Remodeling a House With Knotty Pine Walls

History

• Knotty pine paneling made a big splash after World War II when there was a move to approximate the domestic settings of Colonial America. Knotty pine conjured rustic images of colonial keeping rooms with large stone hearths. They were outfitted with rustic benches and spinning wheels that juxtaposed against TV cabinets, Hi-Fi record players and tweedy sofas. Knotty pine also made a splash on kitchen cabinets walls.

Kitchen

• Enjoy your knotty pine kitchen walls and use them as the foundation for a mid-century-inspired remodel. Vinyl floor tiles and formica countertops with metal edging complete the backdrop for a '50s kitchen. Chrome-plated, vinyl-upholstered dinette sets are available in good vintage condition. Large-patterned wallpaper and plaid curtains complete the look. If replacing large appliances, skip the stainless steel and and stick with white appliances, which were standard at the time. Countertop appliances such toasters and blenders can be stainless.

Den

• If you don't love gold wall-to-wall carpet, use a braided rug to anchor your knotty pine family room. Oriental rugs in classic reds, greens and blues are also appropriate and add a little high style to a casual room. Likewise, tweedy, wooden-armed sofas and easy chairs might not be to your liking, so use a simple mid-century-style sofa with a nubby fabric. Floor to ceiling draperies in bold patterns give clubby flavor. Don't forget to house the draperies in boxy cornices that match the paneling.

Tips

• Most knotty pine finishes are still in good condition. Keep knotty pine clean with oil soap. Lemon oil or beeswax-based wood conditioner renew dried wood and adds a soft shine. If painted, stripping knotty pine is hard, messy work, so you might wish to paint it with your own colors. You can still buy knotty pine paneling and cabinets if you want to create the look in a brand-new space.