We are building and our living space has several south facing windows for natural sunlight. We have a large sectional that is a burgandy/wine/darkrusted color (hard to describe the shade) I want to paint the area a shade of gray but what shade? The space adjoing is the kitchen which I thought about painting a shade of yellow to give it a nice sunshiny feeling but not bright yellow. It also has lots of natural light. Help!! I am afraid of color but LOVE it when I see it at someone else's house. I want to be brave this time. »
lisakh I do not like the idea of grey in this room. Grey is a cool color and the floors are a beautiful, golden color. I would try pumpkin or carmel color. Use it on the INTERIOR back walls of the shelves. Then I would use a shade darker, complementary color on the recessed areas in the ceiling.
I would change out the area rug using a pattern that incorporates the same colors in a pattern. Leave the walls outside the shelves the same color. This will warm up the entire room. You may need to replace the ottoman with a warm tone fabric with a pattern that coordinates with the new area rug. Bring in some cream accesories into the shelving which will now pop against the pumpkin or carmel back wall. This room has wonderful "bones" and could be really a warm inviting area with color on the walls & ceiling. Love the potential here.
Mona Ives I agree - grey may be trendy but it is a cold color. I know designers are in love with it right now but I don't think it will last. I grew up in a house that my parents painted grey and it made me so deppressed my whole life I swore I would never paint anything grey - and I never have used grey (on the walls) with so many clients over 7 years. So I may be biased against it, but it looks to me that this space needs a warmer color palette. I like the pumpkin/gold idea and I would think Benjamin Moore Oklahoma Wheat. Also south facing rooms can be very difficult so test the shades in different spots and look at them in day and night lighting. Oklahoma wheat may be great during the day but too intense at night... worth a try though to be in that family.
Use knee walls (half walls) to separate a little library nook in a larger space. Surround the space with shelves filled with books and display items, then make it cozy with a rug and comfy chairs.
Lots of homes constructed since the late 1970s have a large nebulous loft or open area at the top of the stairs on the second floor. Unsuitable for a bedroom, it's often wasted space; transforming it into a library makes the most of it.
Instead of closing off the library in the usual traditional way, this open library keeps the space airy and makes the entire first floor feel larger. Planked walls and a planked ceiling lend a cottage feel.