Color Advice for New Condo? Good Questions

Q: I just moved from NYC to Nashville and hope to be able to move into our new condo next week. I want to paint the place soon, before I start work. However, I'm a little stymied about how to address the lack of clear division between spaces. I've typically lived in brownstone apartments, so even between open spaces there were always moldings to separate areas...

I also like to use colors that are fairly bright (or at least not too neutral) to offset my mostly brown and white big pieces, so I don't want to paint the living, kitchen and hallways the same color. I'm also concerned because the flooring changes from hardwood to terrazzo in the middle of one "hallway" wall opposite the kitchen. How and where can I draw the line between these areas? Should I install molding, or give up and try to find a color that isn't boring or overwhelming in large doses? Thanks for any assistance you can provide...

Sent by G

Editor: G- we actually like the grey we see in the photos. With the brick wall and the hardwood floors, your white and brown furniture may pop more than you expect- a bright color might just overwhelm the space. It may be better to wait to paint until you actually see your stuff in the room (though we know painting an empty space is so much easier).

Readers, what do you recommend? Please share your advice in the comments below to help G set up a great new space!

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Comments (7)

this is beautiful! i love the concrete floors and exposed brick. i live in nashville, do you mind telling me what building this is?

With all due respect, what an insulting question you pose, Peter Knockstead. Not everyone wants to live in the big city (speaking as someone who has always done so). I apologize for straying off topic.

Now, back on topic. Are the walls gray right now? I quite like this color, but I think the blank wall in the second image could be painted a feature color. I also think your furniture colors will dictate your wall colors, especially if you have some bright colored pieces. Do you?

definitely definitely definitely make sure to check out the actual store of Lampstore.com across from the Green Hills Mall, with the black and white checkered parking lot!

I'd like to see a giant yellow couch in there to make the brick pop. I think that would be awesome. Then go white with yellow accents for your rug.

I agree with the others about the grey. I think the best way to pop the room would be with large scale artwork, lamps, pillows, etc. As for dividing the space, I think furniture arrangement and area rugs are going to be your best bet. Would you consider some sort of an island (maybe with barstools) to help deliniate the kitchen? Love those cabinets, by the way.

With brown and white furniture, and the exposed brick wall, and staying away from neutrals if possible...

I would go with a fire engine red around the walls of the wood floor area, and pale blue for the kitchen and hallway walls.

Or if you are not into that combo, try a dark cobalt or navy blue on the walls of the brick wall/wood floor area, and for the kitchen a golden mustard or sunny yellow.

With this combo the hall colour could possibly be the same as the kitchen, white, or a patterned wallpaper. Or reverse the hall and kitchen colours. (I think you could do wallpaper in the kitchen. It's the space above the cabinets and behind the fridge as far as I can tell, so you wouldn't have to worry about sink splashes or grease splatters.)

Whichever colours you choose I would treat the wall that bridges the two floor types with a single colour, either the kitchen colour or as a hallway colour and carry it all the way down.

And I wouldn't install molding.

I would love to see after photos, what a fabulous space!