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Perfect Colors to Create a Beachy Feel?
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Jenny1small.jpg Q: Please help! We have tried so many different paint samples but are having trouble finding the colors to paint our new house. We wanted a light blue with a little green in the living room and are open to anything in the kitchen. We want a comfortable modern beachy feel to the house. Please help us pick the perfect paint colors!

Sent by Jenny

 
 

Editor: Jenny- your place already has a light and airy feel which helps with the beach theme. In terms of color, we love BM Palladian Blue because it can look blue, grey, or green depending on the room and the light. You might find the following posts provide some color inspiration:

Do any readers have specific color suggestions for Jenny?

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Comments (9)

Yellow and white stripes also have a nice beachy feeling.

posted by ladymantle on October 22nd 2009 at 6:55pm
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SW Rainwashed is a beautiful blue-green. I have it in my bedroom and bath, and it's a really nice, "just-enough" color but still pretty pale. I wouldn't put that color in your kitchen because the blue accents in there are so cool (i.e., not greenish) that it might make that paint look really green. Instead use a warm taupe, not too dark. It will evoke that sand and water feeling. A few sisal or jute throw rugs, colored glass accents, and some bare wood will add to that effect as well. Good luck!

posted by farmhousemoderne on October 22nd 2009 at 7:00pm
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I used Kelly Moore's " Dreamy Space" in my sunny living room with "Diamond White" trim. It's a beautiful light blue that fits my beachy decor perfectly and generates lots of compliments.

posted by sfgirl on October 22nd 2009 at 7:05pm
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I live at the beach, in a very light and airy apartment. Our walls are painted the exact colour of sand -the whitish Cancun kind, not the brownish kind- and we love it. Very light and airy, with turquoise/gree/blue accents. To me, that is beachy. But I suppose it depends which type of beach you have in mind.

posted by mjr on October 22nd 2009 at 7:34pm
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What a beautiful space! I was raised around gray, rainy beaches, but I've also seen white sands and clear, clean, deep turquoise waters. When you think "beaches," do you think "watery" colors or deep ones? The blue in your kitchen looks bold, at least in the pictures. Your cabinets already look like driftwood. Perfect.

posted by smellofsawdust on October 22nd 2009 at 7:47pm
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Maybe this will inspire you, Young House Love does before and afters and mood boards with specific colors and accessories named and they have a beachy feel.

http://www.younghouselove.com/photo-gallery-2/

posted by desertacacia on October 22nd 2009 at 8:26pm
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White walls, faded blue and white textiles, sisal rugs. It always works.

posted by Lisa (Montreal) on October 22nd 2009 at 9:12pm
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I think of the colors of beach glass when I picture a beach house palette..

posted by neutopian on October 22nd 2009 at 11:13pm
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Jenny, I know you said light blue but you might consider navy blue & bright white... I stayed in beautiful beach home a few years back that combined navy, teal, gray and white with lots of wicker & sisal accents and it was beautiful! Very clean & modern. Look at Ralph Lauren's palette here: http://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/rlhome/products/paint/items.asp?haid=83

Good luck!

posted by mrsjonessoapbox on October 23rd 2009 at 9:19am
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