Good Questions: Suggestions for a NON-Radioactive Green?

Ashley is on a color hunt: I bought a condo with this fantastic master bedroom - large (15*17), french doors to a balcony, a window, light cherry hardwood floors, and a total of 4 doors.

My goal is to paint the walls a fantastic green with everything else black and white. I have a black metal bed frame, black and white curtins, and a 4*4ft 1930s Chicago skyline photo in black and white. I chose an incredibly bold green (can't remember the color) that made me think Homer Simpson had dropped plutonium in my room. I want something bold and unique, but I'd also like to be able to sleep at night without feeling like my walls are radiating.

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
chicago(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

Do people have pictures of what's worked for them? And, could you include color and brand? Thanks in advance!

Please add your suggestions for great greens in the comments below....

Image: Enviroblog

Comments (20)

I'm seriously not a fan of green in the bedroom, but I think I know the look you are going for... part Parrot Green, part Grass Green.

Our dining room is Shamrock from Martha Stewart at Lowes. Its not radioactive, its very Irish. It looks very nice and clean with our white trim and I believe the little colorguide I picked up at Lowe's showed it with a black & white living room.

There are pictures on my blog, but my camera skills are way less than stellar so the pictures look different depending on the time of day, the setting I have the camera on, etc.

We love it. Its very rich and vibrant.

The newest issue of Domino had some really nice greens... though none of them are super bold, I tagged 4 different greens I liked.

Pear Green from Benjamin Moore looks great in natural light ( http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/fall-colors-2008-midwest/midwest-27-matt-robs-happy-compromise-066532 ) but tends to cast quite the radioactive light out into the hallway from my guest bedroom at night. I kinda hated it for the first few months but after switching out the CFL's in there for low wattage incandescents I really like it.

We have Brush Meadow in our kitchen and extending into our dinning area. It is vibrant without being radioactive.

I am just finishing something similar in my office today. The furniture is finished in a dark walnut color (close to black!) and I chose to start with just one wall in Palm Grove by Color Place, and proceed with more if I feel it isn't overwhelming. I don't what qualifies as 'radioactive', but my mission was to avoid something that resembled Ecto-Cooler. It took five different stores until I found the right shade (can't find a link online...), which I then had matched with a better brand of base. Best of luck!

I chose an incredibly bold green (can't remember the color) that made me think Homer Simpson had dropped plutonium in my room.

You can write! Please to start blogging for AT. kthnxbai.

I don't get how that image credit is Enviroblog. Isn't it copyrighted? You're not using it under Fair Use.

I painted my college bedroom green (yellow-toned wood furniture with black, white, and red room accents) and I absolutely adored it. If I could paint in my apartment I would whip out this color again in a heart beat.

I, too, agonized over all the different choices of green, as I wanted something bold but on the warmer side (to make the color of my dorm furniture gold instead of bleargh) but a little darker than your standard bright green. I ended up having the best luck with the Disney Home line of paints Behr paints that they have at Home Depot.

http://disney.go.com/disneyhome/disneypaints.html

The site doesn't really do it justice but the chips matched the final colors I chose to try well. I painted my room "100 Acre Trees" (it was a close running against "Friendly Forest"). It didn't make the room too dark during the day and looked lovely at night, cozy but with warm gold-green tones where the lamplight hit it.

I love the color combination as well!..the Pear...BM..is gorgeous in natural light..true..looks stunning pared with bright white glossy trim and matte black frames...But..it's in my BATHROOM....I had began to do it in my bedroom months ago..too much...redid it super white...but very happy to have that color combo anywhere..it's so beautiful and happy..good luck with whatever you choose...I feel like you are looking for a LIME...or a BRIGHT KELLY GREEN

Plutonium glows blue, actually (look for pictures of nuclear reactor fuel in a spent fuel pool, it's gorgeous).

I painted my bedroom a creamy yellow-green, which probably isn't what you were going for, but it worked well for me. I believe it was Mother Nature, by Behr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9868609@N06/2409388220/ Good luck!

House Beautiful is a great resource for color. Every month, the magazine asks a group of revered designers what their top color picks are (best pink, best color for a front door, etc).

This link asks designers' what theyir favorite green is and why. Hope it helps:
http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/colors/paint-color-greens-0908

I second the recommendation from steph in nj. I have kept that 3 year old issue of Domino for inspiration from that great room. I used Behr paint and went with Grape Leaves, and the effect was very similar. I actually liked that better than the Benjamin Moore Oregano sample! I have a lot of white trim, white doors, and black as well, so I can tell you, it does look great in our bedroom. Don't fear green in your room... I wake up every morning admiring it. I will try and post up a picture when I get home :)

I also LOVED the Nick Olsen story in Domino and vowed to do a room in that gorgeous oregano green in our new place. After looking at that chip and similar greens, I finally settled on Forest Moss from Benjamin Moore. It's a teeny bit lighter but still very rich and vivid without being too jarring. Good luck with the paint search!

We used Happy Camper and Asparagus by Behr in our kitchen and adjoining entryway, respectively. It looks great with the white appliances and floor.

I love fresh olive from Benjamin Moore.

...Plutonium isn't green ;_;

And I'd recommend something, but I'm not a huge fan of green, especially as a wall colour... sorry! But most greens compliment black and white, so whatever you're happy with.