A few months ago, we coated the downstairs walls with Gray Owl paint, lightened by 50%. Most of the color will stay, but there are a couple of walls we’ve been wanting to clad with Simply White or Gray Owl-painted wood planks since the day we moved in. We’d love to give the place a little more cottage character and we’ve always had a heart for wood-covered walls. If you’ve been reading since last year, you know that we’re in the process of pinching our project pennies (#adoption), but I’m excited to share that I’ve got a fun gig coming up that will finally allow us the opportunity to add a few walls full’a wood as a part of the project! (#grateful) I look forward to sharing the whole process with you as it comes together this month, but first, I’d love to hear what you think about this:
We’re in the process of trying to decide if we want to run our boards vertically or horizontally right now. Here are a couple of Photoshopped mock-ups I put together yesterday to help us visualize both options:
Whatever we do, it’ll go all the way down this wall, to the corner…
…and then tie in to the built-ins we want to build on either side of the fireplace over there. I’m thinking we’ll do something sort of like this at some point:
When I see that photo, it makes me want vertically-oriented planks. I love them in Sarah’s farmhouse entry, too:
Our old living room had vertically-oriented boards too, and I always liked the way they looked in there:
Here are some more vertical board inspiration pics:
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That said, I’m also a fan of horizontally-oriented planks. We had a bunch of those in our old house, too:
Here are a couple more horizontal board inspiration photos:
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I guess if we can’t decide between the two, we could always do a combination of vertically and horizontally-oriented boards like they did in the 2012 Southern Living Idea House?
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Horizontal on the walls, vertical above the fireplace? What do you think? Thanks for your thoughts!
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Horizontal! Vertical remind me too much of painted 1970’s paneling.
horizontal for me — it has more charm and feels more a bit more coastal cottage. however, i really do like both. i would put up some stripes with painters tape to get a feel for both in your space. have you seen today’s post on house of turquoise — amazing horizontal planks in a pretty upscale home. can’t wait to see what you choose!
I really like the horizontal. I think it makes the rooms look more spacious. But I don’t think you go wrong either way.
Flip a coin?! 😉
Horizontal. You’ll notice that in the Sarah’s farmhouse for example, it is a mix of vertical with horizontal on the slopped ceiling and I think that’s why you like the vertical. If you have the possibility of doing that in your house, then both would be my answer but you don’t have a slopped ceiling. From all the pictures and design ideas of what you show us in general in your blog, I think you’ll like the horizontal better as well.
I have been loving horizontal boards for quite a while now. The vertical reminds me of the old paneling of the 60s and 70s, and the horizontal gives it a much “older”, more “cottage-y” look. BUT that long wall of yours does not need to look any longer, so I say mix it – horizontal everywhere, but use vertical on the very long wall. Using the same paint color on the two would tie them together. I know it will look great whichever choice you make.
Not that this should be the deciding factor, and, yet I want to point it out. I see a trend that the vertical boards cover more long stretches of wall; whereas, the horizontal boards in most of the pics seem to be broken up by windows and doorways, built-ins and fireplaces. You have a large expanse of wall, BUT you’re planning shelves, so… did that add to the confusion. Jeesh! I’m some kind of help.
Layla,
I love the idea of horizontal on the long wall with vertical above the fireplace. Good luck!
While I’m mostly a fan of horizontal, they both have merit. If you want the height, vertical is the choice. While I like both, I also am more drawn to the random-width look for either. Makes it more interesting to me. I think it’s a personal opinion for anyone, and I would be hard pressed to decide for myself, let alone for someone else! I’m sure either will be great – you never disappoint! =0)
I love both styles but going by your mock-up’s I prefer the vertical planking. I’m sure whatever you choose will be well thought out and will look amazing. I can’t wait to see how the room progresses.
Sam x
Hi Layla. I live in Adelaide, Australia and have been following your blog all year since discovering it at Christmas. I like both options and as I was scrolling down I was thinking could you use both, with the vertical above the fireplace, then saw you were thinking the same. One main reason I like the Horizontal on the main walls is when looking at the photo my eye was drawn through the dining area into the sunroom and Kevin’s piano became a focal point, where as looking at the vertical plank photo my eye was drawn to the ceiling.
