This house is adorable. In fact, it’s the kind of house that almost makes me wish I lived in a house. It’s neat and compact, with an interesting brick chimney and a yard that’s not at all intimidating. And, with just a small amount of color love, this house will practically be yelling, “Come in in!”
Apartment Therapy discusses the dilemma of painted brick.
An exterior like this always begs the question – should you paint the brick? I’m not a purist, nor am I modernist. I think painting brick is a personal choice based on what you like. You can make this facade work either way.
First, here is the classic unpainted brick. A blue, black and red scheme compliments both the brick and the red/gray roof tiles. I added shutters for some interest on the facade. Although if your budget is tight, you can paint a double trim using both white and black. Also, a red door always makes a house pop.
The following options show a white painted brick. I do think that painted brick can look very fresh. If you favor fresh over traditional, go with the white brick. Here, a muted warm gray tone-on-tone makes for a very sophisticated little bungalow.
This is a cooler variation of the sophisticated look. I think this goes well with the roof. I also some added some accent lights. The look is inspired by the amazing exterior renovation at Fly Through Our Window (scroll down to the last few photos to see the gorgeous painted brick.)
Lastly, a little french style inspiration via Lindsay Christensen Design (and Flickr.) This is obviously not a French country house, but we can certainly borrow the color scheme. The easy part of this palette is that the house remains white and only the brick is painted white. That should leave some money to slap on some contrasting shutters, add a sweet yellow door and throw down a couple of very distinguished mini-topiary at the front walk. Mini French-country bungalow, anyone?
This lovely house is an easy update and nearly any palette will make it distinctive and just like “home.”
Continue reading about Easy Exterior Color (with or without Painted Brick)
Most people don’t get too excited about styling a common hallway, but we at Mochi Home were thrilled to get this reader submission. Living in the city, hallways are a big part of our interior life in condo and apartment buildings. Where many people have driveways and manicured front lawns, we have lobbies and hallways to welcome us (and our guests) home. Think of it as indoor curb appeal
This reader send a photo of their hallway, soon to be upgraded by vote of the condo association. Let’s see if we can help them choose a new look. My favorite places for hallway inspiration are hotels, of course! Hotels spend significant design effort in their hallways and lobbies and are great source of ideas.
Here is the current hallway.
Dramatic contrasts make this hallway sophisticated.
The main design changes in all of these options are to (1) remove the outdated mirror and (2) remove the pattern on the floor. After that, the bones of the hallways are pretty normal and standard and can easily look great with a fresh color scheme. This first transformation is the “drama” hallways. Note the black ceilings. This is inspired by a hotel hallway image.
I like the existing chair rail and molding elements. I even don’t mind the current minty green of the doors and frames. You can easily give the hall a grown-up look by darkening the walls with a very mellow dark green-gray. Note the pattern is removed from the floor, helping to de-clutter the visuals.
Neutrals are always a safe bet and won’t look dated over time. Here is a nice black/beige/tan mix. I could see this scheme in reality tomorrow!
If you don’t like neutrals, try a color. I would keep the colors muted and stick to a monochromatic effects to keep the hall from looking clowny. Here is a friendly green palette.
A striped hotel hallway.
Lastly, you can also remove the chair rail detail and opt for a more streamlined wall. This is the total hotel hallway effect with tasteful striped walls and a punch of dark red on the floor.
Here a few more inspiring hallways for more ideas:
Continue reading about Giving an Old Hallway a New Year’s Facelift
Here is a nice simple living room with neutral furniture and all of the bones for what could be a great living room. This reader wrote in asking for some color suggestions that would match the couch and for updates to the accessories. For this room, I decided it would be fun to seek some outside inspiration. One of my favorite blogs for interior images is Desire to Inspire. If you are stumped for colors or styles, I highly recommend cruising this blog. You are sure to find a handful of images that will help guide your color choices.
So, here it goes!
The living room as it stands now:
Earthy Inspiration
The first inspiration: earthy. In this room, the browns and the artwork really set the mood. This translated into beige walls, large art above the sofa, plus some natural Flor tiles and the wooden Nelson bench from Room and Board.
Modern Inspiration
Even when your furniture isn’t exactly modern, you can still pull off a modern look. It’s all about bold moves with paint and the right accessories. A geometric paint scheme creates a focal point in gray and red. The zebra rug, though modern, is also classic safari and ties the mod wall with the not-so-mod furniture. With some black pillows and metal tables, I think modern can work!
Asian safari inspiration
Lastly, inspiration from a richly colored room that I think of as “asian safari.” This room has deep jewel tones and lots of lush accessories. In our reader’s living room a deep teal wall and maroon persian rug really set the mood. Add an eclectic mix of wall art and you have your own asian safari retreat!
