Help! Looking for paint color advice

Question

Hello. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I need help with colors to paint at my cottage I would like to paint the kitchen cupboards as well as walls, which are 75% paneling. It is on the beach and so far my accent color is aqua blue. There are also 3 bedrooms right off main living area that will be painted too. Thanks in advance. :-)

Pamela Mayfield · Answer

sea blue or mint color

MaryStLouis · Answer

Before you paint your paneling you should clean everything to remove grease and dirt, then prime everything with oil-based primer to seal the varnish so it doesn't bleed through. Once that is dry you can use any paint you want to.

If it were my place, I would paint all the walls a soft shade of cream. Nothing says 'beach' like cottage white walls and ocean blue accents. If you don't like white you could go with a very pale gray.

Gail Salminen · Answer

@Shelle it looks like you have a blank slate at the moment. I would start slow - clean up first as suggested by Mary St. Louis. Did you want to accent in aqua? or use it on some walls? Consider a pale yellow for the walls - it provides lots of light reflection. Once the wall colour is chosen you can then consider the cupboard colour. I do like the idea of cream or butter yellow with a light slate grey. It looks like in the kitchen you could continue the wall colour onto the ceiling as well. Makes for easier painting as well you would get the reflection from the ceiling. I hope you update us with what you do and include pics. Looks like a great cottage and I love the floors :)

Shelle · Answer

Thanks Gail, we just finished the floors(they were an orange carpet throughout....yikes!!) I will only be accenting with the aqua and love the idea of a slate grey. You guys have the best ideas. Thank you thank you. I will definitely update once I figure out what to do. I was hoping to get it done over the winter so that we can enjoy the beach once summer is back. :-)

Sbsb1005 · Answer

Cream - yellow and complementing blues. Robin egg blue

Shari · Answer

Is this your everyday home, or a vacation home? Your cottage has lots of potential but right now it appears very dark and it's not looking very beachy or cheerful to me. I agree with Mary in that everything needs to be lightened up and paint is the best way to give you a lot of bang for the buck. First though, before you even pick up a paint brush, I think you need to do some homework. Obviously, people here can suggest all kinds of things but you need to decide what YOU do, and do not, like--what direction YOU want to go--what works for YOU and your family--what YOU can live with day in and day out. I'm very visual so pictures are always invaluable to me when I am planning a decorating project and I need direction and inspiration. My suggestion is to start looking at photos--lots and lots of photos of decorated rooms on the internet and save the pictures you like to your computer for reference. Pretty soon you will probably see a pattern of styles/colors that appear in many of your photos. It might be that you've been drawn to rooms with plantation shutters, or shells, or painted vintage rattan furniture, or natural wicker pieces, or kitchens with mosaic tile back splashes in shades of watery blues and greens etc. Looking at lots of photos is how I figured out my likes and dislikes, and 'my style.' There's lots of great inspiration pictures over at Pinterest. You can search variety of subjects and terms but as a start, here's what came up for 'beach cottage kitchens.' https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=beach%20cottage%20kitchen&term_meta[]=beach|typed&term_meta[]=cottage|typed&term_meta[]=kitchen|typed If you are not afraid of color, you might enjoy browsing through Jane Coslick's blog. http://www.janecoslick.blogspot.com/ She is a designer who has decorated many vacation beach cottages on Tybee Island (Georgia) using a mix of bright, cheerful, beachy colors, thrifted furniture, and inexpensive fabrics and accessories. Her style is a bit quirky but so charming. The best part is, if you like her style (or even just a few of the things she does), it would not take a huge budget to get the look because she uses so many vintage/used pieces. She does a lot of mixing (and very little matching) but somehow it all works. (I already see several pieces of furniture in your pictures that would look great painted in 'Jane Coslick style' -- your dining room table/chairs, for one!) Here's another blog you might find helpful. http://www.fleamarkettrixie.com/ She is renovating a beach cottage. I love her style and the changes she has made to her new home but unfortunately, she doesn't post new updates regularly. However, she used a lot of aqua and flea market finds in her former home (which was featured in countless decorating magazines), so it would be worthwhile to go back and look through her blog archives. Good luck!

