Help picking paint color to go with my drapes

Question

We purchased this house with an amazing dining and living space. Tons of natural light. My problem is there are 16 panels of silk Dupioni drapes in the color wheat from pottetybarn. They are beautiful but I am having a very hard time with paint colors. I want something fresh and modern yet elegant. My furniture will either be an off white or grey. Want to use good accents, natural wood pieces and pops of black and peacock blue. I'm super stuck! Look forward to your feedback. Thanks! Brennan

Connie Shaddy · Answer

I love Sherwin Williams paints and they have a Pottery Barn collection. Our Fall/Winter 2014 paint palette from west elm makes it simple to coordinate colors with their latest collections of furniture, bedding and home accessories. Whether you’re picking the perfect neutral, refreshing tired trim or adding a bold accent wall, find favorite hues for every room of the house. http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/west-elm-collection/?WT.ac=SEG%20Homeowners%20Pottery%20Barn%20West%20Elm%20View%20Collection SW 6503Bosporus (See what you think about this color)

Angela Lowe · Answer

A slate Blue would look nice. I love the paneling, would you consider using a pearl glaze on every other 2 panels so that it looks like stripes? It would be subtle and help to reflect light around the room.

Grangerite · Answer

I like color of furniture. Take the black throw pillows away. Do away with white and black rug. Just have bare floor show. On sofa table do brown and dull gold candle sticks , just spray paint, switch candles to an amber or color to match curtains. Spray paint or buy new lamp shades in a mixed brown and gold. Take curtains make left pull to left and right both pulled to right. Nice picture above mantel in browns golds little bit of black and white.  Just a little to much black.

V Valencia · Answer

Rather than picking a color to match your drapes, I would suggest finding an 'inspiration piece' that has the color of drapes in it along with other colors. It could be a piece of art, pillows with a design or pattern, an area rug, etc. Pick something you really love. Then, based on the inspiration piece, identify the wall color. You can use this inspiration piece to select the other pieces in the room. This way your will have a room with harmonizing elements.

Donna · Answer

Anything in a goldish/yellowish family would be particularly pretty and elegant with a gray color. I am thinking a mid-tone warm gray for the walls and contrasts with the furniture. V. Valencia is so correct; find an 'inspiration piece' with color of drapes and the color pallette will be complete. It will be a matter of what color goes where, but I don't think you can go wrong.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Like the warmth of the dark mantle, sofa table, and the gold tones of the draperies. The problem is the black and white rug and its pattern which is too stark and contemporary. First of all, I would replace the rug with a Middle Eastern type traditional one with some darker colours, including a bit of black, to help ground the room - and with some turquoise/peacock, red tones, etc. Use the rug as your jumping off point. For the walls, choose a tone of one of these colours that works with the draperies. Agree with losing the black toss cushions - the eye is drawn to these and the carpet instead of the focal point being the fireplace. Opt for cushions in one of your accent colours with perhaps some black trim to reduce this distracting effect.

Brennan · Answer

Agree- the rug and sofas are not staying. Thinking about re-doing mantel (again). I love the suggestion of working from the ground up- thanks for your feedback!

Marie Cheek · Answer

The warm grey posted previously is modern and elegant and will make both the curtains and the mantel pop! http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U12Z6ONFcGw/ThO_zHlnC8I/AAAAAAAACOY/WVlog_IpGXw/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-05+at+8.51.22+PM.png Or if you want the room to look larger you could use a lighter wheat color (similar to the curtains but lighter) and the contrast of the darker wood of the fireplace should make the fireplace stand out as the focal point and the curtains will blend in. See this link: http://www.belfortfurniture.com/current/design_windowtreatments.aspx I would like to suggest that you paint a small section of the wall with the colors you choose so you can see how it looks not he wall. It makes a huge difference.

Celeste Alexander Spaces · Answer

I would do a black and white stripe using the existing paneled pattern

Jazz Caldwell · Answer

Wow, these are such the wrong color for the space...I know it's expensive doing something different but you will know when it's right...take the plunge! Something like the wall color and then some dark trim added to the top and the bottom to pop

Peggy · Answer

I love the rug and the look of the room. I would change the drapes

SouthernBelle · Answer

@Brennan I really like that rug, and have been searching for something very similar! Do you mind me asking what brand, or where you got it? If you are for certain you are going to keep the drapes, how about an exact color match in paint for the walls? Hang the drapes up high, on black rods, with black curtain clips (or oil rubbed bronze) Just a thought?

Kayo Frazier · Answer

Ok, Here are my suggestions...I agree w/ others the rug would be better somewhere else. I would leave the wood floors. I would push both the couch & loveseat to the walls opposite or across from each other in the room, then I would find comfy chairs in a couple of different styles, like wingback, club chair, slipper, & upholster them in black or the peacock blue-green. If you put a small coffee table in front of the loveseat & couch those who are in the chairs have someplace to put their drinks as they mingle around the room. Ok, wall paint, I would go w/ a cream color. I think white would be too stark. I wouldn't change a thing on the mantle. From the picture where the Christmas decorations are it looks like you have a dark stained piece that mirrors the mantel. I wouldn't change that as it will balance things out. Hope this helps.

