Tag: color scheme

Drawn to “The Ugly Colors”

I’ve been planning two more big DIY renovations for our home: the laundry room and the second floor bathroom. The laundry room in the basement is dull, and the bathroom is having issues that are forcing the renovation more than aesthetics alone. I’ve chosen the appliances and fixtures, and everything so far is black, white, or brass. Even the flooring is white (or “biscuit” in the case of the bathroom, but close enough). Neutrals. A classic foundation. I can do anything I like with the wall colors!

What do I like?

The moody, somber hues that suggest mysteries and the passage of time. The paint colors that pick up names from secluded forests or old world travel destinations. Or that, if you’re not a fan, pick up less charming monikers like “baby poop green.” I lovingly refer to these as “the ugly colors” but of course they’re not. They’re muted. Shaded. Rich. Moody. Nuanced.

• I list sources for everything in the Shop Our House section, including the specific paint colors and wallpapers in our home.

I love pink (quelle surprise!). But I’ve used it in the front entryway, library, dining room, bedroom, hallway, office, and guest room. Might it be time to choose another color for the next few rooms? The house has likely reached its pink quota.

The living room’s black walls and the many, many doors I’ve painted black still thrill me. The brown antelope runner on the stairs is perfection.

The bathroom is off of the hallway with pink wallpaper. The sink and toilet will be white, and the outside of our existing claw foot tub can be painted (likely black, but not finalized). These are some of the options I’ve been thinking of for wall colors.

It’s the same palette I’m looking at for the laundry room, though the ceilings are shorter (significantly) and there’s much less natural light. I shared a sneak peek of both design plans on my Instagram Stories and everybody sent messages voting for pink, but I think it’s time for me to consider that maybe just maybe other colors exist that I can decorate with. Moss, mushroom, ochre, olive… they’re calling.

April 10, 2018
The Color Palette Inspiration
You’ve seen the built-ins starting to take shape, but what I’m really looking forward to is painting the front parlor and getting everything back in place. I came across the top two floral images below on Pinterest the other day, and they’ve stayed with me. This is the direction the color palette is heading, I think.

Images: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4

You’ve seen that bottom image below here, and I’ve been thinking of picking up a few blue and white porcelain jars or vases like this since using a similar one in the design of this room.

I haven’t really made a conscious effort to keeping things to a palette yet (although it’s been kicking around in my mind), as I’ve been enjoying the process of collecting and taking my time. Happily, everything does work pretty well with the above inspiration, and here’s how the furniture and accessories between the two parlors are looking so far.
1. Black Beauty Paint, Benjamin Moore
  You can see the second parlor from every other main room on the first floor, and the black walls give fantastic contrast to the surrounding spaces
2. Pink Ikat Polka Dot Pillows, Jayson Home (Warehouse Sale)
  I picked up two of these pale peachy pink pillows.
3. Gold Suzani Pillow, Jayson Home
  Expensive, but huge and luxe and worth it.
4. Twin Beacons Brass Lamp, Anthropologie
  I waited and waited, and was able to finally grab it on clearance. It’s a heavy, substantial lamp that looks vaguely insect-like, and I love it.
5. Winifred Sofa, Anthropologie
  The most expensive piece of furniture we’ve ever bought (even with it being on sale when we got it), but it’s perfect. It’s also the most comfortable we’ve ever had.
6. Dog Rose Botanical Poster, The Evolution Store
  I cashed in some credits on Fab to get mine a couple of years ago, and now I think I like it even more in this house than I did in the old one!
7. Built-in Bookshelves, Krieger + Associates
  Those are fantastic. I hope mine will be, too.
8. Antique Striped Sofa, Chairish
  I was looking for a smaller striped settee, but this sofa was so perfect that I went for it.
9. Tufted Pink Ottomans, Target
  I like the dash of hot pink these bring.
10. Pale Pink Table Lamp, Robert Abbey
  I used to have two of these, but alas, one of the kids broke one shortly after we moved here.
Of course there are a few outliers that will probably show up in the two spaces too, like my Emily Rickard painting and the crazy floral Blythe chair.

