The blue you can work with, but brick red on blue is just...ew. I would paint the fireplace a complimentary color. A soft gray or a version of that seafoam green from the chair would probably work very well.

I agree with LovieDovie, the red brick is not working. Maybe paint the fireplace a slate gray since gray seems like it would go best with your furiniture. Though, the fireplace is forever, your furniture can always change. Additionally, a gray would go well with the white/gray tile you have bellow the fireplace.

www.handjobsforthehome.com

I was basically going to say the opposite of LovieDovie! Just goes to show... I like the red and its allusion to brick, but pairing it with a blue turns it into a modified primary colors palette - sort of an elementary school feel. Personally, I would keep the brick and use a neutral with a warm tone for the walls - even a different gray could work. I suspect the subdued greens of your furniture will actually contrast nicely with the brick red too.

I think a brown leather sofa and the brown/gray chair would look totally fine in that space. My only concern would be the sea foam green chair - maybe find a slipcover?

If you don't like the colors, you should definitely consider painting. But I think you could make this color work - as well as the very modern style of the condo - by balancing it with some soft or natural materials. Green plants (especially dramatic tropicals) would look great in here, as would a flotaki rug and some wicker/rattan accent tables. I'm not a big fan of Southwest style, but its a good model for how to blend stark (e.g. stucco) with naturals (e.g. pottery, wool blankets, etc) to create a balanced space that's more modern than masculine. Stick with clean lines on your furniture, though, or you'll have quite a contrast on your hands!

Color-wise, I think a deep true green (like the houseplants) would be a great complement to the brick red. Grays, browns, and blacks will all tone down the brightness a bit.

An excellent designer and frequent AT commenter has mentioned repeatedly that it's easier to get the furniture first and then choose the paint colors. That makes sense to me.

I think you coud paint the fireplace to work with the furniture you already have. Maybe something in the tan or grey color family.

just repaint the fire place area...the rest is do-able

Your landlord would let you paint that? Wow. If you can, yes, paint it. That color combo doesn't work even without furniture in the mix.

Do you have any of the main wall colour somewhere, or does the landlord? If so, I would paint over the fireplace and then move everything and go from there. For me it's much easier to visualize where you want to go with a more neutral starting point.

as always I'd live with it a while first, maybe see what some accessories rugs, curtains, pillows art can do in tying it all together.

a big mirror or picture on that fireplace will do wonders to tone down the color, which I don't think is that awful...I had countertops that color at one point and managed to neutralize

I agree with ec05 and live with it for a month or so and if you find it's not working for you, then, I again agree with commentors above painting the over just the red with a med-dark gray. Good luck!

I agree with the first comment completely, I think it would look lovely to repaint the fireplace in a similar colour-tone as your seafoam blue chair. Also, it's not a huge paint job and won't take that much time or effort.

The place looks exciting, hope to see "after" pics later on when you're settled :o)

Paint it.

It looks like they painted with Dwell's first color palette for Ralph Lauren. I would paint over the red if you're like me and dislike red walls. I would paint the fireplace a nice mouse brown. At the very least I would paint the other red sections back to the wall color. I think a seafoam green would also look nice, more feminine and tranquil. Keep in mind if you want to go light or white you're going to need lots of prime and lots of paint. I also like the darker color, it gives the fireplace some definition. As far as the couch goes, if you need or want a new one—buy something you like. The Hutton sofa from Room & Board would look nice in that space.

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=19348&catalog=filter&menuCatalog=room&menuSubcategory=201198

Paint the fireplace "fired earth" it's a brown from walmart, It's a beautiful color. The rest of the place is fine. Good luck, let us know what you do.

Wow, ajsimone26,
(I would message you privately, but you don't have an email listed:)
What an inappropriate name for a blog.

Simple answer to a simple question: Do you like the colors? If not, then paint. If you do, work with them. Other people will tell you what *they* like, you should go with what *you* like. If you can't decide, live with it for a while until you can decide.