Possible Names: Tudric Pewter TH02, Forde Abbey TH06
Brand: Ralph Lauren
What could such an impossibly beautiful room as this have to do with Color Therapy or a bunch of urban modernists? I had to ask myself the same thing, for indeed I originally wanted to post this picture simply for its prettiness. But there's something very interesting going on here. Look at the color of the wall: it's a plain putty color...
Look closer and you'll notice how perfectly the hue balances out the primary color scheme of the blue chairs, yellow drapes, red floor as well as the gilding and tapestries. The wall color is full, yet it sets back and allows the other elements in the room to come together without overwhelming them.
I've noticed elegant grey colors used in other settings, and they can be absolutely gorgeous; the word grey should not be equated with the color of a garbage dumpster. In many of my columns I've emphasized dark or dramatic colors, but you don't necessarily want them in the whole house. Something like this would be perfect for a quiet space, or as the background for a room with a lot going on in it.
Possible color matches: Ralph Lauren Tudric Pewter TH02, Forde Abbey TH06. See also the Benjamin Moore Classic deck, which has more nuanced neutrals than their Color Preview deck. Photographed at the Palais Lascaris, Nice.
- Mark Chamberlain, interior and decorative painter
(ReEdited from 2006-08-15 - MC)
N.B. Every door in the house was hung this way. Is it because they would then be self-closing? Photographed at the Palais Lascaris, Nice.
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
Is it the color on the wall that is tying the elements of the room together or the abundant ambient light suffusing the room? Based on the gorgeous light pouring in the window, I wonder if it even matters what color the walls are painted.
white walls have their place, but grey and greige are the best to avoid that white box look for small apartments. my hall and kitchen are a putty color, i can't remember the benjamin moore name, white appliances and accessories look clean and fresh against this color. to visit a space with putty walls stop by duane the 20th c furniture gallery on duane street between hudson and greenwich.
Lovely post! The principle of using sort of earthy, neutral tones to offset lively, more saturated colors rarely fails. Designer Lulu de kwiatkowski does this often.
Courtney
I love phlegm colors too. But they have to be used in trick you to love em ways like this. Aren't the French the most wonderful people in the whole world?
You can spell Lulu de kwiatkowski, but you can't capitalize the K? Geez.
The putty color of the walls isn't A color--it's several shades of a color, which makes all the difference, I think. If those walls were unrelentingly even in color, a lot of the room's charm would go right down the drain.
you are absolutly right aulaire, but we're talking concept here not 18th century paint techniques.
I am so conflicted about the color putty, and would greatly appreciate this forum's opinion.
Generally, I LOVE super saturated color, but my BM deco rose dining room is giving me headaches, and I think I need to go with a neutral color - however every neutral I try (shelburne buff, abingdon putty, etc.) looks dingy.
A few facts - the room gets hardly any natural light and is pretty dark, is a decent size with high ceilings, is connected to a Veranda View green living room, and has a huge Louis XVI style armoire that we, for some godforsaken reason, painted BM I've got the Blues, and a heriz rug with tans,chinese blue, and pink. Maybe a warm cream, yellow, or even orange? Help!
i'd go with a cream rather than a putty. you definitely want to avoid greys and taupey browns in a room that gets poor light.
another idea i had was that the problem could be that the other colors you talk about (greens, blues, pinks) want a starker white.
You are absolutely right, Opoponax - all of the taupes/buffs just look drab and depressing. any recommendations on creams that look good in dark rooms? I'm thinking of trying Windham Cream.
I've never thought of a bright white, as I have always found it boring and minimalist (and my decor is uber maximalist), but maybe it would make everything else pop....hmmmm. thanks for the food for thought.
Emily,
I've had good luck in dark rooms with BM Montgomery White. Not too little mary sunshine yellow but not too grey. If it is too pale for you, it might be a good start to take one or two shades darker.
FYI, I use a Satin or Eggshell on the walls it's much more reflective than a flat, which really makes a difference in a dark room. (it's also easier to clean, which is a bonus)
Hope this helps.
Alex
Am I the only one noticing the door (or is it the floor) is way out of alignment?
Devyn - the door is indeed out of alignment. it is an off balance hinge that makes the door close by itself. of course the door is open in this picture, there must be a hook to keep it open. but that is what that is all about, totally done on purpose. I have seen it a a few old houses.
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
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Emily:
BM Atrium white is lovely if you want a really clean, fresh white. It has the tiniest hint of pink in it, so it works where greeny-gray and yellow-y whites won't.
But for a dining room, what about introducing a chair-rail line and going for a two-toned look? You could even pull a tone of the color from the adjoining room for the bottom half.
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We have just painted the interior of our place with Forde Abbey, Picture Gallery Red and some creamy white .... It is a modern box ... LOOKS FANTASTIC!
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The light in Nice is a throbbing fantastic blue that seems to vibrate psychedelically everywhere you go, even when the view of the "wine-dark" Mediterranean is completely blocked by buildings or other things. In the photo, for example, it makes those pale blue chairs positively sing in their golden frames. Could the effect be duplicated elsewhere? Hmm.
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