It was really bright and cheery before. :( But still an awesome house nonetheless.

I too like the 'before' better with all the molding showing..that's more of my taste. beautiful house btw.

though i prefer the before, i like both. i do love the high gloss ceiling. that is an incredible entrance and staircase that you have. i'd be wallpapering the shit out of those walls, myself :)

Beautiful entryway! I do like the before better as it showed out the architectural details so well :)

liked it better before. Gray can be warm, but it looks cave-like...it actually looked more open before.

I think it's fabulous and dramatic!

I, too, prefer the before. Perhaps it's the photography or the time of day. I do like the high-gloss ceiling, but I think I would prefer it in the original mint color.

It's so dark and gloomy now with all the grey - Had the ceiling and the chair rails been left glossy white, I don't think it would be so oppressive...

And the center table blocks the flow through that great entranceway - and that stuff hanging from cuphooks in the ceiling - so overdone w/ those great braches on display.

The curtains on the landing appear cheap - like anything you could get at IKEA - and the Sputnik chandelier in the upper hall is just out-of-place in a traditional home.

I'm no a fan of mint green and tea-stained chintz - but the "before" was at least brighter and more inviting.

The after did not make me say WOW...I like the new wall color...the shiny ceilings are very weird. I don't get why they chose to ignore the panel and molding on the stairway...that wall is very bland now.

I'd love to see more of this home.... The glimpses of rooms we can see past the foyer are very intriguing... House tour, please?

"A challenge was the low ceiling in the entrance area. To make it feel higher I decided to use a full gloss finish to add a sense of height."

I think painting it dark gray has exactly the effect of making it seem even lower.

But maybe the full effect has to be experienced in person. Even in the photos, the gray looks vastly different on the first and second floors.

I like the grey better than the light green - I think it looks more elegant and sophisticated for such a grand entryway. But I wouldn't personally have obscured the chair railing - it added punctuation to the architectural details. I could envision it in black or dark brown instead of white if the concern was about chopping up the walls too much. To make the ceiling seem taller, a darker shade of grey might have worked to that effect too.

I think it looks awesome! This is a place I would love to live in, great job!

It was bland and tired before. It's cool now. It might look even better if... the floor was shinier, and the molding opposite the bannister was black, and the drapes were hung behind crown molding (and all the way to the left /right corners). More mirrors, too.

Wait... what's with the new chandelier? It should be really BIG.

before>after

reiterating heather77's comment, I think the lighting/time of day might have a bit to do with the after pictures. I like before better, but neither seem like the optimal use of the space.

The I don't find the after particularly inviting, or dramatic. The beautiful architectural detail has been lost. I do like the shiny ceiling, but only because it is interesting...I do not think it achieves what it is intended to do, which is open the space. The space was lovely and open before.

I loved the before so much! The after is striking, but a little too moody for me.

I agree. The dark ceiling closes in the space. Definitely cave like. It was so bright & happy before!

Making the walls and ceiling the same shade, and ignoring the chair rail, visually expands the space. Less contrast = less choppiness. But I would have gone with a lighter shade overall, and would have put in a pendant light similar to the original.

The style feels imposed on the house, not an organic part of it.

Getting rid of the runner on the stairs was a great idea! I must admit I'm partial to the "before" paint and the light-colored molding. Bright, airy, and cheery!

I love the color just not in this house. The entrance is "Grand" but the color seems to take away from that.
I hate to post such a negative comment but it is such a beautiful entry I think a perhaps a lighter shade of grey and painting the molding white (?) may have been a better a choice.

Sorry for the bandwagon routine here, but I also prefer the before look. I think maybe it is mostly the ceiling's fault but it feels much too close and dark.

Sorry for the errors in my comment btw.

Glossy ceiling = :(

I like the high gloss ceiling, and while I do think that the grey is more modern, given these photos, I do think it seems too dark. It needs something to make the space more vibrant. I think it would have been more successful if there had been pops of a bright color in large elements like the chest of drawers and the curtains.

Lord, how can anyone prefer that mint green before. Thank you for painting! (Although, admittedly, I would have left the moulding alone. But you can always repaint that.)

