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The main design changes in all of these options are to (1) remove the outdated mirror and (2) remove the pattern on the floor.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:

I’m using the Anna Sova food paint palette as inspiration for this modern apartment. The bedroom below is literally a blank slate with brand new furniture. Our reader writes “the only problem is that I have NO IDEA what color to paint the bedroom.”  No idea? No problem! Let’s see what we we can cook up with some food paint.

I first dipped into the Ancient Europa collection with rich jewel tones and solid neutrals. Here is a sophisticated and modern take on saturated blue using Isle of Sky and Winter Solstice. Accessories include a black and white print of the Guggenheim museum, whose lines are echoed in the Road Dog Builtby Lamp at 2modern.

Next, an earthy and bold exotic retreat from the Ancient Asia color collection. The palette is completed by the golds and reds in the Buddha print and complemented by the sculptural Cupstack lamp.

For a bold classic room, I used the warm reds and beiges from the Odd Sorbets collection. A small hit of Radish red keeps the Masago tan color looking fresh and not too muddy. The duo is perfectly matched with a this modern twist on a classic reclining nude and the Paolo Tube Top color lamp.

Lastly, a calm beach getaway pulled from the Ancient Americas palette. To keep the beach theme from turning tropical or kitschy, stick to a muted palette like this Sage Smoke and Paracus Sand Sculpture combination. Also, avoid palm trees, shells and sailboats. A very mature beach landscape (complete with suited men!) says “beach” without saying “Tiki lounge.” The scene is finished with a few oars hung on the wall and a Japanese Float table lamp.

I hope we’ve provided some delicious post-Thanksgiving inspiration with Anna Sova food paint. This room can really go in any direction and you can also sleep better at night knowing that zero-VOC paint won’t harm you or your pooch. Yum!

However, our reader didn’t quite see it that way. She is struggling with the color palette, and specifically the accent color. While the red provides a nice contrast to the otherwise neutral theme, the red combined with the green gives off too much of a Christmas vibe. I like the red, but I can also see our reader’s point. Let’s see if we can give her some ideas for new and even unexpected accent colors.

Existing palette of sage green, black, white and red.

The current room:

My first inclination is just to shift the red to a more orange-y color. This eliminates the “Christmas,” but keeps the contrast.

Another variation on the orange/earthy scheme is to introduce pattern. Here’s a Moroccan inspired palette with accent pillows from Etsy and Medallion curtains from West Elm. I also think the room could benefit from one larger (and more dramatic) piece of art. In this version, I placed a black and white photo of Morocco.

Our reader was interested in exploring blue accent colors. With the sage green, it’s tough to find just the right shade of blue. Here, I opted for a rather purple-ish dark blue. This includes curtains in lustre sheen/Elderberry and art deco glam pillows. The overall look is very sophisticated.

To brighten up the color palette, here is a royal blue. I wouldn’t immediately think to pair sage green with royal blue, but with the right accessories and artwork, it is possible to tie it together. In this scenario, the Japanese print ties together a range of sea greens, ocean blues and misty atmospheric neutrals. With art like this, you can make it work.

Lastly, when in doubt, keep it in the family.  In this case, the green family. Sometimes you can make a pretty and unexpected palette by sticking to a particular hue. In this room, the sage green acts like a beige – in other words it becomes the neutral backdrop to the saturated green. The key, again, is in the accessories. What better accessory to a green palette than some actual live plants? Silk dupioni curtains in Greenhouse add a lush green anchor further matched by graphic pillows.

I hope this gives some new ideas for a lively color pallette with sage green. This room is so close…just that last 10% and it will surely be complete!

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.

]]> http://mochihome.com/living-room/new-color-for-a-stylish-new-home/feed/ 1 http://mochihome.com/kitchen/update-kitchen-backsplash-extravaganza/ http://mochihome.com/kitchen/update-kitchen-backsplash-extravaganza/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:41:42 +0000 carly http://mochihome.com/?p=436 Just a quick update on our backsplash extravaganza from last month. After reviewing my original choices, I decided to try out a few more options and finally settled on the lovely neutral Windy City blend from Modwalls. We were really looking for something to act a transition between the new Silestone counter in Mont Blanc, the maple cabinets and the darker wood of our other furniture. Windy City covers a nice spectrum of neutrals and just seems to tie everything together without overpowering the other features.

I opted to install the tile myself – my first time at tiling! It was at once fun and frustrating, but the end result (and reasonable price!) was worth it. See the gallery below for a step-by-step slideshow of the installation.

View Photo Album

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!

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.

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!

I’m wondering if you might weigh in on a debate I’m having with someone about whether to paint these funny closet doors in a bedroom…The color thought is a darkish brown.

Absolutely, we can weigh in! This is a perfect job for a Mochi Home visualization. Our reader had originally been looking at a Fuller O’Brien paint chip book. Unfortunately, paint chips for this brand are not easily accessible online. We picked some Benjamin Moore colors, but they could be easily translated to other brands.

Here’s the current room and the closet doors in question.

First, we painted just the closet doors a dark brown, as requested. This is Van Buren Brown from the Historical Colors collection. This already adds a little interest and definition to the room, but it doesn’t totally hang together yet.

With a little more effort, we think the brown doors could be a really nice feature. We added a classic chair rail, with the lower half in a neutral brown/gray called Smoked Oyster and the top in Pampas grass.  This nice palette of warm neutrals works well with the hints of red already in the room.  To really tie it all together, we found a modern rug from West Elm, which includes all of the colors.

Along the same lines, here are the closet doors in a lighter shade, Rockies Brown. We paired it with a wall in Sea Froth. Finally we removed all traces of red and replaced them with dark browns and neutral blues. A fun rug from 2modern does a nice job of tying it all together.

What if you are into the red?  Try something a little unexpected and paint it on the doors. We matched the red of the duvet cover. We recommend bringing some paint chips home to match your accessories or you can bring any item into the paint store and they will match it for you. These red doors are fun and little shocking, but…

We painted the wall that rich Van Buren brown and turned that plain wall in to the clear focal point. We love how the rich colors are outlined by the bright white trim, making them even bolder and crisper.

Lastly, I thought we could leave the doors white and just paint the wall instead. This shade of Gravel Gray is modern and sophisticated and goes great with the red accessories. The bright white closet doors suddenly look crisp and fresh on the dark back drop. I couldn’t resist adding this quill rug from CB2, a pillow, and some white vases on the dresser to add some height in the corner. To finish off the look, the curtains have been replaced by wooden shades, which I snagged from Hunter Douglas.

Hopefully we’ve given our reader a visualization of their ideas and some new ideas they hadn’t thought of.  Don’t be afraid to paint doors, walls, or even both! This plain wall can become an exciting focal point or an elegant backdrop. Good luck!