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Good Questions: Showcasing a Curved Wall

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Hi AT:SF,

In my new condo I have this curved wall near the entry way that I think is pretty cute. I feel like there's something fun to do with it, but I just can't think of what. I'm going to be doing a good amount of work to the condo, including putting in hardwood floors. Do you have any good ideas about what to do with the wall? A mural? Hanging art? Does a wall like this make sense to paint as a accent wall?

Gayle

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Dear Gayle,

That wall really is lovely and gives a bit of a Deco feel to your apartment. We wouldn't do anything to it that interrupts or obscures its lovely line, but we do like your idea of choosing an accent color for it. We'd go with something pale like a warm yellow, the better to help it bounce and amplify the light from the bedroom window on the wall opposite it.

Anyone else?

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Comments (14)

Absolutely use it as an accent wall. You could paint it but how about this: Splurge on some very expensive and beautiful wallpaper.

posted by DubTriptych on 2007-06-26 16:08:47
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I'd say cover it in one of those really cool Maya Romanoff wall treatments and make it stand out. (Bedazzle or True Metals)
http://www.mayaromanoff.com/

posted by chris_94131 on 2007-06-26 16:41:34
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i would paint it an accent color, as well.

posted by elizabeth in AL on 2007-06-26 17:38:04
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or those two ideas are actually better. ;-)

posted by elizabeth in AL on 2007-06-26 17:38:41
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I think a very graphic and wide stripe wallpaper, hung on a horizontal, would be amazing.

posted by Psymonetta Isnoful on 2007-06-26 18:16:38
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Wallpaper.

Paint treatment of some kind...

Wall stencil...

And consider replacing those ceiling fixtures.

posted by boomer on 2007-06-26 18:24:14
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totally paint it as a focal wall, try wide (18-24 in) HORIZONTAL stipes that will really emphasize the curve!!
It can still be subtle if one stripe is the color of the wall as is, and the other is just a shade or two darker-even picking up the color of the floor-wrap the stripes further into the hallway ( L hand side) and you'll get a nice visual graphic or receding lines pointing in or out of your entrance!

posted by bball on 2007-06-26 18:41:26
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a silver metalic paint or wall paper on the curved wall would really accentuate the deco feel of the curve.

posted by david l. on 2007-06-26 18:49:41
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Painting or wall treatments would be a great idea if the wall was facing a big light source like a window, but your floorplan indicates that the wall is set back in the darker corners of the entry way. It will never quite pop from color alone because the light source won't be large enough to illuminate the entire face of the wall evenly. I would suggest installing a recessed soffit light that runs the length and curve of the wall. This will create a soft glow at the top of the wall that will emphasize the curve and help illuminate whatever color you choose to paint the wall. Also, if the budget allows, I would replace the ceiling fixtures pictured with recessed lighting. This would help clean up the line of sight and help emphasize the wall as a design centerpiece to the room.

posted by RichardinLA on 2007-06-26 19:03:53
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How about lights showing the horizontal stripes? In fact, you play up the dark as the background for a white (or light) large stripe winding around.

Or maybe a stencilled line stepped up repeatedly that moving upward and frames a picture at each step/riser? You'll have to stop the pictures before you get to the corner that isn't there, but that's the point! The stencil can complete the round corner.

posted by Cate on 2007-06-26 22:34:39
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Some evolutinary pics would be fun. Something evolving from one form to another. Perhaps the "ages" of man etc... Part of the fun of a curve is its symbolism of moving on endlessly. Yeah, I'm overly keen on symbols. Ah well....

posted by Cate on 2007-06-26 22:38:31
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I think that if you used a demi-lune table on a nearby wall, it might call attention to it.

posted by Curtis on 2007-06-27 13:35:46
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One inch glass mosaic tiles.

Or I second bball's horizontal tone-on-tone paint stripe idea.

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2007-06-29 09:42:17
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I have a curved wall in my entry also. I applied a carnival mirror (the kind that distorts your image to be either fat or thin). If you don't distort it, you simply have a mirror surface -- one that can BEND! And it's super cheap. You can buy carnival mirror in a roll for about $25 - $50 depending on size.

posted by Lisa Hunter on 2008-01-05 16:15:37
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