Q: I'm just about to begin painting my apartment and I am hoping that you can have readers give input on these choices:
A. birch tree wallpaper (white with gray and black trees) on TV wall and above kitchen cabinets
B. pale light blue on bookshelf wall and the portion of the ceiling square in front of TV (upper right of pic)
C. light blue gray behind couch and the largest ceiling square above the double window
This pic shows the room after coming down a long steel gray hallway. There's a soffit directly overhead.
Since all the non-white walls will be on the east and west (including hallway), I thought the ceiling might help define areas and make the scheme more cohesive and interesting. Now I'm worried that it may make the place seem disjointed and immature.
Should I only paper? Paint/paper only the TV/ bookshelf walls? And what about the wall under the soffit? Leave white or paint to connect with the proposed light gray wall? Something else? Please help!
Sent by Bill
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Very nice space. I like your color ideas, but would tweak them. I wouldn't add any more pattern or texture to your space. In other words, no wallpaper. There is a lot of architectural noise that does not read cohesively as is. Paint the ceiling over the sofa a light blue gray to define that area. Behind the dining credenza paint a warm charcoal grey. All other wall surfaces and ceiling, a pale champagne. I am taking into consideration the winter light and city drab of certain weather. AND I would change the mat and frame over the painting to silver wood and a cream colored mat. Lower the painting 3-4 inches.
Am I allowed to vote for "no, keep it white"?
I would vote for painting the wall with the tv and the wall with the shelving a blueish gray. It looks like they could be painted as individual areas and then all of the soffits and ins and out would remain white. I think trying to start painting any of the ceiling would be problematic and would take away from the nice architecture.
I love it as it is, but agree with @lindadmeyers that the painting needs to be lowered a few inches. You've got a great floor plan and super light, and I like your color - looks like a pale gray to me.
A gorgeous place! Congrats!
I'd say skip the painting altogether. Change the pillows on the couch -- they look like squares othe carpet and are too matchy matchy. Do something graphic and groovy in blue or grey and beige. And get a gorgeous huge SOMETHING for above the couch. What you have is too small. It reads like a television.
Here are some pillow thoughts: go to www.burkedecor.com and pull up all the pillows. Get 2 large graphics -- maybe lattice and 2 or three others, all in the same color family.
For art, I think your place screams out for either a huge photo - 4 X 5 feet ideally (you can order it on canvas) or a bunch of mirrors with different frames, all painted high gloss cobal blue or a mossy or acid green. You need a big statement there. Save your self the time and bother of painting and mix things up with a bit more pattern and life.
pam h
howtorunyourlife.blogspot.com
I think pamh is right on target: no painting, change pillows on sofa and larger art over sofa.
I wouldn't paint either...or, if I did, I would paint all the walls and ceiling the same color and not mix it up. As for adding more color, I would just place some art and accessories in the same color vein throughout the space. Toss a few accessories in the dining area that coordinate with the colors of the rug. And yes, either lower that picture above the couch or find a larger piece of art to put there.
Honestly, I'd keep everything white. I think it looks great! I think large, similar pieces of artwork would look great for color.
I woudn't paint or wallpaper - It's a great place as-is.
Sometimes, one needs to know when to say "Done"
White, white and only white!
I think a little blue on the bookshelf wall and the wall opposite (behind the fridge) is worth considering. Otherwise I'd concentrate more on creating some more dynamic art arrangements to give the walls life.
I think the birch tree wallpaper on the TV wall could be kinda cool. Try it if you want it. You can always remove it if it doesn't work. There is a scandinavian real estate where you see this a lot in a similar setting: http://www.alvhemmakleri.se/index.php?page=hem-till-salu. Although I love the artwork above the couch I agree that this space seems to demand something larger --- which would be hung lower than the current painting.
I vote for "leave it white", but out of the 3 choices, I think the A configuration will work best, in either paint or wallpaper.
I don't know that painting individual ceiling squares is going to look good. Maybe if it was the square on the end and the same color wrapped down to the adjacent wall? Ex, right-hand ceiling square and right hand wall in blue?