Recently, I've been helping my friend, who just moved around the corner, decorate her new place. It's a Craftsman, like mine, and has some ridiculously wonderful details.
How'd you like to have this built-in in your breakfast nook? Yes, please.
And how about this gorgeous, original tile in the bathroom? I love, love, love the tile.
Right now, we're focusing on the living room, which is appearing a bit too beige for Heather's taste.
The room color now is like coffee with a healthy (unhealthy?) dose of cream in it. I suggested painting this room white for more contrast with the beige sofas, which she is keeping along with the rest of the furniture.
The problem is that the room doesn't get a lot of natural light, and Heather is worried that painting it white will only make it appear dingy. She may have a point. What do you think?
Right now, we're focusing on the living room, which is appearing a bit too beige for Heather's taste.
The problem is that the room doesn't get a lot of natural light, and Heather is worried that painting it white will only make it appear dingy. She may have a point. What do you think?
Here are some more pictures.
Heather is renting this house. (Paying a mortgage here is more than three times what it costs to rent a comparable place, prompting the NY Times last year to name Oakland the worst of US cities to buy versus rent.)
Because she rents, like me, she can make only a few small cosmetic changes to her house. The landlords did give permission to paint, however.
So what do you think about paint colors? Should we go light? White? Grey? Other colors?
More decorating suggestions?
I'd love to get your opinion.
I totally agree with you! When I saw the first photo my first thought was 'white!' even before I read your question. Can't wait to see how this room develops :)
ReplyDeleteThis place has so many great details, I'm jealous! I'm totally with you on the white, colors are even harder to get right when the lighting is poor so this is a safer bet if you ask me. Plus i'm picturing that oriental rug you described, it will just pop in the room...everything you suggested is dead on Camille!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking white...maybe something with cooler (blue?) undertones will look cleaner. If you go to a farrow and ball or benjamin moore store I'm sure they'll be able to point you in the right direction, even if you just take their advice and then buy elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteLove white! No surprise coming from me:) But I do think it will allow her other items (like the rug) to be the real showcase and keep the overall feel light and fresh! Take care, Caroline
ReplyDeleteThat built-in is crazy beautiful. I want my new kitchen to look like that.
ReplyDeleteThe living room. I like the idea of white too but not white white. An old white. Is there delineation between the wall and cove that you could do a slightly different color on the ceiling or does it all need to be the same? I think I would wait to paint the fireplace until the room is painted, except for the red semi-circle. And red is the bookcase is gone too, right? I agree that even if the drapes can go up a few inches, it would be nice. And, yes, I'd like to see them go to the floor, too. What color drapes are you thinking?
Very interesting about the renting versus owning cost. I think it's about the same here. The problem is, the cost is so high if you're renting, you can never save enough money to buy. I have a friend of a friend who lives on the Oakland-Berkeley line. Have you ever been to Acme Bakery and Cafe Fannie? I love those places.
hi camille,
ReplyDeletei'm a big fan of white. i think it's just what the place needs. a good whitewashing. the original details of the house are amazing.
You are so kind to help your friend decorate this awesome historic home. Let me just muddy the waters a bit for you. I previously painted a room with very little natural light a very pale gray and it ended up looking like a dirty white. Yuck. I ended up going with a deeper gray - not dark, but a mid-range warm gray (Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray) and I have to say I love it. I will be painting the family room that gets good natural light Ben Moore's Moonlight White. Fingers crossed..
ReplyDeleteAt my old house, my beige sectional looked nice against walls painted restoration hardware's Silver Sage (a soft gray green). I used red as an accent color.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun project!
What an awesome historic craftsman! Paint colors are always hard for me but I would stick with a lighter color, a white or grey or blush pink even? If you do a lot with the walls and accents of color elsewhere I think white would be fine!
ReplyDeleteWOW, what a great find for a rental! Such character!