Our carpenter did a lot of work installing components yesterday, and the bookshelves in the front parlor are up on both sides of the window now. He’ll be taking next week off and returning the week after to finish up some of the details, but the bulk of the project is in place! I’ve been trying to stay mindful of the sightlines in this house, and the wall of shelving looks good in context and in relation to the other rooms. The house is an oak-stravaganza (shall I never use that word again?), and I’m good with that.

Now, what color should I go with for the walls in there?
April 17, 2014
Testing Paint Colors for the Bedroom

The walls in our home (the ones that don’t have wallpaper, that is) were all painted creamy white before the house was put on the market. It’s a good base to start with because it’s allowing us to take our time with decisions, rather than rushing to cover up horrid colors right away. I’ve been working on the kids’ rooms right away so they’ll have spaces that feel special, and I think it’s time to paint our bedroom next.

The rug that I first tried in the living room is officially staying in the bedroom. I’m liking the fir/pine wood upstairs (though it was painted once upon a time — the Victorians liked to faux-finish lesser woods to make it look like nicer wood than it really is), and the major furniture of the room is in place. Our bedding will probably be mostly white, and the neutral upholstered bed is staying as-is.

I’ve been wanting to try Sherwin-Williams’ Sea Salt forever, because it’s one of those colors that pops up over and over and looks completely different (and completely gorgeous) every time. I think it’s too light next to our wood trim though. The other color that I tested is Comfort Gray, which is one shade darker than Sea Salt. Before we moved into this house, I did tell Brandon to slap my hand away from the paint if I start trying to put gray on all the walls. But! This is more bluish!

I think it’s the winner.

October 30, 2013
Color Quiz

How do you find color schemes for your home? I think it happens somewhat intuitively for me at this point, but I know I used to have to see all of the colors together before moving forward. I do still pull from fabrics, like from a really awesome throw pillow, or wallpaper. Even if I’m not actually using wallpaper in the space, it could be a good jumping off point. What about you?

I write for My Colortopia, and they’ve just put out a fun color quiz. I took it and my results were pretty accurate! No pink, but they’re probably not recommending that to anyone (because I’m the only adult that wants pink walls, ha). I’ve embedded the quiz below in case you want to give it a try. Let me know if it was accurate for you too (I’m curious!).

I have partnered with Glidden/ Akzo Nobel Paints to participate in the My Colortopia program but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

January 26, 2012
Basement Floor Paint

I’m having second thoughts about using Benjamin Moore’s ‘olive tree’ for the floor paint. Maybe I should go a shade or two darker? Brandon said the basement color palette was looking a little Easter basket-like, complete with the green Easter grass on the floor! I think going a shade or two darker might be the way to go to keep things from floating off into pastel territory.

The other two greens (‘mossy rock’ and ‘okra’) are both from the Martha Stewart line at Home Depot, but I’d have them matched in Benjamin Moore’s floor paint. I’m going to use IKEA’s Stockholm Rand rug for a little punch too. As you can see, this paint decision has been weighing heavily on Eleanor as well.

(unedited photo here)

January 25, 2011
Laundry Room Paint Color

And the winner is… pale blue! As I had mentioned, I’m not normally a fan of blue. I like certain shades though, so I’m willing to give it a shot. This laundry room may have tipped things in the color’s favor.

Plus, I do love blue with red, so I think the color will look beautiful with our red washer and dryer. I’m having Martha Stewart’s “Cumulus Cloud” color-matched to Benjamin Moore, but if you’re looking for an existing B. Moore color, it’s close to “Fanfare.” A nice grayish blue.

I’m also painting the storage/tool room in this color. It will look great with the olive painted floor! The only room I have left now is the half-bathroom — I have no idea what color I’m putting in there.

*Update*
Benjamin Moore’s “Whirlpool” is an even better match than “Fanfare.”

January 20, 2011