Looking for inspiration ! Bold colour?

6 years ago

Please help inspire and give idea on how to make this room a luxury evening haven to unwind and relax . The rug and sofa will stay , the floor will remain the same colour but would paint the fire place . On wall lights in this room . Thanks in Advance

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minnie101

6 years ago

Hi Simone. It would be good to know what colours and styles you like, what colour rooms are leading off of this and which way the room faces in terms of light. Did you also mean bold walls or just an accent colour? Anyway one idea.. petrol blue/deep teal walls and radiators combined with a burnt orange accent chair in the right alcove with a brass floor lamp behind (am treating brass as the accent). I'd pull the rug away from the fire so it goes under the front feet of the sofa and add a burnt orange cushion and textured throw on the sofa. In the other alcove I'd angle a brass cocktail trolley with a tall potted plant behind it. I'd add a more substantial side table to add a table lamp. Large piece of art over the sofa, I love the abstracts from Attiko art which may be worth a looking not knowing your style. Also art/mirrors in the alcoves to break up the blue. Are the blinds new as adding some pattern here would be good?

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Comments (36)

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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hi Simone! Is that the Wandsworth Sofa from Distinctive Chesterfields? If so, Im very jealous, its such a gorgeous sofa with beautiful curves (and a very good choice!). I love that you asked for a bold colour. A bold colour (with potentially some panelling will just make your room feel luxurious. I put together a quick ideas board for you, just to start you off!

Personally I feel you cant really go wrong in this situation as long as you stay with "muted" or "dirty" colours - often also called Autumn colours. Why not choose the colours you love and then buy some pots in varying tones to get it right.

When it comes to lighting, why not try a contrasting or highlight colour to what you choose for the walls? Then you can get those wild colour variations (like the white lamp against the purple or the mustard against the the turquoise. It requires some confidence, but if you love colour, just give it a go!

Good Luck, I hope this helped.

Jo
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Thanks folks. I am feeling it is going to be a Yes and I think that's the push I needed. ED there are two sofas - each different and made by a local sofa workshop. I just love the bonkers-ness of them and want them to be the star of the room but the room is so big it needs something else. The blue might be what it needs.
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minnie101
6 years ago
Forgot the throw!
minnie101
6 years ago
I love Jo's panelling idea!
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you both so much for the ideas !!! Jo it sure is the Wandsworth !! It is beautiful , big and very comfortable . Thanks for the inspirational images , love the idea of panelling , maybe a silly question but would I have to do the whole room or could I select a wall ? I am thinking teal or grey ! Or could wallpaper be an option ? So in regards to the daylight in the room .. I am unsure which way my room faces , the sun comes in the front window in the morning and hits the back window in the evening . Our property is a mid terrace so the room in the length of the house.
minnie101
6 years ago
You could just do a feature wall of panelling behind the sofa. There are some online panelling places which aren't too dear or go DIY using beading to create the effect or there are a number of wallpapers around. I'd look at colours such as farrow and ball downpipe or railings (with blue undertones) or maybe Hague blue last pic (not a teal but it has green undertones). If you went for a panelling wallpaper you could colour match the paper
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Minnie101 - where would I put the tv ? Would I need another chair besides the orange one you mentioned ? Would I be painting all walls teal ? Which paint would you recommend ? So many questions so little time xx
minnie101
6 years ago
I'd assumed the tv was staying where it was. You could lose the cocktail trolley I suggested and have it it there perhaps wall hung if wanted but over a console. How much seating do you actually need? I can't work out from the photos whether there's room to add a chair under the left window? Alternatively rather than a coffee table, footstools are great for occasional seating. I'd paint all the walls, this is dulux hawaiian blue which comes in 6 shades. I wouldn't rush the room at all. Why don't you look at your ideabooks and work out exactly what you like about each room? it may help you to get an idea of exactly what you want and then you can create a mood board? I'm always happy to help shop for ideas :)
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
Totally missed this, sorry! Minnie has you covered Simone! Her ideas are perfect (as always) and my goodness I totally adore the idea of the burnt orange as a highlight colour! I have a sample of your sofa's leather swatch and burnt orange would really look gorgeous against it.

