Today’s decorating dilemma:
We live in a two story open floor design. We have a light beige carpet throughout most of the house, except for the foyer and kitchen area that divide the middle of the house which has wood flooring. Depending on the time of day the carpet has a slight pink hue.
We are having trouble finding the right wall color everything we see seems to clash, perhaps we are choosing the wrong hue? I am looking for a nice neutral color that can be used in several rooms (ie, two story great room, living room and adjoining dining rooms etc.) that won’t clash with the carpet. Any suggestions? Warm Regards, Cindy
Kate suggests:
Cindy, you are not alone when it comes to feeling frustrated when trying to find a wall color that matches beige carpet. The main reason people have difficulty is that they cannot determine the undertone of the carpet or the paint or both.
If you have a carpet with yellow undertones and a wall color with (more…)
(No comments yet)
·
Bookmark this post
As my son turns eighteen today I’ve been enjoying the memories of his many past birthday celebrations and in my mind’s eye I can recall the warm colors of fall always in the background.
In honor of TJ I’ve created some autumn-inspired color schemes that remind me of him.
While fall colors are often very brilliant the more muted hues are (more…)
(2 comments so far)
·
Bookmark this post
Today’s color dilemma:
I am really struggling with this - trapped by brick around the lower half of my house (yellow-beige with almost no variation in the brick) and dark brown vinyl window frames. Currently the siding, doors and trim around the windows is painted dark brown as well. We would like to go lighter on the siding but are really stuck about what might fit with the two “set” colors. Most of the neighborhood is 1960’s muted - whites, taupes, grays. Both of our neighbors have mostly white houses. Any ideas?
Barbara suggests:
Try something earthy but not of the same color family as what you currently have that can’t be changed. Perhaps a gray-green-something mossy or sage type. Maybe it could be just a little deeper in color than the brick. It’s hard to say exactly, but this could be a color direction you might try.
Another idea in a different direction: Rust type. But as I often say, it’s hard to make a recommendation without seeing even a picture, so you will have to test,test,test, on large areas, and view the colors at different times of day on different areas of the house - to see what looks good.
Suggestion: Use Tru-Hue test boards or poster boards, at least two of each color and at least 24 inches square for your testing.
If you use poster board prepare them just as if they were the actual siding by starting with a coat of prime. If you use the Tru-Hue test boards they are already prepped so you can skip the Prime. Then roll two or three coats of your color.
You will be able to move them around, tape them to the siding, etc. Do NOT do little brush strokes of colors on the side of your house, it won’t give you a true idea of the color and just leads to being more confused.
(No comments yet)
·
Bookmark this post
Last month I wrote about Cottage Magpie’s green challenge but this month I decided I would play along and share some of the yellow things in my home.
I have lots of yellow kitchenware from the 40’s and 50’s. I started collecting Harlequin dishes and Hall pitchers when I was in college and still enjoy them.
The Harlequin teapots are my absolute favorite and I have them in 9 or ten colors. I just love the pointed handles and bright colors.
(more…)
(5 comments so far)
·
Bookmark this post
Today’s color dilemma…
I have more of a question than a comment. I have an open floor plan with all white walls that are making me crazy. I NEED color!
I want the rooms to flow, but be distinct. The front room gets a lot of sun and has oak colored bookcases, and a little darker piano. I would like to do a sage(ish) green, pale yellowish and raspberry-reddish colors. It flows into the kitchen with one wall that connects via a vaulted ceiling. The kitchen has med. wood cabinets, black countertops, and stainless steel appliances.
The current decor is sort of country(ish) with black, red and goldish yellow. The living room shares the same wall as the front room and kitchen, and currently has a reddish leather couch that will have to stay and is sporting and “Americana theme” which could stay or go.
Most Pictures that will stay as part of the decor are framed in black. All rooms receive a good amount of natural light Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance! -Mindi
Barbara suggests…
Your preference is for sage green, pale yellow and raspberry-red colors, although you did not indicate where you would like these colors to be used. However, colors of the type you mention that could do well together, depending on their location, combination and proportion. I’m going to propose a couple of ways to do this:
From Benjamin Moore: (more…)
(2 comments so far)
·
Bookmark this post
Today’s color dilemma…
My dining room is approx 17\’x15\’. It has a large archway into den (approx 17\’x15\’)which is all knotty pine (not paneling). The dining room is currently white & has been for years. I\’d like some color but am afraid of making the den/dining area seem like a cave because of the knotty pine. The ceiling is white plaster swirls. It has pine base boards and pine around archway.
Kate suggests…
If you fear a cave-like appearance in your home, it would be best to choose a color that is (more…)
(4 comments so far)
·
Bookmark this post
11th Feb. '08
•
Design & Decorating Resources
, Living Spaces
•
Tags: blue, color-schemes, cream, full-spectrum-paint, green, interior, neutrals, orange, paint, purple, red, yellow
Authored by Ellen Kennon
The designers, architects and color consultants who have given me such support and inspiration over the years have inspired me to put together my new Full Spectrum “Designer’s Palette”.
I created these new colors with some of the countries most talented designers, architects and color consultants. The Designer’s Palette includes (more…)
(2 comments so far)
·
Bookmark this post
