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Home Decorating

Help with ceiling paint color for cinnamon-colored library/office

9 years ago

I am painting our library/home office/music practice room SW Tassel, which I'd describe as a cinnamon color. There isn't much exposed wall space in the room -- French doors open to the foyer (SW Ecru) on one wall, the wall to the right has a large south-facing window with Pottery Barn Simone panels stacked on one side, the wall opposite the door has tall teak bookcases, and the wall on the right has a built-in counter used as a computer desk with art hug above it.

I painted the ceiling SW Decor White, which looked good . . . until I started on the walls. I struggle with color but I think I need more color on the ceiling -- something that reads creamy or maybe pale gold rather than stark white. Am I right? Suggestions, please?

First photo with overhead can lights on, no flash. There are 2 coats of paint below the ceiling and in the corner shown in the photos, still need to add one more, The center of the space above the bookcases has just one coat from my should-I-quit-it-keep-or-keep-painting pass.

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Comments (23)

bbstx
9 years ago
A good friend has a similarly colored room. Her ceiling is turquoise. It looks fabulous. Perhaps you could pick a turquoise shade out of your curtains.
tibbrix
9 years ago
I too was going to suggest a teal or turquoise.
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Whoa, that's some room! Thanks for posting the additional photo, jqchen... completely changes my initial impression of the room. You say you want to have the whole house painted before moving in, which is practical, but from a decorating point of view, it makes life harder for you. You say you don't have furniture for this room yet. If you choose a color first, you will then have to choose everything else -- rugs, upholstery, furniture, drapes -- based on that color. That approach limits your options so much! "I fell in love with these chairs / this rug / this whatever / but it doesn't go with the wall color..." Is it possible to postpone choosing the wall color for awhile? It's so much more fun shopping for furniture and rugs when you're not constricted by wall color. The painters will always tell you to paint the walls before bringing in furniture -- because it makes life easier FOR THEM. Not for YOU. I gotta ask, what's going on with that ceiling? Is it a chambered ceiling? A tray? Are there other windows? LOOOOOVE THE ROOM, by the way. Are you keeping the wall-to-wall carpeting?
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So my husband agreed and decided on Gauntlet Gray for the cabinets. I want to paint that triangular wall above the cabinets also the Gauntlet Gray so we have one whole wall of this dark color. The painter and I convinced my husband to paint the ceiling, baseboard, and window trim, plus back of the glass French doors white. The designer says all dark gray trim, but the baseboards are skimpy for these large rooms and high ceilings. I know I’ve hurt my hubby’s feelings because he was set on all gray trim for re-sale. We are trying to tell him that he is seeing what builders are doing in model homes and the painter is telling him what he paints the most which is what customers are asking for. Now, what to put on the walls with the SW Gauntlet Gray? The designer says Accessible beige. And he wants to put Agreeable Gray throughout the house, with Accessible beige in the first floor master and tiny dining room. I’m struggling with these two color tones, Accessible beige and Agreeable Gray. The center is the cabinet color. I’ve never seen it or sampled it. Scares me but painter and designer say it’s a great color. Bottom left little sample is SW Accessible beige. The one above it is BM Edgecomb Gray, the little center strip is BM pale oak. And the far right is SW Agreeable Gray.
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frogtalk358
Original Author
9 years ago
Photo with natural daylight (overcast day) and flash.

Don't worry, the wall color doesn't look nearly as orange without the flash. IRL it's similar to the dark gold in the Simone fabric.
palimpsest
9 years ago
A paler version of the blue in that fabric would be great.
frogtalk358
Original Author
9 years ago
bbstx and Tibbrix, teal or turquoise probably would look amazing but I'm not nearly that brave. Even if I was, the ceiling is knockdown textured, which I'm not going to change. Not the kind of ceiling I want to call that much attention to.
Annie Deighnaugh
9 years ago
I was going to suggest a lighter version of the blue in your fabric... sky blue... as well. I think you'd be surprised that it doesn't draw more, but less attention to the ceiling when it is 'furnished' with color.
schoolhouse_gw
9 years ago
I vote for the (very) creamy white. The blue or turquoise would be different and exciting, but one may tire of it after awhile.
Annie Deighnaugh
9 years ago
I don't think I'd tire of a blue ceiling any faster than I tire of a blue sky.
amykath
9 years ago
Wow, yes to the turquoise! How fun!
bossyvossy
9 years ago
Another vote for pale turquoise, ever paler than post above would b fantastic.
lilylore
9 years ago
I agree with what other suggest; a pale, dusty blue would be great.
Bunny
9 years ago
The blue looks utterly fantastic. The cinnamon is an assertive color and I think the blue stands up to it and calms it way down. With your fabric, it's awesome. I have some white ceilings and they look stark even next to ivory walls.
tibbrix
9 years ago
BM Windy Sky (1639)
tibbrix
9 years ago
SW Really Teal
tibbrix
9 years ago
SW Nifty Turquoise
tibbrix
9 years ago
SW Hubbard Squash
tibbrix
9 years ago
SW Weathervane
Olychick
9 years ago
I think the white looks fine (the color it is now). The walls reflect on it and soften the white effect.
sprout26
9 years ago
Someone here once recommended painting a pale blue on all ceilings, I've slowly integrated this as rooms have needed painting...LOVE it! It's subtle, people don't notice, but I do. (and can't remember who, but if "you" are reading, thank you!)
Karenseb
9 years ago
I like the white or the Hubbard squash. I like the idea of a creamy white.
Honu3421
9 years ago
I was all over the turquoise posted by Annie until I saw the Hubbard Squash which I like much better but to me it's still too much of a perfect match to the yellow in your (beautiful) curtain fabric. I would look at going one shade lighter than the squash. Of course this is my first post on the HD forum and I am no designer. So take my comments with that in mind. Going back to lurking mode now. ;)
frogtalk358
Original Author
9 years ago
OK, it took me a while to get up the nerve to try color on the ceiling then to test samples. Hubbard Squash was too peachy. I didn't try turquoises/teals because those don't fit with the rest of my house or the rug that will go in the office (cream, rust, navy, and olive). That left sky blues. After several samples and time spent lying on the floor looking at sample boards propped on top of the bookcase, I ended up using SW Open Air. Here's a photo of the work in progress. The blue looks a little more violet in the photo than in person. I'll post another photo after the room is all together but I like the blue ceiling better than the off white. Thanks!
Annie Deighnaugh
9 years ago
Nice! That first stroke of paint is always the toughest!

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