To paint or white wash...

Hi Christine,

 

I ran across your blog trying to find colors to paint or whitewash our really red brick home. It's been remodeled and added on to, and the new brick just doesn't match up to the original 60 year old brick. We're thinking about also adding a larger front porch soon (maybe a  Craftsman style-any ideas??) and I need to decide what to do about the color(s) of our home, siding, and trim. I love the look of whitewashed brick, but I'm not sure if we should paint it, whitewash it, or leave it alone. We live in Charleston, SC, and I'm going for a coastal cottage look. I'm attaching two pictures of whitewash that I really like. Thanks-you're AWESOME!

- Jennifer

Hi Jennifer-

I found some white washed brick homes- I would be careful to make sure it is done well.  Can you tell that the first photo is not as good a job as the second two photos?

This one above looks really bad to me- however- I love...

 this one and

this one. I like the classic black shutters and white trim.  White wash trim, like the home above, is equally as beautiful, but with your black roof, I would go white. 

I also included some painted homes.  My personal preference would be the white wash- and it will also be much lower maintenance. 

As far as the porch goes- no don't go Craftsman.  Why?  You don't have a Craftsman home.  There is a home near me that is Victorian, and the new owner tried to make it look Tuscan.  It looks ridiculous.  Be true to your architecture.  (Unless you plan to completely change the roof line of your home....)

Your house is a Cape Cod.  Adding a porch, it should look something like the home above.  (Which would also require a new roof line...)

You could have it come out at an angle like the one above- perhaps that would be less intrusive.  The home above does use a more Craftsman style column, maybe you could pull it off...  I don't know- I still don't think your brick looks Craftsman to me...

You could have a nice set of steps coming up to your porch- such a charming look. 

So- what does everyone think- should Jennifer white wash, paint her brick or leave it alone? Do you think she can do a Craftsman style columned porch with her home?

Jennifer's Living Room

Hi Christine,

I just found your blog and I can't stop reading it!

My husband and I have moved in to our first home and are stuck on what to do with the living room.  We don't know where to put any of the current furniture - and are open to suggestions for new furniture to purchase.  My husband hates the couch where it currently is and wants to put it against the long wall facing the windows.  I'm hoping you can provide some expert advice.

The room only has one entrance, by the stairs, and has a very long blank wall across from a long wall of windows. (The room is rectangular with the longest wall being the window wall.)  Also, the wall colour isn't white or cream, it's more of a light greyish purple, and we've just finished installing dark hardwood floors.

Thank you for your help,

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,

Your new hardwood floors sound beautiful! 

The first question to ask when determining where to put your furniture is...  What is the focal point?  I see a TV in the room, so I am going to assume that is where you would be looking.  I am a little confused why your husband would want to face the windows instead of the TV....?  Am I missing something?

So- you need to turn your TV wall into a focal point wall.  To do this, you will need some new furniture.  Your TV should be on or above a console whose size has a relationship with the wall it is on, not the size of television you have.  See this post for details.  You could use either of your two long walls- the wall perpendicular to or parallel with your windows for your TV wall.  (photo from houzz)

A large wall unit, or built-ins, could also help you accomplish a great TV wall.  Again, see this post for more ideas.

Your sofa should face your TV wall. There are a number of different ways to arrange furniture in the room.  Check out some ideas in this post.  An easy way to do it would be to simply have a sofa and two chairs.

(photo from favorite spaces)

How you do your TV wall will determine what kind of furniture arrangement you will do.  For example- if you were to do an off-set TV - like above, you would NOT want to do a symmetrical arrangement- (both chairs could be on one side creating more of an L-shape furniture arrangement).(photo from living room spaces)

- If you decide to go symmetrical, have your TV in the center.  If you like the asymmetrical look, follow through with your TV arrangement.  It is simply a search for balance. 

Remember: focal point, balance, scale, variety...

If you keep a sofa where you currently have one, put a sofa table, console, or desk behind it.  Make it something worth looking at. 

Take down your current ceiling fixture, and replace it with a cool light fixture. 

(photo from viva full house)

Your other wall, the wall without the TV on it, will need wall decor that has a size relationship with the wall itself, or with the furniture below it. 

(photo from apartment possibilities)

Start with your TV wall- you need a focal point.  Then take some new pictures and write me back.

XOXO

- Christine

Sleepless in Seatle

Hi Christine.

Like everyone else, I've been pouring over your archives and love your design and direct approach...we are adding a garage with an upstairs master suite so we can hide from teenagers. :-) The architecture is Pacific NW contemporary--we have natural fir trim and windows, natural cherry cabinets, cork floors. It should be done in the next 6 weeks so I need to order some furniture. Your ideas are incredible and thought you would be able to help me overcome my disjointed, un-unified, multi-focal pointed ideas...perhaps make some decisions and finally get a good night's sleep?

Floor plan with some preliminary furniture placement ideas.


Re: master bedroom
We  have a shaker style cherry bedroom bureau and bed that i need to use for now. Any ideas for nightstands to alleviate matchy-matchy.. Our bed is actually queen size.Was thinking of grasscloth behind bed under soffit. You had featured some thibault hakka grass "aqua" that seemed nice. Chair, rug, window coverings? Was thinking of aquas/blues to key off tv room rug but not sure what kind of rug.