Peggy · Answer

I love to decorate and am new to Hometalk. I saw your picture this morning and kept thinking about what I would do. If you don't mind, I have two suggestions. One would be to sell your beautiful drapes and start fresh, if that is what is holding you back from getting the room you have in mind. There are so many stores these days that have beautiful drapes for not too much money and then you wouldn't be trying to decorate the whole room around the current drapes. The second suggestion...brown. (maybe I am wrong, but I don't see gray with the color of your drapes). I am attaching a picture of my living room, because I do have the color of your drapes (not the actual drapes), but I went with Brown, red, black, teal. Like someone else said, I started with the carpet and took all the colors out of it for the walls. furniture and drapes. I painted the fireplace white and put the dark color on the wall (Sherwin Williams #6125 Craft Paper). The other walls are SW#6121 Whole Wheat. Just giving you another idea.

Serena Bates · Answer

I can see your confusion. With that warm golden wheat sage green or even a light lime accent would look super. Something a bit modern, try a two tone patterned rug rather than traditional as simplicity will lift the whole room. I would go for a wheat or cream paint on the walls with white trim, get rid of the blue on the mantle. Keep the colours simple and light. A warm honey brown for the lounge perhaps even a simple modern print, or a natural leather with the sage cushions and perhaps a throw. I would forget the black completely as it just doesn't belong. Have a look at Houzz too they have some really good ideas in pictures.

Brennan · Answer

Thank you- good ideas!

Creative Interiors By Connie · Answer

The panels are too small. The rod should be raised to the ceiling. This gives visual height to the room The panels should meet in the cent. You can straight pen them together at the top in the center. Amazing how much better they will look. As far as the wall color, I would pick a color about 2-4 shades lighter than the window treatments. It will look really nice. when you change your sofa and rug, make sure they blend with the existing colors of window treatments an wall. You can use opposite colors on the color wheel.

Brennan · Answer

Thank you! The panels are the wall so moving isn't an option but I like the drape ideas.

Jamoschini · Answer

I like the color of the curtain panels you have up and the color of the furniture. What I would do is paint the walls a soft tan color because the white on the walls is too stark for what I think you are going for. Remove the White and black rug also. Replace it with a tan rug that matches the new wall color. I think a shag type material for the area rug would look nice. Maybe a rectangular glass and brass coffee table with gold tones in the center between the couches and a matching sofa table. And switch out the couch pillows with something neutral that includes the colors of the couches, walls and drapes. The fireplace looks very dark and not sure what material it's made of. Paint it a softer color?

Marie Cheek · Answer

I hope you will post a pick when you are through! I would love to see what you decided on.

Tori Black Home · Answer

That is a gorgeous Fireplace mantel! Pale washed greens or blues will go well in this room with all the existing dark wood finish and flooring. Farrrow & Ball has some traditional but updated colors that would match the style of that fireplace. Cooking Apple Green is one I use for a lot of my clients, along with Vert de Terre or Green Ground if you wish to go even lighter. Some nice blues are Lulworth Blue, Parma Grey and Skylight. For the trim you could Pointing, Shaded White or String.

I would suggest take the silk duping off the windows and use them to cover some of the sofa pillows That will update the sofa a bit for now. If you later get a white or grey sofa it would fit perfectly with that. Happy decorating!

Brennan · Answer

Thank you for the suggestions:)

Saz703268 · Answer

I'm not a fan of the couch or rug in this room. The accessories are lovely but you need some color. If you're keeping the curtains, perhaps a valance would soften the color (check countrycurtains.com). I see they are puddling on the floor. I would hang them from the ceiling so they hang just at/above the floor. I would remove the tie backs but if you like them, pin them at the top. Because of their tone and the wood floors, you need to balance that with blues and greens. If you can find a carpet that includes all those colors, your on your way. I'm feeling the fireplace is too dark. Try painting the walls something like Benjamin Moore Fiji. You have enough natural light that this will be gorgeous with the wheat color. Add your accents into the room in those colors as well. After you've done that, revisit the fireplace. I'm thinking you may want to go lighter, like a light grey or creamy white. Plus, it's screaming for an over-mantle. I added one in my home and it made the room. Just a bit of wood to frame it in. Add a piece of art you love over it. I think crown moulding would be a nice touch, if you like it and it's in the budget. If none of that sounds like your style, then consider selling the drapes.  I know it's a lot of windows but it would allow you to start fresh. I just picked up 4 panels at Target for $8 each. Sometimes rooms take time to evolve into your vision. It's hard to wait but until then, start by painting those walls!  Good luck. It's a great space.

Drprof · Answer

Hi,

Try painting the room Sharkey gray by Martha Stewart. It is a beautiful gray-tan, very warm color!!!
Mary

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