While talking about another picture, my wife asked about "Garden of Eros". We had the poster in our bathroom when Katrina paid a visit. I had looked for it over the years without success, but decided to try again. Found it!

I am coming around to the idea of dark walls. I used ChatGPT to do a rendition. Things definitely pop!

I like the idea of dark walls but what about Navy instead?

Don't care for it.

I love the wall color you are considering. The poster is nice, too.

Many people on this board seem adverse to warm colors- unless a warm white (which many here also seem to believe is the answer to all global problems! But that’s another show.)

I really don’t know why the reds, yellows/golds, browns, etc. seem to send many folks here to the exits- screaming. And especially when warm colors have been ”back” and trending.

You mention being in the vicinity of Katrina, when it hit. I don’t know if you are in New Orleans; but if you are- you definitely came to the wrong ”design” discussion board!

For example:

PPG 2026 COLOR OF THE YEAR-

Yep, we are in New Orleans.

No wonder.

Yep. You are a fish (totally) out of water. How do I know? I have been a fish out of water here for over a decade.

And I am in New York. Not New Orleans!!

I am really glad that you found the poster. So significant. And it looks fantastic against this wall color/backdrop- with the colors in the poster, as well as your other art, etc.

It is a highly sophisticated color palette. It sure does ”pop”. Brilliant.

Thank you so much! I showed the rendering to my wife. She is ready for me to buy the paint!

Now comes the fun part.

The first time I did a rendering I prompted brown and BM Overcoat. Got a nice brown on my tablet, but later discovered that Overcoat is a dark gray. Realized that I needed better references, so I got a BM fan deck (classic).

I chose Chocolate Pudding for the prompt because of the name.

I haven't compared the latest picture with the chip. My impression is the picture is lighter.

The question becomes:

Use the original chip

or

Match fan deck chip to picture on a phone/tablet

Whichever way you decide to go with that, it is a good idea to try out some paint samples in your actual space. So narrow it down to two or three and get some samples.

Tracefloyd,

After seeing your latest comment I looked over your previous comments regarding lighting in the powder room. I thought another picture might help.

As you can see, the fixtures are nothing more than bulb holders. They are mounted 84 inches above the floor, a little higher than the usual sconce height.

I remembered that I have some regular A-type 60 watt equivalent LED bulbs (frosted), so I decided to try them. I was surprised at how bad the glare was. Looking straight ahead provided no relief.

I'd guess the beam angle on an A bulb is 315-325 degrees, so pointing it up or down makes no difference. You can look to my previous pictures to see beam spread of the BR (bulged reflector) bulbs.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5688640/powder-room-accent-wall-ideas

Ran across this picture. Brown powder room with black accent wall. Thoughts on doing this with paint?

YES, to a black accent wall to tone down the brown if you are set on brown. What about Charcoal instead of brown?

I'm surprised a frosted bulb provides glare.

You have to have elephant skin around here. You have to know what you want.

Speaking of elephant skin- a stencil could be a way of adding texture, etc., with paint; using a couple of shades of black paint, and or black and brown paint, etc.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1821389708/elephant-skin-reusable-airbrush-stencil?ls=a&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=painting+stencils&ref=sc_gallery-1-16&frs=1&plkey=Eu6RrNgygl6hDU_a6ed_GwwKm755%3ALTe1db6e0ab3d023ef59cb0c7f02f3a0a1a2fe722f

ETA: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/color-palettes/color-by-region/french-quarter-paint-colors

https://www.houzz.com/photos/powder-room-with-brown-walls-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_713~a_46-334

FWIW, I love warm colors, myself. I currently live in a townhouse in NYC that was built in 1940; all original architecture is intact. The LR, DR, kitchen, and hallways are painted in a yellow/gold color. Bedrooms and bathroom are a warm white. The paint colors were here when I found the place- and they are really perfect colors for the house- and for me. The buildings here are primarily brick.

Btw, I realize that not everyone in New Orleans is a musician and/or is into Jazz, etc. But I have a music background- plus, it really doesn’t help that AI is (mostly) happy to accommodate me. :)

I like jazz and I guess I can say I have musical background. I saw each of the 12 tones as a different color when I was little. Many years later in New Orleans I started guitar lessons. I found it easy to tie a pitch to a letter. Played with other folks and a combination clicked. Played a few paying gigs for a year or so until life got in the way. Still learning though.

