apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Are the colors in adjoining rooms bright or muted? What about artwork and accessories in this room?

I agree with the light blue suggestion. On my monitor it actually looks as though the walls are already a pale blue.

Well, I was also going to suggest a nice pale sky blue.

my first thought was pale blue, but as the light coming into your space is already cool( thats why there's a blur tint to the walls) I'd suggest going a touch warm; a soft earthy yellow,maybe BenjaminMoore HC5 Weston Flax..to balance the cool light and also the cool green and red that you have-you could go to a lighter shade of this color but keep it away from the greeny yellows.
If you go pale blue try for a warm blue( with a green undertone)

I think a warm yellow would look great.

The blue is nice but I agree about perhaps trying a yellow.

what about a warm grey or white while keeping the trim bright white? it would be a great backdrop for artwork. perfect for bringing in more colors that way.

I really appreciate all of these comments. Here are the answers to your questions:

1. Adjoining rooms are mostly taupe, cream, black and grey; very muted. I took all of my accessories/artwork out of the room because I sort of wanted to start over. The room was getting too cluttered. So right now, it is a clean slate!

2. I had considered a silvery-sagey, but then I thought it was too green and wouldn't look good with the bright green stripes.

I was too impatient and went with Restoration Hardware's "Lilac" (!). It is sort of a gray/purple/almost beige color. I am a total color novice, but for some reason it looked good with green and red. I would *love* to show you all how it turned out, but I am not sure how I would do that.

I hadn't considered yellow or warm grey! Such excellent ideas. Hrm... I do still have all my paint stuff out...

Let me add my vote for yellow! Definitely keep the white trim, and be careful you don't get a muddy yellow (we've been through that in our sunny kitchen). A clear warm yellow should be lovely.

1 on the sky blue... or a buttery, creamy yellow. Like the inside of a banana.

i know im the oddball here, but i love a good dark-colored sun room. it just feels so much warmer and sexy and CALM. bright yellow spaces drive me nuts...but, again, thats just me.

pale blue and yellow just seems so...safe.

personally, i'd go with a navy/slate shade and then open all those shutters to let the light pour all over those rich looking walls...OR! i think it'd look really rad if you exactly matched that great kelly leafy green in the cushions and did the walls and the ceiling in that color. yep, thats my vote. then you could use lots of yellow, white, and even some pink accents.

I vote for the soft bright yellow

Eric,

I would love to see the lilac color with the red and green. Anyway you could upload a pic to flickr?

goodnightdean: I also hadn't considered a whole green room. I think you are right; leafy kelly green would be hella sweet! I am perusing colors right now.

thebird: I will try to post some pictures of the lilac on Flickr shortly. I am anxious to hear what y'all think.

Lisa (editor): Thanks a lot for your thoughtful response. I had missed it, initially, in my zeal to read the reader's comments. The liac is pretty close to putty, I think.

Eric

Try this, guys: http://www.flickr.com/photos/71644355@N00/?saved=1

Eric- Thanks for posting photos. It looks great, and I love how the green and white fabric really pops.

eric,
glad you like the green idea-- i didnt even realize that a guy had posted the question, but i think that would definitely lean the room toward the masculine side of things. i was actually thinking about it more last night and thought how great those red chairs would look in a green room with navy/white/yellow/gold accents.

cant wait to see 'after' photos!

OK, that clinches it... Even though I think the lilac looks good, I have been a little hesitant to bring anyone over to my "bachelor pad". It looks a little more "boudoir" than "billiard room," if you catch my drift.

I'll promptly put up pictures post-painting. Promise!

Eric

I'd vote for something like fern gully (Benj Moore), because in a similar room in my place, it feels like the outdoors have come inside...and it's cheering. The red pops against it.

I think a sky blue of some sort would add to the picnic effect I already get from your green plaid cushions. If you think that's desirable (I do!) then go for it.

I'd either go up to a light green, or a soft creamy yellow, or a yellowy-green.

But then I have an admitted irrational bias against green and blue together.

Eric- did you go with the green?