The horizontal planks look more like an outside wall, and also since your ceilings aren’t extra high, the vertical boards feel more proportionate.
Hi, I like both options, however, when I was looking at your first two photos the vertical planks drew my eyes to the ceiling whilst the horizontal planks drew my eye through the dining room into the sunroom, making Kevin’s piano the focal point. I like the vertical planks above the fireplace though. I live in Adelaide, Australia and have been following your blog since I discovered it at Christmas time.
I think the answer is in what you want to do in the room. A horizontal room is much more relaxing than a vertigal room. It is all in what you want to feel in the room. If you want to be calm, quiet and snuggley, then I suggest you use horizontal. If the room is for laughing, moving around active, and being alert, then vertigal is the way to go. It is all suggestive in your head. Good luck. Lisa
Layla! It is SO exciting to see photos of your house with all your “old” stuff in it! I know y’all are focusing all of your energies on adoption (I have been keeping you in my thoughts and prayers) but as a gal on a “$0 use what you’ve got” budget I LOOOVE seeing the same-ole-stuff just rearranged and in different spaces. More, please!
I love the idea of a combination – best of both worlds!
The Simply White… is that a good neutral white (not too blue, not too yellow)? I’m repainting my kitchen cabinets and am searching. White Dove is a little too yellow after I put a swatch up…
I am dying just a little. You are selling your Majby chairs ! Ikea doesn’t sell them anymore. I waited too long to buy them. Please make sure they go to a good home!
Go horizontal!
I love them both all the time, but I voted based on your photoshop mock ups. 🙂 Vertical looks better to me in your room. Good luck!
I’m partial to the vertical. However it works for you will turn out great. I love the outcome of your projects. Can’t wait to see what you decide.
I think the vertical boards look more upscale and cleaner. Even though you have horizontal boards on your website design, I think the vertical ones read less shack, (like 1880 or so) and are more appropriate to a new house and your neighborhood. Horizontal would make your house look more like a fish camp, which would be incongruous.
Love the horizontal in kitchen and, if adding built-ins on long wall in living, think the vertical planks would work well there. Mixing it up would give distinct feeling/focus/energy to each room. As I see it, the vertical would provide that “grounded” sit-down comfort…stay-a-while feeling in living room, while the horizontal will pull/draw you into the kitchen and give you that “cozy nook” feel as well as a “back and forth” energy which makes it an active, efficient, get-it-done kind of space. The bonus is you get complete cottage feel you love in two ways. Can’t wait to see what you do. Love your spaces. Smiles, K
Initially I was thinking horizontal all the way, but after looking at your space, I think the vertical will be best…especially combined with the potential built-ins around the fireplace. I also loved the bedroom with the vertical planks with the small wood slats on top. That would give you a great texture! (My two cents worth!!) Good luck with it all.
Horizontal all the way! I feel like the vertical would look like painted over outdated wood paneling. But that’s just my opinion, you always choose beautifully!
Vertical wins my vote!… very pleasing to the eye.
Hi, Layla,
I love following your blog! It is so inspirational both decorating-wise and faith-wise. I think the verticals look fantastic!! You will choose the right one for you!
I really like the tension between horizontal planks and the more vertical doors, windows, and many accessories. Somehow it adds more texture. And who can’t live with more texture!! Either way it will look fantastic and I can’t wait to see the results of your choice.
IS the quote sign about “A good laugh” yours? If so, may I ask where you got that. I love it.
Thank you!
oh my dear layla, either would look spectacular!
personally i feel that the horizontal boards are somehow *more* cottage like than the vertical and yet i have ZERO reason to say that. and i have to agree with the folks who say the vertical boards would make the room look that much taller.
so yeah, good luck making this decision! regardless, i know your place will look tremendous when you two are done with it!
