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What paint/fabrics for lilac wall to wall carpet

14 years ago

Hi,

I have been generously offered free good quality lilac wall to wall carpet for the half story of my home. The current carpet is old and stained so I can't pass this offer. The story consists of a hallway, bathroom, large open room with no door, closets. The stair runner is a medium blue/green.

The room has eaves and the whole space has natural stained trim. The bathroom has peachy beige tile and flowered wallpaper. The paint throughout matches the wallpaper. I need to find a way to make the lilac coordinate. What color paint for the bonus room? Fabrics? I am buying a daybed for the space. My child plays there now and it is also office/guest space.

I like a casual version of English Country more like a no fuss updated cottage look.

Anyone have pics of lilac carpet?

Thanks,

Sarahdecor

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Comments (11)

patricianat
14 years ago
Why take free carpet that may cost you much more in terms of furnishings, paint, fabrics, etc., for inexpensive carpet? You can carpet a room for less than the cost of one good chair. You can carpet a room for what it costs to paint if you use a good paint, primer, prime work and professional painter. Fabric can cost as much for a yard as a yard of carpet.

Be careful about "Free." You usually get what you pay for.
sweeby
14 years ago
Patricia's got a point. If you have to RE-DO things that would otherwise not need doing, then the carpet is far from free. If, on the other hand, these things are all things you would do regardless of carpet, then...

First off, how 'lilac' is the carpet? Is is a very subtle near-neutral? Or is it in-your-face no-doubt-about-it purple? And do you like the color?

If I recall, there's a thread on the Gallery side for purple rooms -- I'd start there.
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For a while I rented a condo unit that had similar carpet throughout (and matching green tile in the bathrooms). If a large element that you can't change isn't to your taste, the key is to avoid both playing to it and playing against it. Specifically, do not use a wall color that is a direct or near complement complement of green: that is, not red (or pink) and preferably not orange or purple, either, because all of those will make the green stand out instead of recede. I have deliberately used green carpet with pale yellow walls, but it was a grass green, not avocado. In this case, I would prefer a greenish khaki (not taupe - too pink!) or beige, which will somewhat blend with it. And not too light; the color has to be strong enough to withstand the green light that the floor will reflect. BTW, if the element that you can't change is a pattern rather than a solid, using more of the color that stands out too much is a way to tone it down. The same rented condo had bathroom cabinets clad in laminate in a violent gold pattern (this was against the expanse of avocado green tile), and I found that using a gold shower curtain and towels calmed it, because it made gold a background color rather than the foreground.
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warmer browns, yes (call me crazy-I still like what you have now, more. But then I'm not from here, and I don't have associations many people here have, because they lived with it for a long time, got bored, etc and I also like the contrast with your gold. Deeper shade supports gold better. Even though you can always play with it all of course-accessories, a rug, you name it. You repeat a color, add darker touches-it balances itself. It can be neutral-you can make it work. You just need to make sure it's the right shade of a color. If gold goes-then blue(or rather emerald green) might become out of place. Or might not) Another reason to picture the whole room and its mood in your mind first, then narrow down from there
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I would not do an accent wall. That's trend that's passed, and there is rarely a good reason for one. With that color of carpet I would avoid colored walls. A warm white would be a good choice, which will give you great leeway with color in your decor.
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Dull blue / spice-- if you like blue accents in the area -- lamp, art. Here's nice blue pillow. The navy is 'dressier' ? https://www.etsy.com/listing/757052587/orange-color-decorative-pillow-cover?ref=listing_page_ad_row-4&plkey=192424e063dedf4b1188a089678005ddf8e08e7f%3A757052587&pro=1&variation0=1323779828
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threedgrad
14 years ago
I would have cream walls and add accents of green, more lilac, maybe a rose color.
taliaferro
14 years ago
Lavender paired with gray (try Mouse's Back by Farrow & Ball) is heaven.

Here is a link that might be useful: Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back
User
14 years ago
I'm thinking gray or green. I'm a big green kick right now and am convinced you can pair it with any color. :) Do you like floral fabrics? That's the first thing that comes to mind.

Quality carpet isn't inexpensive to some. Sounds like the carpet is a for sure thing. IMO some paint and accessories are way cheaper than replacing quality carpet. You could find accessories over time at thrift stores and what not. Also sounds like the carpet will be a big improvement since you say the current carpet is old.
threedgrad
14 years ago
A very soft green (not a yellowy green) would be pretty color for the walls too.
sarahdecor
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi,
Thanks for the suggestions. I have owned the home for 2 years and the carpet is at least 12 years old it has paint stains (po was an artist) and some pet stains. I know the new carpet is good quality since the offer is from someone who is in the flooring business. I want to spruce up the space anyway and this would allow my child to play on clean carpet for the cost of installation. We are doing a lot of projects and really could use the monetary savings.
I like the idea of cream since it could work with my floral wallpaper up in the bathroom. I know gray is pretty but I think the natural trim may look off with it. Off to check teh galleries...
lydia1959
14 years ago
I have lilac walls and lilac carpet in the master bedroom. We have black and white toile with black and white furniture with some lilac assessories. The photo doesn't show the colors well.
sarahdecor
Original Author
14 years ago
lydia, what a pretty room. I love toile. The lilac is reading neautral and very pretty. I am leaning towards green but had not thought of toile valance or pillows until now. Thanks
palimpsest
14 years ago
I tend to agree with Patricia about it being a lot of lilac carpet, and we don't really know *how lilac from our end.

However,look at some of the work of Jamie Drake. He uses a lot of lavender, pink, and lilac, and I have seen him do all of these colors in a way that they were the neutral.

While you may want to use green in some way as its natural complement, remember that complementary colors Strengthen each other. Greys, and other lilac and taupey tones would play down the lilac-ness, if you are set on utilizing the carpet.
oceanna
14 years ago
Vanilla is lovely with lilac. But it seems to me I've seen some very dynamic designer rooms that pair lilac with vivid turquoise, or hot pink. Check out the gallery picture threads for the types of rooms you want to do. You'll find plenty of inspiration there.

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