NEW house help! How can I update/ modernize paint with Brown carpet
6 years ago
I desperately want to brighten up our living room and add more of a modern/updated look by repainting the ceiling and walls. Both of which are a sandy brown color. My dilemma is we do not want to buy new carpet- as it is new and nice. But also brown. We have lots and lots of trim, which is an off white. I REALLY want to avoid painting the trim as there is so much of it throughout our house.
I am considering going with a grey-beige like Sherman Williams “Agreeable Grey” but wondering if that is a complete design “no no” because of the trim and carpet colors.
We are also adding stone to our fireplace that would incorporate greys whites and tans. Please help!
I am considering going with a grey-beige like Sherman Williams “Agreeable Grey” but wondering if that is a complete design “no no” because of the trim and carpet colors.
We are also adding stone to our fireplace that would incorporate greys whites and tans. Please help!
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6 years agoRelated Discussions
How Can I Get My 1970s House more modern??
Comments (18)decoenthusiaste The door is steel by I want to replace it completely because it is very drafty and load of cold come in the house in the winter so we could go anything here. Do your top panels snap out for windows? You mean the garage? It will be nice, they dont right now but it is an idea I could keep for the future and replace the door. The fence is already there I'll add some pictures. It frames the back yard and its been weathered wood since 2005 :/ The tree is a crab apple, you are right that I need to change the landscaping, it is something I haven't thought about yet (so many things!) I loved those pictures with the day lilies the do very well in our climate, diverse the bed a little with different types of flowers. I will trim the tree and take it off the ground for sure. Thank you so much for all the ideas!! And these are the color I was considering to stain the fence: Which one do you like?...See MoreStucco home to modern cottage update help?
Comments (9)Move in with all your furniture. Place it where you think it works best and post photos for us. Since paint colors should be based on fabrics and textiles, you should bring those in before consulting us on color. You should also live in the house for a year and analyze how it functions (or doesn't) for you. Then you'll have a starting point. And before selecting any paint colors, be sure to upgrade your lighting to 4000K LEDs so you get a true daylight feeling. That will help you to accurately select colors based on the true colors that are there now, and colors shouldn't look much different night or day. Meanwhile, start an ideabook or two here on Houzz that illustrates the looks you like (whether cottage, farmhouse, or something else entirely.) You'll soon start seeing threads that tie together your style preferences, and you 'll have a better sense of where you're heading with changing your gorgeous house. You may even find that it suits you better than you originally thought, and that could save you some money!...See MoreHow can I modernize our new home?
Comments (21)The shutters are too small, so either update them to proper shutters or remove them. The cedar shingles will hopefully look MUCH brighter once power washed. Then I would have to find a way to condition them, I am not a fan of 'weathered' cedar silver look. The 'modern' FAD is to paint everything the same color, shakes, brick; paint it all. That gives you a maintenance nightmare FOR THE REST OF THE HOMES LIFE. Right now it is "maintenance free" meaning no painting--if you like the shakes that is. When you replace the windows, will you make any of them larger? I would say this home needs larger windows pretty much in every spot. The front door has a country detail that I don't think flows and the garage door appears to be newer and really BRIGHT next to the rest of the home. Pick one trim color. I see green on the windows/window box and white on the garage/porch/soffits. White all around might help lessen the start garage door. The window boxes may be a challenge. My DH is dead set against them. How is the siding holding up behind them? The brackets they are hung with on the brick in particular might not be easily ignore once the boxes are off. They are a quaint IDEA but the reality of keeping the watered and freshened makes them a lot of work....See Morehow can I update this house?
Comments (11)I’m pretty sure those brown wood pieces are on the surface and can be removed. You may opt to keep some of the more substantial vertical pieces such as the ones in the corners and maybe the horizontal band that intersects the window all the way on the right of the house. Once the diagonal pieces and the skinny/skimpy pieces are removed, that horizontal band may look quite modern. Have somebody remove the skimpy pieces and eye it up before making a decision on the more substantial pieces. Also, for the window trim, the bottom part of the vertical trim that extends beyond the bottom of the horizontal window sill trim can be removed (by trimming with a multitool or similar) without removing the remaining trim from the house. This trim can then be painted a color to compliment the rest of the wall. Lose the brown/beige color palette. It’s very 1970’s and it’s dating the house. If the top half of the house is stucco, then you should definitely just paint it instead of covering it with vinyl. Your inspo pic looks like a high end house, and generally speaking, high end houses will use real wood or other expensive materials and not vinyl, which is one of the least expensive materials you could choose. Why cover expensive stucco with inexpensive vinyl? Especially when stucco has get potential to look very modern? I agree with another poster concerning your inspo photo. I think your house has the potential to look much better than that house with a little facelift....See MoreRelated Professionals
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6 years ago- 6 years ago
Here's a classic Houzz article about whites and other colors that go with wood. Think of your carpeting as a wood color. You also have to take into account your honey floors and cabinets. Here are some recommended neutrals when you have wood tones:
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/11-terrific-paint-color-matches-for-wood-details-stsetivw-vs~9025200
I'm not a fan of any of those gray/brown combos because the tone is too often the same. But if you must, get a pale gray that goes with the honey tones of your floors and cabinets. Camel furnishings with warm gold pillows and accents could work.
Selkirk - Traditional Elegance · More Info
Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. · More Info 
PRO6 years ago- 6 years ago
PRO6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoI think Agreeable gray by SW will work great. It is gray but warm and brown family.
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- PRO6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
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- PRO6 years agoThanks everyone! I really appreciate the feedback. I am considering doing a warm white for walls and ceiling. I love the modern farm house look. I want to believe with the brown carpet & hardwoods and cream trim it will all balance. Hoping it won’t be too stark or blah. Here’s my inspiration:
- PRO6 years agoI have painted SW West Highland white on Left and Alabaster Right side. The look the same lol. We have our furniture in- which is all brown too lol.
- PRO6 years agoMaybe just painting the ceiling and accent wall with a warm white instead of the entire space?
- 6 years ago
PRO6 years agolast modified: 6 years agofor sure paint the ceiling white. just use the white base straight out of the can. don't have it tinted! use a flat, ceiling white. painting the ceiling will have a huge impact on the reflective quality.
if doing white on the walls, it's really going to make the trim look dingy. I'd redo all the trim (do a little at a time) and the ceiling, and reevaluate the wall color. if you still think it's too dark, try BM Pale Oak
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