Reader’s color dilemma:
I want to do my daughters room with a beach tropical theme. i would like ideas for the paint color for the walls. Thanks Kathy
Kate suggests:
When thinking of tropical colors luscious and relaxing colors come to mind. I am always drawn to the blues and greens of the sea surrounding islands or the shores of exotic destinations. But colors of tropical blossoms or the lush green of foilage can also be used to create the look.
Palm tree, beach or nautical prints could be incorporated but I recommend keeping these obvious elements to a minimum and using furniture, fabric, textures and accessories that are instead simply suggestive of the theme will keep the room from looking cliché. (more…)
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Today’s color dilemma…
We have a rather large bedroom which includes a fireplace with standard, red/pinkish brick surrounded by a medium cherry/maple color mantle. There is also a bay window, also surrounded by cherry/maple trim. We have medium cherry stained furniture, dresser and panel bed, from Restoration Hardware more of an arts and crafts style.
The walls are currently a mauve color, probably to pick up the color in the brick. There is also a master bath (very small) off the bedroom, also in the mauve/pink paint. We plan to completely re-do the bathroom, but have not tackled that project yet.. Please suggest a paint color scheme for both the bath and bedroom, as I am stuck! Thanks,
Monique
Barbara suggests…
I understand your dilemma, and the desire to arrive at a decision for a color scheme for your bedroom and master bathroom.
Your description indicates a dominance of red-based colors, from the fireplace to the mantel, to the furniture. My thought is that rather than “pick up the color in the brick,” I’d recommend that you use colors that complement the brick and not try to replicate its color. (more…)
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Today’s color dilemma…
I saw a post on Jill’s blog when I visited again after first learning of ‘Forever & Ever House’ when I posted my thoughts on the entries for “Spring green roundup”.
Jill was sharing that her four year old daughter wants a new room color. You can see the entire entry on her blog but here’s how it begins…
There was ONE exception to the “need to renovate” rule at our house and that was my daughter’s bedroom. Seventeen years ago, when our home was built, it was painted a very pretty, classic shade of yellow and it has remained that way to this day. So, when we moved into our home I said to myself “Self…well, at least THERE’S one room that doesn’t need to be painted.”
Madison’s bedding and valance from our starter home even had some yellow in it and with a few strategic placements of art, the nail holes in the walls from previous owner’s art would be covered.
Easy-peasy. Yippy Skippy.Well, you know where this is leading now, don’t you?
My daughter really wants a pink room! (more…)
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Cottage Magpie is a delightful blog that chronicles Angela’s quest to add charm to her 1950’s ranch style home. Stop by for a look at how she has created a charming home with thrift store finds and cottage style.
I dropped in on Angela today to check out her round up of reader’s blog post inspired by her call for ‘Spring Green’.
The entries were so creative that I decided to go back and visited each blog again and chose a favorite item to share with you. It wasn’t easy but here are my picks. (more…)
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7th Apr. '08 ·
Bedrooms
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Tags: decorating, tips
Authored by Denise Turner
Even the most beautifully designed homes have a dirty little secret: a cluttered, dull and dreary bedroom.
Since the bedroom is a private space it’s generally the last to be designed: unfortunately with the smallest budget, often making it the houses’ stepchild to the beautiful abode.
Bedrooms should be tactile and sensual. We spend one third of our lives in bed — we might as well do it in luxury.
TIPS:
- Neutral, earth based color schemes are nurturing; medium to dark browns are ideal because they soothe the soul.
- Selecting furniture in the right scale is critical. Make a to-scale drawing of your bedroom before buying furniture.
- Use high thread count linens.
Remember bedrooms should support the three R’s:Rest, Rejuvenation, and let’s not forget Romance.
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A beautiful bedroom decorated in House Beautiful style–no surprise.
A beautiful bedroom decorated in House Beautiful style available at Sears–a pleasant surprise.
Sears and Hearst Magazines have come together to create “ReImagine You” a program that showcases
(more…)
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I’m in India for an Asia Pacific Color conference and staying at the Jai Mal Palace hotel in Jaipur.
For the past couple of mornings I have enjoyed having this be the first thing I see every morning when I first open my eyes.
While I liked the detail immediately it wasn’t until I had a few days to ‘wake up to it’ that (more…)
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Today’s color dilemma…
“I am looking into painting my 13 year old sons bedroom he is into music and guitars. Any ideas on color would be great. Thanks” –JIM
Kate suggests…
Music and guitars can a rockin’ bedroom theme for a 13 year old so here are some thoughts on how to give him a room he’ll love and one that you’ll be happy with as well.
Often when teenage boys think about a music theme they tend to want (more…)
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Today’s color dilemma…
“We are moving into a new apartment soon, and I am creating an office and work room for the family, which includes two boys.