Deb347499 · Answer

The wood walls make the room too dark.  I would paint the walls all white.  The kitchen cabinets grey.  The woodwork white.  The blue accent color would be great throughout.  LOVING your floors!   Would love to see the finished transformation!

Country Design Home · Answer

Lucky you to have a cottage on the water!! I would definitley paint out all of the  paneling with a cream to match the tv room walls to make the entire space more cohesive. I would then choose a color of gray that you pick up from the stones in the fireplace for the cabinets. The gray will balance the stainless steel appliances nicely. Add some stainless or pewter hardware. Then use your aqua blues and maybe a touch of red for accents. Good luck!

The Rozy Home · Answer

White! Yeah I know, white is 'boring' but it's so beautiful with blue - especially at the beach! I would love to get my hands on your place! :-)

Carola Price · Answer

I would also go with gray cabinets like Benjamin Moore seersucker suit or vintage pewter. Goes beautifully with the aqua accent you're using and the beach outside.

LeeAnn Gerleman · Answer

I have a friend that bought an old mobile home next to a lake. They went in and painted the entire panelling with a primer, then covered with a light taupe. It was beautiful. I love your floors.

Denise Hardy · Answer

Hi @Shelle - sorry this is a long one - but wanted to give you a few more ideas :) I would start with de-greasing all your panelling and kitchen units. You will need to use Zinsser Bin/123 as your primer and then use an acrylic Eggshell in Magnolia or White - I would go with white personally. For your door/units - use the same primer and the Acrylic Eggshell mixed to your Aqua Blue. You will need 2/3 coats of the Zinsser and 1/2 coats of the Eggshell. Other Suggestions:- Your kitchen looks a little 'bitty' i.e. fridge/dishwasher/cooker and the unit you have with your microwave on - is there any possibility that you could 'streamline' these? i.e. 'box in' or put a worktop over the top of your dishwasher to match your other worksurfaces and move your cooker to where the fridge is - this will also give you the use of the worktop - instead of going from one side of the kitchen to the other, when your cooking and put the fridge where your cooker is? I would also suggest getting some wider and longer curtains at your windows. Perhaps in the Aqua and cream/white - I say this because that will allow more light into your room, perhaps also use some tie-backs? I would also suggest that perhaps you could do with a nice rug in front of your sofas - something with the Aqua and cream/white - I would also suggest another colour to go with your Aqua and cream/white and that would be Coral - I think these colours would be perfect - they would certainly brighten the whole of your space. See the link below to give you an idea of how these colours could/can cheer/brighten your kitchen and sitting room etc.You could also add the Coral in your curtains and rug and then perhaps make/purchase some cushions in those colours in plain and patterns in the same colours to bring the whole look together. Also, you might perhaps like to re-upholster your dining chairs and place a cloth/runner over your table? Just some ideas for you to get your 'design juices flowing' - so hope you like some of them :) Have fun anyway in whatever colour you choose. https://www.google.ie/search?q=aqua+and+coral+kitchen&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=9HmhVK7-MJCS7Aa84oCYDg&ved=0CD8QsAQ

Barbara · Answer

Prime your cabinets and paint them white, soft sunshine yellow on the walls, white or cornflower blue on the woodwork and faux oak congoleum. I have one window in my kitchen and it brightened the whole room.

Denise Hardy · Answer

Glad you like the aqua and coral - it is beautiful :) I can understand re not moving the stove. The floor looks great by the way - also if you are planning for new counter tops that will also make it look really nice. It's a great size too. Have fun doing it because that's what it's all about isn't it? And.... will look forward to sharing your photos when you get around to posting them.