I far prefer the After, I think this was beautifully done. However I wasn't immediately sure when I looked at that very first After shot- it was only after seeing the others which include your furniture and lovely arrangements. That very first shot reveals a spot that still asks for something- perhaps a kick of color via artwork or another table at the base of the stairs. Anyways I think it looks wonderful. I feel your modern tastes are well integrated into the house and it appears to me you were respectful of the traditional molding and details when you painted.

The after is flat and boring. I find it neither warm nor inviting, as it was in the before pictures. Needs some colour accents to bring back the warmth.

I think the lighting in the photography is exaggerating how much darker it looks in some of the shots. I did prefer the brighter, lighter feel in the "before" but the minty green was not good. The new colors are really cool. I totally agree about the molding, though. I'd love to see it with those sections an off-white or super light gray.

I like the before better, too. Gray is okay, but this looks like living inside a storm cloud. I expect Frankenstein's monster to come trundling down that grand staircase at any minute.

The lighting is so different in the first 2 photos that it looks like you also replaced the floor!

I like the glossy ceiling:-)

I like the grey much more than the green. The green was a little dated and I can see why you wanted to paint. And it is a beautiful traditional house with a great entryway. But I think the ceiling and stairway molding should have been painted the same as the other trim. That would have kept the architectural details alive, I think.

Let me preface this by saying I *heart* gray. I just painted a room in my house a warm light gray. I gravitate toward neutrals in the gray family.

But.

I went from before to after and I fell flat. It looks so dark .... though the high gloss ceiling, while making it look too low, is a fabulously daring move!

Oh, and I'm mourning the chair rail. Sad day.

I like the after much, much better but the white trim/white pieces, they seem too white, especially since this is a taupey gray.

I love, love, love gray, but it does seem like the high gloss ceiling is closing in on you. I went back a couple of times to the before to make sure that it wasn't an optical illusion. It could be the photography; sometimes these things are best in person.

One of those times where I have to go with BEFORE. Looks nice AFTER but to dark.

I usually love both gray and glossy ceilings, but in this case it makes the foyer look dark and oppressive in comparison to the lofty feel of the "before" pictures. Works well on the upper levels, though. Maybe a lighter shade for the entryway? Gorgeous house.

Alas.

While I agree it needed work, the end result of the staircase is way too dark and foreboding to be considered pleasant. The architectural details are totally lost now. A coordinating shade on the upper wall would have been nice. Maybe a pale sky blue or a muted lilac? The upstairs landing is definitely improved, but that's mostly thanks to the starkness of the black and white curtains.

I don't like the 'before' minty green, but the lighter tone works better than the dark gray.

I love that Michael is trying to modernize his very traditional home (the painted wainscotting, the modernist chrome and glass light fixture upstairs), but think that very dark grey isn't working. Maybe lighten it up a bit?

Love the gloss idea on the ceiling and it looks fabulous! (but still too dark, sorry)

Oh look!

Despite the same intent as other folks who dislike this redo, my orignal comment's been removed - How nice!

The after pictures look like Pleasantville (the movie) before the transformation.

It's the ceiling. The dark color, despite its gloss, makes the room look much shorter. I actually wanted to duck when I saw the "after" photo. I think the homeowner is on the right track with the gloss, though. If the chair rail on the stairs and the ceiling were done in the same gloss white as the other details, this room would really open up again.

I'm going to have to agree with everyone who thought the before was much better. There's too much grey and it lost that welcoming touch. Maybe the wainscoting should've been a different tone.
Although, what I see in #5, 6 & 9 is cool.

This is a gorgeous home, no question. There is just too much gray. The only place I like it is in the last shot when you can see the turquoise room in the background. Otherwise the whole effect is too masculine and dull...looks like a Pottery Barn location.

I think the after look is gorgeous! It's more calm and mature. The after look also has a more luxurious look! Good work!

Why isn't the AFTER pic taken at the same angle and same lighting? I can't tell a thing about the change because of the other pics. I loved the orginal but can't get any feel for the upgrade. Editors: can you make providing before and after photos using similar angle and lighting (whenever possible), a necessity when submitting pics? Srsly...

At the risk of sounding like a complete Grinch, I think the color gray is going to hit it's peak soon. It really is the color du jour right now! Although it can work in almost any situation if you find the right shade, I would not use it to "invite" people into my house.

