apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

chocolate brown on accent wall = yummy. love your shower curtain! where's it from?

Yummy on an accent wall, perhaps, but bilious and nausea-inducing with that green floor.

I like your all-white bathroom. It would be difficult to pain an accent wall without taking into account the color of the floor. Furthermore, because your sink and medicine cabinet are at an angle in the corner, it would be very awkward to paint those two walls different colors. Perhaps some towels with a black pattern on a white field coordinating with the shower curtain or green towels coordinating with the floor would be a nice touch.

Black, white, and green go together well, but the pink does not seem to go well in this scheme.

Yes! Absolutely! Devine Paint makes a low VOC (and now a VOC free) chocolate brown appropriately called "Cocoa" that looks great.


http://www.devinecolor.com

Here's how it looks in a room that is well lit. There's a taupe color (Devine "Filbert") on the adjoining wall. It looks great (I think) with black accents placed on the wall.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7878321@N03/500132490/

i LOVE chocolate brown paint! but .. um... you sure you want to use that specific color in the loo... if you get my meaning? surely, there's another color folks could suggest to make high impact to go with the color of your floor. How about a really intense peach? I know that sounds tame but maybe there's a peachy/orangy color that could work. Good luck! Please post what you end up with!

Definitely go with a chocolate brown - we used Lowes' home brand and a shade called "Fudge Truffle". We absolutely love the impact of the rich color.

White really pops against the brown and your floor will probably fade into the background. We did all our walls in that brown but used white on our ceiling so it won't feel so enclosed. We also build a frame for the mirror and used a glossy white paint, it really stands out against the wall.

Here is a picture of what we did: Half Bath with chocolate walls

The first thing I thought of when I looked at that floor is how much nicer it might look if you actually tried to work with it, instead of sort of ignoring it design-wise and wishing it would go away. What about painting the wall(s) a lighter sort of sagey green color? I think that would make it seem much more airey and light and spacious than a dark brown.

I don't think you can ignore the green floor (and it's another dark plane), and if you are willing to go dark brown I'm betting you aren't afraid of color....SOOOOOO...my solution would be a citrus/parakeet/chartreuse kind of green. It will play nicely with the other white walls, it's a good accent and it will keep the space open and airy.

GO FOR IT!!!!!

I recently did exactly what you're pondering, and I hated it (and my bathroom floor complimented the color too). A deep brown color just was NOT right for the bathroom (see *heather leaf*'s comments above. It was a nice paint job, but still looked, well, like you-know-what on the wall. I ended up painting the wall a deep burgandy red color, and it's MUCH better.

My vote is for a sage green. It will draw out the color of your floor in a positive light. If you keep the trim and cabinet white and throw some off-white rugs on the floor, everything will tie together nicely.

You also might want to do something with flor tiles, or some other kind of cover, to lose the green.

i agree with the sage green color.

Actually now that I think of it, I did use some chocolate brown (Devine "Cooa") in a small bathroom.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7878321@N03/500235781/

I say paint the wall black, switch your black frames to white frames, then switch all your pink accents to marigold yellow accents.

I'd also add a larger plant or two in black/white graphic print pots to tie in the green a bit more. I would suggest painting the built in corner unit black too, as an extension of the wall, but not the little middle nook area, leave it white. And maybe upholster the seat of the stool in black/white striped fabric.

OK that's my 2cents, now back to work for me!!

I'd stay lighter than chocolate - more into the caramel range, i.e. a warm sand that might even work well with the veiny-ness in the floor tiles. Also liked the sage green suggestion a lot, and the idea of working with the floor rather than against it. I bet with a good cleaning and a couple coats of some high-gloss wax, that floor would look very cool and retro. Good luck, and whatever you do, have fun!

I'm with Moxie and those who follow...a pale or sage green will work with the floor instead of against it. Green, black and white is very crisp and fresh. Good luck!

I was thinking green also -- but I was thinking more in the spring green family or even greenish-turquoise. I think chocolate brown with that floor will be too dark and forest-y for the bathroom. Crisp white towels & a nice big fluffy rug will complement nicely.

I like the idea of introducing a dark, contrasting color like brown in, but I think if you take it all the way up the wall, you might risk it feeling very tight in there, since the opposite wall is so close. What about doing a faux-wainscotting by painting the lower half of the wall(s) brown, and running a nice wide piece of trim across the middle to divide it from the white?

And check with your landlord on getting rid of/covering over that vinyl floor - I just did an area about that size with less than $30 worth of press-n-stick vinyl squares and it was worth every penny. And so easy.

i feel like those picture frames will blend too much into the paint color if you painted it chocolate brown.

I'd go with the chocolate, but perhaps on a different wall? I'm just thinking that the existing brown picture frames would pick up and continue the brown color through the room, and besides, they pop nicely against the white wall, no?

what about those floor tiles that are removable? like one's in bamboo? they would be a nice brownish/ natural tone- then you can paint whatever.

I also LOVE chocolate brown, but also feel it might be wrong for the bathroom--gross associations and your floow color considered. If you want bold, how about losing the pink towels and going with a bright orange, like this?

http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2007/03/30/i-need-to-borrow-your-expertise-for-a-moment/

I love the pink, and think it goes really well with the floor. I'm afraid that the brown would ruin what's already working for you. So I would either paint the one wall a bright pink to go with the towels or a lighter brighter green that would go with the towels and floor.

I know brown usually ties colors together, but here, I think it would just confuse them. Unless of course, you change the color of your towels...

I painted my bathroom chocolate brown last year, and honestly I've never gotten so many comments on any design scheme of my apartment. And they were not good. See above....but I guess chocolate brown in a bathroom is just not a good combo for people. Once the connection was pointed out I started to hate it too and painted it back to white.