Looking into bedroom (pendant isn't fully installed)


Looking into tv room. I really need some ideas for sectional in terms of style and color, considering rug. This room is just for lounging and more of a personal space. Even though the foto doesn't show it, the room gets a lot of light as it has western and southern exposure.


Existing  6x9 rug I would like to use in tv room.





Flower pendant is in bedroom. Tile is in bar nook in tv room. Lower pendant is in bathroom. Fabrics are some I'm drawn to although no amber tones in them, which seems important but I'm not sure.


What do you think of this bedding? Not enough blue?


Thank you in advance for any advice!
-Marlene

Hi Marlene,

Let's start with selecting a night stand.  I applaud you for not wanting to match.  Since you have a wood finish, perhaps you could add a painted finish on the end table, ($560)

with a great set of lamps ($217 ea)  (I'm not so sure about your pendants...)

and an upholstered headboard.

(bed from Restoration hardware- available in a lot of different colors so you can find a good one)

I also wanted to mention that you did a great job on your furniture placement.  I wouldn't change a thing.  (FYI- I ALMOST NEVER TELL PEOPLE THAT- YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB!)

I like your idea of grasscloth.  I would even consider it throughout the room.  I found a good one for you from Phillip Jeffries:

The grasscloth would pair beautifully with some Belgian Linen drapes from Restoration Hardware:  (Why can I not see, type or say the word Belgian without wanting chocolate...) 

When I see your architecture, I think "Room and Board."- so that is where I looked for furniture:

 I love your rug, it is a terrific rug, and makes a great unifier.  It should be your source for your color pallet.  I can tell that the colors in the fabrics you found might technically, "match" the rug, but they don't go.  There is a definite disconnect.  This is common, that people will match without coordinating.  For example- look at your materials board altogether:

 Now, look at mine: 

The bedding is from Anthropologie, and the furnishings are form Room and Board.  The pillows are a combination of both sources.  You are on the right track.  I like the stone you selected, and love your rug.  Just change all of the other selections.  ;-)  Your place will look beautiful!  It makes me want a sectional in my master bedroom... 

Interior Design Skype Consulting

I now offer skype consultations.  I had a couple of skype consults in the last few weeks, received some good feedback, and thought I would start offering it as a regular service.  For details, see my e-design page.

Thanks,

Christine

A Craftsman Palette Part III

Hi Christine,

 

I recently found your blog and LOVED it.  You have great taste, give sound advice and sound so likeable!

 

I live in the Berkeley, CA area in a craftsman-type home and am about to embark on a paint job.  I love the grey-greens and want to do a monochromatic look with darker trim and lighter body.  Please advise on possible color combinations.

 

Chat Room is mentioned a lot in your blog on craftsman color choices but it feels very grey to me.

 

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

- Melissa

Hi Melissa,

You are not so far from me- I drive past Berkeley every time I go to the design center.  It is a beautiful area. 

First of all, you need to select at least three colors,

1.  You need one color that is the "field color."  You put this color on the shake siding.  DO NOT use this color anywhere else.  Except the garage doors- your garage trim should be trim color- and doors should be the field color. 

2.  A second color will be used on the trim, lattice shade, eaves, everything else.  If you wanted to break this into more colors- this trim could be broken up.  I am saying to overall use a MINIMUM of three colors.

3.  A third color will be used on the front door.  The trim around the door should be the trim color, not the door color. The door is the focal point of the exterior of a home with your architecture.  (Not the case with all architecture.  Frank Lloyd Wright tried to practically hide the front door of a home.)  The journey your eye should take should start with the front door.  Your landscaping and paint colors can helop to facilitate this.  Look at the Victorian home below- this is a perfect example.  (Also a great example of your green on green palette, with the same black windows that you have.)

Grayish greens would be beautiful on your property.  Please send me an "after" picture.  Here are some good ones to try:  (all Sherwin Williams)

body: 7543 Avenue Tan, with trim: 7544 Fenland

body: 7533 Khaki Shade, with trim: 7535 Sandy Ridge

body: 7738 Cargo Pants, with Trim: 7739 Herbal Wash- or use Herbal Wash as the body, and 7740 Messenger Bag as the trim.

Go get some sample quarts and play with them.  You can combine these colors above to make your own combinations as well.  I have them in combinations that would be more similar to each other, but for more contrast, mix and match.

For your door, I would use a shade of red like 7598 Sierra Redwood, or 7701 Cavern Clay, or you could do black.  What would look really great with your greenish grays are some new wood doors.  They would be an instant update for your home.

A fresh paint job COMBINED with new wood doors at your entry, and on your garage, and your house would look amazing.

Then again, if you'd like to spend a LOT of money- and who doesn't- you could get wood windows too- like the house on the show Numbers:

Look at that- do they have the trim color the same as the field color?  It doesn't have to be drastically darker or lighter- but it should be different.  Kiefer Sutherland really should call me in for some consulting- wait,  he's in Touch- huh?

Good luck with your paint job!  

For my previous posts on Craftsman Color palletes, see here and here.