Our reader is just putting the finishing touches on her brand new home. The entire home is a blank slate and this homeowner wanted some ideas to add a little style, preserve a feeling of lightness and also compliment the beautiful dark floors. This living room with also include a baby grand piano, which can be a beautiful focal point in any decor (in addition to sounding great!)
My initial idea for this room is to paint it pale yellow. Pale yellow is a classic and rarely a disappointment. In this room, the yellow both preserves lightness and adds a cheery warmth. It also brings out the red tones of the floor. I’ve added some modern furnishing, which are clean and un-fussy in a room that will be dominated by a piano. The modern classic furniture includes: Design Within Reach Theater Sofa, Noguchi coffee table, and Tripod lamp. To complete the modern feel-geometric textlies from the Shade Store and a Rothko print in a bold primary pallette. I quite enjoy this yellow!
For a completely different feeling, check out the pale blue. The room retains the same lightness, but feels much more cool, calm and collected. This is great color to relax the energy and encourage a more quiet mood. Matching blue silk curtains keep the look streamlined and a Picasso print keeps it modern.
Looking for something more dramtic and classic? Instead of wallpaper, try a subtle beige-on-beige stripe. Vertical stripes are a true home decor classic, but in the wide beige they don’t feel prissy. I added a little drama with two sweeping silk curtians hung to puddle and draw attention to the wood floor. With the grand piano, the curtains and stripes are very operatic and remind me of the theater. How divine!
Lastly, a little casual modern in a friendly light green (with a hint of yellow). Choosing the right shade of green can be tricky. Too much yellow looks sickly, too much blue looks like a hospital waiting room. I recommend using multiple shades of yellow to minimize the problems. Here, painted a desaturated yellow-green on the walls and paired with with an unexpected ceiling in a dark gray-green. The bright green leaves of the plant round out a green trio. Some bright white orbs and brown window panels complete the modern earthy look.
I’m excited about this fun assignment for Mochi Home. A reader asks us to visualize some new colors for their teenage son’s bedroom. Teen rooms can be such fun and are a great opportunity to showcase a kid’s hobbies, talents and unique personality. Currently, the room is a cheery yellow with navy blue curtains. Check out the great bedding in a fun retro pattern and also that rockin’ drum set in the corner.
Before adding color and other accessories, I made a few general updates. In order to open up the room, I removed the curtains to reveal shuttered windows and the interesting angles of the room. This gives us much more wall space to play with. I also removed the top wallpaper border, which seems a little too fussy for a teen room.
In each of the visuals, I pulled colors directly from that fun bedspread. It makes a great palette for instantly coordinated walls and accessories. Here is a two-tone blue room. The dark lower-half accents the wall structure and also has a retro feel. A little rock-n-roll wall decal from Blik adds a bit of flair.
With such interesting angles, this room lends itself well to an accent wall. With the rusty red from the bed spread, the wall behind the drums really pops. Even though the windows already have wooden shutters, perhaps the original blue curtains were used to block out light for a teenage boy who likes to sleep late. Instead of bulky curtains, I suggest a low profile blackout shade, like the Flocke series from The Shade Store. Blackout shades actually come in a variety of colors, so no need to sacrifice style for function. Finally, why not have some fun on the walls? Classic rock album covers are just one way to let a teen’s personality shine.
One of my secret home decor indulgences is Pottery Barn Teen–even for adults! It sounds crazy, but PB Teen has some very fun pieces and their accessories and textiles always inspire me to add a little energy and color to any room. Of course, PB Teen is really great when you are actually designing a teen’s room! I found some wall murals that would make great accent walls. Check out the two images below for the London mural and the Play My Music mural. These are great because you can have your teen pick out their own wall art.
Lastly, here’s an option where the original yellow becomes the accent wall. Offset by deep navy, the yellow suddenly looks fresh and fun. And of course, I couldn’t resist the little 8-bit critters from Blik. Wall decals, posters, and framed images are great way for kids to express themselves and can also be a fun project to work on together.
Kitchen upgrades are a common and easy way to update a home. I’ve done a few posts where we painted walls and cabinets, but here, I want to focus on the backsplash. Perhaps the most common and easiest upgrade (aside from paint) is to add tile. I also love that tile can be a doable DIY project as well. Check out this plain kitchen below. Note the the newly installed Silestone countertop in Mont Blanc.
The owners chose to keep their original black appliances and maple cabinets, so we are working with a palette of white, black and light maple. I found some great tiles at Modwalls, which come in a nice variety of colors and are really affordable. Here is the dramatic Marakesh blend.
If you are willing to commit, a backsplash is also a great place to add color to the kitchen. I like this bold Tango blend. A solid color would also make a nice statement and feel less busy.
One of the great features at Modwalls is the custom tile blender. You can pick multiple colors and blend them in any proportion to create your perfect palette. Here is a brown and white blend for something more muted than the colorful Emma above.
