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Big room, vaulted ceiling- paint opinions needed!

14 years ago

After over a year in our house, I'm finally ready to tackle painting the living room. It's currently a mint green (think baby's room) and I hate it. BUT, it's a very open room with a very tall vaulted ceiling. Also, three living room walls extend into the hallway and the kitchen. The floor is a cherry laminate that won't be changing soon. We really only want to paint once, as you can imagine.

I would love, love, love any suggestions you have as far as paint color or technique for this room. Light ceiling, darker ceiling? Multiple colors? Paint wainscoting? You see our current furniture in the pictures. While the wood objects are new (entertainment center, tables) and staying, don't feel the need to base color suggestions around the couches. Oh, and the curtains in the pictures came down long ago! Thanks so much for any thoughts!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Uqa6_ohfzcQ/SNWo5ykAUvI/AAAAAAAAAts/yKHyFDqmhUo/s400/New%20living%20room%20003.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Uqa6_ohfzcQ/SNWo6gw7rrI/AAAAAAAAAt0/35WC9AtBLTM/s400/New%20living%20room%20005.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Uqa6_ohfzcQ/S0UjLECuC1I/AAAAAAAACas/LrmFGRZOSpU/s400/007.jpg

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Comments (4)

techiestar
Original Author
14 years ago
Oops, so sorry. I pasted the pictures in the exact same ways as I have before, and they didn't work.

Here is a link to the picassa album with pictures of my living room.

Here is a link that might be useful: Living room pics
jesst
14 years ago
I would paint the walls a warm toasty neutral, a light tan/mocha/warm "greige". Looks like you have some red/orange touches in the room. To add some pop, I would paint one small area a red/orange (like BM navajo red). Maybe just the wall that the small square picture is hanging on... And hang a nicely framed large piece of artwork or some large "pier oneish" plates for a little wow factor. I would leave the ceilings white. I think these colors will pull everything together and warm up the space. Good luck!
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Energy, My response was specific to OP's situation. She'd described her location as SF Bay area and great in summer. I assumed that meant she was not "inland", and if so, most people in the immediate Bay Area don't have AC. I don't have AC, I cool my house by opening the windows in the evening, we have cool nights on all but a few very hot days. Look at today's forecast- SF is 70, Berkeley is 70, inland Walnut Creek, 15 miles from Berkeley, is 86, very inland Sacramento is 97 but still dry heat). People who live inland have AC and just bite the bullet with cost. I'm sure there are many heat pumps in use in rural or remote areas with no natural gas, with people who don't want to use propane or wood stoves. But I know people all over a broad area, and no one I know has one.
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Comments (11)
The photos you posted are very nice--but it's because they don't have vaulted ceilings. Would you consider 10' ceilings instead of vaulting them? Vaulted ceilings have a more modern vibe and it's difficult to install any type of upper molding. The photos you like are more traditional. Also very high vaulted ceilings bring a host of problems concerning sound, heating/cooling, and just making mere mortals feel inconsequential. The scale is overwhelming. But that's my opinion.
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Comments (14)
Thanks everyone. We have small kids, so I've avoided any rugs under the tables. Our floor gets so gross, and I figured rugs would just get pretty yucky! I've heard you all loud and clear on the nothing above :) The next thing I'd like to work on is replacing the sconces on the walls to something more updated. I like the pendant lights as they add some color and visual interest to the space. Does anyone know of rugs that are easily washable for high-traffic spaces? Also, I've added a "before" picture below. This was what it looked like before we bought the house. I don't have budget for major remodels, so trying to chate things that give the most bang for the buck.
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What white or light gray for this living room with vaulted ceiling?
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Comments (6)
I love greens so it is a first pick for me. I am not a pro at any of this but love figuring out colors. To my eye the silver grey in the kitchen is fighting the granite a bit. The cabinets look good but they are more of a neutral color. I can see you have a wheat color in the hall, so more warm colors. I used BM edgewood grey in my house - prior to the remodel we are working on - and it worked well with my 1950 orangey red oak floors but was not overly warm/yellow for my taste. Read grey in some rooms/light and beige in others. Lots of grey and cool colors on these boards but honestly it doesn’t work in every house. Your dining room is really pretty and could be stunning with a bold color. Maybe let that lead and find a soft white or greige for the adjoining rooms. Good luck!
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techiestar
Original Author
14 years ago
Jesst,

That is what we are currently thinking as well, so thanks for the reinforcement. I'm trying to find a good "greige" and my fiance is really pulling for a warm red accent wall. Sadly, the ceilings are currently the same mint green, so painting them isn't gonna be fun... :-)
jesst
14 years ago
Take a look at Benjamin Moore grant beige, really nice one.

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