If you aren't too confident panelling and colouring everything, just one wall will still create that bold wow factor and you could choose a grey or white for the other walls (as the bold colour will reflect onto those walls anyway). Grey would soften the whole room and feel a bit more cosy and (brilliant bright) white would create that gorgeous contrast that you see in the photo Minnie posted just above.

By the sound of it your room faces north or south but your windows are east and west. It sounds pretty much just like my living room, which felt really dark most of the time, so although I wanted a bold colour, I tried to still get light into the room by using a light floor and ceiling.

Looking at your photos again, I think the rug was a very good choice and you could test just the back wall behind the sofa with your chosen colour (I have to admit I love the idea of petrol blue with greys and oranges and those highlight pieces in brass that Minnie chose!)

One more thing, if the wall lights are the only lights in this room (no ceiling lights) then I would choose something that gives out more light rather than the "architectural" light that you are getting from the sconces. The IC from Flos (is expensive) but the amount of light that it emits is wonderful for a wall light and the fitting is one of my favourites at the moment. You could also compliment the room with really BIG floor standing lamps, again watching how much light you actually get from them and you'll have more control over how bright or dark the room is.

Make sure to show us all photos when its done!!
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd and Minnie101 ! You guys are so helpful. Thank you so much ! So going to choose tonight . I did also look at dulux denim drift or would you say this is not deep enough . Probably go for 1 wall this colour and the rest a tonal grey that would got with it . No ceiling lights so will look into the side lights you recommended along with the brass and orange accents ! With my rug and keeping the wooden floor the same colour . Do you think I should change the colour of the fire place ? This would be on the darker wall ? Also in regards to seating we only have the Chesterfield at the moment , was thinking we need at least another 2seater along with a footstool /coffee table .
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
https://static.homesandproperty.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2016/09/05/16/duluxpainthp.jpg

The beauty about your room is that the denim drift will look darker more like the pic above. You don't want the sofa to get lost if the colours are too similar. This colour is very nice and the oranges will make the room pop, I think maybe try something lighter behind the sofa with all the other walls this colour, (if you dare), it would mean your "highlight wall" is the lighter wall and then the sofa has more chance of standing out against the backdrop. (Just an idea!)

I would consider the fireplace right a the end, once you are happy with the rest. Also find occasional chairs or armchairs that are you love, I really think you have a great pallet here.

I really liked Minnie's coffee tables, stick with one idea and follow it through, this will tie your room together and give you a rule of thumb to work with so that you don't buy something too "oopsie" on emotion.
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Bloc Blinds
6 years ago
Hi Simone,

If you want to make this room your haven I'd suggest blackout blinds to really cut out what's going on outside. Pair a classic fabric with a pelmet to add luxury which will match the style of your room. Below is an example but not necessarily in this colour.

These blinds do offer a swappable fabric feature which means you can swap the fabric of your blind as often as you like, in seconds, without removing the system from the window or ever having to remeasure. Find out more here about our swappable blinds.

Best of luck with your project,

Kiera

Ps. also LOVE the sofa - great choice!

Premium Roller Blind in Smoldering Charcoal · More Info
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd thank you , so based on what you have said .. our sofa will be on the wall to your left as you walk in the room , would you suggest painting all 3 walls ( fireplace and two window walls the denim blue and maybe the contrast being nutmeg white by dulux ( the wall which the sofa would sit against ) or should we do 3 walls nutmeg and 1 one blue ?? I think nutmeg would go with the rug ? Thanks
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Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 years ago

Thoughts from Alice: How to Create a Rustic Bohemian Living Room {Source List & · More Info

Thoughts from Alice: How to Create a Rustic Bohemian Living Room {Source List & · More Info

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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
I would choose a shade or two lighter as the Nutemg white might look similar to what you have now. I think, just because it will definitely look darker in your room and it will add more of a bold contrast is you choose something a shade or two lighter. I definitely think you will need the structure and texture of the panelling (or something else) on the wall behind the sofa if it is lighter too. The image below is quite cost effective as Minnie suggested it is just profiles stuck onto the wall and then painted, so you could even DIY. Don't forget to paint everything with a white undercoat first, then at least 2 coats of your chosen paint. Maybe undercoat all of the walls and do the 3 walls in your chosen wilder colour first, then you will see how much they reflect onto the whiter wall, making it quite dark and affecting the colour. It might be one for a few tester pots, but I think the colour is right with the nutmeg white, it just needs one shade or two lighter on the same spectrum. (I hope this all makes sense)?

