I always enjoy House Beautiful‘s colour column where they canvas designers about their favorite paint hues and brands. Naturally, when I saw that the magazine had produced a special collection of those articles, I picked up a copy. With my new apartment in mind, I devoured the issue and oddly, only one colour really hit me between the eyes; it was designer Philip Nimmo’s recommendation of Benjamin Moore’s North Creek Brown 1001, above right.
“This dark, warm, rich bronze is very, very sexy,” contends Nimmo. “It can take a room from casual to sophisticated. It works really well with metal furniture. I’ve put purple and lavender, yellow and orange up against it, and they really set each other off. And artwork looks amazing on dark walls.”
Like a lot of people, I fantasize about going dark but when it comes time to start rolling, I chicken out and opt for a safer choice.
One of my challenges right now is balancing my beautiful 1940s chinoiserie cabinet, which is opposite the sofa wall I featured yesterday. I’m hoping that painting the opposing wall in a dark colour will provide a counterweight to the cabinet. Furthermore, there’s an entire wall of west-facing windows and nearly all of the furniture and carpeting is cream coloured so I think there will still be enough lightness.
And then there’s the Gambrel factor. Steven Gambrel is one of my favorite interior designers and the Gambrel rooms below have always inspired me with their dark, masculine mystique.
In fact, I chose my new coffee table — two side tables placed end to end — below, because they struck me as being very Gambrel-esque. Scored on Craigslist for $50 (the pair) they’re among the few new items in my space and I’m definitely loving them.
When my Mom saw my post about the Wormley-esque chairs — which turned out to be supremely uncomfortable, by the way — she said, “Your place looks like it’s really coming along; it’s so light and bright.” Uhm, not for much longer. I’m on my way to the paint store now . . .
July 3rd, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Hi Chris—The colour of your preference would be quite a statement–a good one!I did see one thing that I would like to see changed–a small one–and that being raising your artwork above your couch to the same level as your chrome bookstands that flank the sofa.For some reason,I feel that the eye would not take a “dip” in looking at that wall.I love your artwork and the colours you have worked with.Good luck and please keep posting!
July 3rd, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Hey Chris
just so you know, i follow and recommend your blog to everyone.
I am a friend of a friend of your’s… re; cafe chairs you have.
Anyway, felt compelled to send you a comment…GO FOR IT!
Paint it, nice and dark. you have loads of sunlight..so the darker the better. Then live with it. What’s the worse that could happen? You paint it again… I say it’s worth the risk…kinda like getting your hair cut… if you don’t like it, it will always grow back again.
You won’t know till you take the leap.
Good Luck! post a pic when you are done.
Sylvia
July 3rd, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I was so inspired by designer Philip Nimmo’s recommendation of Benjamin Moore’s North Creek Brown that I’m currently painting my “upstairs sitting room” this gorgeous colour. The room is actually a small, dark bedroom that I’ve decided to turn into a room where I can read and watch TV, and I’ve decided to embrace, rather than fight, it’s darkness. Art and metal furniture do indeed look beautiful against North Creek Brown.
July 3rd, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Thanks for the encouragement. I’ve bought the paint and will definitely post about the result. I have lots of metal in the room and of course, orange, so I’m trusting that Nimmo is right.
Joan, you are absolutely right about the height of the artwork. In fact, the piece is presently resting on a console table, which is related to tomorrow’s post. I completely agree that the painting needs to come up and I’m not even sure that the inch and a half that would bring it level with the étagères will be enough. But that is my intention. Stay tuned . . .
July 3rd, 2010 at 9:11 pm
The new place is looking fab and I can’t wait to see pictures post paint. I’ve always loved dark, rich walls but I’m not very brave so I’m testing the colour on a bathroom for now. Maybe your pictures will inspire me to do more…
July 4th, 2010 at 8:50 am
Chris!
LOVE the “coffee table”! two years on and i am STILL searching for the perfect end tables for my living room.
July 4th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
You are a more courageous person than I – I’ve been thinking of creating an accent wall of a darker tone myself. I will allow you to be the forerunner and the inspiration.
July 6th, 2010 at 4:05 am
Hi Chris,
I noticed you have what looks like a Flokati rug… I’m in the market for one and was wondering which weight you have (2000-4000?) since marketing pictures are so unreliable. Also is it really that hard to clean?
Thanks in advance!
Ching
PS. just stumbled on your blog today and have already lost an hour just browsing :) definitely making it a regular!
July 6th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Hi Ching,
I have posted about flokati rugs before, please see this link for care and feeding instructions: http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2008/08/house-of-flokati/ and also http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2009/03/this-rug-is-delicious/
Regarding weights, I have had light, medium and super heavy flokatis and while they’re all great, you can REALLY feel the difference; buy the heaviest one you can afford. I have found them on Craigslist, at church sales and thrift shops and they clean up fantastically well. I use the pre-soak cycle with lots of Oxy and wash with Woolite. The very dirty second-hand ones had to be done in hot water in order to really get the dirt out; you lose a little in shrinkage but I’d rather have a slightly smaller clean rug than a slightly larger soiled one. Best of luck and let me know how you make out.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
I have been reading you sight for a little while now. I started in September when my partner and I decided to start looking for a house (to buy). We bought it in October, moved in Jan 15 and ended our relationship May 23. I am moving out.
You small updates about your apartment hunt, and the other comments alluding to the break up have helped me more than I can possibly tell you.
He stole my dream, not just my house but you made me smile.
thank you and PS my new apartment is 520 sq ft:)
July 12th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Wow, what a dramatic difference. You definately got it right. It makes the room look much warmer and richer. I am always so scared to use dark colours but I think you have changed my mind about that