A lighter look in a custom blend of white and speckles of green.
If you don’t like the looks of small squares, subway tiles are another good option. Here is Modwalls Lush tile in dune. I love the elegant lines and tasteful colors.
The backsplash is also a great place to mix textures and materials. While I love the glass and ceramic tiles, I’m always drawn to earthy stone and marble. Here is a great mix of glass and stone in matchstick shape from Glass Tiles Etc. So earthy and stylish!
Continue reading about Tiled Kitchen Backsplash Extravaganza
Here is a lovely house in need of a little color boost. The interior is bright and open, with tons of light and nice lines. It’s currently finished in a pleasing neutral scheme, including brown and beige furniture. Our reader would like to liven it up with a fresh color palette. The good news here, is that you can really take this decor in ANY direction. With such solid basics, the sky’s the limit.
Mini-palette: Brown, Yellow, Sage, Beige
My first thought is a yellow and brown theme, to match the existing furniture and accessories. The color inspiration comes from Olympic paint in Calabash, which I paired with a chocolate brown. An aqua/sage striped curtain keeps the room looking modern.
Mini-palette: Teal, Terra cotta, Black
I found more inspiration with Olympic colors Blue Bayberry and Baritone. I love the combination of teal/blue with Terra Cotta. Add a little black and the palette really pops. To bring it all together, add some tall curtains in modern organic print.
Mini-palette: Terra cotta, brown, beige, yellow
Continuing with the Terra cotta, here is Olympic Ginger on the wall. This is warm and spicy, without being dark and oppressive. The Ginger coordinate easily with the the brown and beige of the existing room. I also love the existing throw pillows on the couch with a modern/ethnic rainbow appeal.
Mini-palette: Dark and light green, beige, brown
Lastly, a calm and friendly green in Dark Sage and Asparagus. The combination of muted green with bright green keeps the room lively, but still feels understated and earthy. Simple curtains soften the back wall. Also, note the green paint on the mantel and the back of the bookshelf to highlight the architectural details.
Our first post on exterior colors comes from reader inquiry. She wanted some ideas for her parents’ house before settling on a final palette. I just love the hacienda bungalow style – complete with arched colonnades and a terra cotta tile roof. I’m certainly envious of this warm weather home.
Spanish style homes often look best in classic Mediterranean palettes. Colors include yellows, peach, pink, olive, terra cotta, brown, white, etc. Think lush, warm earth tones and refreshing cool waters. This is Behr Sunbath, a color that is optimistic and timeless. It also goes well with the terra cotta tiled roof. I created some contrast with bright white trim and a dark brown deck.
Another classic hacienda color is pink (or coral/peach). I chose Behr’s Antique Cameo and again contrasted it with a white deck and brown columns. Make sure the pink/peach doesn’t clash with the terra cotta roof. A warm shade of pink should do the trick and a little Bougainvillea adds another dimension to the palette.
If yellow and pink are too colorful, why not a tasteful beige? I found this nice color from Behr called Cardboard. When used with terra cotta, white and dark chocolate brown, Cardboard is much more interesting than the name implies.
Lastly, and perhaps my favorite, is white with colorful accents. White is very fresh with the roof and greenish-blue trim. The element of the shutters adds even more visual interest with a beautiful tile pattern. I found these lovely Pueblo shutters at Shutterstile. An architectural accent like these shutters is not only distinctive, but can provide inspiration for the entire palette.
I’m always a fan of trying daring colors on interiors and exteriors, but sometimes it’s nice to stick to your architectural roots. Rooting this house in a Spanish hacienda color palette is both festive and classic (and will look great even years from now).
We hope our reader’s parents find something they like!
Like bathrooms, we think that people often neglect their kitchens when it comes to paint. This is especially true in smaller apartments. Despite common perception, though, a blast of color can actually make your small kitchen look bigger…or at least more interesting.
Check out this small, bland, white kitchen. All you really notice is the junk on the countertop and everything else is whitewashed right out.
Shades of beige/mocha are always an easy kitchen solution. We added definition to the small space by painting 3 different shades- 1 for the doorways (which happens to be a closet and the main entrance to the apartment), 1 shade for the kitchen area, and another shade for the ceiling.
Here, the same multi-color approach, but warmed up in spicy colors.
You can even add definition to the plain white cabinets with a thick stripe of chocolate. (It’s also a good idea to upgrade the cabinet handles, too) Check out these tips for painting your cabinets.
If you have the time (and money), for a whole new look, consider new cabinets. A nice dark walnut is modern, but not too trendy. Muted blue makes the whole kitchen feel very “adult” and also calm. Note the dark brown painted door to match the cabinets, crown molding and a drama-ceiling.
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