Need coloring ideas for entry shelves, staircase, & walls!

9 years ago

We just bought our 1st house! Exciting stuff. Looking for advice on painting the walls - thinking a light grey might be nice, or something neutral, then doing a darker stain on the staircase railing and some kind of paint on these entry cabinets?

We want to paint the main floor also - the current color is a very light yellow and is pretty neutral but we want to make it feel a little more custom. Not sure if we can do this just with accent walls or if we have to go all-or-nothing. The main room walls are attached!

Thank you for the advice :)

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Ferris Zoe Design

9 years ago

There is a lot of coordination of colors, shapes and furnishings needed. You have a great palette to begin with. Please hire a competent interior designer before you buy anything. If only for a couple hours of consulting. It is money well spent. You have a lot of styles going on in your furnishings, and this home has a pretty blank canvas. It has a contemporary and modern vibe, beautiful floors and clean lines. Definitely change out the chandelier to a more sleek style, and follow up with similar furnishings. Don't let it become a hodgepodge. If your budget only allows modest purchases now, don't throw it away on a bunch of inexpensive items just to fill up the space. Start with a plan, and buy one piece at a time that you truly love.

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Comments (36)

Brandi Nash Hicks
9 years ago
Those orang cabinets are gorgeous and on trend ..keep them
Raena thanked Brandi Nash Hicks
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Colorsmith
9 years ago
I agree w/ your notion to stain the handrails darker, keep the orange and try a medium gray on a wall. always end a color on an inside corner. totally agree w/Ferris, hire a designer for a couple of hours, better sooner rather than later. a good paint scheme can tie everything together; goal is continuity w/surprises.
Raena thanked Colorsmith
Raena
Original Author
9 years ago
@colorsmith - what is an inside corner? Sorry, I'm a total newbie!
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Colorsmith
9 years ago
the inside corner such as the one at the far right back of the built-ins. you don't want to wrap a color around and then end on an outside edge...
Raena thanked Colorsmith
laurakdesigns
9 years ago
Congrats! Your home is beautiful. I'd try BM Wickham Gray.
http://houzz.com/photos/1691118
Try painting it on a board.

Also suggest changing the grout color to something more gray.
Raena thanked laurakdesigns
Kelly Carter
9 years ago
Love the striped sofa. What about pulling one of the more neutral colors from it for the walls. I also agree with changing the color of the handrails. Maybe stain it to match the floors.
Raena thanked Kelly Carter
Raena
Original Author
9 years ago
@laurakdesigns thank you! Also wanting to change out the grout but have no idea how much that would cost - do you know? Was wondering if it'd be cheaper to just change out the floor. the owners put that same tile but with blue grout in the first floor bathroom and an upstairs bedroom as well.

@kellycarterster - couch is from previous owner but won't be there when we move in :-P Do think we should stain the handrails or just paint white, leaning towards a darker stain but not sure if that'll conflict with the flooring/stairs?
togetherbydesign
9 years ago
Raena,
Please re-read the very sensible comment from Ferris Zoe Design!!
As a designer I like people to know they need to live in a space first before they start investing in any changes.
I will be making a move soon and am trying to get all my ducks in a row...something I do for others and find it comes naturly.
I had to stop and take a breath this past week and treat myself as I would a client.
I will be moving most of my furniture to the new home...after some editing...and keeping the upholstery "as is"...contrary to popular belief most of us do not change things all the time.
As I was putting the pressure on myself to make the decision of window treatment styles and colors...area rug size and colors...accent wall colors just for starters....I found myself over whelmed!!!
So I took a very deep breath and have decided to follow my advice to my clients.
I will "live" in my new home so it starts to tell me what it needs.
I will start a new idea book for my new home.
I will take my time so as not to spend on something just to "get it done".
I will consult a designer I know well (me) and be her client....she will keep me from being overwhelmed or moving too fast.
Thank you Ferris Zoe Design for the wise advice....a lot of good design decisions can take place in only a few hours much of the time.
Just make sure you take your time.
Sandra McCash
9 years ago
I think pale blue walls would be fine, white trim, leave the staircase the way it is and paint over the orange a darker, coordinating blue. That's what I would do.
anne dee
9 years ago
The colour ways of the walls and stairs in this ref pic might look nice in yr space
Woodinville Retreat · More Info