Jacqueline Elaine · Answer

Hello, Shelle! You have an incredible project - I'm so jealous. I recently painted my daughter's bedroom and one of the walls was paneled.I used Sherwin Williams primer and then I used their paint. I have tried cheaper primers on paneling in the past and it was a serious mistake! The paint just peeled off the walls. It was very time consuming to scrape and sand the cheap stuff off before I could paint again. Anyway, I really recommend their primer and paint. 
 The colors I used in my daughter's room were Sherwin Williams' Light French Gray on three walls and Pure White on the paneled wall. I used a coral color called Begonia as an accent color (this color looked a bit scary in the container, but it turned out beautiful!). I also used a turquoise from Valspar that I used to paint her vanity. The colors look really great together. I noticed the turquoise you are using (in your photos) is lighter than what I used on her vanity. You might want to try Sherwin Williams' color Watery. It's a very pretty blue.You can buy really good sized sample paints from Sherwin Williams for $5 or $6. And I don't work for Sherwin William's - just love their product. Also, I can visualize that color pallet in your home. I know someone commented about about using a yellow too. Friendly Yellow from Sherwin William's would work. I would post a picture of my daughter's room but she is sleeping...pretty sure she would be upset if I took pictures of her room with her sleeping in the background. 
 Anyway, good luck to you! Keep us posted on what you decided. I can't wait to see pictures. :)

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Glad you're painting the panelling. (Only panelling I've ever come close to liking is the type in 300-year old English manors or French chateaus. LOL) The floors look great. Since this is an all-season home, I would go easy on white. Nothing warm and cosy about it when you go up in winter! I'm thinking a warmer palette - driftwood, seagrass, creams and corals/rusts. Like your reddish TV stand. Might get one of those Middle Eastern rugs for the living room as a jumping off point and pick tones of the colours for walls, etc. I'd definitely paint the window frames in a creamy white. Greys are a good neutral which would suit your dark furniture. Have you thought about using some wallpaper? There are some great grass cloths, etc. to choose from. Might even do kitchen walls in a soft coral. For sure, corals/rusts and turquoise could be used as accent colours. Am a great user of plants - real or artificial - to soften lines and edges and add interest to spaces. .

Shari · Answer

Marion makes an excellent point about using warmer colors due to your locale. I'm in sunny Florida where we rarely have weather that a Canadian would consider cold. lol. Right now it's a warm 82 degrees on the 29th of December! The air conditioning is on and I'm wearing a tee-shirt, capris and flip flops! Because most of our year is very warm or blistering hot, I am conditioned to decorating in much cooler colors--lots of bright white and pastels but I can see where the colors I associate with, and see, in the beach cottages here in the south, might not work so well for you on a year-round basis.

Cat994668 · Answer

I love the aqua blue idea... add in whites and soft pinks... navy blue could be the anchor color... id paint the walls white - look a lot like wainscoting..... and then do the cabinets white too .... maybe add aqua or navy printed valances and curtains.. get the airy feel with white sheers..... add beach inspired home décor... candles in sand on the table ...with some shells.. inexpensive.. Make a wood sign with your favorite beach quote... paint a darker grey and use the turquoise to do the writing or better yet find a pre done quote they now have everwhere.... make a magnet board for the kitchen and use shells on magnets as accents.... find glass bottles and boat motif prints (yard sales etc can be a haven for this stuff) start collecting ..... also look at clearance isles of places like TJ Maxx 
for colorful glass..... brings in color and LIGHT

Nancy J Goldwire · Answer

I agree with all on the use of white. It works, no ,matter where you are. (Think Sweden!) You do not have to use a stark white, pick a variation with a hint of crème. I too, love Sherwin Williams paints & travel a fair distance to get them! I used S/W 'Crème' on my entire home, 'cept for 2 bedrooms. In the dining rm, I used a red accent wall with multi colored drapes tied back on a 3 section window. Gorgeous. In the kit, I used a greyish green on accent walls (2). This color takes on many hues, depending on where the light is. My FIRST suggestion is to pick up several paint color samples, (they're free !). Put 2, or 3, on  every wall. Live with the color for a few weeks. THEN make a decision on which one you like. I had 3 samples of several colors on all 4 of my walls!  Have fun, make a HAPPY HOME.

Roberta · Answer

So glad you said aqua blue, as that seems to be very much in vogue, now. Be sure that the colors are tones ('muddied' a bit, but not dark -- more towards the pastels). Since you said beach, I am thinking a light blue and some whites to go together. Aqua and Blue and White are so beachy

Audrey · Answer

I painted my small kitchen, the walls White, the cabinets Ivory, and i love it, it makes it look clean and light, i hope you put photographs of your finished work.

