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stephaniefisher1919

want to warm up this new gray builder grade home

3 months ago

Ya’ll have always been so helpful in the past so I am reaching out again with my new home. It was already built so my color choices were not my own. I am a “warm” color person, and am saddled with Dalite Broxburn gray tile and SW extra white paint, shiny chrome finishes. I am open to new fixtures, paint and hardware, I just don’t want to change the floors due to the expense. What can I do to warm this up? As usual, your opinions are always helpful!

Comments (28)

  • 3 months ago

    Are you needing help with just the kitchen or the entire space pictured? Will that be a dining room or family room? A floor plan will get you more responses.

  • PRO
    3 months ago

    Do you have any pictures of the furniture you own which you plan on placing in this room? It would give an idea of your style...

  • 3 months ago
    last modified: 3 months ago

    Modern with a little boho is a good choice for a grey, warm and white color scheme.

    You can make the color combination look intentional by using patterns with grey and warm colors (pillows, rugs) and spreading the grey and warm around the room.

    Adding natural elements like baskets, plants or wood stools will also help bridge the warm and cool.




  • 3 months ago

    Will this gray flooring trend ever end? While it's easy to change gray wall color, the gray flooring, which covers so much surface like a fourth wall, is the boss of everything, unfortunately. So you have to work with it.


    To warm up the kitchen, add warm, natural wood accents--cutting boards, fruit bowls, baskets, wood stools.


    Notice the warm brass finish of pendant, bamboo shades, wood bowls, great turqoise accent colors.


    Get a natural wood dining table and maybe eclectic warm wood chairs for dining area.


    Add a kitchen rug in warm colors if you're okay with having a rug in the kitchen.



    Living room:


    --camel/butterscotch unholstered furniture; large rug in warm ivory with gray accents; wood coffee table.

    Madrona Remodel · More Info


  • 3 months ago

    are you getting all new furniture or do you have pieces you will use?

    Put the pieces in place and see what color(s) you need to add to create the look you want.

  • 3 months ago

    I'm also thinking wood furnishings would help a lot - natural, warm woodsy colors and green plants like the photos shared above by housegal200 and deegw.

  • 3 months ago

    What do you want as the overall color scheme for your home? Do the floors run throughout the home? The floors have grays and browns and you can warm things up selecting a warmer tone from the floors instead of everything being gray.


    You can bring in just accent pieces or you can change the wall color.


    What colors are in the adjacent rooms - how will the other rooms harmonize with this room or are you at a total loss, starting over with new furnishings and basically starting from scratch.


    What are the colors that must stay (flooring, cabinets, countertops, trim). What are you willing to change? There are lots of ways to bring in some color, but without knowing anything about what you want, what you like, what you envision for the space it is almost impossible to help.


    How do you feel about doing more color on the walls? Are they also Extra White? If not, what color are they? Would you be open to doing color on the walls or a neutral that isn't white?


    Do you have any art that could be used for inspiration? What is your favorite color - the one that whispers to you when you are shopping and makes you take it home with you? Not Black/White/Gray/Beige - your favorite color - not neutral.


  • 3 months ago

    Wow, I love all the help. No we are using our current furniture. Our taste is pretty eclectic and we are leaving a really cool loft so it’s a major adjustment. Attached is my current space with my furniture. Also, fav colors are the peacock colors especially teal, as my sofa is upholstered in that color. Our recliners are caramel leather and the rug is sisal and wool ivory with olive green teal rusty color.

  • 3 months ago

    WOW! do you have room on that solid wall to build in shelves to showccase your collection? at least the favorites?

  • 3 months ago

    I love your loft. I think the things you have will look great in your new house and make it warmer like you want.

  • PRO
    3 months ago

    You have a lovely inviting looking loft. Once you bring all the things you love in your new home it will reflect your personality and you'll simply love it! I would repeat a warm neutral wall colour similar to what you presently have to coordinate with all the colours you'll be bringing in. Make sure to test paint colours in your new home on a large board or Samplize peel & stick large samples..

  • 3 months ago

    You have great taste and lovely things. Just remember to integrate some cool touches around the space. You don't want to have one big cool element like the floor or the wall color and everything else be warm. The one cool element will stick out like a sore thumb.

  • 3 months ago

    oh my gosh I remember your amazing collection 😍


    for me, it often helps me to start with a rug I love and then layer in from there - can't to see what you do!

