Painted Paneling from the Parlor of Marmion, Virginia (c. 1756)

The Marmion room is one of the most unusual surviving colonial interiors because its paneling is painted with decorative scenes and ornament rather than a single color. The architecture is classic mid-Georgian: raised panels, fluted pilasters, a cornice and built-in cupboards flanking the fireplace. The paint turns structure into decoration. Today, the same approach can be achieved with a CNC-made paneled room and a decorative painter, or with printed panels for a more budget-conscious version.