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.”
Jules
January 20, 2011 at 9:36 amCumulus looks greenish gray on my monitor. That makes me worry that my monitor isn’t calibrated correctly and all my pictures this week have been edited to look like red fireballs. Ugh.
Making it Lovely
January 20, 2011 at 9:38 amIt’s a little greenish. The fanfare color and the laundry room photo are more blue.
Marcee ... ILLINOIS
February 18, 2014 at 11:01 amMissed this post. Pretty pales. Either is fine. What are the appliances colors? Probably red, as in your previous house which was so nice looking. If our (finished)basement was brighter, I’d go with more color. Blue appliances were my first pick. Had to choose white though. Looks very good with grayish-blue background + assorted old pics, etc. of wash products that pop lots of color.
Sarah K
January 20, 2011 at 9:44 amI heart the cumulus cloud color! I think it will look great against the red washer and dryer.
As for the bathroom – what about a tone on tone horizontal stripe with white and off-white (or something similar)?
Tanya
January 20, 2011 at 9:45 amOooo – I remember the pictures for the entire basement reno that laundry shot is from. It didn’t even look like a basement! I am so jealous of unbasement-y basements. Pale blue will look so pretty with the red washer/dryer.
~Tanya
dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com
Joy
January 20, 2011 at 9:47 amLovely! I think that will look great with your red machines!
Joy
January 20, 2011 at 9:52 amOh no! I have to tell you how upset I am that you have alerted me to the existence of wallpaper at anthropologie. Ugh. That Lofty Larks paper is simply too cute.
Kelsey
January 20, 2011 at 9:57 amI did my last kitchen in pale blue with red accents (and lots of white) and I LOVED the vintage vibe. For fabrics I used Amy Butler’s Lotus Collection: Morning Glory in Linen and Full Moon Polka Dot in Cherry. You can see them in action in this photo: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=50221940&l=d6b9602275&id=13948193
Blair @ Studio13
January 20, 2011 at 10:32 amMan, I wish my laundry room looked like that!
Joy
January 20, 2011 at 10:39 amI love that blue laundry room. We’re building my daughter a play kitchen & the 2 main colors are pale blue & red. I think your basement is going to look great!
Sheri @ Make It POP!
January 20, 2011 at 10:43 amThat is a really clean-looking color. Love.
Heather
January 20, 2011 at 10:48 amSO pretty!!! For the powder room…what if you did a light olive on the walls? With all white, big fluffy towels?? It would be a nice transition from the olive floors in the rest of the rooms. We can’t wait to see photos!
jbhat
January 20, 2011 at 11:09 amI am going to want to move in to your basement, because it’s going to be so beautiful down there.
jbhat
bungalowbliss
January 20, 2011 at 11:21 amOoh, I can’t wait to see how everything comes together! Love your choices so far!
karra
January 20, 2011 at 12:04 pmI’m loving fanfare! I’ve been looking for a pretty gray.
Beth
January 20, 2011 at 12:42 pmI guess I don’t look at those swatches and see blue – more like a pale gray. Hmm.
Classiccasualhome.com
January 20, 2011 at 12:49 pmCan’t wait to see the color combo!
Mary Ann
Laura Gaskill
January 20, 2011 at 1:48 pmOoh la la! I think it will feel like a refreshing change from the pinks to have a little blue here – very nice! xo Laura
vanessa
January 20, 2011 at 2:26 pmgood choice. i am a fan of light blue + red.
a question. dose that mister weigh in with his opinion on these things? does he care? i am single so the only person i have run design decisions by is my dog. heh.
anna
January 20, 2011 at 2:31 pmthis looks awesome, I can’t wait to see it all when you’re finished. :)
Ashley
January 20, 2011 at 2:38 pmYou always pick the prettiest colors!
I love the Wild Aster on yours walls, but on the paint chip it doesn’t look that pink.
