Please help with my paint choice dilemma!
castlemanic
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi all,
have just moved into (hence photos are haphazard!) an 1860's property and looking to update the living room (see photos attached). We love the floorboards, the wooden windows/shutters/doors etc, the existing fireplace, our red/black/white floor cushions (picked up whilst working in the middle east) and we need to keep our existing furniture (due to budget), but want to repaint and add some bold artworks to the walls.
Any ideas for colours for a new paint appreciated - don't want there to be an overarching "browness" from all the wood and beige walls. Also, think we're likely to put up relatively contemporary, bold coloured art (although I suppose we might not, if there are other options out there)
Thanks in advance!
have just moved into (hence photos are haphazard!) an 1860's property and looking to update the living room (see photos attached). We love the floorboards, the wooden windows/shutters/doors etc, the existing fireplace, our red/black/white floor cushions (picked up whilst working in the middle east) and we need to keep our existing furniture (due to budget), but want to repaint and add some bold artworks to the walls.
Any ideas for colours for a new paint appreciated - don't want there to be an overarching "browness" from all the wood and beige walls. Also, think we're likely to put up relatively contemporary, bold coloured art (although I suppose we might not, if there are other options out there)
Thanks in advance!
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castlemanic
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Help with HUGE living room dilemma please!
Comments (42)I think that the fire place is beautiful as it is and does not need any make up!! The sideboard on the right is no so big at all and if painted with different colour than grey and distressed could become a much lighter piece with its own character. I would take the top off the left one and again shabby chick it, filling the doors with ornaments to make it more interesting. It is amazing what a transformation you can achieve with a bit of chalk paint! I am using chalk paint for my oversized wooden clocks and it can give an amazing look to a piece for wood: Giant Shabby Chic Wooden Wall Clock Contemporary Large Wooden Wall Clock Rustic Oversized Handmade Wall Clock Give it try before you get rid of them:) Anna...See MoreColour Choice Dilemma - Odd Shaped (Top Floor Flat Living Room)
Comments (12)Hello Tom, I think it could be a very relaxing and inviting room - A mid century style sofa with legs would be ideal (Think mad men and stylish!) ... Something less solid and thus the feel is more open within the flooring spatially.. A 3 seater and perhaps two chairs.. Something that would work well with your chosen scheme (grey or other)... Perhaps have the sofa facing that little window wall with some chairs opposite.. So there's less of a "tunnel" You could then have a different shaped coffee table.. I'd suggest the less solid idea with any cabinetry like a console or sideboard.. Small cabinets.. Anything with legs! Even a wardrobe is a nice element in a living room.. Storage for crockery etc or the flat screen for example or projector.. Given the height, you could afford to have a larger ceiling light fitting here and why not have a look at Ebay. There are some really fantastic finds for vintage and interesting.. I'd bring the glass table out of that window recess a bit further... So it could be a multi- functioning table... Working, eating, socialising.. You may find then you don't need the other wooden table.. Chairs are other good finds on ebay or perhaps a visit to an antiques fair or two.. Mirrors could be interesting here too with the slope of the ceiling curve.. Plain and square.. if at all and hung on an angle reflects light downward.. especially good with a dark scheme... Now on to some colour... You might want to take inspiration from the rug too.. but I rather like the earthy grey or that which has brown in it.. You could introduce rust colours to compliment and then the light whiter colours for the ceiling half could be off whites and with slight yellows.. Little Greene has lovely colours.. Very chalky and dense.. For whites.. Whitening, White lead, Ceviche is nice, stone colours. Grey moss and Furrow for earthy greys. For rich grey Scree is lovely. Bring the wood work into the scheme too.. It makes for a fabulous finish.. Consider too on that rear wall (behind second sofa) a very large mirror to lean up against the wall.. Something like 8 x 6ft if you can get something sizey into the space.. Or a series of long narrow mirrors leant up against could do. If you decided to go with a dark colour this could work as it offsets the colour, bounces the light back into the room and offers a visually interesting element and spatially it makes the room twice the size whatever the size... A few ideas off the top of my head.. : ))...See MoreFirst post - Please help! L-Shaped Kitchen/Diner dilemma(s)!
Comments (24)If you take the 290 unit off the back run and island, I think that would be sufficient? As you've got kids I think a banquette seat would be ideal for family games, homework, crafts etc. Banquettes are around 60cm, table 90cm so that leaves 113cm which I think is more than sufficient both visually and practically as it's the same gap I have behind my kitchen table. Choose chairs that push under and consider the table legs carefully depending on the number of chairs wanted, pedestal tables often work. I would however take the sink off the island and maybe install a prep sink instead so the back run would be DW, sink, bin, induction hob (I'd integrate the oven personally). Is the shower room a must? It seems quite a trek to reach there with the number of doors unless there was a way to extend the 2nd front door forward and create access from the hall there. Also wondering if you'd considered removing the wall between snug and the old kitchen? It may make the area more useable rather than trying to fill the old kitchen...See MoreWallpaper/paint choice for large living room (& other dilemmas)
Comments (24)Thanks Minnie, I will look for a couple of darker accessories to bring the room together. We loved the grape wallpaper and had it until recently, as we fancied a change. We haven't had the grey wallpaper long unfortunately, but it just doesn't look right so decided to have a redo. (This is the only chance I've got though so anxious to get it right!) We are upgrading to a bigger TV, but it's still in the box at the moment! Hopefully the electrician who will hang it on the wall will be able to fit us in this week or next, and then I can decide what to put above the sideboard and piano. I know the TV will be wider than the TV cabinet but unfortunately we can't change any of the furniture. I'm hoping to find a way to make it look more balanced maybe by placing something on either side of the TV cabinet like plants and/or lanterns. Here's another photo of the wallpapers up on the wall - I'm maybe leaning towards the left one, as I like the textured look - might be longer lived than the patterns? I'm not sure....See More
feeny
11 years agolast modified: 11 years agoI love simple off-white walls to set off beautiful woodwork and your bold colors and ethnic designs. They turn the focus of the room onto the art and the wood. Personally, I'd paint the whole room Benjamin Moore White Dove or a nice cream color and then celebrate having such beautiful woodwork and art!
Some examples of creams and whites with natural woodwork:
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Diann
11 years ago
Shari P Kantor
11 years agoPaint the fireplace wall the same shade or slightly darker than the red in your pillows like Lefty47 suggested and use the same color on the spaces between your bookshelves. Take Feeny's suggestion for a cream color on the rest of the walls--gray won't look as nice because of the shade of brown in the wood (judging from the photos, the wood seems be honey with a very strong yellow undertone)--that coordinates with the red. You can find good lighting at CSN Lighting, Lamps Plus and YLighting 9all online). For art that would look nice in your room, I recommendor
"Passion" and "Desire" · More InfoIf it's in your budget, you may want a more modern desk chair like http://www.funkysofa.com/po46armch1.html and new window treatments.
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