Wow! I think you made a great choice with your paint. Beautiful.

Poor color choice, way too dark and forbidding. Usually I like these colors but not in that space.

You choked the life out of it.

okay, Apartment Therapy is officially just for rich mansion-dwellers now. I LOVE Farrow & Ball paint, but that stuff is freaking expensive!! And that foyer is as big as my studio!

I kinda like the after, the colors are gorgeous (except for that ceiling! My goodness that thing seems to be two feet of the ground with that color), and it really fits your furniture and style obviously. Nothing wrong with the before though, but I guess that isn't the point of this point. Nice job overall!

(Now, can we post some stuff relevant to the small apartment dwellers who read these posts again? thanks AT)

*point of this post

Gorgeous house and I love the work you did. I think it looks amazing both ways and the important thing is that you made it more "you"!

I think it looks amazing both ways and the important thing is that you made it more "you"!

Reading between the lines I suspect that Michael is the designer, not the resident.

Personally I think it's a little too glam for the architecture, but there are some interesting ideas, such as the gold chain sculpture.

I appreciate the change from the minty green, but I don't love the after. It's very gloomy, and I think painting the ceiling and lower walls was just too much. I'm with those who miss the architectural details and open feel of that foyer.

"The style feels imposed on the house, not an organic part of it."

This, exactly. Such great raw ingredients, and fine to take it a step away from the traditional look, but this is just a misstep. You have the buck. Redo it and send us another pic.

I agree with the majority here, I much prefer the "before" space over the "after". The "before" space is bright, cheerful and welcoming, unfortunately the gray painted space is dark and oppressive despite the white paint on the stair spindles, doors, crown moulding and baseboards. Woodwork of this vintage and quality should always be highlighted with a contrasting color, therefore all of the woodwork should have been painted white, rather than some white and some gray.

Using gray or any dark color in a space with limited natural light usually makes the space dark. Although using the gloss version of the color on the ceiling is a great idea for increasing light transmission, the only time the effect appears noticeable is when the front door is open. Effective use of this gray requires installation of a lot more high wattage lighting to support the color.

no no no.. Too dark! I loved that green color before! Now its just too manly and heavy for the architecture.

command+z

Nice modern approach, but it is too dark! Lighten up the ceiling... Paint it light blue or lavender!

I don't know--I love the new, rather gothic drama, seems more sophisticated than the pretty but predictable 'before.' O can see the 'too dark, moody' fears--but I still like it.

This is an contemporary traditional look, I love that you took a deviation from the expected and I love the results! I'm sure all your guests are very impressed. Kudos to you! As another AT'er commented would love to see the rest of your rooms!

It think it is too cave like as well. Painting the ceiling a much lighter color and lightening the molding up the staircase would look much better. As it is I like the before pic much better if a bit too traditional.

Agreeing with most of the commenters here, painting over the chair rail and other molding details is a travesty. Also, the secret to making a space feel taller is to NOT draw attention to the ceiling, or to focus that attention on one element. Making not only the first floor, but the second floor foyer ceiling darker and highly glossy does the opposite of that. I do like the gray walls and white trim look though, and removing the old light blocking curtains did a world of good.

Sad times. The before was much better in my opinion, BUT as long as you are comfortable and enjoy the space... Who cares what anyone else thinks?! :]

The first "after" picture seemed far worst than the before. But looking at the other ones I like to after much more. (love the chain falling like water above the table)

BUT, I would have highlighted the baseboard by using some of that shiny paint from the ceiling. It seems to be the exact same paint color, and just painting the bottom part shiny would've kept the room a bit truer to it's bones.

Sorry i meant to say chair rail, not baseboard... :)

House tour! House tour! House tour!

True, the entry foyer is darker, but this is such an improvement over the safe cookie cutter colors in the before. Bravo for breaking out some real drama for a space that warrants it!

Now if I can only figure out how to add such drama to my narrow 1880's Victorian entry hall that's so tight two people have to turn sideways to pass each other.

