Okay, the fall dreaming is becoming a reality. I’m just about to throw on my painting garb and head downstairs to put my first coat of nearly-black-paint on the walls in the DR. I’ll be using the same color (Behr paint matched to Ace’s Arabian Night) that I used in the entry way and in the kitchen/mudroom. I’m really excited to see how all the spaces will start to come together and relate to one another. None of the rooms on the main floor will have full floor to ceiling black walls, and I think because of this, it won’t seem overpowering or redundant. I think.
I’ve mocked up a few more pics, I wanted to see what the color would look like against the dark teal living room walls and dining room built-in buffet. When making design decisions I usually mock up a space in either photoshop or sketchup depending on the size of the project. It really helps me make better decisions.
One thing I’ve always wondered about. What do I do with the ceilings, ideally I would knock down the popcorn texture, but I’m in no rush to do that. What color do I paint them? I always have done white, as I feel it helps to bounce light around the room, but is there supposed to be some sort of magical formula for this. Help a woman out!
Jeff may have given me the okay on purchasing two of those blush chairs that I mentioned in last weeks post. Target was running a sale last weekend, spend $500 you save $150, so how could I not do it! The chairs are online only, and I’m a bit concerned about the size and color. Fingers crossed that they will be perfect. Also they are on backorder and won’t be arriving till mid November. Until then, I paint.
This is stunning. I love how cohesive everything looks. The glimpse of wallpaper in the music room ties the living room and dining room together like a 3-D work of art. So beautiful I can’t stand it!
Thanks! I started the painting it yesterday and it looks so good!! Can’t wait to share!
my god, you’re good.
:)
p.s. I would leave your ceilings white. It balances out the dark walls and plays well with the curtains and other white accents the rooms. In a couple small rooms in my house, I painted the ceiling the lightest color on the paint swatch from whatever wall color I chose. I thought it made the room feel more cohesive because the ceiling blended in a little more – which is a good thing in a small space. You could photoshop it and see what you think, or try doing a very light gray (maybe the lightest version of the gray walls in your music room) and see what that does to the room? A ceiling with a gray cast might make the room feel cold though. I’ll be curious to see what you decide to do!
Yeah! I agree, I think the white does something nice for the light in the space. I’ll probably sit on it a bit before pulling the trigger, I like your idea of going with the lightest swatch on the paint chip.
p.s. I would leave your ceilings white. It balances out the dark walls and plays well with the curtains and other white accents the rooms. In a couple small rooms in my house, I painted the ceiling the lightest color on the paint swatch from whatever wall color I chose. I thought it made the room feel more cohesive because the ceiling blended in a little more – which is a good thing in a small space. You could photoshop it and see what you think, or try doing a very light gray (maybe the lightest version of the gray walls in your music room) and see what that does to the room? A ceiling with a gray cast might make the room feel cold though. I’ll be curious to see what you decide to do!
The mock-ups are lovely. I like the contrast of dark and varied light tones with the sleek yet cozy Scandinavian influence–Nordic for adults.:) The blush chairs play nicely off the dark walls. It’s fun to see your thought process. My dining room is on the 4th or 5th paint color and I just can’t get it right. Someday! It’s helpful to see how you think through potential changes.
Glad to hear I’m not the only one who can’t get it just right. It does take a lot of trial and error to find what works just right.
Have you painted the ceiling before? Because it’s so much easier to remove the popcorn texture if you don’t paint them.
Shannon! I accidentally painted the ceiling yesterday – I went to wipe it off and the popcorn wiped right off with the paint!! I think the popcorn might be super easy to take down and I’m sure it hasn’t been painted before. Thanks for stopping me from making this more difficult for myself!!!
i feel your ceiling pain! i told my best friend the other day, “fuck it, i’m painting my tiny ass bathroom black, including the ceiling” & i think she thought i was sick. but i mean, i see it online & it looks so good so it’s got to look good in reality right?! the only thing that stops me is the idea of having to go back & paint god knows how many layers to cover up the black if it turns out bad. WHAT IS THE ANSWER?!
…your ceiling in the dining room does look really good white though.
The answer is your bathroom ceiling is probably a small amount of real estate so you better try painting it or else!
I love the living room wall color you have and have been searching forever for the perfect color for my living room. I keep coming back from the paint store with tropical teal colors which I am drawn to in the store, but are not what I am actually after. My wood work is very similar to yours and I think it could work with my furniture. Can you tell me the color you used?
You might want to get the ceiling material checked for asbestos – early popcorn ceilings had asbestos in the texture.
Just something to keep in mind…
I have knocked down the popcorn ceiling in three main rooms now- it kills your back and shoulders and makes a huge mess but is crazy easy. Now you can see seams in a few places, but it feels so much cleaner and brighter in my house.
Where are those curtains from? Looking for the same ones, stunning!