Chair Rails and Shadow Box Colors

Hi Christine

On your website, you mention that the darker color should always be on top of a chair rail. But, many pictures on your and other websites show white at AND below the chair rail with a color on top. Typically the white below the chair rail has shadow boxes as well. Do you think white at and below the chair rail with a color on top works? We have golden brown hardwood floors in the dining room with a darker brown dining room set. I wanted to do Benjamin Moore antique white in a semi gloss at AND below the chair rail, with show boxes below the chair rail, Benjamin Moore atrium white on the molding around the archway to the living room and door opening (no door) to the kitchen, with a fairly dark blue (Benjamin Moore Blue Lapis (2067-40) eggshell on top of the chair rail. Do you think that would work? What should I paint the crown molding and ceiling in? The room is approx 12 x 13. The dark blue is the thing that I question the most.

Thank you for your time.
Mike

Dear Mike,

If I actually said that the darker color is supposed to be on top- please show me that post- I would not have meant to say that. To avoid confusion- I will try to be more clear- but the subject itself is somewhat confusing- so- follow along here.

1. When you have two colors below and above the chair rail- I would put the darker of the two below. Why? Yes- there is a reason. The darker shade is more visually heavy. It is subconsciously uncomfortable to be in a room that is a little top heavy. Having the heavier weight lower feels better- subconsciously.
2. When the area below the chair rail is a wainscot- the rules change. Your wainscot is part of your wood trim. In most cases- it is better for these to all be the same paint. Same paint on the window casings, door frames, baseboards, chair rail, picture frame mouldings, floor skirts, and wainscoting. (This is a most of the time rule- not an all the time rule). Frequently this color is white. White as a wainscoting below the chair rail and a color on top is perfect. Does that make the room visually uncomfortable because of the top heavy thing? No- because the visual weight of the mouldings is more than the darker color. However- sometimes- I think this is pushed a bit- when the top paint color is too dark- like in the photo above. I personally think the paint color is too dark here- and the room would be more comfortable with a lighter shade. I know the desired effect is drama- and perhaps with the right window treatments, and other furnishings- this might look amazing- but I will say that as is- it is a top heavy room.


3. If I were to do the shadow box- or picture frame moulding like you are describing- I personally- would paint it all like it was wainscoting. To me- that is what it is trying to be- and when it is all painted the same white- I think it looks the best. I would treat it like wainscoting. Paint it the same color as all other mouldings. For example- I do NOT like the photo above. I think it would look better to have it all white below the chair rail. Theoretically you shouldn't be able to really tell it is not a real wainscoting- and yet here they are drawing attention to it. I don't like it. It's like hanging a sign on your fake purse that says, "I am not really louis vuitton."

So there- is that clear- or still confusing?

From 80's to Amazing

Hi -
I wrote you a few weeks ago about my dining room and you told me to send a pic - just got to it...I know dining room is awful - a throwback to my blue/pink floral days. These rooms make the best "before and after" pictures.I am planning on painting the walls above the chair rail Benjamin Moore Olive Branch (from Pottery Barn)..I was going to do a cream on the bottom, but worried about the "light on bottom" thing. I am thinking white wainscot.... If it is a wainscot in white it is fine- just white paint I would not do. I am keeping table - getting black chairs (Ethan Allen) with like a goldy/greeny seat - swirly gold-ish area rug - window treatment will be panels on window - there is a door you can see to the sunporch - was thinking about a long Roman shade in same material as panels? Nice idea- that will blend together nicely. Ethan Allen had a really pretty green/gold/burgundy paisley-ish fabric...very $$ so I want to be sure it's right!! I can't say without seeing it- but I will give you a good example. Advice please, please, please! (esp about walls) - thanks much!!

Your wall decor has too many little things. Remember to vary your decor- not all pictures- have a large item- like the mirror below. Balance that on another wall with some beautiful art- like the trees at the top. Then go ahead and make a wall of family photos- and a collection of smaller items. Have your family photos in sepia tones. Start by removing EVERYTHING from the room. Then only deliberately add items that go with your new updated look.

