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Need colour help...

11 years ago
Ok so I am not a designer or anything and I need some advice.

Make a long story short, I bot a contemporary/modern house and it had a colour scheme that matched both inside and out.

The original color scheme had a lot of browns and beige and I never liked it. S so I changed the floors and painted all the walls a very modern white colour and I am thrilled with the results.

However, one thing that I didn't foresee was that the aluminum window frames are beige inside and out and since the interior was painted white, the window frames really show up and I think stick out a little.

So basically I figured I had 3 options. One is to do nothing. Two is to paint the alum frames white. Or three to use the beige elsewhere in the house and so it won't look as out of place in the windows. I will post some pics below.

So what I was thinking was to use the beige color from the window frames and use that on the interior doors. Would this make the frames stand out less?

Any thoughts?

Comments (23)

  • 11 years ago
    The floors are a dark chocolate brown and the fireplace has brown and beige in it.

    I think the all white doors look stance next to the beige windows.

    I think the beige would be cool as well as a backsplash color too, which I am trying to decide upon.
  • 11 years ago
    What are your plans for window coverings? May alleviate the need to do anything...or at least minimize
  • 11 years ago
    U make a good point. I don't know what I am gonna choose for window coverings.

    I was gonna wait till my furniture was delivered before making a choice on window coverings.

    I am not at all decided on colour of blinds or shades.

    I have a modern white leather sectional and black leather ottoman coming.

    But you are right. The right covering could change the look of the frames.

    Any thoughts?
  • 11 years ago
    Windows are complicated...placement, style and light control...have you looked at hunter Douglas silhouettes?
  • 11 years ago
    Thx.

    I have looked at them and liked that style a lot.

    More then anything I am looking for opinion on the window frame color vs the rest of the house.

    Below are some more pics of the beige frames in the house. I just feel like the beige frames look to be "floating" in the wall and need to be grounded a bit with a little more beige?

    So if I make the interior of the doors the same beige color, does anyone think that would look better?
  • 11 years ago
    Here are a few more pics of the beige windows vs white trim and walls
  • 11 years ago
    How about painting the frames black? I think that would be chic. I agree with you that the beige looks odd.
  • 11 years ago
    Yes I agree that would be very cool black frames.

    I am going to look into painting the frames. They are metal, aluminum I think.

    Yes I find the windows are floating on the walls in beige.

    I think the easiest solution would be to maybe add a bit of beige to the walls to complement the windows but who knows if that would even look good when done.
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Paint them white. It will match all your mouldings and blend. You said you didn't like the beige and got rid of it don't add it back in to accommodate the windows.
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Not sure how easy it would be to paint the window parts that are beige. I would check with the manufacturer first. If possible, that might be your first choice since that's the look you preferred. Another option would be to paint the window frames and molding and the doors and moldings - the same beige color as the window interiors so they don't stand out.
  • 11 years ago
    Thx for the posts.

    I agree. Painting the frames white is the best option, if possible.

    But I also agree I need to check on whether or not the window frames can be painted.

    The white mouldings and trim in the house has all been painted already and was hoping to avoid any major additions to the project at this point.

    If I painted the mouldings and trim around the windows beige to accommodate the frames, I still think the white doors and trim would look weird too and then I might be temped to do those in beige and then I think I would have more beige than I wanted, not that I am saying it would look bad but still.
  • 11 years ago
    thx jesker

    that is what i am hoping for... the windows are vinyl and they are a pain to paint, they have to be sanded and primed before being painted... add to that my painter is not very good and neither is my contractor and this kind of work they would make a mess of it at this stage of the reno so i have decided to leave the window frames as is for now

    when i get all my furnishings and stuff in the house i am hoping the windows will be less noticeable... assuming they are, i may get window coverings to match the frames, assuming i don't mind the look

    if i am not happy, in the end i will get the frames painted
  • 11 years ago
    It sounds to me that you don't like the beige. I think it would be a mistake to paint the doors beige. Once all the furnishings are in, add beige accent pillows or touches in your throw rugs.
    User thanked 2lacoop
  • 11 years ago
    I've been a color consultant for years and have always stressed working with what you have instead of fighting it... I'd recommend getting Hunter Douglass (best warranty and YES, it does matter) Duettes or Silhouettes in a color as close to the beige as you can get. It makes it logical that they are beige. If you get window treatments or toppers, find fabric with both white and beige and hopefully a brighter color to "pop" and make it look interesting. Rugs, throws, pillows, etc. can have all 3 colors to make it look fabulous and hopefully you'll love it. I would never recommend trying to paint the vinyl trim---it'll look tacky.
    User thanked hutzle
  • 11 years ago
    thanks so much for the advice hutzle

    yes i am hoping that adding to the beige in the right way will make the space work... i do have the brown floors which are dark but the beige certainly doesn't clash with the window frames.... the fireplaces in the living room and office both have colours which also are are not totally unlike the beige either
  • 11 years ago
    the other fireplace
  • 11 years ago
    i like the look. it's different. rather unpredicted and interesting.
  • 11 years ago
    Your place is beautiful and has great potential. While I appreciate that you would like the windows to be white to match everything else, I think the beige will become less noticeable as you make other decisions. I do agree with others who suggest that you look for a bit of beige as one colour to incorporate in any accents you use (rug, throw, pillows) but I wouldn't recommend fretting over your windows. If you do consider window treatments - sheer blinds that will fit the windows and chosen in one of the many shades of white colours that match your trim will totally minimize the concern you have about the colour of the windows. Sheer blinds that close - provide both light and privacy, are modern in appearance, and are white - would in my mind, solve your problem. Sorry - not a great picture but this is the type of blind I had in mind. Wish you the best in your design.
    All the best on designing your great space.
  • 11 years ago

    Hey @milloy36 do you have any updated pictures? I'm currently facing a similar issue in my decor planning.


  • 11 years ago
    I have a few, actually i am really happy how mine turned out but i have learned alot through this whole process, never really thinking about the windows frame color issue until the last minute.

    Basically, for the entire downstairs of my house i painted it white (decorators white matte on walls, satin white on trim and kitchen cabinets) and i find the windows look good next to the white trim and wall and it creates a nice sophisticated modern look.

    But upstairs, the bedrooms and bath each have their own color walls and in those rooms, the beige windows dont look at good, for lack of a better term i find it add too many colors to the room and then the white trim stands out too much.

    Maybe i will paint the upstairs trim to match the walls eventually, getting rid of white trim upstairs and that will clean the look up.

    All in all i am happy. Your results may vary, what color are your walls/windows?
  • 11 years ago

    Thanks so much for sharing! I think it looks great, and gives me more confidence to whip out the white trim paint. My house is a blank canvas currently very-beigy/brown colours, but we are re-doing all of that. The only thing I'm stuck with is the beige window interior.


  • 11 years ago
    Here are some pics in the rooms where i had a different colored wall. In these cases, the beige windows do kinda take away from the look so i chose to use them in my color choices for furniture and try not to clash to much.