  • 3 months ago

    Wow! That's quite a move. The loft is fabulous. I do think you can make the new space work. Your current living room rug will look good against the gray/brown floors. The sofa, too, since it works with the rug and the floors. Your dining table and the two great leather armchairs will be fine.


    What is going to happen to your collection? It makes me think of this kitchen:

    Country Farmhouse Kitchen · More Info


    Country Farmhouse Kitchen · More Info


    Think about some warm wood shelves in between all the windows with some of your collection.


    Kitchen rugs could help you tie things together with grays/browns/orange.

    Kaleen Zuma Beach machine made, Polypropylene area rug, Multi-Color 7'10"x10' · More Info


  • 3 months ago

    I will be taking your advice on the shelves between the windows and some of my pretties will go there. And I have a really pretty runner in my current entryway that would look great in the kitchen. ❤️

  • 3 months ago

    Make sure all the lightbulbs are a soft color. They look like a pretty bright white to me.

  • 3 months ago

    I dont think you need to change your paint. Just add shelving similar to what you have in your loft and get all the colorful collections housed on it. Your furniture etc will all work well, and add all the color, your new house really needs. It will be beautiful.

  • 3 months ago

    Taupe (purple undertone - beige/gray) and teals work beautifully together and would work with your current flooring (orange and purple undertones). City Loft, Pale Oak, Balboa Mist, Egret White .. . You can even go more beige with a color like Natural Linen, still has the same hue, just not quite as grayed as the others or the flooring, but often works well with weathered wood flooring. I am using BM Frosted Toffee, which has more pink, almost a rose undertone with purple slate flooring.



  • 3 months ago

    Curtain panels and a large area rug will do the trick instantly!!

  • PRO
    3 months ago

    I would experiment with different types of bulbs in your fixtures to see what type give you more of the color rendering you want. And, as someone else posted, RUGS!

  • 3 months ago
    last modified: 3 months ago

    You have a wonderful collection, beautifully arranged. The new gray floors will be just a quiet backdrop for your colorful things. I look forward to seeing your space once you have moved in. Please post an update when you are ready.

  • 3 months ago

    Adding your wonderful things to the space will make it so much better. I can’t wait to see it all come together. Please post pics!

  • 3 months ago

    Wow - your loft looks really nice! When you start adding in some of those pieces in your new home + add rugs + drapes, it will feel less "cold." The floor seems to have a hint of warmth in it? At least it appears to on my screen. Your furniture will look nice in the space.


    It's a drastic change to leave your loft (all decorated nicely with a lot of warmth and color) and then look at your new place. While it's a "builder's special" re: finishes - it will change with some different paint on the walls + YOUR BELONGINGS!

  • 3 months ago

    Your loft is a wow! Think your collections/furnishings will make a huge change to your new house.

    Think different pendants hung lower over the island would be a good change in your new kitchen.

  • PRO
    3 months ago
    last modified: 3 months ago

    Adding furnishings such as rugs and furniture will add a lot. I show it with blue rugs, but chose the a color that you love and runs throughout the rest of your home. If adding a table and chairs to that area I would add a chandelier above the table. I'd also stick to lighter wood for the furniture, so things don't get too dark. Congrats on a beautiful home!


  • 3 months ago

    I remember your incredible collection, especially of the Flamenco dancer type Fiesta wear.


    Yes, adding your colorful belongings will brighten the space, but that doesn't mean it will add warmth with those super white walls. My cure for adding warmth to a space is either Farrow and Ball white tie or Benjamin Moore linen white. They look nearly the same.


    Buy samplize swatches. Hold them up around the room, near the floor, near the windows, at different times of day and night. Hold them up behind pieces of your collection. If that or another warm white works, paint the walls and the ceiling.


    Swapping out your cabine hardware for antique brass will also give a dash or warmth to the kitchen area. I'd use a champaign bronze delta faucet too.


    Enjoy your new digs and good luck with the move.. I hope you post an after pic, once you are all moved in.

  • 3 months ago

    It is easy to see that you love colour. I would definitely consider painting the kitchen island a beautiful colour - something like a gorgeous deep teal or similar. And add some paint colour to the wall - I'd choose a green or blue if it were me and have it be the colour of some of your collectibles. Then a darker colour of the same hue for the island. Bring in all your gorgeous collectibles and add some texture too - rugs, wood, plants, soft furnishings.