White or stained trim (Pic included) (floors, paint, ceiling, kitchen)

[newhousebuilt]

Hello,

I have a decorating question. We are in the process of building a new construction home. You may have noticed this thread, which gives updates on the progress.

//www.city-data.com/forum/house...w-updates.html

Anyway, my question specifically concerns the trim on the windows in the pic below. The trim around these windows was supposed to be stained the same color as the floors (Brazilian Cherry) to make the room a bit more interesting and we initially thought it would look nicer.

However, the painter painted these windows white by mistake, which matches all of the other trim in the home. Now, I kind of like the look and am unsure if we should go to the stained look.

My question, is white trim or stained trim (which would match the floor)? Thanks!

The trim in question is below (around windows) and the wall color is a neutral buttery yellowish tone.

[Sunbather]

I think the white looks good. I some of the stained trim in older homes but in a lot of new construction on typical homes I think that the white trim around the windows looks great if you are already doing white baseboards and possibly some white crown. I also like some painted trim in grey or black depending on the decor and wall colors as well but I guess that is a discussion for another thread

[Ohiogirl81]

I hate painted trim. You're always having to paint it.

[Sunbather]

I have not found that to be the case at all. The house we bought was 10 years old with painted trim and other than using some magic eraser or a damp cloth on some of the door casings where the previous owner's had their repeated hand-marks our trim looked brand new in the house we bought even when other areas like the carpet or walls were showing signs of wear. That's the beauty of a quality gloss paint on trim: the low maintenance. Whenever it gets dirty, there usually isn't a need to repaint, it just needs a wipe-down with a damp microfiber cloth or magic eraser.

The areas where I changed the trim or put up my own are 3 years old now and look the same as the day I painted them.

Really I think the choice just comes down to a style/aesthetics preference. I think wood mouldings look best on older buildings or in realllly thick, very traditional artisan-style mouldings on very high ceilings. For more standard housing I tend to prefer a painted trim as it meshes with the architecture a bit more but that is just a personal preference.

[newhousebuilt]

Jamiceta, I think you are correct in your assessment. Our initial thought in terms of going with a stained moulding was to do something like the picture below, but our mouldings are not that thick, and our windows are casement (we wanted to open them during the warmer months).

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by jamiecta

That's the beauty of a quality gloss paint on trim: the low maintenance.

Ah... but most people do not go quality and do not have gloss...

[Sunbather]

I suppose you are right. I would assume most builders are at LEAST satin if not semi-gloss though which is still fairly easy to wipe-down. We use satin wall-paint in our bathrooms and kitchen for a similar reason.

Newhousebuilt: Yes, imo the stained trim looks more in-sync with that space you just posted. It appears they have slightly-higher ceilings and thicker mouldings so it looks great stained. In your picture of your own house, I like the white and can't envision stained trimmed looking better. That is just my opinion though and you're the one paying for the house so in the end, go with your gut!

[Kandy]

Keep it white. It makes the room so much brighter and pops with painted walls rather than looking muddy. I'm not a fan of stained wood moldings unless its a country cabin or somewhere rustic.

[fallingwater]

I like painted trim so Im biased. I like the white.

[Pitt Chick]

I prefer stained myself, but the white looks good there.