So you’re a guitar player. No wonder! That is amazing that you saw the notes as colors when you were little. I did not, per se- but it makes a lot of sense to me! I know there have been songs done which reference colors- in one way or another. Since you are a guitar player, we could start with Purple Haze and Purple Rain. :)

I hear you freedomplace1. My kitchen and family room is painted BM cork. My dining room is BM merlot red and living room is BM autumn gold.

Beautiful and classic color scheme, shirlpp. And a dining room is an excellent place for red.

LOL

Purple Haze-I remember the day I bought the album because of that song.

Purple Rain-My first exposure was the Superbowl halftime show. I went "Whoa!!!" but have not sought the song to play again.

We do have a bit of purple in the house-3 accent walls inside and 2 different purples on the outside.

Jimi was/is a huge influence- on so many people, including Prince.

You have ”a bit of purple in the house-“ ... I would say that is more than ”a bit” !!

It’s wild that I mentioned those songs and you have all that purple... Well, I don’t really believe much in coincidence- so it must mean something!

I love purple- but the only purple I have in my place currently is a large piece of amethyst crystal on a window sill. It‘s along these lines- and I just found this article about purple. It looks interesting.

https://www.colorsexplained.com/shades-of-purple-color-names/

I guess Prince solos in the studio version of Purple Rain. I don't know your musical background (piano?), but here's a pairing for you. Purple Rain first. Next, Third Wind from Pat Metheny Group. Studio version on Still Life/Talking or live version on The Road to You. I was just listening to Pat while on an errand.

That’s so funny- I just posted a comment on another thread and then saw the notification on this one!

I am glad that you are reminding me about Pat Metheny. I have yet to really get into his music! But he has been crossing my screen for awhile. I am definitely going to check him out!

I am really a fan of the guitar. I could go down a long list and many long stories. But just briefly: as far as “jazz” guitarists I've listened to alot of late- Peter White and Earl Klugh top the list.

Yes, piano. Mainly a singer.

This is a great assemblage of guitarists- and also features an iconic guitar solo by Prince.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y

Haven't opened the link.

Takes guitar off and throws it as if to say, "I am done. Guest solos for this song are done."

That one cannot be topped

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Following piano singer: Prince has called Joni Mitchell's "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" his favorite album. That one makes me think of moody (Houzz territory). Wasn't sure about it at first, kinda mysterious, yet compelling. Had to listen again and again. I understand Prince's view. She pulled several songs from that for Shadows and Light tour/album, featuring Pat Metheny on guitar.

For an acoustic side of Pat check out September Fifteenth from the Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays album As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls. The song features Pat on acoustic guitar and Lyle Mays on piano. Lyle played piano and keyboards and was a co-writer with the Pat Metheny Group.

This has been a really enjoyable discussion about moodiness, cohesiveness, intention and colordrenching for the ears.

Hmm. Might be easier to change a mood by changing a record/CD compared to changing a vanity.

I still can’t get over that I mentioned those “Purple” songs, and it sounds like you have the “Purple House Over Yonder”.

Who has a purple house ? I mean, of course I understand this is likely more prevalent in New Orleans- but still. Amazing synchronicity.

A few posts up another person mentioned colored walls in kitchen, dining room and living room. Sounds nice.

In our previous house on this location casing and baseboards were cypress (I had stripped the old varnish). We gave the brushes and rollers a workout. Rooms were different colors. All was very enjoyable, although I can remember sitting in the living room one afternoon in the winter and getting a feeling of dark and depressing. Living/dining room were on north side of house.

Katrina flooded the house and we decided to demolish and rebuild. Tried something with a design software and showed it to my wife. She said no, we need help. At the computer I said "hmmm. Let me do modern new orleans architecture" and away we went.

The architect said he would put a nice white on the walls. I was a bit surprised, but intrigued.

The walls, doors, molding and baseboards are all white. Light is everywhere. Color comes from art, furniture, rugs, etc. Bedrooms have colored walls chosen by our daughters.

We love it.

Still planning on dark walls in powder room, though.

I’m glad you rebuilt a beautiful place after Katrina.

I know you mentioned purple accent walls and also purple on the exterior. Is the majority of the exterior purple?

Definitely go for dark walls in the powder room. Your brown or brown and black. Or maybe a deep plum/eggplant and black.

To be fair, most of the exterior is Baltic Gray. Some sections Greystone, the two purples, brown, and white on the underside. The house is raised and sits on strategically placed walls and steel columns. Carports, storage, workshop, places to hang out underneath. We had a blast working on the color scheme with the architect and his wife.