Jo
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
If you have your heart set on the Nutmeg, then I would choose to do the 3 walls in the nutmeg, (mainly as it is a dark room). But if you choose a lighter colour the other walls will create a bold contrast to the lighter one.

..and yes i think the Wandsworth should stay where it is :-)
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd thank you , so what colour should I paint a move the picture rail ? Would this be white ? Or should I look at the same colour as the lighter wall ? Also slightly confused do you think I should have 3 dark walls or 3 light walls ? Can I get the DIY panelling from say... b&q ?
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd, sorry I meant above the picture rail not more picture rail . Today we are going to paint the ceiling and put undercoat on . Just wanted your opinion on which blue you think we would ? Also attaching some more picture of the room this morning on a rainy day . Just wanted show that the room colour isn't that close to nutmeg . Possibly I need to look for a white that is closer to the cream of the rug maybe ?? The colour I have included on dulux and dulux period .. be interested in Jo's and minnie101 opinion . Also take a picture of the wall where the sofa is .. you can see it the wall is angled .. is this the wall for panelling . Thanks again both you have really helped me . I am so indecisive with interior design and nervous as our first house . I tried to give images which is to true to the lighting because my phone always makes it look brighter than it is . Hope to hear from you both soon simone
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Thats great! Even better as now I can see the window reads as a bay! I would panel the three walls surrounding the sofa and stop where the natural lines are for the openings either side. Leave the picture rail and fill in underneath cutting the walls with the lights in half with the panelling (that gives you your dimension to work with) and then into four equal panels behind the Wandsworth. Use the image I posted above with the panelling as a guide to the style and where to cut the dado - just behind the height of the sofa to create a more vertical panel above making the ceiling feel higher).

Im not sure about the colours (personally) - perhaps try colour matching to farrow and balls cooks blue: (valspar will colour match at B &Q for around £3 a pot.)

and the white try to color match to ammonite (again farrow and ball).. this will feel "bold" and work with the browns in the room.

In this case I would use the "white" on all the walls except for the blue on the panelled walls which is the wall behind the sofa and the two angled ones (only to the point of the panelling which cradle the wandsworth).

Il wait and see what Minnie suggests too, but at the moment I don't feel the colours you have will give you the result you asked for in your original post.

Let me know what you think?

Jo
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
How are you getting on Simone?
minnie101
6 years ago
I agree with Jo re panelling etc. I also agree that the colours chosen won't give what you originally asked for. Just looking through your ideabooks again there seem to be a lot of light neutral rooms and a few with just a dark feature wall. Is this something you'd prefer?
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V.I.P Walls Interior Specialist
6 years ago
Good afternoon Simone ,

Bradley Here from VIP Walls Ltd. We would love to chat about your needs regarding your dilemma .

We are Wall and ceiling transformation specialists and offer an extensive range of luxury and on trend wall coverings .

Drop me me an email vipwalls@email.com and tell us just what your looking for. Check out all our social media and website www.vipwalls.co.uk for inspieation.

Looking forward to quoting you for your new Walls .

Bradley Horsham

V.I.P Walls Ltd
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Hello Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd and Minnie101 sorry it's been so long I got slightly distracted with work but we are soon hitting the weekend so ... I have bought the tester pots of the colours recommended but I think the cooks blue seem more like a kitchen or bathroom colour so unsure how this would look in the room but really like the Annomite from farrow ball , I did get this mixed with valspar ! I was hoping you would both think the deep real colour would work as I get warmth from this but not sure if it is too dark ? I still think the accent colour could be orange and brass as recommended by minnie101 x
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
Hi Simone, Is the teal the third from the left on your pallet on the wall? Perhaps now try three larger (about A4 size) - you could even paint card and move them onto the other walls to really get a grasp of the colours. I chose something a little lighter because it will look darker in your room, but until you test it you won know for sure. You have to fall in love with the colour, so test the teal you like with the ammonite (and i woudl still test the cooks blue against it to get a comparison) and then when you are watching the colours throughout the day, ask yourself, will this give me the bold luxurious feeling Im after? Usually what will happen is at a certain time in the day, your eye will catch the colour that makes your heart jump a little.. and then you will know that you will really love the colour in the space. Cant wait to see the next bit!
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd , so... we eventually made a decision and thanks to all your help we went with the below and we do really love it . Think we are going for brass and mustard accents . What your thoughts on the fireplace ?? I am not so sure if we should change it to white now ?
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Oh WOW! You made a great choice Simone. I love the dark fireplace surround, it looks really great and moody with the Wandsworth. Lightening it will give you a different, more contemporary feel in the room. Mustard will be beautiful with the gunmetal blue (I think it was Minnie's choice?) Which colour did you choose in the end? It looks darker than the Denim Drift. Its really beautiful! Its definitely bold and beautiful!

