Open Floorplan. Need help choosing colors.
adenton02
Hi everyone, Ok, I need help. There is an open floor plan. Kitchen, dining room and living room is long and narrow. The kitchen is separated by a counter and ceramic tile floor. The other two rooms are hardwood floor and only separated by a couch, no separation in walls. I don't know how to paint my dining room and living room. The kitchen has only a little wall space (about a foot) above the cabinets. When you walk through the kitchen you meet a table and then a couch facing away towards a chair ,TV and window. I'm pretty set on a dark maroonish red for the kitchen. I want to know if there is any way to paint the dining and living room two different colors like putting some sort of casing or just painting it all one color. And what color would that be? Please help, I'm so stuck. Thanks.
ju-ju
I too have an open concept on my first floor, which is great because it makes my home feel larger than it really is. I too love color on the walls, but have resigned myself to paint most of the living spaces the same neutral shade. To break up the taupe shade I chose, I was able to paint two walls (one wall exclusive to my living room, the other the stairway wall) a deep chocolate shade. I was also able to paint my kitchen a soft silvery blue shade. It works because all of these colors look great together, and with my furniture and accessories (which tend to be coastally inspired). What colors do you have to work with? What colors are in the furniture pieces that you plan to use? And art work? etc. This could help you to narrow down your choices for the walls, but, I would keep the LR and DR the same shade to allow it to all flow as one open space.
adenton02
Furniture is dark. (dark brown with maroon and dark greens in it) Art work is earthy, outdoorsy. I like the deep chocolate idea with taupe on the other walls. And also have a stairway off of the LR, so I think I would like the deep choc. for that, too. Thank you so much.
seagrass
I think maroon red for a kitchen is fantastic. I've always wanted to do it myself, but you really have to have the right conditions. Warm colors in a kitchen are nice because it helps the kitchen look crisp and inviting. Maroon red with stainless steel accents really looks professional, especially if your cabinets are red, you have a light granite top and your appliances/backsplash are stainless steel/stamped metal. If you have light cabinets, I wouldn't go too dark, it'll just make your cabinets stand out too much. Plus, you don't want to paint your entire living space the same dark color. If I were you, I would try to make my own space partitions - there are a ton of ideas for that in magazines, website, etc. and use that to break up your spaces a bit so you can paint more than just one color. You could also do the accent wall thing, but I wouldn't make the accent in the kitchen unless you have a spectacular kitchen that's always clean and ready for photo shoot. If your living room and dining room share one long wall, maybe that can be your accent, and the rest a more neutral color.Some accent wall colors I really like: Warm squash yellow, pumpkin orange, any red, dark purple. I don't paint cold colors on accent walls, I think it looks too washed out, and nobody ever paints anything dark green anymore (for good reason). Dark blue is too depressing. So, (without knowing what your floorplan really looks like), you could paint your accent wall maroonish red, the rest of the walls a neutral warm taupe, or ivory, and the strip of wall in your kitchen maroon red. Just a thought, because I like your idea of the maroon red.
pookster_1
I have studied decorating. You say your couch is maroon. Remember...no dark walls where there are no windows. Furniture placement can make or break the environment. Use a lot of fabric. What is the theme? Old? Antique? Cottage? Newer? I say, Use pretty window treatments, let the light in this big area. A nice set of shelves or dish display on the wall goes nice in the dining area. Make it so you can feed the kids casually , and change napkins, set decor on a handy shelf....anywhere, a few folding tables, wood and painted come in handy...as well as simple wooden folding chairs for company...considered redoing an antique caliberabera? I made my own napkin holders, the nearest craft store has them unpainted, collage them, paint, stain, whatever...they save money...and they give a touch of elegance to those of us who aren't millionaires, as well as adding personality and color to your table...flowers. Mary Beth...........Oh, for pots and pans, near the cooking area...hand a old wooden ladder, refinished, or painted, add hooks and other...and hang all your pots and pans....I keep a old silver milk basket above my kitchen sink, comes down when I need to carry something, up, I place a nice dishcloth/towel, and lotion, in an old white glass bottle, and anti-bacterial wash...a decorative plate...under a narrow shelf...with a nice soap dish, a nice clear dish for my scrubbers, and good old hooks by it for scrubbers, if the mood hits me, I put the hanging things inside the doors of the kitchen sink...if you have a window opening between the rooms, a pretty sheer top looks nice...add doilies to the opening, and display...any thing...bottles of one color , diff styles....new....place a shelf to widen the area, set your pitcher, a stack of plates, a tray napkins, etc....all ready on a attractive tray to set the table with....a counter...an old dresser...take the top drawer out, if desired for leg room, paint, rug under....between sink and kitchen...again, mosaic, with old glass, or nice fabric with a mirror or glass on top....the side, add paper towel holder, hooks for egg beater...etc...things you use. coffee cups...add two inexpensive stools, add fabric, quilted to the top, staple to under, and with, extra space...I always hand a cutting board, keep my trays, extra napkins, etc, in the drawers, and on the side where I take out a drawer, on the from I glue it back on, the back, I add a small curtain, so the knees fit better...lots of places have left over counter topping, fit that, or whatever...myself, shame, I hide my ashtray, and cigs in the drawer, cause I have cut down, I only smoke after I do dishes, yuck, who likes to do dishes? Thus, I ;smoke so much less, because I know the dishes have to be done before ....almost quit. Cookbooks, etc...go in the extra space and you and the hubby can sit and have coffee on a stool...cozy, huh? I Also, sew lots of things on cheap dish towels...ric/rac, lace, ribbon, etc, to add a nicer touch. I make dish towels out of wash clothes. Take 4-6 sew together, find an old absorbing towel for the back. On your seams, try decorative sewing, and the color combos...cheap, easy...and hung wash cloth side out, new and decorative. I have a classy quilt hung in my dining area. I have used quilts for table clothes...with plain color fabric ( make them too. ) place mats...when these wear out...great for dust rags, when you tire of the color add lace use for living room, add lace, or a nice doily or women's hanky to the middle, good coverings for tables, decorative. I love chair covers...I make them reversible...so I can have all one color or mix and match for fun...two sets, one, I make with new white sheets, and add light decorative sewing, make them skirted, and of course, use lots of the stuff you spray on for no staining, again, i am blank....working all night...you know what I mean....I keep little plastic plates of all colors with a small table, with plastic cover...a table cloth, plastic, and stapled or tacked safely to the bottom of the kids table... plain, with wash off markers for k
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