apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Black. Take a look at yesterday's AT post on black rooms. You already have the haute-sophisticate feel of those rooms going on with your furnishings. Why not go all the way?

I would suggest going with a rust or sunset colored orange. It would harmonize well with the wood colors you have, plus it would go nicely with the cremes and blues ( I think it looks like you have light blue in there and if you don't then it would look nice) you already have in the room. It would also look very nice with the room divider. I think chocolate brown might look nice as well but it would be dark so I don't know, love the room as it is though.

I think bright whites often make a space look cold. What about a turquoise color?

Oh. I just realized this is a room you use for work in the daytime. In that case, I second turquoise.

With that beautiful red screen, I would go with a green. Something vibrant and rich - even if the overall value is technically dark, the brilliance of the color pop will make it feel brighter - especially with a white wall and white round rug. Turquoise, as alysaaria suggests, could work, or even range into the emerald zone. All the light colored furniture will really stand out too.

I agree with your first instinct to go with brilliant white. I think it would set off the delicate colours of your furniture perfectly, and also show off the stronger coloured pieces and your wooden floor very well too.

I have my whole house in brilliant white and it's not cold at all (the back faces south but the front faces chilly north). I think non-brilliant whites can look gloomy and or cold, but brilliant white has an inherent brightness that keeps it warm (I discovered this when I got a second tin of paint from a different place and it was "normal" white and looked terrible).

I love your triple mirror frame, very unusual and also very graphic (and would also look great against brilliant white, I think).

Bright white always looks good... or you could try an ivory cream colour, it'd go well with your elegant furnishings and add light to the room.

very light gray

I used Decorator's White, and it looks warm, as idontdobeige mentioned. I used the Aura matte, and it has a velvety quality to it that frames the other colours in my decor.

or a soft pale grey, picking up on all the silvery tones.

pale cool grey (leaning blueish or green), or a matte white

I agree with mattab and dash - light grey!

I also concur with the light silvery gray.

Another vote for gray. Ours is Ralph Lauren's Artist's Studio.

gray!

I think grey would look nice and give you a very cool, modern room that's very on trend. Personally, though, I like to work in warm rooms during the day, so I might go to the other side of the spectrum with a golden or buttery color. There was a post a while back where the homeowner (a guy) did butter colored walls with pale blue accents in a bedroom and it was quite warm and elegant.

merlot

I would do one wall espresso brown and the other white or some other neutral color. Right now your furniture is very light with that pastel palette and you need something warmer and heavier to balance it out.

I was going to say black and then I see the first post recommends black also. Black! I think I would be very elegant. It will make the chrome much more glam.

I personally love the dusky colors you chose for the upholestry. To me it looks warm and inviting and cozy - and I'd be tempted to paint the walls a dark color.

However, if you want to keep that warm vibe, then go with a soft white. If you prefer a cooler vibe, try a soft grey.

I am in the gray contingent but I think it's worth getting samples of both and giving yourself time to look at each for a few days.

A light color would work--light gray as has been suggested. However, are you really against the current hue? I quite like it!

Look at your furnishings. Light rug, light table, light chair, white background on the pics. I'd go with a bold colour to set off the lighter furniture. Nothing too dark though, as then your darker pieces will get lost.

A touch of apple-green would set off the burnt orange in that foldy-thing next to the sofa. See what was done here. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/room-for-color-2009/katies-apple-green-studio-room-for-color-east-10-097777 .

And yes, bright white would definitely be too stark.

I actually like the color you already have there.

A silver grey and then accesorize with a bit more red. POW!

a very soft GREY!!!!!!!!

a nice gray would work for sure, but if you want to do something a bit different i'm liking the turquoise or green suggestions. since you have some red accents but also the pink chaise, hold up some chips before you take the plunge.

On the walls: Benjamin Moore OC-53 Horizon - a very pale gray; For the trim: all white, BMoore Decorator's white would be nice. Would be a great backdrop for your many silver pieces! Very Hollywood glam! Gorgeous pink sofa!!!!!
Some hot pink accents, like cushions, would add a little oomph...just a suggestion..

medium-deep grey.

I also think turquoise would look nice, and bring attention to all those pretty reds.

Another vote for gray!

charcoal or the green of earlier posters. the current palette is a bit blah.

I think you have enough suggestions for the walls, but would you mind sharing where you got the chaise and what brand it is? I love it! Thanks.

I've used a color from Ben moore, 1557 Silver Song that is fantastic. A light blue grey. That color will really make the screen pop, too.

black would be great.

My first thought was aubergine, chocolate or charcoal. Sometimes if you don't have much light, it's just better to go with it and embrace the cozy. Here's a list of sexy colors from House Beatiful that would look great in there, I think. HouseBeautiful.com has a great color section, if you haven't seen it before.

If you do go with a lighter color, Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter is a really beautiful and complex grey.

Gray !!!!
Silver Drop by Behr would looks stunning.
and it is very very light

Thanks for all these suggestions!

It's interesting how people are reading the colors in the furniture. The chaise lounge is actually a creamy beige with a warm almost peachy cast to the nap. The chair that some read as blue, is a very very pale grey-sage.

I'm having a hard time imagining the turquoise, but I'll have to think on that one!

First choice: white
Second choice: dusty rose

I'd go grey too.

Answer to eljayw:
Unfortunately the chaise is a discontinued piece that I bought from a leather furniture showroom room near the SF Design Center that is now closed down. There were two lonely pieces in this cropped cream mohair fabric in a sea of leather. Sorry I can't be of more help, eljayw.

