apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

My husband and I aren't lucky enough to live in a Craftsman, but our apartment has a lot of hard wood--floors, kitchen counter, cabinets, etc. We painted one wall a deep dark blue, which actually brightened the place up (despite the richness of the color. We also painted the corner wall above the kitchen sink a bright red-pink. The other walls remain white, and the contrast is really stunning.

I think green always looks great with wood tones and would brighten the place up. Something sage-y? Light yellow/gold is also a typical craftsman color that goes well with the wood.

I would suggest painting some test areas on the wall before you make your final decision because you want the color to really work well with that specific wood tone.

You need some colorful Persian rugs. Those look great in homes like yours. They look great in any home with any decor.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7878321@N03/500235801/

jessica here....eee...found out we cannot paint. at least not for a while, until we can convince the owner otherwise. so, the colors you see are what we have to work with. my partner and i have been trying to brainstorm a way to change the hues of the walls without actually making a permanent transformation. i thought about some kind of contact paper, but am not sure if it would end up looking cheap. the walls in the dining room are actually wallpaper, while in the den they are simply a very dark green paint. yikes..!

Since that room is REALLY dark I would still go for a very light color or a warm white, check out Benjamin Moore for great shades. Here is a picture of a room with a very light blue. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://photos18.flickr.com/23886797_69eba7f3af.jpg&imgrefurl=http://mahoganyhouse.blogspot.com/&h=375&w=500&sz=41&hl=en&start=179&um=1&tbnid=UGNxSZY47QlZGM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcraftsman%2Bdining%2Broom%26start%3D160%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

I agree about the light rug and try displaying as many white/light decorative objects that you have. Attach a light patterned fabric in the china cabinet with double stick tape around the edges or place a light fabric behind the glass instead. Good luck and show pics when you're done.

The picture I spoke about is half way down the page, after they stripped the white paint off of the wood and reclaimed the original look.

From what you say, I'm assuming that the furniture shown in the pictures isn't yours. The first thing I would do is remove the shades, curtains and brackets that are currently in the window. I would go with very tailored shades; pehaps white, cream or a natural linen. I agree with Boomer that an Oriental rug would be wonderful; however any rug of a bright hue would work. The art and accessories shown are too dark. Black and white photos with white mats and black or blond frames of the same size hung above the plate rail would brighten that wall. In addition, just because there's a bit of wall doesn't mean it has to house something. The built-in cupboard should showcase bright colors: glassware, book, mirrors, mercury glass. Instead of dark tablecloths, a runner or placemats, again in bright colors would go a long way to enlivening the space. If those are your chairs, recover the seats. Additonally, there seems to be way too much furniture in the dining room, so your lucite pieces might well go there. I would not have any furniture or accessories directly in front of the window, except perhaps two sidechairs. I would hang one simple lampshade, over the chandelier, in a shade similar to the one you choose for the windowshades, covering the three rather staid glass ones that are there now.

you can brighten up the interior of the cupboard by creating a false background. Cut posterboard to size to fit between the shelves and then paint it whatever color you prefer, or use fabric or wallpaper. if you get the fit right, the posterboard stays in place without any kind of attachment so it leaves no damage.

Indeed, congratulations! It looks like a great place to read nice feminist novel. Europeans do the whole mixing of eras so well--and I believe why it works so well there (think Ren. villa carved wood panelling with ultra-modern white Minotti leather sectionals, etc.) is that color and texture is used very sparingly. I would definitely choose a cool (as in not warm) white for walls and ceiling & then keep bright bold furniture on the cool side as well (blues, greens, purples). This will help to balance the seriously heavy, warm library feeling. Go very minimal/white/modern with your light fixtures. Also, I think green plants will help to fill the gap between craftsman pop---maybe succulents for the blue tones & clean lines?

obviously you can't paint or change the wood- strip away as many 'period' fixtures as you can ( ie the chandelier) and even change the hardware on the cabinets ( keep the originals to change back when you move)
large canvases ( go for thick reveals not flimsy one inchers) hung over both the wall and paneling on the main walls and painted a very light version of the wall color and/or white will create a modern juxtoposition to the 'traditional' backdrop-( think modern art in an older style art gallery) you really want to contrast the space with sleek graphic pieces ( but not too many) overall keep it airy and open ( ie minimal or no window treatment) touches of chrome ( ie hardware, even frames on the canvases)will pop against the wood and darker tones- working with the d green and blue you could add poppier versions of those colors ( ie Benjamin Moore's'Rocky Mountain High'2066-40 and'Stem Green'2029-40) as a more mid mod color scheme that still looks fun with the warm wood tones, but playful!!also adding touches of 'almost white' (not too cool a white or will jump too much from the wood tones ie BM'Moonlight White',2143-60) will keep the space looking crisp, and go for large and very basic (no pattern) area rugs in light tones.
BB

lighter fluid and a box of safety matches

Why not just paint anyway? That's what I do, and I've always gotten my full deposit back. My landlords have always either liked what I'd done once they saw it, or they'd planned to repaint after I moved out anyway, so they didn't really care. One landlord asked me to repaint some of the rooms back to white, but all the rest (many! I've lived in a lot of different homes) let it slide. Personally, I'm willing to risk losing my deposit, because it's my home, where I spend a lot of time, and it's important to me to have it the way I want it.

not all landlords are that leniant as I've learned-technically they can( in Canada anyway) keep your damage deposit and charge you to have it professionally repainted!!I would check before you go ahead....perhaps having a professional deside on colors may ease the landlords mind!?

