apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Green or Blue

Oh, and as for the windows:
Leave the blinds up - no need to do any more as it appears your room is fairly dark as is. Just paint the trim a cream or grey to contrast with the walls.

Rather than a bright green, how about using a very light moss green on the walls? I might also bring in some butter yellow as an accent color via pillows, flowers, etc. to brighten up the palette. As for the blinds, leave them in place if you need some privacy, but you could soften the austerity with the addition of some linen curtains. I believe Maxwell just posted about some nice linen curtains from Pottery Barn that don't break the bank. Nice space!

What if the walls were painted a neutral color -- a buttery cream or a light, warm gray -- and the window treatment was something a bit bolder? Light, bright green or olive or even a patterned curtain with green or brown accents? I agree that the blinds feel a bit heavy.

I like the idea of using green, but agree that a neutral color would be nice with a real punch of accent with the windows. A gray would be lovely with a really solid mossy type green. Check out the window treatment options at IKEA. They have some really great cheap solutions to shades and windows.

In such a dark room (is it just the day and time the photo was taken, or is it actually short of light?) I am tempted to recommend that you use a full-spectrum paint, whatever the colour you eventually pick. That way, you will maximize the available light, and the walls will not grey- or dim-out on you in low light situations.

My favourite is Donald Kaufman Colors, and personally, I would go with his whites or ivories in your room. Maybe a luminous ivory on the walls, and a bright white on the ceiling. As for the window, if you can find a way to swing it, I would go with a beautifully tailored and sewn fine linen/cotton Roman blind; again, to make the room lighter. Use accessories to bring in other colours and textures.

I would be tempted to leave the blinds just as others have mentioned. Dark wood blinds and a brown leather couch would give the room a sort of "old fashioned club" type of feel that I think is very warm. But then again I prefer that look over more modern rooms.

BlindFINDER.com

Definitely lose the blinds. I like the idea of using long near white or white drapes in a somewhat heavy material. (Like in this post: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/
refresh-the-room-swapping-curtains-051110 ) I love the grommet-style of those and I think they will look nice in this space.

Maybe you could paint in green or blue up to a certain point on the wall, and leave the top part of the wall and the ceiling white? Just a thought...I can't quite visualize it but it might make the room seem taller and keep whatever color you choose from being too overwhelming.

I couldn't get the link to look right, so you'll have to copy and paste!

I love the warm peachy beige in the rug for the walls, if you can get a great tone. Something like Ralph Lauren 'Morning Walk' or 'Pink Sunset'. They are still neutral, but nice and warm - great for a leather couch and dark brown accents and won't shrink or narrow your room. (Colors here: http://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/rlhome/products/paint/items.asp?haid=121&f=lp&start=0 )
I would guess mossy green curtains, but theres so much you can do to play up the bay window and change it up and do a more vintage-library feel with the couch or clean and modern....

try Beacon Hill Damask. It is a great neutral color from the Historical Benjamin Moore line. It is a great standard. a little green a little cream, a touch yellow. It changes in different lights.

have fun.

I think that you should try to brighten the room a little as well as emphasize that great bay window area! I think a light to medium, but bright, blue would work nicely because it would make that nice brown couch and beautiful flooring stand out. If you want something more toned down, go for that soft grey-blue in the carpet. Also, paint that ceiling a bright white, and maybe have it glossy to reflect light and make the place look bigger. You can also play with the trim; you can paint it a nice brown like your couch, or bright white to be fresh and stand out a lot, or be crazy and paint it the green in your rug!

I kind of made an example of how to emphasize the windows using a some sort of desk, or storage bench if you like, that is shaped for that area. Also, accenting the windows with long sheers hanging from one long piece of hardware would look very nice. http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q233/sometiki/?action=view&current=Untitled-1.jpg

A light greyish blue, similar to the tone of green on your carpet. That's what I would do.

I just bought that sofa, how does it hold up?