07/28/2026
I wanted to revisit one of my favorite design projects we completed back in 2021.
After years of trying to make peace with the wood color the original owners chose for our home, we finally admitted that nothing we tried was working. We rearranged, decorated, painted around it—you name it. Nothing felt quite right.
Then, after a little scrolling, I found the perfect inspiration photo.
Every year, the Utah Valley Parade of Homes showcases incredible architecture and thoughtfully designed homes. It’s one of my favorite places to find fresh ideas, and when I came across one photo, I knew instantly, it was exactly the direction we wanted to take.
Instead of removing all of the wood, we decided to embrace it by darkening the built-ins while painting all of the surrounding trim. That one decision completely transformed the room. It kept the warmth and richness of the stained fireplace mantel and built-ins while making the space feel dramatically lighter—both physically and visually.
Rather than competing with the rest of the woodwork, the fireplace wall became the true focal point of the room. The stained elements suddenly felt intentional instead of overwhelming.
A lot has changed in this room since 2021. We’ve updated the paint color, swapped out décor/furniture and continued to evolve the space, but the foundation of this design has remained exactly the same. That’s what I love most about it—it has adapted beautifully through every change we’ve made.
Five years later, I still wouldn’t change a thing.
So what do you think? Would you paint the trim and keep the wood accents, or would you have gone a different direction? Do you think this look has stood the test of time?
PS! The inspiration photo is in the comments!
