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michele_kellenberger5879701

PLEASE HELP! Paint, curtains, decor

My head is swimming in paint colors. I've looked at every shade of gray, white, blue, beige, greige and black for these 4 walls. Nothing seems to fit. These pictures are my latest experiment. Stopped short of doing the whole wall for great if it being "too much". The hubs thinks a darker or brighter color on the fireplace wall is needed or it gets washed out.

For the last 14 years that wall was rust and the other walls peachy-tan. I loved it but needed new furniture and rug and wanted an update. Behold! My new charcoal sectional and rug. The rug brings out colors in the stone but how do I tie the charcoal couch in?

I'm open to all paint ideas, as well as how to coordinate window treatments and decor.
FYI... The lighting is completely different on different walls. The fireplace wall reads extremely cool/blue. The other walls are very warm/yellow. Sliding patio doors face east. Other big window faces South.

TIA!! P.S. If I don't get help soon, it's all getting painted white.... Hmmm... maybe all white isn't bad?....

Comments (19)

  • 8 years ago
    One more tidbit... These pictures make the room look more muted than it is. The colors are more vivid in person, especially the wood floor and ceiling.
  • 8 years ago
    should I return the rug?
  • 8 years ago

    Grey is fine but I wouldn't do the whole room that dark. Try big swatches of some of your lighter colors. I used SW "grey screen" in my bedroom with orangish wood and navy bedding - it looks good, not too dark and it is a grey that reads blue in the right light but plays nice with a lot of wood tones. You need a color like that. Paint sample cans, while expensive, can save you time and pain in the end.

  • 8 years ago
    I Pinkmountain, thanks!!! Do the whole room Great Screen?
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Oh no, please forgive my quickie post from my phone - the last thing you need is another color swatch!! I think the grey that you have is a very nice color, although almost impossible for me to tell for sure how it looks in real life, due to the way a computer screen shows colors and perspective with photos. I just wouldn't do the whole room in such a dark shade but upon second reading of your post, I realize that you are just doing the fireplace wall as an accent wall. Have you considered doing the rest of the room in one of the lighter tones from the paint color strip? I do not think that your fireplace gets "washed out" by your current color choice. In fact, on my screen it looks "highlighted" in a good way. Not sure the effect of doing that whole wall though. Someone here who is great with photoshop or a similar program could probably edit the photo to show the whole wall in your color to show how it would look. That's an idea, upload your current wall shot to the color sample Web site for your current paint, and make the whole wall that color. Behr and SW have these types of online programs available, so maybe your paint company does too. What is the current paint color and brand you are working with? Maybe someone else has experience with it.

    Unfortunately, editing photos to change the color of a wall is beyond the computer software abilities and time available to me. But like I said, many paint companies have these programs already online where you can upload a photo and try out various paint samples on screen on the photo. Or you can try out the paint on sample rooms that have similarities to your room.

  • 8 years ago
    Thank you Ingrid_vc! That black spot to the right of the fireplace is where I started painting that wall the same as above the fireplace and stopped... And a large paint swatch I put on cardboard and put up there to test color. The couch is not blue (I have the camera phone to blame for that). It is a true neutral charcoal. I totally agree that I need tables, curtains, lamps, pillows and wall art! I'm just horrible at putting it all together and seeing the vision. I had also worried about gray paint being on it's way out, even though I'm not completely dictated by the latest trends. I have also been considering a creamy white, like you suggested. The problem is my husband hates white and thinks there needs to be more contrast against the fireplace. Perhaps with the right accents/art, he will like it..... Now if I could just find the right not-too-yellow, not-too-green, not-too-blue, not-too-bright, not-too-dull white!
  • 8 years ago

    I wouldn't add more grey either, especially a dark grey. In addition to ingrid's suggestion of a creamy white, you might want to find the teal color in your rug on a paint swatch and then move down the paint strip several notches to a much lighter version. The grey of the sofa seems to tie in with some of the fireplace stones, and then you can always use throw pillows on the sofa and any other chairs that combine the various colors in the room.

    ingrid is right. If you get table lamps and floor lamps, you won't have to rely on your harsh and uneven overhead lighting anymore.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Forget gray screen if you don't want a bluish color. Definitely use one of those color programs for your walls. I was just on the Sherwin Williams web site and was able to download your photo and try out a whole host of colors on the walls. I have been very satisfied with their paint so far in redoing my own home. Just one room's worth of experience though. But like I said, other paint companies have the same feature on their Web site. I too love your rug choice. I think the whole room will come together great once you nail the wall color. Dont' feel bad about it taking time, finding the right color is important and some of us need more time to get it right. I wish I could automatically pick something out of the "Oops" bin like my friend does, and have it look fab, but that's not me.

  • 8 years ago
    I Pinkmountain, thanks. I think I have used that color visualizer from SW before. I'll have to use it! Plus they currently have 40% paint.
  • 8 years ago
    It sounds like you like cozy, warm spaces based on what you had previously. How about this rug instead? What look are you going for in the space?
  • 8 years ago
    Betsy Cain, well that is gorgeous! Orange is my fav color. I actually want to do orange throw pillows or at least have orange in them. I thought a bright rug like that might get to be too much but I could always do more subtle pillows. That particular rug is out of my price range but I saw some others like it on that website for great deals. Thank you so much for the input! And yes, I do love cozy and warm... just wanted to update it a bit.
  • 8 years ago
    I think it would look good to have a rust-colored, patterned rug (wool if possible!) and neutral walls. Check out these Benjamin Moore colors and see what you think:
    “Balboa Mist”, “Sheep’s Wool”, “Collingwood”, “Classic Gray”
    I wouldn’t do an accent wall, but I am confused by your fireplace, and how the stone stops underneath the mantel. Perhaps consider a simplified mantel that wouldn’t leave a gap there - just a chunky beam all the way across.
    Then choose a chunky wood coffee table that coordinates with your mantel. And add a large basket for throw blankets, which will add texture/softness. Perhaps charcoal flat Roman shades for your windows? Hope those ideas are helpful!
  • 8 years ago
    You might find inspiration in this ideabook!
    https:/www.houzz.com/ideabooks/103391118/thumbshouse-on-the-water
  • 8 years ago
    This tripod lamp would look nice in the corner!
    Brooklyn Floor Lamp · More Info
  • 8 years ago
    Betsy Cain, thanks for those helpful tips! You've inspired me to go with a different rug. I'll return the other. The fireplace and mantle came with the house . I also like the lamp. I couldn't get to your link though because it wasn't clickable. Tried putting in URL but said not found. If you have time, Is love if you are able to send it clickable or just send pics. Thanks! P.S. How about this rug?