- Name:
- Daryl
- Location:
- Alexandria, VA
- Division:
- Light
- Inspiration for my palette:
- Necessity is the best inspiration. It's not a large house, so the living room has to be used for relaxation, entertainment, and even work-from-home -- and every room in the house has to accommodate some of the thousands of books. And although I can admire a dramatic room design, I don't wish to try to live with one. I wanted a restful, meditative background that was not boring; I needed a space where every surface serves some purpose or other. I love the look of layered neutrals -- cream, gray, soft green, tan, woody browns -- and the foyer, living room, dining room, and kitchen are all visible as you come in the front door, in a sort of enfilade. The obvious solution was to choose an overall neutral palette, then emphasize one of its colors for each room. I used mostly tans and browns in the living room. Copper tones as accents throughout also help bring the rooms together: in the living room, copper urns and trays and a copper-colored cotton throw.
- Colors used in my room
- Walls: Bleeker Beige (HC-80) from Benjamin Moore. Fireplace and bookshelves: The Right White from Restoration Hardware. Windows and crown molding: Litchfield Gray (HC-78) from Benjamin Moore. Plus: deep wood tones, natural fibers, natural stone.
- Tips for using color successfully
- My method for choosing a color: Gather a lot of paint chips that you like. In the room you are deciding about, shuffle them all together like a deck of cards. Pull out two. Which one looks better? Discard the losing chip. Take another chip from the deck. Which one looks better? Discard the losing chip. Make this an unbreakable rule: NEVER LOOK AT THE DISCARD PILE. Continue until the deck is exhausted.
- Palette
- Natural Neutrals
Categories:
Style,
Main,
2012,
Room for Color
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sophisticated!
Oh Daryl!! Just love this room - looks so comfy and inviting!
Especially love the copper accents!
This one has some of my favorite elements--layered neutrals with lots of natural texture. Nice.
yay for alexandria, esp all the books
Although our furniture is different, this room looks so much like my living room, including the wall color! Needless to say, I think it's a fine choice. :-)
I really like this room--very comfy looking. Would you mind sharing where you got the sofa?
Jerrie
Books! Love this!
What I wouldn't do for a bookcase like that one day...
Interesting tip on choosing your color. I do the same thing. :)
Oh! Books! Books! A house with books and a homeowner who is not hidding them! And is not grouping them by colours nor is covering them with paper! Books being books and a lot of them.
What a welcoming room, love the different textures.
We bought the sofa at Restoration Hardware about twelve years ago -- back before all their furniture became like hulking hippopotamuses. It's no longer available, sorry to say.
I'm with you as my home is smaller too so one has to make good use of space with multi-function in mind. I also much prefer to live in a space that is restful and meditative and I think that you've achieved this. This is not only sophisticated, but warm and inviting as well. I love the bookshelves, textures, and layering. I love the copper accents and have a few of them too, but they are not always so easy to find. I like the art above the door--it looks like carved wood and wonder where you found that? I also like the throw and wonder the source?
I find myself going back and forth between loving the white to appreciating the warmth of wood tones and probably some darker tones in this space, but you've mixed them nicely here. I also love looking a dramatic color and spaces, but time and again I always return to soothing neutrals. They are not boring when they are layered as you've done here. This is my favorite and thanks for the inspiration.
I like your cozy, inviting vibe, and all the books - and I LOVE your method of choosing paint colors. That made me laugh out loud, but it's pretty genius. In the first picture, my initial reaction was "too crowded" - the furniture seems to big and too close together for the space, and there are so many layers. I liked the other angles on the room more - and I'm still favoriting (not a work, I know) your home!