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for a very light gray and a brighter white on the trim throughout the room. Banish the red in the bookcases and other nooks. Is there anyway she could introduce some lighter-colored furniture? Paint on the walls and on a table or two always does wonders.
Either way, this place has so many awesome elements worth playing up!
yes. yes. and yes. What a fantastic built-in! Hang the drapes higher and wider for sure. maybe take some of the furniture off the walls and create more of a center around the fireplace? and white without a doubt. Everything is too much the same tone. Without being in the room to see I'd say Benjamin Moore creamy white on walls/ceiling (its all one right?) or a half half blend of B.M.'s Linen white and Decorators White...which makes the most perfect warm but not yellow shade. Then paint the fireplace and the trim a brighter white like pure Decorators. and, no, I am not a paid representative of Benjamin Moore : ) they just do white right. I'm excited to see the makeover! What fun!
ReplyDeleteNeed to see the rug before making paint color suggestion! However, I would paint the ceiling and fireplace and shelf white which would brighten it up a lot so that the walls could be darker.
ReplyDeleteI thought all your suggestions are spot on! Paint the walls and the fireplace white. Get rid of the red inside the wall shelves. I think your friend can switch the tv to the opposite wall to prevent glare. Sofa goes to the opposite wall as well. This home has a lot of potential. It will be exciting to see how everything turns out!
ReplyDeleteJessie
www.mixandchic.com
I would go with a white with grey undertones. I just played around with a sherman williams color that I have to find the name of. It turns out to look like a cool white without the stark, dingy look. Then I would paint the fireplace decorator white by sherman williams and use that color for molding ect. The couches would pop more and not blend in. With the oriental rugs, I would go with adding some black in pillows. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteShe is lucky to have you helping her.
I agree with doing the walls and ceiling white. it made a huge difference in my dark living room. I would also, as Steve suggested, leave the fireplace to see how the darker color emphasizes the focal point. on second look, I don't like the color as it is but do think there should be some contrast. Definitely get rid of the red!! About the draperies, I agree that they should be hung higher and to the floor but it's going to be tricky to get them to draw completely off the windows. The sconces are VERY close to the window frames. Keeping them light colored and translucent will help.
ReplyDeleteHope you will post some "after" pictures--can't wait to see the rug.
I say go white for sure-- it looks dingy now, so the white will brighten everything and give you a blank slate for decorating fun! Also, have you considered doing the fireplace in an accent color? Just a thought...
ReplyDeleteHeidi @ Show Some Decor
I vote for white, white. Love the built-ins and that fireplace! I hope we get to see the updates.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmm.....I think something in the bluish gray on the walls while going white on the fireplace would allow the fireplace to be an understated focal point. I think I would play around with a fabric treatment or wall paper treatment for the cubbies in the book shelf to give some pattern and texture! I love this house! Can't wait to see what you guys come up with!
ReplyDeleteHey, we are in the same boat, renting cheaper than a mortgage payment. BUT wish we had homes like that to rent here, so much character. How about a nice white like white dove by BM. Benjamin Moore dealers are so helpful with picking colours. I also suggest LONG drapes, in linen. If her rug has reds and peacock blues that will really add colour to that space. Yes, to painting out the bookcases!
ReplyDeleteI might suggest moving the TV though. Looks crammed in that corner. Maybe on the wall where the sofa is and move the sofa to where the TV is but to float and create a cozy setting around that amazing fireplace! Her horse art can go on the fireplace? Or the wall where the TV is now or alongside the TV as part of a gallery wall!
Hope that helps! How fun!
Love the tiles in the second photo!!\
ReplyDelete'Please visit our new website www.tableandtop.com'
Love your idea of white paint throughout--check out the doors and trim in your last image--they just pop! So white doesn't have to look dingy--test a few and see which ones appear the most bright. It's going to look amazing--bigger, brighter, and more colorful with that rug and some new pillows, accessories, etc!!
ReplyDelete