I actually like the floor, and I'd do the sage green with off-white accents.

boomer - I could KISS you!! I think I FINALLY (3 years of hemming and hawing!) found my living room wall color in that link you provided!!!!

oh i agree with Angie...and I think Brown in this space is maybe not a good idea...I actually like the bathroom...could you do some peel and stick tile on top of that floor?...there has to be some non-permanent flooring solution...

oceandreamer...um, thanks. ;-> Which color?

Keep it white. Put down sisal to cover the floor. It's already a really cool bathroom. Good luck.

What a cool bathroom. Honey, the mistake folks make is painting a color that reflects yuck on the face and body. When you are at that mirror, or your guest is they want to look good. In places where a nice hue on the face is an asset I would stick to colors that reflect a nice color on the skin. Pink, test that hot pink honey b/4 you paint a whole wall in it. Rich reds work, pinks work, certain yellows or gold work. Cold blue, greens make people look ghastly. I see these trendy green walls everywhere and people look like shit. Also, dark hues can make the bathroom that was big feel cramped. Get a piece of cardboard that is large, paint it white, then paint your test color on it and live with it through the various times of the day. It sounds anal but it is worth the hassle.

From the comments I skimmed over I agree with a peachy kind of color. Definitely not brown. The space is small and with that dark floor, brown is not the way to go.

Can I just offer my chocolate brown experience? Be sure to test the color before committing to the paint--I think that especially dark paints the chip can be very deceptive. In my case, I have a wall that is painted dark purple/grey.

The only way to know if you like it is to just do it.

Paint the wall brown! Or any other color ytou think you might like!

Live with it for a while.

Then if you don't like it, paint it some other color.

It's only paint! :->

As for the floor, put down a neutral color rug. Sisal would work.

If you want to go for glam (which I would do), put in a gold color Arga rug (so named because they're made in Agra, India since the 16th century). Then add a chandelier instead of that boring ceiling fixture.

This would rock that space :
http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/chandeliers/Style_Contemporary/page_9/17570/

Or a cottage look:

http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/chandeliers/Style_Country-@-Cottage/47388/


Here's an example of a rug with an Agra pattern on the border and a bright neutral middle. This one is about 3x5 so it'll fit in there easily, and it's synthetic olefin so it'll stand up to moisture and you can toss it in the washing machine without hurting it, and it's only 30 bucks on clearance :

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=109378&RN=820

Oh, and your landlord won't care about the change in the ceiling fixture as long as you put the original back when you move. I always changed fixtures when I was renting. It's super easy, and a nice inexpensive way to make a place more "yours".

The rules regarding bathroom colors: Paint the whole room, including the ceiling the same color. Chocolate represents crap. Greens make the skin tone look sick. Bring some color chips home and leave them spread thruout the room for a few days or a week. Edit out the losers. you will eventually find the right color for your room. Consider any other changes you may be making( shower curtain, lighting, etc) Work with the floor. It is important. The room is great. Your finished product will be terrific.

Dude, grow up. Brown only "represents crap" if you want it to. Good grief.

boomer - the color is Devine "Filbert". My living/dining areas and kitchen are all pretty much open, and I'd fallen for a Dutch Boy color called "Wicker Chair" that I put on the dining area wall. The kitchen is a green which needs to be changed as it's not the right green, but I'd been dithering about the living area - hesitant to bring in a third color. I've been looking at the tans/beiges/taupes but couldn't find the right one. I have to see who might sell this brand/color in my area, and get a color card to be sure, but this really looks like what I've been looking for. Thanks again!!

Paulmuscat, there are hardly any steadfast rules about anything, let along rules dictating painting your entire bathroom, ceiling included, ANY color. Plenty of bathrooms look just great with pink walls and a white ceiling, or any other combinations.

down with accent walls.

Oceandreamer - check out Devine "Olive". It's a light almost greyish green. I painted my den that color (there's a picture of it on my Flicker page).

By the way, you can order paint from the Devine website. I'm not sure how much shipping is, but UPS ground shouldn't be too bad.

They have little "pouches" that you can order for $4 that have enough paint to do at least a 3x3 piece of wall with.

And you can get their color cards for $2 each (an 8x10 card painted with real Devine paint).

Once you have the card any paint store with a scanner can match the color for you, if you don't want to go to the hassle of shipping paint cans via UPS. :->

If you do order Devine, you most likely want the "Delicate Wall" finish.

Thanks for all the info. I hope Tori got as much out of this discussion as I did!

Hey Tori.
I rest my case regarding painting the entire walls and ceiling here. You have the height to do it. I have seen small, tall rooms done this way and it's stunning. Talk to some experts regarding the "feel" of using dark brown, or soft green in a bathroom. Color is very psychological and should be site specific. Good luck. Enjoy researching it and putting all the elements together.
Gotta go now and do some growing up! :)

Wowsa. I never, ever thought so many people would have something to say about brown! I was in love with Ron's Hotel Suite in the small, cool contest... but maybe not in my house!
Thanks for all the comments about green, but I have a green bedroom (that I love) across the hall. I'm usually an ocean color or white room person, but I was thinking of taking our house full of windows and all white and having something really in contrast to that.
You all got me rethinking the pink though! It's great to hear what people have to say about your house!
Also, the shower curtain is from ebay and we put that retro light fixture up- the one before was just a ceiling mount ugly thing...
Thanks everyone! I guess I'm staying white!

Tori,

I don't mind the pink at all. - It's the RED trash bin that I find glaring. Don't know if anyone's already mentioned that....

One option for the floor- if your landlord is ok with it, would be to paint with porch paint. I did this in a rental years ago, in the kitchen, which had 2 DIFFERENT hideous linoleums. I painted right before I went away for a few days, so it had time to dry, and I didn't need to be in the room.