paint, paint, paint….
I’m having a real color dilemma with my new office. Of course, this is one of those dilemmas that would be much much easier if I were there and able to actually see the walls in person. But I can’t, so it’s these ideas are just going to swim around inside my head unfulfilled. urgh.
The problem with the office is the wood panelling. It’s on the lower half of the walls on three walls, and converges with the built-in bookshelves on another wall. That wall is the biggest problem, because there’s also a brick fireplace. Hmmm….. You can see one picture here, and the fireplace wall here. I don’t know what to do.
Our first thought was to take it down. But when we were visiting the house during inspection we realized it was actually real wood and not veneered cardboard (like all of the other wood panelling we had seen up to then). So it’s a tough call. It’s actually very nice wood panelling. I would hate to paint over or tear down real wood. I had thought about refinishing the wood, but making dark wood lighter is a difficult task. Especially if you can’t take the wood outside and lay it flat on the ground. It requires a very caustic bleaching system, and I just don’t want to do that on however many hundred square feet there are.
But I want the color of the room to be bright and colorful. I want a color that will spark creativity and not sleepiness. Instead of a relaxing family room (which is what it is now) I need it to be an energetic work/creative room. I don’t want to feel like I’m in a cave (although good lighting could probably offset that).
It’s also very frustrating not being able to find a color, since that’s normally something I’m pretty good at. Sigh.
May 17th, 2004 at 4:51 am
If you want the room to inspire creativity and work, I highly recommend against beige, gray, white, or tan. These are the colors in my office, and we have the combined creativity of a head of lettuce.
May 17th, 2004 at 8:26 am
I couldn’t agree more! (about the colors, not the creativity of your office!
I’m thinking of a deep red or a deep blue. Something really rich. And then brighten it up with a load of track lighting. Could be nice.
May 17th, 2004 at 8:49 am
Hey David,
May I suggest a pale yellow, something really creamy? I really think it would be much more cheerful than a dark red or blue which, though they are certainly vivid colors, will turn out a lot darker than you think in that room. If you’re looking to avoid a cave effect a lighter color is important. Also a pale buttery yellow will go well with wood. If you really don’t like that or the wood is too red for yellow, you could try a lighter terra cotta color. Or, and here’s a thought, you could go with wallpaper which would probably be my choice. I find that wallpaper is the best thing for a divided room like that and you can get great textures with it that could compliment the striping effect of the wood. Also, I’ve always loved to stare at the repeating patterns in the wallpaper when I’m stumped. I actually think it helps. I usually go for paper with more natural patterns like trees or birds, or something with a very subtle pattern like the watered silk look. But, in the end, whatever you want.
May 17th, 2004 at 9:57 am
I think I’m hoping that bold colors in this room will keep me awake
Plus, for the few times when I have clients over, choosing bold colors for the walls will subliminaly convince my clients that I make strong decisions.
And…eh…what can I say. Neither Jen nor I like wallpaper very much.
I did some photoshopping for potential colors (the dark green was suggested by somebody on an HGTV discussion board):
pics here