Software
Houzz Logo Print
cate1337

Trim color & Should I paint fireplace?

17 years ago

Good afternoon! We're mostly down with paint in this room but have stalled on the trim color. The walls are Valspar Garden of Paradise, and the ceiling is Paris Mint. We have Harpswell Green (really more of a buttery wheat color) for the front and kitchen doors (currently dirty white). If we like it, we might extend the Harpswell Green into the hallway, with the coat closet.

The windows are vinyl white, although the interior wooden trim on them (such as it is) continues the Garden of Paradise.

What color should we paint the baseboard trim, the fireplace trim, the trim around the window just to the right of the fireplace, and the trim around the front door (almost touching the window to the right of the fireplace)?

Finally, we've got a lot of stainless and gray tones in the room, plus the iron oxide dining room chandelier. (Really, the chandelier is more of a bronze than iron finish. It's not rusty the way "iron oxide" would imply.) I'm not a big fan of brass and had been thinking I'd paint that brass fireplace front to match the chandelier. Now that we're moving into the space, I might be okay with the brass, even with the stainless and iron oxide in line of sight. What would you do with the fireplace front? Buying a different one is not an option.

Here's a picture showing some of the stainless and gray (Valspar Iron Frost):

Thank you all for your thoughts and opinions!

Cate

--

One more thought - our furniture is mostly big, heavy, and antique. The entertainment center is a big cherry armoire, the dining room table and china cabinet are black walnut that have aged dark, and we have a dark brown leather recliner coming into the space. The hearth is made from that typical 1950's flagstone with gray and blue slate tiles interspersed with wine-colored (slate also?) tiles.

Comments (6)

  • 17 years ago

    I love the color of the supporting post in the first picture. Could you repeat that in the fireplace trim? I would paint the window/door trim a quiet white that works with the green. But I would definitely do the fireplace in something different - the room has a contemporary feel, even with the antiques. I have painted brick before - it works fine, takes several coats and lots of patience. But be married to it - because removing paint from brick is not easy. Maybe a darker color of the fireplace trim??Very cool kitchen!

  • 17 years ago

    Thanks, annie_knot! We'd wondered about using the gray from the middle of the room around the fireplace. Painting the brick a darker color is an interesting idea. That would be striking. Like you said, though, I'm not sure I'd want to commit to a painted brick. The part I was thinking about painting - other than the trim - is the brass insert. I'm not sure what it's called otherwise. I have a touch-up paint that I've used on the dining chandelier that I could use on all of the brass...

    Do you think the ceiling color (Paris Mint) would "read" quiet white on the window/door trim?

  • 17 years ago

    Yes, I would want to lose the brass as well. you can get a paint that goes on flat black and you then spray with something that oxidizes it - makes it look rusty. Maybe that could work? Or just a flat black? Can you remove the fireplace screen? Scuff it up a little and spray flat black. Kind of makes it disappear. It's hard to see the ceiling color in the photo - but if the ceiling is not a "statement", then I would think it would work fine on the trim.

  • 17 years ago

    Paint the outside trim on the fireplace in satin black to blend in better with the darker brick color. Also -- if you do add a mantel -- make it quite thick -- and paint it in the satin black too.

    Also -- when considering painting the fireplace doors -- check out barbecue paint at places like a home center or Walmart. Barbecue or high heat-resistant paint might be a better choice in that location.

    THEN -- add some black accents around the whole room to work with the fireplace. Perhaps some black-and-white photos -- mat in creamy white and frame in black. Hang a couple of larger artworks (with that lovely blue and green) -- framed in black -- above the fireplace.

    Paint the rest of trim in the fresh white.

  • 17 years ago

    Hi Cate!

    (Thank you for your lovely e-mail -- made my day!)

    I totally agree with annie and teacats -- painting the brass a dark color will make sense with the rest of your gorgeous new space. I don't know what to recommend but do know there is heat-proof paint (as teacats writes) -- found this, and it comes in charcoal! (paintable and spray)

    Now about your trim ... on the one hand, I'd love to see your ceiling color (in a different finish) on your trim, marrying it together. On the other, I'd also like to see your front and kitchen doors have matching trim, and if you do that, then the other trims should match. I guess I don't know the colors well enough to make a helpful suggestion.

    From what I can see of your fireplace I am not in love with the brick, BUT I'd wait to do anything until after you've painted the brass and lived with it for months and months. The painted brass and then your artwork might totally temper the brick.

    It is coming together so beautifully. I am really excited for you!

    -Brooke

  • 17 years ago

    Thank you Annie, Teacats, and Brooke. I have to run out for several hours but wanted you to know I saw your responses.