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lkochan

Modern Interior Paint color scheme

14 years ago
Please help! I've bought a mid-century townhouse and it came with pure white walls, trim and ceilings with a few medium gray walls. For the past 8 mos I have tried to love the stark white and gray, but even though its modern, I just dont. I like more warm modern tones.
I have been considering a standard toupe, but I am afraid that the white trim and ceilings will be too contrasting and more traditional versus the more modern look I am looking for.
Will toupe be too dark for all walls?
How "dark" of an "off-white" can/should I go with the trim and ceilings?
The window and stair trim is a dark toupe and I love it, but I think it would be way too dark for all baseboards.
I have medium tan furniture and mostly all dark wood and have 20ft high windows, so light is not a problem. (the furniture in pics is not my current); The floors are a reddish-brown (leathery) stained concrete; I have mostly black-framed art.
I usually pick color schemes so easily, but this is my first foray trying to go more modern.
Thanks so any help/opinions.

Comments (6)

  • 14 years ago
    You have great bones to work with! Are you thinking of keeping your furniture that you have or getting new pieces for the home? If you are sticking with the furniture that you have, what colors are we talking? Neutrals or colorful?

    You could liven up white walls with great furniture choices in rich or vibrant colors.

    If you want warmer but lively modern, you may want to consider the tangerine shades that are current. For example, the accent walls in the living room could be emboldened with a shade or orange/red. Or you could choose a modern blue. For a more neutral impact, even a taupe with a hint of your favorite color - eggplant, salmon, blue, green, etc. would be a good start.

    I actually have painted my living room a "beeswax" color (warm, neutral, yellow base) from Sherwin Williams, to play off of the oak floors and pine trim in our catherdral ceiling living room. We have endless sunshine in the room and white was too blase for me as well. We actually added a new couch, which was a dark walknut fabric to tie into our darket furnishings. Our goal was to lower the feeling of the ceiling, because I find higher ceilings to make a room feel less welcoming. Or room has pitched ceilings as well, so I used this to create a new midline that brought the ceiling down visually.
  • 14 years ago
    last modified: 14 years ago
    You should try hanging some large art. The gray walls are very good backdrops for art and you may have noticed human beings look great against them as well. I have Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal on a large wall in my home. Whatever I put on that wall looks great. At one time I had black and white photos in silver frames on that wall and although it looked good, it was cold so I totally understand why you feel that it's currently too cold. I find that I do like warm, rich, colors the best. Orange art is my recommendation.
  • 14 years ago
    Benjamin Moore has a color line called Tranquillity collection that is gorgeous.
  • PRO
    14 years ago
    Take a look at the Farrow & Ball website http://us.farrow-ball.com/ their colors are grounded well, they won't confuse you as in other choices you don't have "thousands" to choose from! I use the colors in both Traditional and Contemporary homes. Also take a look at the photos on my site and you will see a very similar home to yours. It does depend on what you are adding to the room in either furnishings or sculptural pieces...good luck! Susan
  • 14 years ago
    I like this combo. Not exciting but very pleasing and warm. Benjamin Moore Bavarian Cream OC-123 with an accent of BJ 513 Limestone. You could easily introduce a 3rd complimenting color.
  • 14 years ago
    I also agree about hanging some large pieces of art. But of course, I have an art gallery so would always agree with that.
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