check the pic for details
Raena thanked anne dee
Nancy Travisinteriors
9 years ago
Paint the main floor?? Not sure what you mean. But painting floors never look good. Do I see orange grout in tile? If so change that put to color of tile. Grout should never stand out. I would do handrails a darker shade, get it as close to floor as possible. If painting a gray do whole house the same. You can different shades of the same color. Benjamin Moore has some great grays. Try samples on your walls. You have a more contemporary look, so a black on cabinets would work with gray walls. Remove all small pictures from entry a f in dining area. I. Entry on wall we look at add a tall narrow mirror in a silver frame. Then add carious height pots on top of cabinets mix with small reflective items. Ck TJMax or Z Galleries for accessories. They have great art. I would buy a bigger picture for dining area go the blue greens. But get one over 40" to fill that space and add color and interest. I would add area rugs to entry and under table and in front if sofa. Z Galleries has a teal 5x7 that is soft and would work in your entry. In dining go a round 7-8 ft you want chairs on rug when sitting on chairs. In living room could try a 6x9. Go a contemporary design in a bold print, for dining a black and white Zebra would work.
Raena thanked Nancy Travisinteriors
Nancy Travisinteriors
9 years ago
A more interesting chandelier over table. Maybe a white 24" hang 36" from table top. Get something unique. Panels on slider go 2 shades lighter than walls. No pic by slider. Every wall does not need something on it. Big walls BIG pictures, go bold.
Nancy Travisinteriors
9 years ago
Long rug in front of firepl not working just add one in front of brown sofa. That table in front of sofa too tall. Instead get a bigger 24" round or square. Could go glass.ck Zgalleriers for some unique looks.
Nancy Travisinteriors
9 years ago
Wait I do not usually read other comments. Are you saying this is not your furn? I still stand with my above comments, but for dining table the rug should be same as table round rug round table. If this is not your stuff go with mine and others on picture placement etc.
Nancy Travisinteriors
9 years ago
I agree with above re, buying furn for new home. Don't do it till you are in. But can decide on wall color etc. so getting ahead start on that before you move in is great. Most of the time old furn will not fit or look right. So if you have old things you don't like. Get rid of it now, before you move.
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JudyG Designs
9 years ago
From what direction is the light coming into the room? That will dictate choices, too.
laurakdesigns
9 years ago
Changing the grout color will be far less expensive than changing the floors. But, I personally prefer floors to be the same as it creates more flow through the space.

I'd suggest staining the railings to be about as dark as the stairs. Also, are the cabinets painted or stained? (Can't tell from the photo). If they're painted, I'd paint a shade or two darker than the walls. If stain, match the stairs!

It's much easier to some things before you move in. Definitely floors. I always recommend painting the closets too. (Easier while empty!!!)
Raena thanked laurakdesigns
Susan Davis
9 years ago
Grout can be stained/painted to any color. You can find grout stain/paint at 'big box' stores, but will get a better selection of color from a tile distributor. I've done this several times, always with good results. Although 'the doing' is a bit tedious, it's a pretty easy project and well worth the end result. Btw, it seems these are photos w/ the previous owners stuff--it'd be great if you could submit pictures either of the space "empty" or with your own furnishings--to get most useful advice. Good luck!
Raena thanked Susan Davis
Molly Matthews
9 years ago
IMMEDIATELY deal with that orange grout as other have suggested. (That's fights every design principle out there.) Then don't do ANYTHING else until you've lived in it for a bit. Give the house a chance to speak to you, to meld with your things. Once your stuff is in there and you live with it a bit, the bigger picture will become clear. I like the idea of Wickham Grey paint with the cabinets. That pop of orange is what's making this entry sing. Take care that you don't stifle its song.
Raena thanked Molly Matthews
Raena
Original Author
9 years ago
@susan and @molly any idea how much it'll be to fix the grout coloring or swap it out?
Molly Matthews
9 years ago
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infgroutcolorant.html
kiturah
9 years ago
Staining the handrails sounds like a LOT of work to me, way more than painting for instance. I like the orange cabinets.

Isn't there a color you (both) love. I'd look for a way to work it in. I don't see a lot of gain by replacing a light neutral with another light neutral, myself.
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Color in Space Inc.
9 years ago
Our Dwelling Palettes™ in Benjamin Moore Paint colors are the perfect design tool for folks who are just beginning a project like you! They were created to be color road maps for all of the architectural finishes and decor pieces in a space--not only the paint colors. We perceive color in relationship to each other. Their appearance actually changes in response to adjacent colors and light, which is referred to as metamerism. Our palettes ensure that the relationships between the colors actually enhance each other and create an energetic whole much greater than the sum of the parts. We invite you to check them out! They are for sale here on Houzz and on our website. http://colorinspace.com/purchase.php There are eight different Dwelling Palettes™. Images of some of them are below. They intentionally include a lot of neutrals to act as the glue between the more obvious colors.

