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Design Dilemma
cjhp22

Need color scheme help...

13 years ago
I will be redecorating my living room soon, and trying to decide on a color scheme. We have a large stone fireplace (the stones are rough marble) that I need to coordinate with. We also have a beautiful painting that we commissioned, of me and my daughter sitting in our yard. The problem is, the stone in the fireplace has pinkish-beige overtones, and the painting is primarily grass green, with a large gold museum-style frame. I just realized that they don't really go together (although the painting does have a stone wall in it that is somewhat close in color to the stone in the fireplace). Now I'm confused about what color scheme to use for the room. I was thinking about browns/creams/beige with some pinky/orangy tones to pick up the fireplace color, like in the rug (picture attached), but I don't think that will look good with the painting. I really don't want to move the painting, but if that's the only answer, I want to know now! Here are two pictures, the brighter one was with a flash, the other without (but in both, the two recessed lights above the fireplace were turned on.)

Thank you!
Featured Answer
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    carolhpratt, What a sweet keepsake your mother-daughter portrait is! The embellished and gilded frame of the painting suggests a more formal rug like this Persian inspired design from Home Decorators. I like the subtle cream field color to coordinate with your fireplace stone as well as the garden colors of green, blue and gold found in your painting. Good luck with your room remodel.

    Comments (14)

    • 13 years ago
      As far as I'm concerned grass green and landscapes go with just about anything. I don't think you have to match the room to the painting. but if you want to, maybe pick up some of the flower tones as accents for pillows.

      The tones you picked are very neutral, although I'm not sure about the pattern of the rug, and could go with just about any brighter accent color.
    • 13 years ago
      Such a gorgeous picture, and it's interesting how the stone wall echoes the stone of the fireplace. It would be a shame to move it. Can you adjust the lighting so it highlights the picture rather than the stone on either side? It's hard to tell the true color from the two photos but even if the colors in the carpet coordinate with the fireplace, I would not use such a busy rug when there is so much going on with the marble stone. I suggest a solid rug and for the furniture, solid fabric, tone-on-tone stripes, patterns and/or geometrics. If you like busier patterns with more contrast, save them for accents.

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    • 13 years ago
      Thank you! My husband would prefer a bolder color scheme; what else would look good with the fireplace? I think the first picture is closer to the true color.
    • 13 years ago
      Your color scheme will look nice in the room. Your fireplace has some of those tones in it anyway. Your lovely picture will not clash with the color scheme you chose. Your colors are all neutral colors. You could add green with house plants placed in the room also.
    • 13 years ago
      last modified: 13 years ago
      HI -- What a beautiful painting and a wonderful keepsake for your daughter . The green in the painting is bringing out the peach tones in the stone so I think the color scheme you going by is a good choice for the room.Never match a painting to the room and vice-versa . Paintings should stand on their own. But no harm in picking some of the colors from the painting for accents in the room.
    • 13 years ago
      The stunning and massive fireplace stands alone- and the pretty picture might be guilding the lily, or fighting w/ the strength of the bold rocks, not to mention the possiblity of it drying out over the heat. l'd move the picture elsewhere, like down a hall wall or in a bedroom, and maybe get a lighter surround for the fireplace as the plain black one seems kind of average compared to the fireplaces presence.. A.beautiful scrolled wrought iron chair or two near by and a cream & black rug right in front might be the bold look your husband is looking for. A tall red or deep green vase by the side of this fireplace would make it pop even more.(choose your fav color) such a cute mom & daughter!
    • 13 years ago
      Can you attach pics showing more of your room? You definitely can keep the painting there, but the rest of the furnishings need to coordinate with the traditional style of the painting. The rug shown would not work well IMO; too modern for your space based on the painting.
    • 13 years ago
      Good point about coordinating the furniture with the traditional style of the painting...we are totally remodeling and redecorating the downstairs, so will keep that in mind when I look for new furniture. We've been in the house for 20 years (our beautiful daughter came along when we were 40, and that was 13 years ago--those are old pictures!) so it's definitely time for new furniture and renovation! In fact my now-13-year-old is the one who got us off our duff and actually following through with our plans, by saying "if we don't do it now, i wont be around to enjoy the new space!"

      The more i think about it, the more I'm convinced that I need to hire a decorator to avoid costly mistakes...
    • 13 years ago
      I agree that photos of the room from all angles would help determine whether there's a better placement for the painting. For some reason, I can picture in your foyer, as a welcoming image. I'm terrible at framing art -- (thankfully I know an artist who owns a framing store). But I do think a more subtle color on the frame would better suit the art. When I look at it now, my eye is drawn to the frame more than to the image. When I toned down the frame (my personal hack job on photoshop substitute), I was drawn into to the portrait and appreciated it more.
    • 13 years ago
      Thanks for your thoughts. At this point I'm not looking for advice on whether there is a better place for the painting, just on whether it clashes with the colors in the fireplace and whether it is possible to pick a color scheme that will enable the painting to fit into the room with the fireplace. Posting pictures of the living room as it stands now won't help, as we are about to remodel the entire downstairs (kitchen/living room/dining room), removing walls, etc. and even replacing or restaining the light oak floors; the only design element that will remain in the room is the fireplace, which is why I posted pictures of that and asked for color advice about it.

      I really appreciate all the feedback!
    • 13 years ago
      last modified: 13 years ago
      Thanks, michigammemom! I like the rug you posted, and I agree that a more formal rug would go better with the painting. I tend to prefer traditional style furniture (for example, I have an Ethan Allen sectional in another room that I really like), so that will work. I assume with that rug I would need a solid color sofa, but what color? Golden brown? Deep red? And what color chairs to coordinate?
    • 13 years ago
      carolhpratt, You would definitely want to have the rug selection made prior to choosing upholstery fabrics. This particular rug would lend itself to neutrals as well as soft blues or greens. Here's another inspiration photo that illustrates some solid and print upholstered pieces used with a similar style rug. When it comes to skillful pattern coordination a decorating center like Ethan Allen would be invaluable.
      Presidio Heights traditional · More Info
    • 13 years ago
      If you are going to redo the entire living room, I would hire a good decorator. They have access to resources the general public doesn't. I think that the painting is beautiful and does not "clash" with the fireplace.
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