When designing a new space, I always urge people to choose the paint color last. Start, instead, with your color inspiration for the space. This can be a piece of artwork, fabric, or furniture. Or in my case, the glass/stone tile that I'll be using for the backsplash in the kitchen - it's setting the palette for the whole first floor. With our open floor plan, it's good to have a cohesive color scheme.
After visiting 6 different tile stores (no wonder Richard refuses to come with me), I finally decided on this beautiful horizontal tile. Don't you love the mix of colored glass and carerra marble? The shimmery glass will provide a great focal point on the wall behind the stainless steel stove and chimney hood. And it looks fantastic with the white Martha Stewart kitchen cabinets. The combination of steel blue/gray, sea glass and light taupe are perfect for creating a neutral palette for the new owners. Best of all, the colors seem to change depending on the light in the room - adding a great dimension as the sun angle changes during the day.
With the glass tile sample in hand, I started hunting for some fabric, to bring in a little more color and provide some bright accents. I fell in love with the Braemore fabric (top photo) in the remnant bin at
Home Remedies in Portland. The fabric builds on the light taupe background and adds a rich chocolate brown as well. Best of all - it has a punch of moss green that will make a great accent. And this coordinating upholstery fabric has stripes of taupe with chenille dots of the green and blue. Love the nubby texture of this heavy fabric!
Once I brought all these colors together, it was time to pick the wall color. I like having lots of choices, so I got out my fan decks from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams (BTW - if you prefer one brand over the other, they can always mix whatever color you need. That way you can buy all your paint at one place). After lots and lots of deliberation, I finally decided on Sedate Gray - which looks more like a light taupe to me. It's one of the new HGTV colors at Sherwin Williams. Once we have some of the drywall up and primed, I'll be painting a large sample so we can test it out in the space. Can't wait to see how it looks!
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With the glass tile sample in hand, I started hunting for some fabric, to bring in a little more color and provide some bright accents. I fell in love with the Braemore fabric (top photo) in the remnant bin at Home Remedies in Portland. The fabric builds on the light taupe background and adds a rich chocolate brown as well. Best of all - it has a punch of moss green that will make a great accent. And this coordinating upholstery fabric has stripes of taupe with chenille dots of the green and blue. Love the nubby texture of this heavy fabric!
I love this "how-to" with pictures! I've never been good with colors, so this give me lots of ideas for the future. You are making such a lovely space for the next owners...can't wait to see the "after" photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Candice. We can't wait until we start to get some of the spaces finished....that will be so much more exciting than all the plans! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteLaurel
Wow, I really love your blog. Love your design style, informative posts, and that you flip houses in an ethical manner.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much - we're working hard to make sure these houses aren't your average 'flip'. We're focusing on quality & safety throughout each home.
DeleteDo you know the name of the glass tile?
ReplyDeleteI found it at Home Depot!! And believe me, I looked many different places, but this was the nicest color mix I could find. I'm not sure if they still carry it, but it's worth checking at your local store.
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