If there’s one material I appreciate someone dealing with above all others, it’s knotty pine. Knotty pine can be absolutely gorgeous, but it can also be pretty heinous when it’s stained poorly and starts to bleed through just about any paint and primer you put on it. I try to save any wood I can at home from being painted over, but sometimes a fresh coat of paint is just what a space needs to feel bright, light and open.
Today’s makeover is all about the power of bright white paint and what it can do to transform a room that feels dark and outdated into a clear, open space that is both calming and modern. Designer and writer Deb Nelson transformed this space, the third floor of her Nova Scotia home, through some hard work, great space planning and a lot of white paint. Focusing on the room’s spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, her goal was to have the walls and floors fall away to let the ocean take center stage. I seriously admire her hard work and effort with all this painting — and how serene the final space turned out to be. Thanks so much to Deb for sharing this space with us. Click through to read more about the process and see photos from all of the project’s many stages. xo, grace
In 2012, Deb purchased a beautiful old house close to the Atlantic Ocean in Chester, Nova Scotia, and embarked on a huge renovation. The house was built in 1844 and had add-on's and upgrades, but in 2013, Deb did a significant gut and rebuild of the third floor which is now complete. This floor of the house has incredible ocean views and is the main reason Deb bought the house.
The third floor was covered in knotty pine, which had been oiled years and years ago. It took gallons (and gallons) of paint to cover it, but Deb wanted to create a space that was brighter and more open.
This is just what I needed to see! We’re getting ready to finish our attic space for my new office, and right now, the space looks almost exactly like the “before” picture. I was hoping that white paint would brighten up the space. Maybe I’ll present “before” and “after” pics to design*sponge. :)
I’m a little sad as I love the wood in the Before. However, it is amazing how different it looks, and I guess if it suits the owner, then who am I to criticize :)
Although the pine was a little overbearing, just painting the whole thing white is a little safe and dull for me. I prefer some of the before shots where the darkness allows the views to really “pop”. I’d have worked with that. But each to their own, we can’t all like the same can we?!
I am sure I heard that room breathe deeply and begin to purr. It must have sighed from relief to experience such an incredible transformation. well done. It now is a magic space.
Beautiful! This gives me so much hope for my living room, which has great windows, but is in desperate need of a lighter palette on the walls. Now, how to go about getting that view :)
Hi Kristin, the chairs are vintage teak and I featured the Before & After of those on my blog this summer. They were in rough shape when I bought them: http://www.debnelsondesign.com/?p=1630 Deb
It does looks beautiful but I’m really sad to see natural wood painted over. It may have been overbearing but it seems so terrible to me to paint it over. Perhaps it’s because I’m English and my parents brought me up to strip paint off any wood.
I got to see this space in person. It is beautiful. The white spaciousness does a lot more for showing off the exterior views than the dark pine. It’s a space you want to spend lots of time in!
So stunning! We just found a place on Vashon Island in Washington that needs a lot of work but has tons of potential and this gives me the biggest boost in hope. Amazing job, Deb!
Wow that looks so awesome! I wonder how many coats of paint it took. Kind of reminds me of the bedroom in “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir”!
Gorgeous transformation :)
Absolutely beautiful!
I love the white! Looks so fresh!
Hope there is a sneak peek coming on the whole house! Beautiful!
This is just what I needed to see! We’re getting ready to finish our attic space for my new office, and right now, the space looks almost exactly like the “before” picture. I was hoping that white paint would brighten up the space. Maybe I’ll present “before” and “after” pics to design*sponge. :)
stacie
please do! :)
grace
I want to be you. Love the whole room and so glad that you were brave enough to paint the wood. What a difference!
gorgeous! i would love to know where those chairs are from.
Grace — thanks so much, I definitely will! Now I’m even more excited to get this reno going!
I’m a little sad as I love the wood in the Before. However, it is amazing how different it looks, and I guess if it suits the owner, then who am I to criticize :)
Wow! Such a great transformation, what a difference paint can make. The space looks gorgeous.
So, so gorgeous. All the light coming from the new white walls, floors, and ceiling – amazing!
Although the pine was a little overbearing, just painting the whole thing white is a little safe and dull for me. I prefer some of the before shots where the darkness allows the views to really “pop”. I’d have worked with that. But each to their own, we can’t all like the same can we?!
I am sure I heard that room breathe deeply and begin to purr. It must have sighed from relief to experience such an incredible transformation. well done. It now is a magic space.
Beautiful! This gives me so much hope for my living room, which has great windows, but is in desperate need of a lighter palette on the walls. Now, how to go about getting that view :)
Hi Kristin, the chairs are vintage teak and I featured the Before & After of those on my blog this summer. They were in rough shape when I bought them: http://www.debnelsondesign.com/?p=1630 Deb
It does looks beautiful but I’m really sad to see natural wood painted over. It may have been overbearing but it seems so terrible to me to paint it over. Perhaps it’s because I’m English and my parents brought me up to strip paint off any wood.
I got to see this space in person. It is beautiful. The white spaciousness does a lot more for showing off the exterior views than the dark pine. It’s a space you want to spend lots of time in!
So gorgeous! Fresh and relaxing with a heavenly view. I would love to live in that room. Beautiful!
I’ve actually visited Chester, Nova Scotia on a few occasions and I can definitely attest to how GORGEOUS the views are — truly an unbeatable retreat.
So stunning! We just found a place on Vashon Island in Washington that needs a lot of work but has tons of potential and this gives me the biggest boost in hope. Amazing job, Deb!