Anna over at Door Sixteen has recently moved and is loving her new apartment. One thing she's not digging — all the dingy renter's-white walls and orange-toned trim. While she's waiting to prove herself to the landlord before asking for permission to change the trim, for now she's repainted the bedroom, and it looks leaps-and-bounds better.
"I knew I wanted to use a dark charcoal gray with a little blue in it, and after spending a while looking at paint chips in natural and artificial light, I went with a color I've had in the back of my mind for a long while: Benjamin Moore Deep Space (matte finish). I really like how soft it looks, and that it reads as a true charcoal in daylight. It's definitely not black, but it doesn't go green or brown or anything, either. It's just right."
As Anna notes, the dark charcoal compliments all the wood much better than the original wall color. She also plans to paint the remaining walls and ceiling her favorite white, Benjamin Moore Moonlight White. Next up? Getting around to all the stained wood in the apartment. Eventually she'd like to paint it, but for now she'll repair the damaged areas of wood with Restor-A-Finish.
To learn more about Anna's bedroom paint project, and her thoughts on painting a rental, check it out on her blog Door Sixteen.
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(Images: Door Sixteen)
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A. Bit too dark for my taste, but hey if she loves it....
I love it. It's the perfect color and really makes those floors stand out.
I think it's a beautiful color. Good job.
I like it (though would be cool to see at night so you can see the skyline)....great view btw
I'm liking these dark blue rooms paired with the warm hues of the wood floors and doors.
Yay Anna! I love the paint color and how it was used. I actually like the wood stained, just not that stain with a glossy poly. If the wood were all stained a walnut brown with a matte finish it would be beautiful. Paint is a lot easier though. No matter what she does I'm sure it will turn out perfect.
beautiful, now I'm looking around wondering what I can paint Deep Space. I agree, it would be a treat to see a night-time 'after' pic, that view looks so great.
Oh man... please don't touch the wood (especially as a renter). Otherwise, the paint definitely wins as an easy renter's solution.
I like it, but it's hardly renter-friendly. Landlords usually freak out when you choose a dark color like that because it is so hard and expensive to paint back to white.
She should address the white ceiling before even considering painting the trim (which I don't think a renter should do.)
She should address the white ceiling before even considering painting the trim (which I don't think a renter should do.)
THAT'S how you balance orange-y wood tones! I wish more people would consider options like this before painting existing wood & trim.
Having said that though, maybe her trim is really beat up and she has the landlord's permission to paint it. Not going to hate on her choices when I don't know all the details.
THAT'S how you balance orange-y wood tones! I wish more people would consider options like this before painting existing wood & trim.
Having said that though, maybe her trim is really beat up and she has the landlord's permission to paint it. Not going to hate on her choices when I don't know all the details.
i'd feel like i was in a cave :(
I agree aart.
@Her Majesty's Wombat: did you read the article? Because there it gives you all the information. She didn't paint the trim. She would like to paint the trim, but she will wait for her landlord to get to know her as a good renter and then asking him if she might have his permission to paint the trim.
Personally I don't like the after any more than the before. But well done on finding a landlord to let you do this! And the paint job looks decent and well thought out, so you might end up getting to paint that trim after all. But one word of advice....don't paint it if you have to strip and re-stain it before moving out. Not worth the hassle for someplace that isn't even yours.
I think it's too dark. I think I prefer the before picture.
Lot of commenters leaving advice about renting and painting as if Anna isn't an extremely popular blogger who has not only rented in NYC for years but also owns a 100+ year old house that she is lovingly restoring. If you guys haven't looked around Door 16, you should!
What an interesting room! I love those closet doors.
Looks like there's a gorgeous skylight too, so it wouldn't be too horribly cave like.
Exactly what I was thinking.
Love the after! It really compliments the wood trim and doors. Glad I read the article because I thought paint color was blue.