First of all, gotta say, you have the Photoshoppin skills to pay the interior design bills. 🙂 Oh how I long to have those skills. With regard to the planks that is a tough choice! Both look awesome but I thought the vertical made the room look a little larger and draws the eye to the those tall sunroom windows and will look especially good if you decide do the fireplace as you’ve shown. Either way though i know it’ll look great with you’re eye for design and aesthetic!
I think the horizontal ones would look fabulous because they make everything cozy…where vertical make the room look taller in my opinion. If your walls are already tall or at least not short…I’d go with horizontal. But that’s just me!! Anything you do will be fabulous!!
Gail
I think the horizontal version gives a nice and not jarring counterpoint to your vertical shutters in the piano room. It’ll be beautiful whatever you do.
Vertical ….. because it elongated the height perception in the room and I feel that horizontal boards make it look like an external wall that has been enclosed and made into an internal room in the house….
It will look great.
gg
Horizontals remind me of older style homes, and the vertical more modern. Yep, vertical can give you vertigo if the ceiling is high already, and horizontal can make you feel squished if the ceiling is low. In your pics I like the horizontal. In the first pic there are already heaps of lines making the eye draw up. The lights, the doors, even the fridge handles! The horizontals are letting the eye wander straight to the one main other horizontal; the piano. It balances out better that way. Either way, I still want to learn how you do those pics with the changes in them!
Hard choice. I know how you feel! They both look great (hence the hard choice) but my feeling is vertical. Can’t tell you why; it just appeals. xx
My vote would be vertical, but thinking horizontal on the fireplace.
We remodeled four years ago and had this same dilemma. Our decision, we are very happy with, was to go horizontal..but not even widths of wood. The planks range from 7″ to 9″ to 5″ in width and we did tiny spacing between each plank. We were going for an old, farm-like look. It is throughout every room..and the ceilings are even 5″ planks with angled edges for even symmetry. I’d be happy to email you photos if you are interested or answer questions.
Vertical, For this reason. Sometimes, not always, horizontal can give a “modern” cottage feel to me. Vertical feels a little more rustic, weathered, if that makes sense? I think it fools the eye as well making the room appear bigger. My 2 cents. Whatever y’all pick always looks amazing. 🙂
I love them both but prefer horizontal. Seeing the painted vertical just makes me think paneling for some reason. 🙂
Love your idea boards. I could gaze at them all day. I voted horizontal cause I LOVED loved LOVED your old house horizontal planks. But then when I saw the photos you listed of the vertical ones they were super cute too. Tough decision however just keep in mind if you go with horizontal, keep the boards together like you had at your old house. If that dreamy bedroom with the oar had those boards horizontal you would have to dust each board. (I dont enjoy dusting, can you tell 😉 ) Either way you haven’t done one project I didn’t like so I know it will be stunning when completed.
I really love both methods, but what I’d really love to know is how you’d suggest finishing off windows on a planked wall. We’ll be planking at least one wall that has recessed windows (the recess is about 6″) and we can’t figure out whether to try planking the recess. Worse again is that the window is an arch. Any suggestions?
My vote is for horizontal. Unfortunately, the vertical always looks like painted over sixties paneling to me. But a combination of vertical and horizontal could be interesting.
I have to say vertical – because if you do built ins with shelves you will want to offset them.
I love that you included pics from Historical Concepts. Our good friend is an architect for that company. They are based in my town!
I think whatever you choose will be beautiful….
Vertical!!
Those horizontal planks are going to look awfully LONG on that wide wall…I vote for vertical.
Vertical is my favorite because I like the look of tall ceilings.
I live in a house with vertical board panelling on every wall in the entire place, so that could color my opinion somewhat. That said, I love the horizontal board look and you’ve always done that look so well. I vote horizontal, especially since it is an accent wall and not the entire room.
hi~ what software do you use for dreaming up your awesome design plans? xo
Hi, Jacqui! I use Photoshop. 🙂 I teach an e-class called Room Makeover over at ShootFlyShoot.com if you’re interested! (It’s on sale 50% off today!) 😉