Pine dilema (serious!!)

misschipp

Hi to all,
I have a question regarding my pine stairs and spindles, dado rails, skirting boards, doors, frames and architrave! I went on a mad one alright!
I have rustic maple floors too! Oh and did I mention the pine panelled wall in the hall too?!!
Now when you can pick your jaw up off the floor, can you suggest a way to "tone" it all down.
I am terified to paint any of it as I fear that painted wood will be out of fashion and then my heart will be broke sanding the whole lot back.
It is a nightmare choosing wall colours that don't highlight the orangeness of the whole lot! I really am in trouble here, arent I?
Any suggestions from the design wizards out there please?
Cheers!

TequilaMockingBird

Ha! I'm sure it's not bad at all. What colour do you have up at the moment? Which room do you need to decorate, or is it a whole house? North (dark) or South facing?

And above all...DON'T PANIC!!!!!:D


EDIT: Oh and is it varnished/stained yet?

Dizzyblonde

Have you thought of painting the spindles and leaving the handrails and newel posts as they are? We've done this and it's very nice - it's more modern too.
Ours is a cream color to match the architraves and skirting boards.
Here's a picture of the sort of thing I'm talking about:

misschipp

Thanks for the replies guys,
Sueme:
The stairs and doors are varnished, everything else has no finish on it.
The hall and sittingroom are the main problem areas.
These areas are southwest facing.
At the moment I have a Dulux Natural Cameo colour, kinda pale toffee colour.

Dizzyblonde:
I love what you have done to the stairs. It looks beautiful. I quite like the fact that you left some of the natural wood.

Regards
Misschipp

Dizzyblonde

They're not my actual stairs, but I have the same square spindles and unpainted handrail
I was going to get the carpet up the centre of the stairs and have the rest painted, but while I've been waiting to afford carpet I've come to realise just how dirty and dusty the sides get so I'm getting the stairs fully carpeted.
It's a new house and we had most of the walls painted in Dulux Linen, it's very neutral and so we're able to put plenty of colour into the furnishings etc.

ishidaogo

Just paint all natural wood surfaces in assorted colours! Colour is back big time
and will be here for a few years; even try dark colours on the stairs and heavier wear areas and varnish over for longer life

misschipp

Thanks for the tips guys. I just repainted in a "natural cream" which is slightly on the brown side. It actually cooled down the orangeness of the pine so I am gonna take the lazy option and leave it. In hindsight I love the look of real wood and just got caught up on what would look appealing to others. At the end of the day this is my home and hopefully will stay that way for a long time yet, so why not have it the way I enjoy it eh?
Cheers
Jac

TequilaMockingBird

I think you made the right choice, painting natural wood is too permanent considering it will be naff again in a few years. (imo)