Kitchen opposite wall tha will be painted red.

Wall that will be apinted red. Only half of this wall will be red as the bottom is beadboard. Also the wall surrounding the window would be red.

Small area leading to the foyer would be red. THis would be it for any red walls in the kitchen.

Wall texture

Thanks for the help!!

I think red could be too stark. How about a nice terra cotta color? Sort of a halfway pijtbetween the red and the gold -- a bit softer, but still warm. Would you consider painting the beadboard backsplash?

It is a very pretty kitchen. I love the beadboard and wainscoting.

I do worry about red being too stark with all the white. My only problem with terra cotta is that it is too orange for the accessories and other furnishings in my home. I am leaning toward say a barn red or a burgundy rather than a primary red. I am also always worried about going too light with reds that they will look mauvey or too pink.

IMO, it would look great as long as it's not a lipstick red, which I see you're not going for anyway. I used RL Balmoral Red, and loved it~it's a deep red with burgundy undertones, but looks bright pink when you open the can.

Think about using a charcoal color primer. Painting directly on the white walls will possibly require 5 coats, and could look uneven. Don't be talked into using a pink primer~it wouldn't make much difference than the white. I had the HD 'paint guy' mix me a charcoal primer. Any dark paint left over from another room could also work. Check out the OPPS paint at HD.

Good luck! ;o)

It will definitely work as long as you don't go bright red. Look at all the variations of red in the red family at online paint stores, some are just gorgeous. I'm assuming you don't intend to paint it "lipstick red" as patty cakes said?

In fact, your kitchen/eating area is very similar to mine, and I'll have the white beadboard/kitchen..and white beadboard in the DR. The white beadboard is like a picture frame, IMO. Anything goes with it and the contrast is what makes the walls stunning. But stark primary colors kind of scream out. I'm just not fond of primary colors which is why I stopped watching HGTV. lol.

I say go for it, but don't get a bright red red. :) Oh, my son and his wife have deep reddish walls with texturing and it looks fine to me.

I have one interior wall downstairs. It leads from the living/dining room to the family room. I painted it Berry Cobbler and it has a white chair rail and paintable wall paper beneath also painted white. The living/dining room is painted soft cream with white trim. I thought I had a pic but I can find it. I will have to take another.

I think it would look great, but there are so many shades of red, you need to find the one that works best for you.

I will post a pic when I get it taken.

Toodles,

Laura

Here is the pic of the wall

I love the contrast and it carries the color from the front of the house to the back. My powder room is painted red velvet, so I do love the color.

the texture of the wall doesn't matter one bit...

Thanks for all your suggestions. Now I just need a dose of bravery.

Maybe red and white curtains on that window?

Around here those are called hand-troweled walls. Mine have a much more dramatic texture to them. I just painted niches with a dark color, Wenge, from BenM. Matte finish is key with textured walls. A heavy texture does not wear sheen well, IMO.

A Ben Moore store would be your best bet. Check out the Affinity reds in Aura first.

You will be creating multiple lines of dramatic contrast with a rich red next to a lot of white. You will also be cutting into your available, useable light. Natural and artificial. Red doesn't return to the space much of the light that hits it. So keep that in mind.

You'll be going from a very bright, reflective space to one that involves dramatic contrast. It's going to be quite a change. Being prepared for the effects of a new wall color always helps. Few to no surprises is a good thing when it comes to bold wall color.

Generally speaking, bold, dramatic color like a red needs space to spread out. A room made up of small wall space, like a kitchen, can end up looking choppy and smaller. The notion of limiting contrasts is a relied upon color strategy to make small spaces feel bigger -- you will be doing the opposite. You are intending to increase contrasts.

So knowing that your space could feel chopped up and smaller and that you are introducing a wall color that likes to keep most of the light that hits it, you're prepared for the worst that a choice of red wall color could bring to your kitchen.

Flip side is that is looks like it'd be a fun change to that space! Spice it up some, make it interesting and cozier. Red is a great color for foody oriented spaces. Kitchens are notoriously high-energy, high-activity, hub of the house type spaces - red could be a great fit.

MOre great info.

mclarke - I do have curtains (red and tannish gold) for the window already. I would really love to use the gold in the curtains but again I have my counter to contend with. FOr some reason the curtains look OK with the color of the countertop but golden tan paint next to the counter looks weird.

Funcolors - You are a wealth of info. Thanks for all the wonderful advise.

I am so stuck on the red, gold and black color combo that is taken from the plates and picture I have on my wall. Maybe I should scrap everything and find some new accessories and just start over. I am at this point. I think DH would kill me. You'd think that starting with a neutral pallete (white, tans, etc. ) would make it easier but I am having such a hard time with this.

Funny how sometimes a room comes together and sometimes it is a much more difficult task.

I am so stuck on the red, gold and black color combo that is taken from the plates and picture I have on my wall. Maybe I should scrap everything and find some new accessories and just start over. I am at this point. I think DH would kill me. You'd think that starting with a neutral pallete (white, tans, etc. ) would make it easier but I am having such a hard time with this.

Oh gosh, sorry you're having a hard time. It is funny how sometimes it's easier than others. I have a theory about that. Promise to keep it short.

The pulling colors from inspiration pieces is overrated. It's been about a zillion years now since I've been saying that. :D Mood boards and all that other typical design stuff is overrated too. But, when people pay good money for a design or decorating certificate of some sort, they need to be able to produce something tangible. I think that's why the staid beliefs about color continue on and on and on.

The most important and relevant things about color can't be glue-gunned to a piece of foamcore or even held in a hand. So few people understand what that means. So few are willing to let go of the conventional, open their eyes and SEE what it means. I have little hope for most of them. Glue gun firmly in hand, they're gonna die on that design hill built up of old color philosophies and methods.

Who can blame them, really. On many levels those old methodologies are easy and they work -- and they work for a whole lotta people. It gets interesting, really interesting, when those old methods are tried and fail miserably or are simply outgrown.

When what is wanted from color, what is needed from color, what is dreamed of in color is bigger than an inspiration piece, what are you suppose to do? Where do you look? For corn's sake everything out there says that you need a rug, a plate, a fabric or something to help guide you to a well-coordinated room! I mean, look at all the famous designers!

Oh please, as if.

As if what they do matters to personal color expectations and tolerances. People believe that stuff and take it all the way to the paint store with 'em. It's hilarious and deeply saddening all at the same time.

Authentic color resides in a place that can't be merchandised. It's within reach to all of us. Be in the space you want to color and think about what it is you really want and intend for that space. Putting down the plate, setting aside the picture could very well be a good restarting point for you.