Software
Houzz Logo Print
lea_rabinowitz

What paint color to choose?

13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
I don't know what paint color to choose for the walls in the kitchen. We are going to be putting in medium color wood and I would like for the paint color in the kitchen to flow into all the rooms on the main level. We are going to have seafoam colored couches in the other room, so that is really the only other color to coordinate with. I think it would be better if the cabinets were white vs. cream, but that isn't the case. Also, we will be putting in SS appliances throughout. Thoughts?

Comments (5)

  • 13 years ago
    Try Sherwin Williams Khaki Shade!
    Lea Rabinowitz thanked janeinfo
  • 13 years ago
    Is there a gray neutral you could recommend? Or do you think something with a blue tone would work?
  • 13 years ago
    Hi. Great kitchen. You have some cream tones in the floor, and you're installing warm woods, so you may turn out to be glad your cabinets aren't white. And people often find creams more workable with SS, because it isn't such a stark comparison side by side. SS and bright white often come across very coldly.

    You mentioned seafoam couches, but what about wall colors in the other rooms? One approach that's very workable and safe in open floor plans (or for less experienced decorators) is monochromatic. Monochromatic schemes work where you want some difference from room to room, but still want everything to easily flow. Staying within the same family is an easy way to accomplish that, because you're guaranteed that your colors will work together. Consider the mid-range color on your sample strip as your primary, main color. Then choose one from above that and one from the lower choices. Your bright or accent colors can be brought in with accessories.

    You have warm creams and beiges, grays and greens in the seafoam family that you could work with here. And don't think creams or grays are boring or dull. Not only are grays a favored monochromatic choice today, they are classics in combination schemes. Right now you'll find gray/mustard; gray/teal, gray/pink and gray/orange combos very popular.

    If you're braver and do want a combination scheme, again you already have a good start with grays, browns and greens. Example, in the kitchen you have grays and creams (brown) so in there, on walls try a green in your seafoam family. If this opens directly to your dining room but you want different wall colors in there, go with either the grays or browns in the dining room, then the third color left can be in the living room with your seafoam couches. This scheme lets you use all three colors in your accessories throughout the area.

    TIP Just remember in combination schemes, you want all colors to be either warms, or colds. Example: Seafoam is USUALLY a cooler green, so it wouldn't work well with olive or very yellow greens. It's very difficult to mix W & C colors successfully (even for experienced decorators), especially in an open floor plan..

    TIP with any color scheme, consider your lighting in all areas. One successful approach is to use lightest tones in your darkest rooms, medium in mid-range lighting and of course your darkest colors in your brightest rooms. But that doesn't mean you can't use darker or brighter colors on smaller areas like soffits or backsplashes.

    Sorry this got so long, but it's right up my alley :)
  • 13 years ago
    Wow! thank you so much for taking the time to write that detailed response.
  • 13 years ago
    Hope some of it helped.