apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Sarah, I like your color choices. For your accent wall, I would choose the wall the sofa is facing; it seems to be the focus of the room. I can see there is something decorative going on with the walls, molding or perhaps they are recessed? Instead of doing an accent wall, I would use those decorative elements to my advantage. I would choose a grayed shade of turquoise, nothing too bright, and paint that in the insets in the walls. I wouldn't go too high contrast, or it will look cartoonish.

Painting one wall a different color is a very modern, West Coast look; best for prefab, boxy rooms. Work with what you have!

I live in Astoria and have very similar molding in my apt. I notice that you painted the molding in the bedroom the same color as the walls. I know it's a pain, but it's SO worth it to paint the molding a glossy white or some other color than the wall. It makes your room look so elegant and really highlights this detail we're so lucky to have.

I painted my LR twice (I get bored fast). The first time, I painted Behr's Soft Muslin, which is a very pale pink, almost off-white. It made the room very warm and rosy without being frilly or overly feminine. The second time, I used Benjamin Moore's Icing on the Cake, which made my room look larger and airier.

I'd say it depends on what kind of light you get when those curtains are open. If your room is dark, get a slightly more saturated shade in a warm tone to brighten things up.

Greer's correct that an accent wall is going to look odd with 1920s molding. Intense colors are also a tough mix with that wall style unless you're really on board for making a skilled avant-garde statement -- something like JV's color suggestions are what was originally intended to work with that kind of wall.

Because your bedroom's natural light is coming from the living room, your living room color will change how your bedroom color looks. So if you love the bedroom color as is, that's a strong argument for sticking to off-white in the living room and bringing in your more intense color through accessories (and/or using it in the kitchen).

I have similar moulding and would love to paint them a 'pop' colour but it seems like major hassle for all the intricate taping required. Another idea is to paint the outside of them one colour and the inside of the boxes your contrast colour (maybe not all of them. Perhaps there is one you plan to hang art or pictures in?).

If you can handle the taping though, then go for it, its a very classy look.

These days there are lots of modern furniture pieces that have that kind of shape to them, especially West Elm, etc.

So, I think that if you used any one of those shades of blue that you're considering everywhere in that room (but maybe leave out the grey), but then popped out those moldings with an espresso colored dark brown it might resonate with that particular flavor of modern. You could, then supplement that with some of that kind of wall hangings, especially the sort of shelf-like cubby cube things to hang within the confines of those moldings.

Think about it!

What about a pale shade of gray for the walls in the LR, then paint the molding in both rooms (and the ceilings) the same shade of cream or white? (Make sure it's a shade that matches the colors you have chosen.) If you have a ceiling medallion, you could paint that turquoise.

On the other hand, these colors and the classic look of the walls don't seem to bear much relation to your modern black leather couch and electronics.

When choosing colors for walls, I have always had good luck picking out a color that's already in my furnishings (a lamp shade or dish or chair or whatever) and the picking a paler, more neutral shade of it for the wall.

Maybe you are right to stick to plain gray (and white) in the living room. Goes with the black furniture. I would not introduce turquoise in a wall. Try a pillow or throw instead -- and red would probably work better than turquoise, considering the black leather and electronics. You might also add in a nubby gray throw to warm things up and connect with the color on the walls.