How about a paprika red (in the warm tones of red)....-or a "cinnamon red".

Ah, yes, I totally agree with Marc, that BM rich cream or ivory tusk, the two shades lighter than desert tan, could well be your answer. An easy one at that, but sometimes that's the best way to go.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

I tried rich cream and ivory tusk and neither worked. They are both too close to the color of the cabinets. Any other ideas?

I disagree that the colors are too close in color to the Desert Tan. That was the whole idea of the suggestion, that they be closely related but not the same. I have no other ideas unless you want to go to a totally different color and I don't have enough information on your house to choose one for you.

She didn't say it was too close to Desert Tan, she said it was too close to the cupboard colour. I like the idea of red but you have to love it for it to work. How about going a couple shades up from Desert Tan? I'm having a hard time finding any areas in your kitchen photos that actually have the wall paint on them, BTW.

Anne, I have another picture that shows the paint color better but I dont' know how to attach it to a discussion already in progress.

Okay, I think I am attaching a photo that shows a bit of the carob, desert tan, and nantucket gray(dining room) in the corner. I am not wed to the nantucket gray.

I am kind of leaning towards a blue sage color like BM rushing river or BM stonybrook which would also mean changing the nantucket gray. But, that is okay.

It sounds like you really like the desert tan and want that to be the starting point for your palette regarding the other rooms. Is this right ?

Yes. I love the desert tan. That room gets a lot of light and the room just glows.

Have you thought about carrying the desert tan thru the other 2 rooms and just setting a wall or 2 aside for accent walls ? Looks like you can see all 3 rooms at one time in at least one area .

That could work but it might be too much of a good thing.

I am thinking of painting the dining room either rich cream or ivory tusk (lesser values than desert tan). In which case the corner wall would kind of act as an accent wall.

Just thinking about putting in some continuity so it is not so broken up...very little wall to paint in kitchen ...and you could have another favorite color as a contrast wall or walls...for example a pop of color on the small wall with the head...than continue the desert tan into dining room where you can do another favorite color on one wall...maybe to show off a piece of artwork or compliment your table settings or whatever.

Those sound lovely and bright and warm..

I am painting my kitchen yellow...butter color with bright yellow accents....my choice of therapy LOL

I apologize for misunderstanding what you said, Deb. Can you please let us know what is the paint color of your cabinets?

No Worries Carolyn, I appreciate all input. I can't remember the exact name of the color of the cabinets, we bought them already painted, but it is a cream, I would call it a French Vanilla. In any case, there is quite a bit of yellow in them and when I put a sample of rich cream next to them it was very close, but off enough that it would not look good together. Ivory tusk is paler than the cabinets.

So, Deb, it sounds like you need to narrow your colors that you're using or wanting to use down to either sticking with the gray as a second color or switching to a muddy blue/green or something else. What accent colors have you used or want to use in your family room? We like to mix the color of one room into the next room so that the color change is not jarring.

Well, I love purple/eggplant which is why I think I don't like the carob because purple and carob don't look good together. The couches are purple (eggplant) in the family room and the rug is dash and albert "Essex Cinnamon" which has eggplant, a yellow like desert tan, and a burnt orange in it. http://www.dashandalbert.com/product/view/essex-cinnamon-tufted-wool-rug--RDA081
I LOVE my family room. I feel like it has all my favorite colors.
I thought of using the nantucket gray in the kitchen but I think that particular green/gray doesn't look good with the cream cabinets. I have looked at beiges and haven't found one with the right tone.

BM creamy orange and soft pumpkin look good with desert tan and since darker shades of these colors look burnt orange to me, they might be good neighbors with your desert tan while at the same time having enough color to live happily with your cabinets.

Thank you Carolyn, we have actually looked at some of those colors. I will put up some samples this weekend.