Wood: Varnish or paint?

[Epoman]

My first post here, so be gentle!!

I'm in the middle of renovating my home and we're stuck as to whether to varnish the wood skirting, dado rails and architraving an antique pine or whether we should paint it in an off white colour and simply stain the doors, which we have had dipped.

Painting would be so much easier as the wood will not need as much preparation and we wonder whether the varnished look is a bit old hat now.

The house is a 1900's tudor style house so we're trying to keep things traditional but modern rather than contemporary. We've replaced missing ceiling roses and coving and fireplaces and will be painting the walls a neutral colour throughout.

What is accepted wisdom nowadays? Varnish or paint?

ta

 

[masona]

Painting would be so much easier as the wood will not need as much preparation and we wonder whether the varnished look is a bit old hat now.

Have you look at Tung Oil products? It's so eassssy

 

[Zampa]

Are they new dados, skirtings etc?..

Pro and cons for both of t your options really..

One thing though..dont worry about whats in vogue and what isnt..go for what YOU want..its your place.

The problem with painting refurbished woodwork is all the digs and dents that you wont see at the moment, but you will when the paint goes on..

For varnish...easy to maintain, will hide poor surfaces, natural looking,

Against...your stuck with the brown colour, you may have rough lines where it meets the walls..a pig when you decide to change it to a colour..it will need more preparation

For paint..on refurbished wood, may show every little mark, thus needing a lot of preparation, easy to re paint with a diferent colour, the opprtunity to fill and make good and get sharper lines where they meet other surfaces..brighter looking and can add defination and shape to your doors if you stain them

Against..may show scuffs etc..will needed coating over more often than varnish