Can’t wait to see the finish basement!
lisaroy
January 20, 2011 at 5:04 pmI love these choices! I’m not really a blue person either but do like certain shades. I painted my island in a pretty aqua blue which is nice with the other white cabinets and adds some personality. love your blog btw! :)
Linley
January 20, 2011 at 5:12 pmCan’t wait to see it all painted up– I like that basements are so conducive to trying out fun colors :)
charity
January 20, 2011 at 5:43 pmI love all the painting tips! I wish you lived closer to Utah. We are are about to redo the living room. Paint scares me sooo bad!
elissa, ebb & flow
January 20, 2011 at 6:00 pmthey’re both so beautiful it’s hard to decide. but i do see why that image inspired you. it’s beautiful.
Daniela
January 20, 2011 at 6:32 pmI live that color! I used it in a clients guest room. The real reason I’m commenting; Jubilee (have you been there?) has a gorgeous, quirky, wooden frame mirror similar to the one you posted a few weeks ago, in case you’re still planning on going that direction.
Daniela
January 20, 2011 at 6:34 pmlove^…. I was so excited about the color I made a typo!
Stephanie
January 20, 2011 at 7:23 pmI love it. It looks warm and inviting!
megan
January 20, 2011 at 9:36 pmyay yay yay…….for selfish reasons, i can’t wait to see a mood board for your laundry room when you accessorize it….mine is pale blue too….. was thinking of red pops of ikea pots.. but never got down to it….
melo
January 20, 2011 at 9:57 pmRealyy nice choice of color for the laudry room!!! It’s fresh, calm and totally look clean!
For the half-bathroom, Ilove your idea of wallpaper + porcelain fixtures + frameless mirror…
But i prefer a frame for the mirror and maybe just the upper part of the wall with wallpaper.. A graphic one, a trellis pattern maybe??? And why not the selling to!
http://www.houzz.com/photos/31532/Brentwood-Regency-State-eclectic-powder-room-los-angeles
A shade of nice buttery yellow, or i more actuel peach color…
misshotcakes
January 20, 2011 at 10:14 pmis it weird to say I’m getting excited?! :) I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
I’m so jealous.. ;)
wanderluster
January 20, 2011 at 10:37 pmLove blue in a laundry room. What about a more vintagey green in the half-bath? Something like Martha Stewart Beryl. It might look nice with the retro fixtures.
Emmmylizzzy
January 20, 2011 at 11:11 pmAhhh, I love a good grayish blue.
Amy
January 21, 2011 at 1:23 pmLove the color choices…You need to look at wales gray…one of the Ben Moore colors for west elm…so nice…can’t wait to see the finished basement.
April
January 21, 2011 at 1:36 pmBlue and red together is amazing. Good choice!
Carla
January 21, 2011 at 2:40 pmGood choice, I never pick cool colors but I took a chance on a bluish grey for my bedroom (BM winter solstice) and it really grew on me. Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Ellen
January 21, 2011 at 7:24 pmThis is kind of a wild idea for the half bath, but it could be great: random width horizontal stripes using all the basement colors. I have seen this implemented to great effect in a living room (with all white furniture — in your case, white fixtures serve the same function) and in a kitchen.
Heather @ REOlisticRenovation
January 23, 2011 at 8:01 pmI seriously love this! Would be so fun for a laundry room. Hmmm might have to copy you.
sunny
January 23, 2011 at 9:46 pmI do so adore the blue + red combo. I bet the laundry room will be so very pretty.
I mean, everything you touch turns to gold..err..prettiness! Can’t wait to see it!
mary@tree service
January 25, 2011 at 7:12 amSame here, not such a big fan of blue, but in the right shades it could be perfect. Looking forward to see the finished product ;)
Christine
January 29, 2011 at 6:41 pmWonderful color ideas! Thanks so much for posting this. The laundry room photo you posted is perfect inspiration for my kitchen.
Planning the Laundry Room | Making it Lovely
February 14, 2011 at 12:05 pm[…] floor is getting the same white Octagon & Dot tile with charcoal grout as the half-bath. I had Martha Stewart’s “Cumulus Cloud” matched to Benjamin Moore paint for the walls, and it’s spot-on with their “Whirlpool” color. And hello there, […]
Karen
February 18, 2014 at 5:14 pmI love your blog, just fab. I have a question for you and I hope it is not too cheeky….I have been looking forever for an app or similar that can show a graphic similar to yours for paint color – ie the brushstoke look. I have been searching for months and would so appreciate being pointed in the right direction.