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Original poster

1930's Semi, is wood paneling in hall worth keeping?

76 replies

Compact · 22/04/2012 09:34

Gutting my 1930's Semi and unsure of wood paneling in hallway.

I'm not sure it's 100% authentic, but it seems as though it's been there a long time.
For: Painted white then off white, could be interesting, better than plain wall
Against: Might not be to all tastes, I could insulate inside of outside wall as only have second skin.

So thoughts?
I am very much 50/50 on it
(hopefully these flickr links will come out)

Paneling
Stairs Panels
Front Door
Hallway to Kitchen

OP posts:
TCOB · 22/04/2012 14:28

I think it's original - take a look at the 20th Century Society website and get hold of one of their brilliant cheap books on interwar semis. Yours looks a stunner - and that panelling has aged better than white walls/ laminate flooring/ UpVC ever will. Very jealous Grin.

MissMarjoribanks · 22/04/2012 14:35

That front door style is an absolute classic of the 30s and now extremely rare. Keep it. Please. If you don't I volunteer to take it off your hands.

I think the panelling is original as it matches under the stairs. I would also keep it but paint it one colour.

And sand your floorboards and varnish!

We put all the stained glass back in around our (30s) front door and it has transformed our hallway.

SoupDragon · 22/04/2012 14:54

The front door is fabulous :)

My original 30s front door is in the garage but it is solid wood with a small square off-centre window in it. I may still re-hang it as the door that's fitted instead is ugly.

Don't know about the panelling. Personally, I don't like it but I would be loathe to remove an original feature like that.

fivegomadindorset · 22/04/2012 14:58

Keep.

BeattieBow · 22/04/2012 15:01

we have the same and painted ours white. stripped back the original floorboards too and it looks really nice - light and airy. (I know that in the 30s they probably didn't paint it white, but I couldn't stand the dark wood). I think ours was authentic as other houses in the street also have it. and yours looks very similar

I had a solid wooden door which we also kept, but painted white too.

eggyblackett · 22/04/2012 15:03

Keep it. It's lovely, and I suspect that removing it will remove value, not add it.

EatenAllTheEasterEggs · 22/04/2012 15:08

I think you could make it look really lovely. I think it looks a bit naff with the wallpaper in each rectangle. I would be tempted to paint it white but if you go to work on the ones to the right of the door as you enter they might come up lovely in their natural state with a bit of varnish. Would definitely err on the side of keeping them.

DonInKillerHeels · 22/04/2012 15:14

Keep it! It's gorgeous and will look lovely painted a pale colour. You never regret keeping original features.

SoupDragon · 22/04/2012 15:21

I don't think removing it or keeping it will affect the value whatsoever TBH.

tethersend · 22/04/2012 15:22

It would be criminal to remove any of that Shock

Personally, I would leave it dark wood- but if you must paint it, I would do it in something like 113 Danbury.

tethersend · 22/04/2012 15:23

Please tell me you haven't ripped out any original tiled fireplaces?

bronze · 22/04/2012 15:23

Oh keep it
But make a thing of it rather than trying to play it down

Sausagedog27 · 22/04/2012 16:07

Keep it, it looks original to me, it would br criminal to remove it!

eggyblackett · 22/04/2012 16:37

I would pay more for a house with original features than without soupy

SoupDragon · 22/04/2012 17:04

In this case though, I really don't think it will make a difference either way. Big ticket items like Victorian fireplaces, panelled doors, leaded lights and cornicing, yes but I wouldn't include 1930s panelling in this (insofar as I wouldn't pay more for it).

RandomMess · 22/04/2012 17:13

I love it, keep it.

Original poster
Compact · 22/04/2012 20:52

Thanks for the replies.
I think I'll keep it, strip it, sand it and then paint it a light shade, white or pale blue.
The floors I'm going to sand and keep a light wood colour.

(can always repaint things after.)

OP posts:
MrsLettuce · 22/04/2012 20:55

Oh wonderful! Hard work but so worth it.

Will you update when it's all done? I'd love to see the finished result.

sparkina · 22/04/2012 20:59

Keep it and paint it for sure. It'll be lovely. Good luck with it all.

tethersend · 22/04/2012 21:10

Yay!

But don't paint it white.

everythingtodo · 22/04/2012 21:35

Oh fab - can we have a 1930s thread...?

I am just about to complete on a 1930s bungalow with.... a dark wood paneled hall. I'm the same as you and swithering about whether it would be better painted.

Unfortunately we don't have the original door but hoping to get one. Looks like we have a nice floor under the hall carpet though.

We still have the original 30s fireplace in the lounge (previous owner was 90). It is really not to my taste and it has to go. I am thinking though that it might be worth contacting the antique places - does it have any value?

This is all new to me - moving from Georgian so only know cornices and the like!

SophieNeveau · 22/04/2012 21:46

Don't get rid of the fireplace everything! Can you get rid of say the living room one and keep the dining room one, I think it would be a shame to loose the origional!

everythingtodo · 22/04/2012 21:55

its not nice though - pinky cream tiles - it's going!

tethersend · 22/04/2012 22:11

NO!!! Leave the fireplace!!!

Seriously, why buy a 1930s house if you don't like 1930s style? Confused

They are becoming rarer and rarer as they don't stay in one piece like their Victorian counterparts, so cannot usually be resold. They end up as rubble Sad

trixymalixy · 22/04/2012 22:16

I love it!!!!,It would be completely criminal to remove it!!!!!!!

I was in tears when I passed my old flat recently and saw that the new owners had ripped out the stunning original stained glass with swallows and bluebells and replaced it with upvc. Must have wiped thousands off the value of the flat.

You might not like the panelling, but people do pay extra for period features. I would pay extra for panelling and an original, front door like that.