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Paint Home Decorating Design Dilemma

Gray paint to go with shades of old gold and navy?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

My room has been a horrible shade of blood red for the last 5 years, and a change is well overdue! To give a bit of an overview, I have various vintage and antique pieces in my room (furniture, lighting, etc), and I'm shooting neutral walls, with bold accents; bedding is navy tufted velvet, curtains are gold dupioni, gold chandelier, predominanty red (w/ blues, creams, etc) oriental rug. My furniture is all dark wood, with some red undertones (bed is cherry, dressers are walnut).

So far I've found a few warmer grays (SW Intellectual Gray and Mega Greige, BM Pashmina,...) that I like in theory, but I'm not sure if they will work with my colour scheme. I don't want anything too light, because I really like the dark and moody baroque style, but I really have no idea what kind of undertones will work with my existing furniture and decor. Any suggestions?

Featured Answer

miss lindsey (She/Her)

7 years ago

Is your heart absolutely set on grey? I think a light muted gold that is a similar shade to your drapes would be fabulous.

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Comments (7)

Sylvia Gordon
7 years ago
Sounds beautiful! Except maybe that blood red... if you could post some pictures, it would really help everyone to Grass what you have and what you want.
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I don't have pics to share of the bedroom yet but imagine EK Pumice (which is actually a light grey-green-tan, pretty exactly) with golden strandwoven bamboo flooring. And walnut cabinetry, and similarly-toned brown fabric headboard. Nickel and frosted glass light fixtures. The drapes and the bed fabrics, in shades of gold and very light grey-green (I also have some bluish-grey sheets that look *so great* against the green-grey duvet and brown headboard...you wouldn't expect it, but they all kind of glow when they're next to each other) make it all work together. Here is a link that might be useful: something similar...yellows and grays on AT
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What furnishings and their colors will go in the space? What Lighting will be in the space. I realize you are under construction, but will you have recessed lighting? Under cabinet lighting? Pendants, etc. That floor tone will suck up color and with your covered porches that will greatly diminish natural light. I would consider BM Oxford White walls. It is a great white and will bring nice contrast without messing with more grays. You need sample boards that you take to the construction site and see what they do in what light you do have. I assume you are at least framed and closed in?
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Stop and take a bunch of deep cleansing breaths. Don't make any hasty decisions about fixes, please! If you have any drop cloths on the floors, pick them up. Put down your rugs, set up your furniture, hang the drapes. This may all sound counterintuitive because you'll need to put that stuff back if you have to repaint anything. But if you don't have the regular elements of your house in place you are not seeing the color the way it is going to look on a daily basis. Next, take a bunch more deep breaths. Nothing is unfixable; it will be okay. It may not get fixed in time for your family gatherings, but that will be okay, too. In fact, if you can possibly not say anything about your dissatisfaction with the paint it's entirely possible nobody else will notice. (I know it would be really hard not to say anything, but if you could pull that off nobody would be the wiser. Show them all the features you love about your house and they will hardly even notice the walls.) I'm not the person to give you the advice you need for how to fix this if it needs fixing. I think the experts here are going to want more pictures to be able to advise you. My completely amateur take from the small amount of info I can get from your pics is that the accent wall may be the source of the problem. But I'll defer to those who know way more than me and can explain what you can do with lighting and paint to fix things. Again...it will be okay! Focus on the good and what you love about your house and how it's going to be a great place to live for the coming years.
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Yes yes, I remember when you first started posting about those shelves! Can the shelves go on the wall(s) across from them? on each side of the doorway or whatever that is. Did you understand what I was saying about switching the walls? I think the shelves would block less of the DR table set if they were on the wall across from them. But then the cabinet needs to move to the opposite wall also unless it looks good having everything on the left side. My guess is the pros will say it feels too heavy like that though. just a thought! but I would try it hehe ;)
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PRO
Beth H. :
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
You want us to suggest paint colors, from thousands of grays, without seeing your room?? Really? If you're not sure they will work with your color scheme, and you're there to see it, how are we supposed to know? without pictures, all we can do is guess.
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Nicole
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Here is a picture of a rough mood board I've put together to give an idea of what I have/want to work with...

Lindsey,

I'm fairly set on gray. As much as I love the way light rooms look, and I have considered it, I keep finding myself drawn to darker colours. That is gorgeous though.

Beth,

My current room is red, with off white accents, and a little gold. None of my new purchases (bedding, curtains, chandelier) are currently in there, so pictures would only help a little. I've never decorated with neutrals, so I mostly just need suggestions for mid toned warm gray paints that would work with navy and gold, to give me a starting point as I'm having a hard time with undertones.
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PRO
Beth H. :
7 years ago
ok, well at least you have a picture of something to go off of.

here are some warmer toned grays

beautiful choices you've picked.

i'll post some blue colors in case you want to try those
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Nicole thanked Beth H. :
miss lindsey (She/Her)
7 years ago
I love the look you're going for! Very beautiful.

All I will say is, it can't hurt to colour match the drapes you choose and make a sample board of it. No harm done and who knows, you may love it! ;)
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Nicole thanked miss lindsey (She/Her)
PRO
Flo Mangan
7 years ago
If I were you, I would wait to get some of the bedding and furniture before selecting paint color. A neutral might not be the best choice especially if you are drawn to darker tones. BM Van Deusen Blue is great color, but if you are going to do a dark blue duvet or comforter, then you might not want more blue. So, these elements all have to play well together. Loads of neutrals out there. If you just want neutral pick anyone of the warm grays. But a great chandelier against that neutral wall color won't be as dramatic as if the wall was a deeper color. So, think through everything before you choose a wall color. Do some sample boards of a variety of colors and see what works best with your chandelier and bedding. Those are your main features.
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