MCM home needs help mixing wood tones after hurricane harvey...

5 years ago

We took almost 3 feet of black water with hurricane Harvey in August. We've had to, fight the City of Houston to get permitting and prove my childhood home isn't "substantially damaged", and had concrete flooring poured that was a very, very expensive fiasco and broken pipes under my foundation and what it's like living in a hotel for 8 months and how one of my contractors turned out to be a conman and was actually squatting in my home with a woman at night, boarding up the windows with sheetrock and doing drugs and most all of our money is gone.

I'm buiding the house back up from nothing, chosing door knobs and hinges, electrical plates and recepticals, etc. You name it. It's a flat roof mid-century modern 1956 home (that I grew up in). My concrete floor is industrial-like and grey. The walls and trim and everything but ceilings in SW Repose Gray. We bought hubby's dream appliances in orange from the Big Chill pro line. I need warmth though. I would love a butcher block countertop, but can't afford it now, so we'll probably go with formica, in a wood tone. I like a color called "Amber Cherry".

I'm also going to stain my news doors as they were originally. But I'm getting very conflicted with woodtones. For example, I have to buy 4 ceiling fans. The one in the main room that is open to the kitchen, I'd like to have stainless or silver elements and woodtone blades. However, most of the combinations of fans, that meet my other criteria of LED lighting with 3000k, a dimmer or wall control, a 52" size, etc. MOST everything I see the only lighter shade wood tones come with oil-rubbed bronze motor or base. The silver motors or bases come with dark walnut blades. I'm going to have this wood-look 110" bar right there... and my dining table that I just purchased used, is 1960 teak - so I'd like to stay with medium tones throughout the house.

I'm afraid I'm just not thinking straight anymore. I had just let go of not matching my handbag to my shoes ( :)) and now I guess I just need to buy what I like, stain whatever color I like, etc. etc. and pray it doesn't look like a mis-matched mess? I have a good eye and have some knowledge of basic design, but mixing woodtones is really throwing me. Any advice or encouragment would be appreciated. Lori in Houston

Featured Answer

justcallmepool

5 years ago

Have you looked at IKEA for butcher block counters? and anything else really. We've had IKEA kitchen for over 8 years and it still looks great. And we added an IKEA closet a few years ago.

Where are you looking for fans? Most I've seen recently have blades with light wood on one side and dark on the other.

Comments (6)

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
5 years ago
Lori, I have no advice to give, but was so shocked at your story and outraged at this horrible person who took advantage of your dire situation. I hope everything works out in the end, but I'm terribly sorry for what you're going through. We think we have problems until confronted by your nightmare scenario. I wish you all the best. Take care.
talkstoself thanked ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
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talkstoself
Original Author
5 years ago
Jmarch, I've looked everywhere, Minka, Casablanca, Craftmade, Emerson, Modern Fan Co. at All Modern, Lumens, Lighting Direct, Wayfair, Lowes, Lamps Plus, etc.

I think they pair the silver or nickel with the dark wallnut and the lighter woods with the oil rubbed bronze, for contrast.

What do you all think about having walnut blades close to a light oak butcher block counter, or light Maple stained doors with dark walnut or dark toned anything?
talkstoself
Original Author
5 years ago
Ingrid, thank you. There have been so many complications, my husband was scheduled for double knee replacement surgery on August 29th, the hurricane was August 27th. He wasn't even able to get into the rescue canoe and wound up contracting staff infection from the water. We can't reschedule the surgery until we have a clean home to return to so he can heal.
justcallmepool
5 years ago
I think mixing wood tones looks good. But that's just my personal opinion and I'm not decorator.

I am in Houston though and I feel for you. I have several friends who also had massive flooding. Another place I thought of, is the Habitat Humanity ReStore. They may have fans, used and new, like what you want. Also, I've heard they are offering assistance to flood victims. They have all kinds of building materials and supplies, used and new. There's one on the South Loop near 45 and a NW/Cypress location at Jones & Perry I think.
lascatx
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
There is also a ReStore on 242 E of 45 outside The Woodlands and another in Conroe. There may be more. Sounds like you are on the SW side -- maybe near the Meyerland area? I grew up not far from there.

Look for the size and finish fan you need, then buy LED bulbs and dimmers for them. When Harvey hit, I was helping my sister ready her former home for a post-divorce sale. We installed 8 fans and 5 of them were Hunter nickel or stainless finish with with wood blades (I think the blades were reversible with a midtone and a dark wood finish) bought at Lowe's. Hers were something like this

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hunter-Waldon-5-Minute-Fan-52-in-Brushed-Nickel-Indoor-Downrod-Or-Close-Mount-Ceiling-Fan-with-Light-Kit/4332172

but this one might be more in keeping with your MCM and it comes with a remote.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kichler-52-in-Nickel-Indoor-Downrod-Mount-Ceiling-Fan-with-Light-Kit-and-Remote/999919012. Sorry I couldn't get the links to work, but hope that helps.

I think medium to dark wood tones would look good with a grey floor and walls. I would avoid going too light and you can certainly mix wood tones, though most pIeople go within a light to medium range or medium to dark range or use different tones in different rooms. Formica or IKEA butcher block sound like a great way to get the most bang for your buck, though I will mention that we did the kids' bathrooms with prefab granite and 8-10 foot lengths started around $150-200. If you just have straight runs and are happy with a rolled edge, that can work.

MCM home needs help mixing wood tones after hurricane harvey...

justcallmepool

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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9

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