Audrey · Answer

I painted my small kitchen, the walls White, the cabinets Ivory, and i love it, it makes it look clean and light, i hope you put photographs of your finished work.

BBB · Answer

Just an idea before you paint the paneling. You can fill the grooves with joint compound to have smooth walls. I would keep it a light color, possibly a light dove grey which is neutral and works well with aqua and coral. Grey can be cold or warm depending on the undertones. I have seen pink greys and green greys along with blue greys. Do a small section of the wall with some samples to see how it looks in the room(s) before doing the entire cottage. If it's supposed to have a cottage feel keep it light and airy. Love the dark wood floor. Also if not grey valspar has a color called bonsai which is a neutral taupe/putty color. It's great for small rooms and has a warm undertone.

Tracy · Answer

I am not an 'all white' fan either. Two colors I have used recently are Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter and Coastal Fog. Are you planning on painting the trim and woodwork a color also or leaving them dark wood? I really like your floors also - Good job there! The stove wall in your kitchen would look nice with open shelving above it. It looks like a great project! Be sure to post pictures.

Kayo Frazier · Answer

Ok, I am going to suggest a medium gray for your walls in the kitchen & everywhere else to tie the house together, but you still want to keep it light enough that it doesn't make it look dark & gloomy. Then in the kitchen, I would paint the cabinets top & bottom white that way the sunlight or lights @ night will make it much brighter. I would also box in the dishwasher w/ a butcher block top for an extra counter top or prep space for meals. I would also replace the cabinet next to the stove w/ a floor to ceiling pantry so you can store all of your cooking, baking dishes & even fine china.The reason for these color choices is because you have a lot of wooden furniture either painted, or in several stains that the grey color will make each piece of furniture pop. It will also work really well w/ your paneling bringing out the details of the knots in the wood. Your stonework around your fireplace will need to be a darker grey so that it will pop off the wall. Also, if you get a high heat black paint for your stove it will look a 1000% better. Then wherever trim is in the house I would paint it white. This really is going to give you a classic New England beach-y feel to the house. For the bedrooms I would pick a rich aqua, light teal, or Caribbean blue. Hope this helps.

Claire M · Answer

I totally agree with Kayo Frazier about a soft light beachy gray as the backdrop. Softer and much more interesting than white, will highlight your art, furniture, etc. My dad used this color in one of his homes and it was simply brilliant. imho.

Belinda Todd · Answer

It appears the kitchen is dark. I would paint the cabinets white. Liner paper and wallpaper in the kitchen to brighten it up. Living room maybe a shade of light grey with maybe some bright orange accents.

Heather Walton · Answer

The whole living area looks very dark. In this area I would go in shades of white and cream. The walls cream but not a yellow cream the and cupboards and panels in white. There are various shades of cream and white and your local stockist would be able to advise you. Then I would add colours of cushions, cups etc. in shades of the ocean. Aqua, Sea Green, Blue etc. A little yellow would also be good to break it up. The bedroom walls I would paint in a very pale aqua. This would make the place look bigger, lighter, fresher and cooler. Happy decorating

Fran McCarty · Answer

The kitchen would be beautiful painted a very faint yellow color with the cabinets and trim done in white. Paint the table and chairs . The table top an aqua color and the rest of the table white. Paint the chairs white and cover the seats with a floral pattern containing the colors yellow, aqua and white. Make curtains with these same colors but in a stripe. The fireplace wall painted a darker grey would really make the fireplace stand out. The other walls paint a lighter shade of grey. Do the trim in white. Give your room pops of your aqua, yellow and white colors with accents such as curtains and pillows, lamp bases.

Michele Kociolek-Burkitt · Answer

I know this sounds like I work for them but I assure you I just love their paint. Check out Benjamin Moore paints. They are far superior to anything else out there and have any color you could imagine and some you can't! I love Patriotic White here's a link to the color http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/patrioticwhite

Help! Looking for paint color advice

Suggested Project Book

The Best Organizing Ideas for 2020

Other

More

Help! Looking for paint color advice

Suggested Project Book