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seabeewyfe

Paint Color Help

14 years ago
I have a huge great room that basically runs into a hall way, kitchen, living room and dining room. All wood floors for the most part. When we moved in 3 years ago we really wanted to paint. Well ... it's been 3 years. Problem being our ceilings are 22 feet high, and we just haven't done it. Well ... it's on the calendar for Spring. Problem is the color on the wall now is Navajo White (looks very yellowish to me). I want to go light because we have a wall of windows and I want to keep it very neutral and light. But I want more of a "brown/tan" tone. Not yellow. Most of our doors and windows are framed in white, but I'm attaching a picture of the doors to our deck that is framed in wood so you can see the color wood I'm dealing with. I was told by my non professional family I needed to stay in the yellow family because of my floors and this window. Is that true? Can I go more on the brown side? I HATE YELLOW! LOL

Comments (16)

  • 14 years ago
    Take samples of the creamy beiges and whites and put them up on the wall. See the different colors during the different light from morning to evening and you will take down which ones don't look good .
    Plus I would suggest to paint your door and moldings white. It would look fresh.
  • 14 years ago
    You do not have to purchase the samples first. Use the swatches first , then get the samples of paint.
  • 14 years ago
    Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the suggestions. I really like the idea of possibly painting my doors white --- but look ... I have a whole wall of windows -- do I paint them ALL white??? NONE of my other windows in the house are the wood color -- just these. I wouldn't mind painting them white. But would that be TOO MUCH white?
  • 14 years ago
    Now I'm looking at these pictures I just posted. The first one, I see my dining room window, and it's of course all white. Maybe it would look ok??
  • 14 years ago
    I have a friend who owns lots of rental property and all is painted Navajo White, so I always think of his addage about keeping it neutral. Paint the window frames and doors white and look for a greige to do the walls. I think you'll love it. Search the box at the top of the page for "greige" under dropdown "photos" and other topics in the dropdown. I think one of the pros posted a tutorial on greige. Check it out and I think you'll have your solution - except for the scaffolding. Can't help you there, but here's a tip. Last time we replaced bulbs in the vaulted ceiling at our cabin we switched to the new plug-in LED cans. No more scaffolding!!!! A couple of other suggestions: put the candlesticks from the windows on the dining table and remove the clutter from the windowsill before installing drapery that falls to the floor and is hung on a rod at the level of the frame bottom of the window above the sliders. Does that make sense? Lower your light fixture to 36" above the tabletop or to eye level of the tallest person in your house, whichever is higher.
  • 14 years ago
    Benjamin Moore 981. It's a great " griege" (gray beige)!!!
  • 14 years ago
    Paint all the trim white I like Cloud White & take a look at Stone House by Benjamin Moore. Also Bennington Grey has a green undertone that works well with oak, stay away from yellow or pink undertones. The Houzz list of beiges is a good start & the paint store should be able to offer some help.
  • 14 years ago
    dsma, the swatches are just too small. $2.98 is nothing to pay for a paint color you are certain of!
  • PRO
    14 years ago
    I would like to suggest that you paint the trims white (cc30) and then the walls in HC173. It has the "tan" look that you wanted but staying away from the yellow undertone. Laura
  • 13 years ago
    Shaker beige Benjamin Moore and paint all trim white
  • 13 years ago
    I hate yellow too! Brownish grays would be perfect!! Our living room is called "sidewalk square" from Kilz and we have the same color floors and white trim and it looks perfect :)
  • 13 years ago
    Here's a beautiful color from Benjamin Moore
    http://houzz.com/photos/334708
  • 13 years ago
    Paint the all the trim white - you will have a lot more flexibility with wall colors. I have used BM cloud white on walls and imagine it would do well on trim with your wood floors.
  • 13 years ago
    Definitely paint out all your window/door trim a white, but pick the white after you've chosen your wall color. It looks like its the trim more than the floors that have that strong yellow/orange color. In fact I think your floors will look beautiful with a cool(no yellow) paint color.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I like white for trim and am with you on the yellow I do not like it even as an undertone. I just painted our living room a lovely soft tan called Rivera Beach and used Valspar paint, smooth good coverage.