Im so happy for you, cant wait to see it with the highlights in place! Please do keep us updated.

Jo x
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
Thank you , and minnie101 Jo is absolutely right , thank you so much ideas and help ! I went with stiffkey blue and blackened . Soooo I have just relooked at my fireplace , metal is silver/pewter will this still work if I brought brass into the lounge .
Would you paint the fireplace surround ? I think the shade of wood goes really well but no sure if white would cheapen the look ? Thanks
cazSF
6 years ago
Found this thread looking for advice on door handles! Simone - LOVE the decision - well done, it looks amazing. I'm would not paint the fireplace, and don't worry too much about mixing metals - the pewter and the brass will be great :) looking forward to the next round of pics!
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
Yes I have to agree with cazsf, personally I like the darker surround, trust your instinct with the space, oh and mixing metals is just starting to come out in the "new season" items, so you'll be ahead of the game and people will be looking to your beautiful room for their own inspiration! Keep posting updates :-)
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
cazsf and Jo , thanks for the advice !
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
So what are your thoughts on the rug in this room ? Also how many chairs/sofa should I get ?
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hey Simone! I did a quick mood board for you. I stayed with the idea that you wanted "bold" .. I chose the main pieces so that you could decorate using your own style of throws, cushions and other soft furnishings (thats half the fun right?)

or

Not knowing your style I just proposed a classic formal look, but you could change the style by choosing more modern pieces and it would work easily too.

Also the dirty reds that Minnie101 proposed earlier will work beautifully too!

Have fun Simone, its looking great!

Jo
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Jo .. so what are your thoughts on the rug ? If you would replace it ? What would you choose ?
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
I have to admit I don't mind it. If you don't go bold with the rug you can go bold with the other items like in my mood sketches, but if you were hoping for a "loud" rug to create a bold statement and then use more subdued tones for the main furniture items I would just choose a rug that you absolutely love but ensure it is in "dirty" tones rather than pastels. Let me know if that is confusing?

Jo
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi Jo ,

So we are going to go furniture shopping . Based on the fab mood board you completed . How many chairs should I be looking to add ? I think with our dining room , we added too much in there so a little cramped now :( so cautious . In the moodboard was it our Chester plus to single chairs or should we have a
Third chair next to the fireplace ? So we have 5 seats and a tufted table /pouffee ?

Also we need to look at storage ? What do you think the traditional built in wall units either side of the fireplace ? We don't have any books so this is not obligatory but would it add to framing the room ! What a difference curtains made ! Love the colour you selected
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Jo Chrobak Invent Design Create Ltd
6 years ago
Hi Simone,

Im so happy to hear you liked the boards (its so much fun creating amazing spaces!) It really depends on how much space you have, how big the chairs are and also if you do end up adding joinery around the fireplace. From what I have seen of your lovely living room, I feel more inclined to go half way with the joinery to create a feeling of space and not to clutter the upper half of the room.

A bit like this...

Can you see how the top half is filled in with a mirror (if you liked this you could just have two free hanging mirrors - not built in like the ones in this image), but I would definitely build-in the joinery below with the thick shelving as per the image. It adds a nice place for items in a neat way and doesn't feel too oppressive when sitting in the chairs.

When it comes to how many chairs to buy - you will need to prioritise how you use the space. Do you often require space for 5-6 people in your living room? You could have two in the "bay" (check sizes though - you don't want them to feel cramped!!) or one larger chair either side of the Wandsworth. Perhaps get two cardboard boxes around 70 x 80 x 80cm and move them around to see if you would like chairs in those spaces. (That is a big chair by the way)

I hope that helps?

Jo