The suggestions here are all great.

Welcome to Portland, but I have to tell you we have many, many Craftsman style homes here. If you don't like a Craftsman home, maybe just rent this place until you can find one more suitable to your tastes. Personally, I don't think modern tastes in a Craftsman is that uncommon around here and can work quite well. Please don't be sneaky and paint the place anyway, as suggested. Craftsman homes are gems and the landlord is just looking out for the place to make sure renters don't destroy it. If someone rented my Craftsman and painted the wood, I would cry and then I would sue.

Disclosure: I don't own a Crafstman.

If you can't paint, how about improving the lighting? Adding nice sources of indirect light around the room might give you the effect you're looking for.

- lean a tall floor-length mirror against the wall. it can be where the buffet is, opposite the windows. this way, it would reflect some window light in the room and also "cover up" some of the wood wall. black frame? white frame? depends on your new dining set.
- update the dining set and chandelier. center the table so it's under the chandelier, which should hang lower. ...maybe slip-covered chairs?
- bigger area rug. doesn't have to be crazy-patterned or colored. just lighter and about double the size of your existing one. monochromatic dhurries are great, easy to care for, and modern. maybe shades of light steel-blue stripes?
- get rid of the existing window coverings. they look wimpy and are hung too low. get one rod that goes all the way across the windows and hang as high as possible to the ceiling. then get silk drapes in gold or beige-y tones at both ends (depends on your new rug or chandelier). double-up on both sides so they look substantial and shimmery. they must just touch the floor. doesn't have to be expensive-- try cost plus worldmarket stores, or even ikea.
- if you can't get rid of the blue wallpaper, maybe work it into the room by using different shades of it. don't use the exact color, but various shades of it. this can be the runner, vases, napkins, chair coverings, chandelier shades, etc...
- get rid of existing artwork and wall-hangings. it's cluttery and draws too much attention contrasting against the blue walls.

Frankly, if the landlord doesn't want you to paint, I can't see them letting you change light fixtures, either. IMHO, for the time being, you are stuck with the wood, walls, and light fixtures. That's not what you want to hear, I know.

My suggestions are to either:

1. Live with the setting not being what you desire and, instead of pouring money into rental-based changes, keep adding to your modern items collection - and saving for a deposit on your own place, or a moving budget to somewhere that matches your aesthetic.

2. Open your mind. Instead of being boxed into the idea that your abode must be a perfect setting for your existing stuff, work the eclectic angle. What would a house like this have been like in the 60s and 70s? Bring all your things. Put them all in place. Move them around. You may feel like adding some inexpensive Art Deco or freaky Victoriana.

I would spend money on two things: some floor/table lamps and some curtains. Linen or linen-look curtains in a pale color would both brighten up the rooms and create a link with your modern things.

I agree with preserving the woodwork. I would never, ever paint over the wood in a craftsman home, doing so is literally an act of historic desecration. Heavy stained woodwork is the hallmark of the craftsman style and if you hate it, don't stay in the rental long and don't buy one. That being said, I think the dark walls are a bit oppressive. Since you can't paint the walls, you may wish to try hanging large light colored artwork or large clusters of small artworks on the painted portions of the walls. Items such as drawings, and/or photography can help brighten the walls and when done right will allow the dark walls to recede and accent the pictures, relieving the oppressive dark color.

Another approach I've heard of people doing with walls they hate is to hang starch saturated fabric panels on the wall. I've never seen this done in person, but supposedly you can paint the wall and/or fabric with liquid starch and then apply the fabric to the wall like wallpaper. The advantage is that when you move, the fabric peels right off the wall without damaging paint or fabric and the most you might have to do is sponge some starch residue from the wall.

Walls and woodwork are two different things. He (the landlord) will probably allow the walls to be repainted, just not the woodwork.

I would second (or is it third?) the welcome to Portland, and also the advice to try to open your mind a little to things not being exactly the same as where you lived before. If you really end up still hating your craftsman house with all it's "blasted wood", good news, it's a rental, and you can always move.

If the landlord has said you couldn't paint, I'm guessing they're not going to want you to mess with the fixtures or chandelier either. 70 year old hardware can't just be stripped out of built-ins and put back in. I wish it were that easy!

It doesn't look to me like the whole house is that dark, the kitchen looks nice and bright. I'm guessing that once all of the furniture and art is out of the dining room you'll be left with a much blanker slate then you realize. I agree with others that some different art (big, with light frames and matting), furniture and window treatments will make a big difference. You may end up surprised, a cozy dining room isn't necessarily a bad thing.

good luck,
trillium

Why rent a house you hate in the first place? It's not like there's a shortage of rentals here.

What kind of landlord expects you to keep navy blue walls? Shouldn't the landlord repaint before you move in? I'd try to negotiate for the landlord to repaint the walls a light neutral such as creme or beige.