And, @Colorsmith, as long as the corners are not bullnosed, why would you not end the color on the outside corner? We use colors to define spaces architecturally. For example, in the photo of Raena's home, the wall behind the cabinet and the one to the right create that room, so of course those two walls should be the same color. Where the ceiling drops and there is the door to the left could be yet a different color, including the dropped ceiling. This is how color can accentuate and enhance the architecture. As long as there is a clean edge (not bullnosed), we often transition color on the outside corner because that is where a space transitions. We'd love to hear more of your thoughts on this, Colorsmith!
Raena thanked Color in Space Inc.
marymacarthur
9 years ago
Where would one be able to buy colors from the Dwelling Palette in Canada - Any ideas
marymacarthur
9 years ago
Sorry - just noticed it iBenjamin Moore. Thank you
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Color in Space Inc.
9 years ago
Anywhere that sells Benjamin Moore Paint! We receive lots of orders for the palettes in Canada, so I'm sure there are a good number of retailers there. You can find a store close to you on their website: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/benjamin-moore-store-locator.
Molly Matthews
9 years ago
Totally agree with Color in Space on corner color changes. The corner where our living room and the back hallway converge is an outside corner, each painted a different color. As both are part of a planned color scheme, the change works perfectly. The key to any color change (inside/outside/upside down) is a cohesive color palate.
ewuniak
9 years ago
THIS is your FIRST house?? WOW!!! and congrats!;)
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Robin Lechner Designs
9 years ago
CONGRATULATIONS on your new home! I'd suggest keeping the woodwork (including the stair rails) white. Create an ombre effect by painting the foyer a dark gray then progressively lighter shades as you move away from the foyer. For example, the wall going upstairs would be lighter as would the family room. You might even consider painting the dining area a different shade from the living room. The kitchen would look wonderful in a medium gray especially if you have stainless appliances. If gray doesnt' appeal to you, any color would work.
yogamom613
9 years ago
Paint the stair hand rails high gloss black.
happyleg
9 years ago
Gray walls. Darker rails. I like the rest.
Rosanne
9 years ago
Nancy T, I think when the OP said painting the main floor I think they meant the main floor of the house - not the actual floor.
Raena
Original Author
9 years ago
@rosebud yes, that's what I meant :-P this has been so helpful! We're trying Benjamin Moore's Gray Owl on the main floor (3 walls in the main room) and Revere Pewter on the wall going up the stairwell. Then will do Edgecomb Gray in the master. Am trying an accent color of Black Pepper for the orange/red cabinets - hoping the colors tie together alright! Will post updates when it's all done :)

Re: the grout - thank you everyone for confirming that it's a bit much! Contacted the original contractor for the floor and they may bring over colors that are more neutral/fit in better so the grout isn't as noticeable, that should help the floor not draw too much attention.

The kitchen cabinets are a beautiful cherry wood so the original owner was accenting that. Hopefully this still allows that cherry wood to look wonderful without accenting too much red from the cabinet and floor!

Thanks everyone :)
manuaraya
9 years ago
Plan
Iñkm
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Your lay-out, stairway and those wood floors are wonderful!

You have a great set-up and assets as a base for your decorating.

To make the wood floors look richer, I would consider a shade that brings out those wood tones. A very reliable color from the old Valspar (Lowe's, Ace, etc.) is one called "Amber White". You could use the lighter tone on most of your walls and consider a darker version of that same color in the entry area and heading up your stairs.

Then, pull the darkest shade from your floors and do your stairway railings in that dark shade. It would be very nice to repeat the dark shade of the railings in frames on art and photos and possibly in a few items in your home.

The pale amber shades will read "neutral", but will also feel warm and make your floors look rich. Amber plays very nicely with shades of gray, black, brown, blues, turquoise/aquas, white, ivory, dark teal and warm reds or rusts, so you would have a lot of options to add some additional colors to your color scheme.

The additional advantage to a very pale amber is that you can still use your gray furniture without worrying about a gray wall color being the right shade to look nice with your furniture (the wrong direction and either the walls or the furniture can start looking brown, drab, dirty, blue or green)...and most wood tones look very good with pale amber shades.

IF Valspar's "Amber White" is not quite right, heading to a shade to either side of it on the main card file would land you on the right shade. The Valspar color number for Amber White is 264-1 and the darker shade options would be 264-2, 264-3, 264-4 or 264-5. I wouldn't go any darker than that, so your stair rail and wood floor can have some impact. If the shade doesn't seem quite exact, consider colors within that Valspar range 263-1 or 265-1.

Here's the link to see an online image of "Amber White" and related colors:

http://m.valsparpaint.com/color-detail.php?id=101269&g=100009

Don't let the online color scare you, as it will look more colorful on line and even on the swatch than it is. On the wall, it can read like a warm white to pale tan to pale subdued amber, depending on the lighting in and around your home and area of the country.

Good luck with your beautiful home. -Maggie (Real Design by Dine & Jergens LLC)