Wood is brown, right?

Have you ever worn a black or dark grey outfit with a brown scarf or brown shoes?

if you are going to paint the walls dark the
molding should be contrasting . i like a
strong opposite color like white. otherwise,
the room will feel like a dungeon.

the drama is in the opposite color
spectrum.

be brave and doing something brave.

I actually abhor black with brown and even charcoal with brown is iffy in my book.

I say take a page out of the photo above, and if you're looking for a dark moody color, try a dark plum or even a dark terra cotta. This way the dark molding will complement, and it won't be as if you're trying to hide it.

I am not liking the black or charcoal with the dark brown molding either. How about a dark teal blue/green with the dark brown molding? Or a dark sage green. Terra cotta would also be a nice contrast. Would love to see pictures of whatever color you decide.

mettlerinteriors--

I think going dark with the molding in a dark room *is* the brave thing to do, since people have been doing high-contrast moldings for ages, in the most traditional interiors.

One person's "dungeon" is another's "cozy cave."

This is your home. Though others may abhor black and brown, or dark colors when combined, go with your instict. It is only paint. If dark gray doesn't work, paint over it with a navy, or an aubergine, which will always work with darker woods.

I have been to many museums painted with the color combination you have described and with proper lighting could go from looking dreary and Gothic to looking completely sophisticated and upscale. Also, I have seen a master bedroom in a very modern urban home with brown and black as the main colors throughout the space, with some bright white details and it worked. Or there is Phillipe Starck's restaurant "BON", which is all dark on dark with brass fittings, a gorgeous example of darkness.
Go for it, and work in some metallic or bright colored accents to brighten it up. Black walls, brown panelling, bright detailed frames and furniture. Could be spectacular!

I think dark paint with dark molding could look gorgeous. But the molding should be impeccable and really special, otherwise it could look just ugly. I would use a dark color that contrasts with the color of the molding, like charcoal or deep indigo with brown molding. For balance, I would use bright white linens, judicious hints of gold, eg, in framed art, and some natural materials like woven baskets.

I think this is totally possible, and could look really, really good. Like another person said, it's only paint, so if you decide you don't like it you can always go over it again with a different color. I don't know about black, but charcoal could look good and eggplant potentially even better.

I want to see pictures!

I think it sounds smashing! Go for it. Black or charcoal with dark brown sounds like a wonderfully warm and rich combo to me.

i love dark, dramatic dining rooms. i say go for it, but paint the molding or stain it super dark, and don't forget to paint the ceiling.

Anything can be made to work. The really critical factor will be whether you are willing to do whatever else is necessary in the room to achieve the look you want. If your wall colour and trim colour are both quite dark, is an overall sombre effect one you will enjoy? If it looks as if the room will need a white or bright carpet, is that practical for your lifestyle? Do you want the furniture to stand out or to recede? Where are the focal points and what are the accents in your design? Going with a more conventional paint scheme might make such questions easier to answer, but choosing an unconventional scheme might also make the answers more interesting.

I moved into a 100-yr old craftsman with dark brown stained woodwork and HATED the contrast with the "neutral" offwhite walls - so I painted them with Farrow & Balls "Black Blue" and it is fabulous! Everyone walks in and loves it. We have lots of windows so it doesn't seem dark (even on the dreariest days here in Seattle) and at night, because the walls are blue and the finish VERY flat, the walls just disappear. I say go for it!

I actually agree with patrick the other one. why should we all take for granted that moldings should contrast with the wall color in order to create drama? I also like the suggestion of dark plum or navy, even more brave than grey or black. besides, a room is not just the wall and molding color. I would suggest to add some metallic or crystal touches in order to break that "dungeon" feeling and add mystery and class. by the way I would like to apologize for any grammar mistakes (because I see many grammar-sensitive comments) but I'm not a native speaker....

Dark navy, I saw a bedroom in a Victorian done like that and it was amazing. I hate white or very light molding with a deep color. It ruins the effect.

And yes, paint the ceiling dark too.

It could be very striking. Choose a black or charcoal that has warm undertones. Try it on one wall first, then if you like it go for it.

We've got dark mahogany trim too, and painted our dining room a flat charcoal (Pratt & Lambert's Tobacco). It looks beautiful against the high gloss trim! Cozy, amazing at candlelight, and, in my opinion, more interesting than the generic sense of needing white trim with dark colors.

i think dark walls (i vote dark eggplant, navy, or charcoal) with dark brown molding topped with a glossy ceiling & gold/crystal accents could be a showstopper! i've actually been dreaming of a dark aubergine bedroom...

glossy ceilings:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/painting-fixing-repair/going-glossy-on-the-ceiling-117718

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/good-questions/good-questions-glossy-reflective-ceilings-070804

I say, do it!

Obviously, you have a vision in your head. You know exactly how you want your room to look--you're just looking for validation. But you don't need it. Be bold! You'll either fail miserably (in which case, you'll repaint), or you'll achieve (decorating) greatness. Don't you just love when people do the unexpected?

(Plus, I actually think it could look really beautiful. Google for examples.)

dark with dark - sounds great! go for it! :)

When we moved into our house (about eighty years old, with the original dark brown oak woodwork through the living and dining rooms), the dining room was painted a deep purpley maroon. It looked absolutely horrible. The beautiful woodwork was completely invisible against the maroon paint, which clashed with the red/brown wood tones. We couldn't wait to paint over that mess (and I don't even want to tell you how many layers of primer and paint it took to cover semi-gloss maroon!)

I bet it could look really great if you picked the right paint colors, but it sure wasn't successful in my house.

I agree with everyone else, though! You have a vision. Get some paint samples, do some test patches, find the color combo that works for you, and go for that dramatic charcoal wall!

I'm picturing a dark, deep, peacock-y blue - could be amazing! However, I would have lots of white in the room too (like in the photo above). Then it will feel crisp and not gloomy.

Wow, thanks everyone for the input. It's so helpful.
I will definitely try some swatches of charcoal but if that doesn't work out I love the idea of a deep peacock-y blue.

I'll return with photos when the room is complete for sure.

kim

Kim,
I too say go for it. I am in agreement with 'faadc's' ideas of a dark eggplant or navy. Both of those colors can appear like charcoal in a different light. I also love the idea of a glossy ceiling as well. A must.
Can't wait to see the after photos.

Here is a link to an image of the room in question:</A>

kim

Oh, and I should clarify, any furniture/fixtures in there are totally temporary. And we will unpack the boxes... someday. ; )

kim