When Darlene reached out for help updating her home, I knew this one would require a gentle approach. She and her husband, John, had lived in their home for many years, surrounded by dark walls, dark furniture, and even darker wood paneling. Their main complaint?
“The house feels dark and dated.”

And that was no exaggeration.

A Real-Life Design Dilemma: To Paint the Wood or Not to Paint the Wood?

As many of you know, I always try to work with what my clients already have. Not everyone wants — or needs — a complete renovation. Most homeowners simply want to refresh, update, and create a lighter, more current version of their existing space.

But lighting was a major issue in this home, and deep wood paneling absorbed what little natural light the rooms had. Although I love natural wood, the right solution was clear:
The wood panels needed to be painted.

John’s response?
“Absolutely not.”
Darlene was hesitant too. Like many homeowners in their 60s, they grew up believing that painting wood was a design sin. And they definitely didn’t want a stark white or trendy gray interior.

But I knew this transformation depended on brightening those walls — and eventually, they trusted the process.

The Before: A Dark Space With Great Potential

This room also served as Miss JJ’s playground (their adorable kitty!), so yes — the scattered paper and toys had a story.

The Design Plan: Light, Balance, and Color Flow

From this angle, here’s what changed:

• Updated ceiling fan with clearer, lighter glass shades

• Additional recessed lighting for proper illumination

• New sconces on each side of the TV (not visible in the photo, but impactful)

• Rug swap: the original rug moved to the bedroom; a smaller rug with warm orange tones replaced it—this became the starting point for the color palette

• Wood panels painted (yes… I won that battle!)

• Walls and ceilings painted in Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan, the perfect neutral pairing for the slate floors, stone fireplace, and existing furniture

• Custom faux Roman shade repeating the turquoise and orange accents

• New Texas Mesquite wood mantel for warmth and character

• Updated accessories and pillows, plus a large mirror moved to the dining room and a smaller one placed behind the sofa

• Replaced the oak side table while keeping the recliner and lamp

• Antique chair reupholstered — of course, in animal print, because if you know Darlene, you know!

Bringing Color Through the Entire Home

To carry the palette throughout the adjoining spaces, I had custom curtains made—bright, cheerful, and full of personality, just like Darlene.

We kept the existing dining room light fixture but replaced the dated glass shades with $8 clear replacements from Home Depot. Small detail, big impact.

Same dining room table and chairs, but new console and lamps helped balance the updated look.

The Result: A Home That Finally Feels Like THEM

What makes this transformation meaningful is that we used almost all of their existing furniture. This wasn’t about replacing everything—it was about refreshing, reframing, and re-imagining what they already loved.

And because a well-designed home always begins at the front door, we intentionally carried the color palette through each room, adjusting the percentages to create flow and harmony.

The result?
A brighter, lighter, more inviting home that still feels personal, collected, and lived-in.

And if you haven’t met Darlene yet… trust me.
Her personality deserves a room this vibrant.

Photos by Greg Daily