Is there a way to center the couch on that wall better and then paint that wall/alcove a dramatic charcoal? Then do the other walls a pale blue-ish gray. I agree that you need a little drama, and the gray will still go with the hall, etc.

Oh, and you need to move the curtain rod down or get longer curtains. If you get new ones, get a graphic patter in a bold color (red or chocolate).

I think if you want to be subtle, I 1000th grey. But if you want to be BRAVE, I would go for a deep navy blue. The colors you've chosen for your furniture remind me of dawn in the middle of winter (beautiful!!)... so with that in mind, grey would be snow and ice. But the navy blue would be like the color of the sky in the west at sunrise.

A pale, lovely gray. For sure.

pale gray. it would give a similar look to stark white, but add some depth & warmth.

Ah well. Thanks anyway!

Excellent suggestion aj914! I could move that chaise to be more centered and I bet a dark color would make it feel more like an alcove. And, you've busted me on the short curtain - I haven't gotten that far yet!

Go with a Dark Grey..

I say a nice warm light grey that matches the chair in front.

Definitely a rich, dark color. Beyond that, it is really your personal preference.

When I saw the photos, I immediately thought of a turquoise or a deep peacock blue. Blue is underappreciated as a neutral, I think. The right blue (warmed with a hint of green) it would work with all the fabrics in your room. Brown could also be nice. I like the idea of black, but I think some of your accessories would disappear against it. You'd have to make some other changes in order for black to work. I'd stay away from anything with a lot of red, as I think it would overwhelm your lovely screen, which is a great focal point.

White and pale colors (such as the pale gray many suggested) look best when you have good natural light. Since the room does not get good light, a better option is to go with the dark and play it up. You'll have a terrific feeling room. A dark, sophisticated look is great for San Francisco (not to mention the warmth such a look would impart!).

Oh, and I'd do it glossy. Like a lacquer.

turquoise! If only to set off that red cabinet.

How about something similar to the light blue of the chair?

THANK you for all these suggestions -- it's terrific input.
I'm still having a hard time imagining turquoise. Can someone point me to an example of a shade of turquoise that you feel would work?

turquoise or a blue light gray.
One of my bedrooms is blue gray and I find it absolutely soothing and calming.

If you decide to go black, I would suggest instead some rich dark navy.

pale pink, if your husband gasps, pale gray with a light blue tint

I'm always the one to answer silver grey, while everyone else is suggesting something more colorful.

BUT.......

in this instance, I think a nice ice blue (light, slivery... not too blue) would be perfect.

This kind of deep peacock blue-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44713708@N00/3278724673/in/set-72157618924915372/

I was looking at the Benjamin Moore site and these are the range of colors I was thinking: Juniper, Tropical Turquoise, Jade Garden, or Ming Jade. Of course, with computer monitors, I'm sure colors vary drastically. And each room holds color and light in different ways.

Black is an intriguing suggestion. Except your armoire is already black. I would definitely go for a peacock blue or turquoise blue (but not a minty or tropical blue... something more shaded). I think it would contrast well with everything you've got and be the most dramatic and interesting choice.

@Carolk -- If the colors of your furniture are different from what we're seeing in the picture, then turquoise might NOT work after all. I thought (from my screen) that your chair was ice blue and the chaise was ballet-slipper pink.

So I'm back to voting for black, although silver would be extremely elegant too.

I'm in the process (painting break as we speak) of painting my living room with BM's Decorators White... it is anything but stark. When I began I had Pratt and Lambert Super One Coat Int. swatches which are as white as you can get really. The Decoraters almost looked dirty next to it, but in a good way.

it's got a great deco vibe!
NOT white....
gray, silver, dark blue.... anything but white!

@chris_94131: funny you should say 'deco vibe'. I'm searching for an early 30s deco executive desk to replace the large black computer hutch.

I suggest ditching the paint idea and do a great wallpaper with a metallic tone to reflect light. Something like any of these would look awesome in your room (you have fabulous furniture, btw!):
http://www.bouf.com/photo/product/382/1

http://www.mspmag.com/images/trendalert/asset_upload_file128_35411.jpg

this one isn't metallic, but it would look great in your office: http://www.orangebeautiful.com/blog/pics/1791.jpg

@desireeg:
Those metallic papers are gorgeous! I fear they'd clash with the gold and copper leafing in the screen.

i want the computer hutch when you get your new desk!

Blue. Use that chair as inspiration for your palette. A cool steely blue would look really great on the walls.

Light grey or a earthly light green with grey undertones

Frankly, your furniture is so gorgeous that anything short of purple polka dots would probably look good.

I change my vote I say go for the wallpaper those are awesome and it would look great with the deco vibe if you pick the right paper.

White is always right. And if it isnt, you have a good base for another color.

But really - do try it. It will look very bright for the first days, but once it's completely dry and you have moved your furniture back in place it will look better.

I would go with a dusty, mid hue purple. Leaning more toward red than blue.

The furniture in my bedroom is of a very similar color scheme, dark woods, sage, warm creams, and white. The purple looks lovely against the green, and the color looks even better at night. The purple is behind my headboard, everything else is a warm white.

I would try "Sea Lavender" by Ralph Lauren, or possibly "Spun Twilight"

http://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/rlhome/products/paint/items.asp?haid=121

A light, clean gray. I chose mine from the Pantone Swatchbook.