I love what you have done through the simple use of paint and changing out the decor. It looks like an entirely differnet house. Before it looked worn,old and dated. Where now it looks fresh, clean and modern. I think the ceilings should be grey but can go a bit lighter than the walls, still with the gloss.to create a sence of openes. otherwise i love it. I would totaly live there. I'm an interior designer if it counts for anything. great job!!!!!

I have to agree with the majority of commentators; I am afraid that it just doesn't seem to work well.

There are a couple of reasons why -- the colour and shade of grey used, although a historic shade from Farrow & Ball, are not being used in the way and place for they were intended (I seriously doubt this colour was intended for entrance halls), and further, the grey is not being matched with an ideal contrast for the trim. That spanking bright white contrasts uncomfortably with the grey, and deadens its complexity.

Look at how well the grey works with the gold of the sputnik light, the gold of the mirror and the golden tones of the botanical prints... Golden tones work well because they pick up some of the browns of the F&B grey.

What also doesn't work is the attempt to "modernize" a traditional revival style (looks like a traditional American take on British country manor style) with Hollywood Regency, which is a tongue-in-cheek take on bad '60s and '70s style. When done right, it is cheeky and ironic, and more classy than the rather ostentatious and tacky original. But here, the the glaring white door trim and glaring white painted-out traditional hall table and '70s sideboard, combined with the black trimmed zebra rug, aqua dining room walls and accents, along with the painted-out wall trim... well, it all falls flat to me. Feels too faux, and like it tries too hard.

It is decorating insouciance and attempted wit that just falls flat...

I have an image in my head of an earily similar hall in a real English country mansion that was painted the most fascinating shade of dark green, and finished with rough sisal floors similar botanical prints and a bold chandelier. I am no traditionalist, but that interior (sorry, no electronic link) has an irony, wit, passion and drama that this lacks. Sorry, but IMHO this is just the wrong thing to do to this particular house... it makes it a design statement instead of a home...

Alas and alack! I'm sorry to chime in: SO much better before. You might be able to salvage this with light gray on, say, the chair railing and ceiling--something to open it back up. The gloss is just a misstep. I feel choked. So sorry. And look, if you love it, then ignore us all. But I don't think it's having the effect on your (virtual) visitors that you'd like!

I adore the grey, and the fresher white with it is fabulous! Too bad about the chair rail, which is an important part of the staircase. By painting it grey you show disrespect for the history of the place.

Hold up... "fresh and modern"?

This is a joke, right?

Clearly we need to have a come-to-jesus meeting about this current, affected "desaturation is fabulous" trend: It's gone a little off the deep end.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Certainly grey can be elegant. But the combination of darkness and pure soul-sucking desaturation you have going on everywhere doesn't look elegant. It doesn't look modern. And "fresh"??? It looks perfectly lifeless. It looks like there should be cobwebs growing in the corners and a layer of dust covering everything. It's simply, bad: Depressing, uninteresting, soulless. "Elegant" isn't even part of the equation here.

The worst thing about it is, this certainly isn't even what you actually like, but rather a trend that you think is "hot"... Which only makes you look foolish for turning your nice house from a place that's actually inviting, interesting and attractive, vivacious, and where people are happy to be-- to an appalling, ridiculous affectation. This redo makes you look to others as you'd look if you suddenly started speaking with an English accent--badly.

The existing style wasn't bad--not exactly my thing, and I could sympathize if you wanted to change it. But come on... Well, you're the one who has to live there. Best wishes to you. If this house actually remains this way for 5 years I'll reimburse all your decorating costs for this makeover.

To end on a positive note, the high-gloss on the ceiling is actually a really interesting effect. I'm happy to have seen that and would be interested in finding other examples of that.

One clarification on what I wrote above, so you see where I'm coming from.

i'm all for courageous. But it has to be remembered that most people don't go for courageous because there is risk involved. The risk might well pay off--or it might be disaster if you don't know what you're doing. You've happened on the latter.

My critique above has nothing to do with attacking modernism, cleanness, monochrome, or "courage"--rather, my critique is completely on the basis of what you have specifically done in this house. Again, doesn't work.

I flipping love everything about the "after" and I am so j-e-a-l-o-u-s that you can paint. Rent fail. :(

You are right, the before was lovely, but about ten years out of date. The new paint is so sexy and amazing, and cozy all at the same time. Well done!