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Favorite Color Combinations: Celery and Chocolate
Accent your space with a delicious mix of light green and dark brown
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Love the green and brown combination but want to give the popular combo an update? Think celery and chocolate. While the combination would make for a pretty unappetizing snack, it's a scrumptious color pairing. Using these colors sparingly with lighter colors like white, cream and beige results in a soothing, comfortable and elegant look. Take note of the ratios between the light colors and the celery and chocolate accent colors in each of these rooms; it's a big part of what makes them so successful.
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Case in point: The green ceiling provides the biggest swath of color in the room, picking up on the duvet, bench and window treatments. The old tobacco basket on the wall provides just the right dose of brown.
Thinking about painting your ceiling? Here are some more ideas.
Thinking about painting your ceiling? Here are some more ideas.
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I would wager this beautiful room's color palette might have been inspired by the beautiful print of an antique drawing of a turtle.
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The color palette continues throughout this home, resulting in a sophisticated and inviting living room.
| Chocolate and cream zebra-print chairs and a chocolate sofa are enhanced by a few celery accents. The rest of the light room is bathed in natural light. Tip: Don't forget that long stems and leaves can be a powerful decorative accent in a room. |
Celery and chocolate can help you create a calm and serene bathroom. Here the tiles reflect the light while the dark color grounds the cabinet.
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| This is what I like to call a "Calgon, take me away!" bathroom. The dark cabinet (more like bitter chocolate than milk chocolate) and tall panels add just the right amount of color; they keep the room from looking like a blank canvas. Tip: Always pay attention to proportions. These vertical panels are tall enough to stand up to the high ceiling. |
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Just imagine these shelves with plain white in the background. Painting them celery has breathed life into the room.
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| This room is a bit of an exception to my light-to-accent-color ratio rule. The grasscloth wall covering is lively yet soothing. The cream-colored headboard and bedspread contribute a large enough swath of cream to keep things balanced. More: Inspired by Nature: Purple and Green Favorite Color Combinations: Neopolitan Great Combinations: Blue and Brown Opposites Attract: Orange and Blue Favorite Color Combinations: Gray and Yellow |
Comments
Rough Linen Could i call it olive green and olive brown? Celery calls for peanut butter!
21 months ago · Like
Becky Harris Tricia, that is so funny, after I wrote that I thought "I wonder if celery would go with Nutella...yummmmmm...Nutella...Nutella..."
21 months ago · Like
furpants I painted the front door 3X to get just the right color to work with the dark brown trim, redwood walls and oak floors. I've been calling it citrus, but celery is probably a better description now that you mention it. 
21 months ago · Like
Becky Harris It looks great, and like it was totally worth the effort! Is that a Phillipe Starck gnome?
21 months ago · Like
furpants Yes, it's a Starck gnome. He moves around the house. Right now he's swapped places with an Eames chair. 
21 months ago · Like
Becky Harris I love it! I don't have the Starck table, but I bought a funny gnome at Target a few years back by some design luminary - maybe Thomas O'Brien? I can't even remember, but he makes me laugh.
21 months ago · Like
Bright Bold and Beautiful Wonderful color combination ~ it's very natural and soothing....
21 months ago · Like
ctthomp95 I've used this color combo for years and have always received compliments as to how inviting and calming it is. It has also always been the perfect backdrop for seasonal decorating (mix in a burnt orange for fall and metalics for winter) Whatever you call the colors - I say delish!
21 months ago · Like
Jan Yatsko I discovered this wonderful combination while looking at nature. During the rainy season in Costa Rica is when everyone plants a garden or a crop. Passing through the countryside many years ago, I came upon bright green plantings poking their heads up through wet, dark volcanic soil. I made a note to put that comination in one of my future paintings.
21 months ago · Like
Laurie at Bird in Hand VTG Very rich looking, yet fresh too.
21 months ago · Like
Functional Home Designs I love this color combination! As foods, they are unappetizing companions, but as colors, they are delicious together! You're right, they definitely need a light backdrop to make them work together. These examples are gorgeous!
21 months ago · Like
pixel I like this color combo...I don't think it's unappetizing...it's refreshing and reminds me of mint chocolate chip ice cream...
21 months ago · Like
patscats2 I love the green glass tile, but that's about it for me. I'm not crazy about this green and matched with brown. That's just my taste of course.
21 months ago · Like
sburt Fabulous combination! I see my name written all over it!
21 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Sept. 8, 2011.
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