Sounds really interesting and striking! And the purple is in there!! Two shades of it!!

Very few, if any, purple houses show up here on Houzz. Nor any houses with even purple details. If they do show up, it will likely be under the, ”God help me, I’m living in a purple house” design dilemma category. And in all fairness, no purple houses where I am currently, in my area in NYC.

I think I need a purple house.

Bild Design is on houzz. Look for Milne under their projects. Pictures date from 2008 or 2009. Area was just beginning to recover.

Come to think of it, there is a purple house near my younger daughter who lives in an older suburban neighborhood outside New Orleans.

Sing, guitar, Earl Klugh.

Gave me an idea for an introduction.

I assume you're familiar with the song "How Insensitive". Check out Pat's treatment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VjcVHhcab0

Brilliant...

I had to research the song! And then I realized Sting had recorded it and I have a vague recollection of that. I did not know Frank Sinatra had recorded it. I listened to a bit of Sting’s and Frank‘s and then I listened to/watched the Pat Metheny video you linked- I watched it to the end.

He has been crossing my screen for years... and I don’t know why it has taken until now for me to really focus on him. The video you posted is from 1993- and I am sure I heard him on the radio many times, because those were the days of CD 101.9 FM “Smooth Jazz” here, and that is all I listened to.

Thank you. 🙏🏼

And so now I realize Earl also recorded the song. Which I probably could have figured out from the beginning... ( You gave me enough clues. :) But I’m glad I did it the other way.

Was working on curtains (on another thread) yesterday.

Here's Pat with Donald Fagen of Steely Dan. Doing "Sign in Stranger" from S/D album The Royal Scam. Nothing like How Insensitive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JIHEPqbA7E

Uh oh... It’s most often “curtains” for people who come here to ask about curtains... or who come here to ask about anything, really.

That sounds like a great performance. It’s too bad that the sound quality is not the best; but it’s a blessing that someone taped it- and that it exists at all! I can hear enough of it to get the sense of the magnitude of Pat’s performance.

If there is a room in your home to go bold, dramatic and fun the power room is a good place to start. They are usually smaller size. So, it can be a bit easier to figure out a cohesive scheme.

Agreed. Restrictions can stimulate creativity. Photography can be deceptive.

I have looked at the tile accent wall mentioned above. Looks cool. Yet our powder room feels too small for it. I have about decided the other one is 2-3 feet wider, or they are using a superwide angle lens.

With our room I am feeling better about using a darker accent color on the baseboards, door casing and probably the door. The accent would not hit right away and the delay might be a treat for the eye.

Still thinking about brown for walls and darker accent (aubergine, dark plum, etc.).

Vacillating on the ceiling. Almost thinking existing white would be better for a bit of light. Maybe leave ceiling alone and live with it, change if desired.

A moody atmosphere would be a great place to hear this one. Needs to be turned up because the beginning is so quiet. Moves to a groove playing over Gmaj7#11. Buildup, tension and release ought to get your attention.

Pat Metheny Group doing "Half Life of Absolution", composed by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ops3DbtREFo

Everywhere I am is a ”moody atmosphere”.

I am resigning myself to what now seems to be the inevitable. I can apparently no longer escape Pat Metheny... I should have known the day would come. :)

I am looking forward to listening to Half Life of Absolution. In the meantime- here is another great guitarist for your listening pleasure (and for anyone else who may wander into our party here).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QyIR2iwmWoc

Quite a journey... After I listened, another one of his songs was cued up. That song is entitled, ”Are You Going With Me?”- and I guess I am.

Wow! Coincidence or meant to be? With the Pat Metheny Group, Pat and Lyle created this thing of musical magic. So, there you go.

That Half Life of Absolution performance is amazing. I wonder if they worked with Miles Davis, at any point.

You might enjoy this one, by John Blair. Violinist- and probably the most prominent player of the ’Vitar’.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UBU92eXsWIA

Just researching- and did a quick search to see if anything came up for Lyle and Miles, as far as them working together. So far, just this snippet in Lyle’s Biography on Wikipedia, which says that Miles Davis was one of his influences. And I would say- a big influence... As I was listening to that Pat Metheny Group performance, on that song- there were moments when I really felt like Miles was in my room!!

Same here! Houzz has me convinced that dark colors are the way to go. Thinking of doing bold wallpaper to really take it up a notch.