I want to pick an accent color that will be stimulating, but mentally stimulating, not physically stimulating. At first I thought I would use orange (with grey/beige/white) but I think that may be a mistake because orange is thought to stimulate appetite. Yellow? Red?
Or, should I keep their work area in their bedroom, which is indigo and a mossy/celeryish not dull not bright medium green - that’s the furniture, bedding, and the rug - walls aren’t painted yet.What do you think for an accent color for the work room, and would the boys be better off working in the room that is green and blue?
Many thanks.
-Wendi
Kate suggests…
You are on the right track by beginning with thinking about the functionality of the room and the mood you want to create.
The main color in you decorating scheme sets the mood of the room. Other colors are added that enhance that mood. The gray, tan and white color scheme you mention is a good choice for a family workspace and would go nicely with red or orange accents.
A color scheme of grey/beige/white can work well for kids too as shown in these two workspaces from Pottery Barn Kids
Yellow might be another good choice because it instills optimism and sparks creative thought.
Since an accent color generally occupies less than 30% of what is seen in a room it would not cause your boys to be more hyper plus red, orange and yellow all have the positive effect of being mentally stimulating.
A shared workspace becomes “family central” with spaces to display kids latest school work and keep track of activities.
You could set up their work area in the bedroom however if you have the ability to create a workspace that is shared with your kids this is what I would recommend. It gives you the ability to each be working independently yet be together, and allows you to keep an eye that they are actually working without having it seem as though you are checking up on them.
This solution would also allow you to keep their room focused on rest and relaxation rather than work. The color scheme you have chosen already is ideal for this because cool colors like blue and green have been known in color psychology to promote relaxation, which is why they are often a popular choice for bedrooms.
Architecture for beginners wall decals
If you want to allow your boys to help decorate their space a fun option would be wall decals like the ones shown here.
I hope you find these thoughts helpful as you decorate your new apartment. I’d enjoy seeing pictures of how it all comes together.
Resources:
- Wall decals available at kidsmodern.com
- Furniture and wall organizers from potterybarnkids.com
- Do you have a color dilemma? Post it in the Makeover Gallery at RoomVues.com and you could be the next reader to have your color question answered on the Color For Your Home blog.
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4th Jan. '08 ·
Bedrooms
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Tags: black, pink, teen, white
Authored by Kate Smith
Today’s color dilemma…
“I have chosen to do my daughters room in pink, black and white. I don’t want a light pink, but I don’t want Pepto Bismol either.
She is 11 yrs. old and we are going to put black and white self adhesive polka dots on the pink. Any suggestions? –gg
Kate’s suggests…
Pink, black and white is a great choice for you daughter’s room. A classic color combination that is often associated with the 1950’s, poodle skirts, and rock and roll this combination has stood the test of time and polka dots are a natural in this colorway.
Many designers, artist and do-it-yourselfers enjoy creatively using pink and black polka dots. Here are a few items found on etsy that make imaginative use of this theme: tags from paperologie, the tote from baffinbags, or the hanging tiles from parischicboutique.
Pink, black and white is a popular color theme chosen by young women on Polyvore’s outfit editor site as seen in the outfit above but women of all ages seem to find this combination appealing as you can see by the response to Grace’s post about this color combination on her blog Design Sponge.
Just like the Donghia fabric I wrote about recently Madeline Weinribe has given an updated look to this suzani fabric through her use of pink and black.
While once considered mainly a feminine or “girly” color it has acheived more widespread popularity among members of both sexes as I talked about last month on Live In Full Color.
As you already recognize walls painted pink can make a bold statement and some hues of pink may be overwhelming. I think that the key to enjoying the color for years to come is to chose a pink that is a bit more sophisticated and let the polka dots add the playfulness that attracted your daughter to this color scheme and decorating style.
A middle value hue will give the room the fun feel I believe you are after but it will also be restful enough so that your daughter can have a peaceful “beauty sleep” each night.
The wall in this room designed by Diamond Baratta and featured in House Beautiful are covered in Ralph Lauren’s Spectator Pink in linen, which goes beautifully with the black and white houndstooth rug. This is the intensity and value of pink I would recommend.
A couple of other options might be Silk Kimono #MS011 from the Martha Stewart collection, Berry Red 2 #LA202 or Plaster Pink 2 #302 both from Laura Ashley Home or Valspar’s Seaside Retreat Pink Flamingo #SR504 all of which are available at Lowe’s.
We’d enjoy hearing how the project turns out and having you post before and after pictures on RoomVues.
If any of our readers have suggestions for other pinks that they have used successfully please let us know in the comments.
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