You mentioned a greenishness in your chairs- but with a solid gold rug- I would not go with a solid green wall. In a smaller room- like yours- be consistent- don't slpit your color pallet right in half. Go with a lovely gold grasscloth like the one above. This will also add texture and interest. Do this with a wainscot below. I would paint your woodwork the lightest shade of the wallpaper rather than white.

Now you need a unifier. Something that will bring the room together and keep it from being a bunch of separate items. You mentioned gold, black and a little green. I went with a black background for your drapery fabric- giving you a beautiful contrast with the walls. The black and gold will make everything "pop." You will love it. The photo below is a close up of the same fabric. Make sure your draperies are lined and weighted.

Your dining room will be amazing! Don't go skipping steps like the grasscloth, or wainscot- I know they are a lot of work- but are key to making the room really perfect. I didn't get a name in the e-mail- but good luck whatever your name is!

wall decor: Uttermost

grasscloth: designerwallcoverings.com

fabric: Beacon Hill

The Chair Rail Snob

Today- I interject in green. :)

Ok Christine,
Here's my dilemma.... I am trying to paint my dining room. I have picked out two colors Valspar - Khaki and Valspar - natural (both beige tones). I also have a white chair rail. If I want the room to look large, which color needs to go on the top?

Always always always the lighter color should go on the top. Not to make the room look larger- but it will- but otherwise the room will look off balance. Your dinner guests will feel unsettled- which cannot be good....Is it the Khaki which is darker or the natural which is lighter? Or do I need to ditch the chair rail all together and go with one color?
Thanks,
Heidi

Let me tell you what I think about chair rails. Heidi didn't submit a picture- so I am dissing strangers' rooms that I randomly found on the Internet today. The top three photos- I don't like any of them. The chair rail is chintzy and cheesy- and a pathetic excuse for woodwork. The rooms would look better without a chair rail in all of these rooms. Heidi- if yours looks like this- take it off.

The next two pictures, however, I like... What is the difference, you ask? It is hard for me to even tell- exactly- but this is consistent- the overall scale is better of the woodwork to the wall- including baseboard, trim and crown moulding. The very top picture is not terrible- they just really should have chosen larger pieces. The second and third are totally weak. Compare those to the photo below. This looks nice, huh? Can you see the difference? The difference is in size ands scale. Notice too, Heidi, how the darker shade is on the bottom. I find this Wedgwood bathroom charming. Again- nice scale to the trim.

What about a picture frame moulding? Same thing- the photo above- weak- bad-- take it off! The photo below- it looks like they still used small trim, but painted it to make it look larger- good move- it is not perfect- the crown moulding is still WAY too small- but it is markedly better than the photo above.

What do I prefer in a chair rail? A wainscot, of course.

This is much nicer isn't it? So- anyway- back to your dining room. Light colors, and mirrors will make it look larger- but if you happen to have a hutch and buffet in there that doesn't fit very well- take it out and it will look MUCH larger! You have to ask yourself, why you want it to look larger... perhaps it is actually furniture that is the wrong scale for the room. There- ask for a new set for Christmas.

A Weekend Project

What are you doing this weekend? Nothing- great. How about add some paneling in your home?

Select your master bedroom- or maybe your kitchen or living room...

What do you prefer- a raised panel, recessed panel, or a bead board?

Add a crown shelf- or don't. Paint it- or stain it...Do the entire wall- or only 2/3. Get busy!

The Perfect Romantic Dining Room

Frequent readers of my blog hear me harping about the boringness of drywall. Back east, where I grew up, homes had wood trim. For some reason, here in California, builders can get away with building million dollar homes that don't even have the windows trimmed out- let alone any paneling or wood beams in sight. (I won't get into the architecture itself today... ) Some of the older cities and towns have some charm however. Pasadena, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Montecito, San Francisco.... This picture is from my "Santa Barbara Design and Style" magazine. What a beautiful ceiling! The paneling and beams add a coziness and charm that cannot be under valued. The wood paneling with its aged washed finish is breathtaking! There is a lot to notice in this one dining room- the chandelier, elegant window treatments, table decor, antique fireplace, beautiful furnishings- what is your favorite aspect? Compare this dining room to your own, from this great example- what can you change in your own home?

Oh yes, and have you voted? ;) go here to vote.

And if you've written in a design question for me- go here. :)