I especially love the look when employed to maintain a sense of openness in a room while also injecting some color and contrast. This look is best achieved by using a lighter color on top— white is a lovely safe bet (pictures 1-4, 6-8)— and a darker color on bottom. To break up the contrast place a piece of art (pictures 1, 2, 6) or other object (Nathan Turner's Table top vignette in picture 4, and the lamp in picture 8) so that it overlaps at least a little bit of both colors.
Using a bold color (picture 5) on top can work equally well, especially when paired with a subtler color on bottom.
To achieve the look, check out eHow's instructions here.
I think I may have just discovered my weekend project! What about you, are you digging the look too?
(Images: 1, 7: Les Indiennes, 2: Jake Curtis for House & Garden UK, 3: Mark Lund via The Nest, 4: Miguel Flores-Vianna for Domino of Nathan Turner's Apartment, 5: Domino, 6: Orange Country Register of Nathan Turner's Apartment, 8: Real Simple)
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Great idea! You could also use a cool transition stencil instead of a straight tape line. Royal Design Studio has some really good ones that I have used on clients' projects.
oohhh. i love this. maybe this is what i should do in my living room...or bedroom...
I've been such a fan of 2-tone walls for a couple of years now- I was excited to see some interiors I haven't seen yet!
I think this is the perfect solution for many people. I know that in my case I'd love to paint our living room a darker hue, but the walls just can't handle anything too deep given the poor natural lighting. So I've been thinking about this option and I think I may run with it. The other thing that I love is that all you have to do is trade out the bottom color if you get bored with it, rather than paint the entire wall, which can save time and money.
Does anyone know where I might be able to find the two yellow flower pictures in picture number 6? They would be perfect for my living room!!!
jayhwkgrl- according to the Domino article in which this apartment was featured, they are Oberto Gili photographs available through Nathan Turner's shop (310) 275-1209
I have also been a fan of this look for quite some time. I am currently painting my walls white and am considering adding a second color to the lower portion of my living room and dining room walls.
I have had dark colored walls in the past but the lack of natural light in my home makes that hard to live with.
I like this look with two shades of the same color, best.
I like the look - I have arched doorways though (and 1920s lumpy walls with "character"), and I suspect this wouldn't be a good look for my condo.
I have to ask though...what's the purpose of the spray bottle on the nightstand in the last pic? Backup for the alarm clock? Solution for snoring spouse? Naughty cat behavior modification device? Inquiring minds want to know.
I have two-tone walls with a chair rail and I'm ready for a change. Our house is small and the rooms are narrow, and I think the two-tone paint adds to the boxed-in feeling. It's like a giant belt around the room.
I think it might work better in larger rooms?
good to know, heather77. :)
I should add that I used contrasting colors (deep buttercream and earthy rose), which might have exacerbated the "room belt" effect.
Two shades of the same color, as SherryBinNH suggested, might have worked better.
I love the combination of these two colours
what's the bedding on the 1st picture?
pretty