Here’s one for the archives and search engines: “What color should I paint my loft? I don’t want bright white and I hate Linen.” Try one of these…
ColorTherapy: What To Paint a Big Loft Other Than White
This is a loft up in Harlem. It’s new construction so the surfaces are in good shape, and there aren’t any of those Victorian-era window casings to interfere with our Modernism. The palette is fairly monochrome, so we chose assorted off-whites to tone the walls, with a black accent wall in the bedroom.
The first thing you’ll notice is that the walls in the main room don’t feel dark at all--they’re barely even a color, we’ve just warmed them up a bit. When you have this much wall and that much light, the color spreads out pretty quickly (unless it is black). It’s only when you look up at the ceiling that you’ll really notice the difference.
The living room here is Atlantic Winter TH-01, a warm grey. The main bedroom is White Ice OC-58, and the second bedroom is Soft Chamois OC-13. In general, I would prefer soft pearly gray tones like these instead of beige or yellowish off white. I’ve also painted Cove Point WW-29 and Tudric Pewter TH-02 in downtown lofts and even painted a loft bedroom in dark, purpley Claret TH-54. If anyone has pictures of unusual colors in lofts, please post.
- Mark Chamberlain, interior and decorative painter
Comments (9)
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i'm TOTALLY biased. i would paint an accent wall orange. my hallway is orange. i would marry orange.
view *heather leaf*'s profile
heather leaf... i was just about to say that. That wall is a perfect wall for an accent color like orange. Or maybe even lime green if you like green.
view mva1201's profile
We had great success with Edgecomb Gray (HC-173) in our LVR/dining room/stairs/hall/loft area (they all share walls). This picture doesn't show the full perspective, but you can see how warm and soft the gray is.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/macshah/2869630671/in/set-72157607375661773?edited=1
view heathshah's profile
burnt orange! lovely place!
view meso's profile
If you would prefer a warm grey also check out Benjamin Moore's "Wish" (get a sample pot...it looks totally different on the wall than on the tiny sample card) it's low VOC and very calming and rich yet neutral so it can easily take an accent color.
view fischbowl's profile
If you really like the un-fussy-ness of white, but don't like white, go neutrals. Soft dove greys, taupes, light tans - all can mix togther and give you something other than white to look at - without being overpowering or a 'statement'
view Modfan's profile
a calming neutral: beachwalk by ralph lauren.
i also love orange, but had a tough time finding one that hit the right note. finally mixed one, which started out as seville oranges, from ben moore.
view maude's profile
Great space! I would paint that one wall in the living room where your sofa faces Benj. Moore Gentlemans Grey, its a rich gorgous deep deep blue grey, it would look great with pale greys and taupes.
view LoriSF's profile
I love BM HC169. It is a dove gray that softens with the light, and I have used it with white and black accents.
view Team Decor's profile