser BIN is the only brand I know but it's easy to find. Both Home Depot and Lowe-s carry it.

It's different but it's not better.

I'm sure the homeowner likes it, but I have to agree with JWet. I think the room's bad now in a whole new way.

The molding around the TV is a huge drawback.

Love it all except for the tv. It should've been put in one of the cabinets where it could be hidden when not on use. That space above the fireplace is perfect for a painting, art installation etc. Anything but the flatscreen.

i am sorry, i have to agree with those who said it is now different but not better … i think the medaillon ornaments on the white (no idea what you'd call them) do not really help, and the huge flatscreen is killing the whole place.
well, if the owners like it like that, enjoy!

zzz...another paint the wood white re-do.

spanky- I too painted knotty pine in my family room. I did not use a sealer, and didn't get any dark rings... just used a lot of paint and primer. Perhaps would have saved some time with the sealer...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36263456@N08/3754191022/in/photostream/

The wood in this room is soooo much nicer and brighter than the wood that was in mine.

nani: "A Genuine Louis XIV plasma!"

VERY funny.

I think I would have liked the original room had it been clean and decorated. It's kind of unfair to compare the spaces when the before is such a wreck.

I don't care for the folding doors or details on the built in cabinets.

I was so happy when this look died out with Mannix and Angie Dickenson movies... Just goes to show, nothing ever dies (even when it should)... that Hollywood Regency panelling is too much...

nani: LOL!

As far as i can tell from the picture it looks like the plasma tv is inset in the wall. This seems like a bad idea because they crank out alot of heat and need ventilation. And somehow I doubt they implemented a cooling or venting mechanism in the wall.

Another voice for "both spaces are bad", but (apart from the fact that I'd have kept and cherished that paneling) the first one actually had room for basic improvements like cleanign the desk and moving the TV away. That huge flatscreen is more than bugging me.