My SIl wants to paint her dining room a warm brown color (medium shade) and she's having trouble finding a good color. Can anyone recommend a good one?
Does anyone have any pictures???
Happily married and mom of 4 Central maryland - Zone 7
Posts: 4403 | Location: Maryland, USA | Registered: Jun 28, 2004
Keep in mind that your sister's room lighting conditions will impact how a color reads. That being said, what may work ideally in someone's home, may be off in hers. This is why viewing chips under the natural and artificial lighting of her dining room is essential. For a warm brown, look to those w/ red, orange or yellow undertones. She should also keep her furniture coloration, flooring and trim in mind. Contrast to furnishings while complimenting them is key. Perhaps she has an inspirational piece right under her nose. If there's a printed area rug, drapery, a china pattern or a painting used in this space, it may give her color cues.
Posts: 7518 | Location: Right here, duh! ;) | Registered: Nov 03, 2005
Thanks for responding. I guess I should have mentioned that she did get several paint samples and wasn't happy with them. That's why I was looking for some good colors, so she could get a bigger variety of samples.
I helped her with her master bedroom last year. She went through 12 differnet paint colores before she found one she liked.
Happily married and mom of 4 Central maryland - Zone 7
Posts: 4403 | Location: Maryland, USA | Registered: Jun 28, 2004
I can understand her frustration. What's her sun exposure? What colors are her furnishings and flooring? This may assist those who have brown rooms w/ similar factors to narrow down your search. BTW, if all else fails, she can shop for a tablecloth or patterned drapery featuring a brown she loves that works in her room. She can then match a chip to that brown (hue values can vary as long as it's the same family of browns) under her room's lighting conditions. Again, she must factor in contrast from walls to furnishings.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,
Posts: 7518 | Location: Right here, duh! ;) | Registered: Nov 03, 2005
I really like Bitter Chocolate by Behr. It really looks like chocolate and as you paint you would swear it smells like chocolate... That weird brain visual/smell association I guess. It's a bit darker maybe than what you want, but it's fabulous.
Hot Chocolate by Pantone is like a cup of dark, European hot chocolate.
Tinder Box by Glidden is a deep, rich brown.
Sable by Pantone almost has a subtle purplish undertone, in this deep rich, brown.
Soft Copper by Glidden is a warm and deep brown and is as warming as a cup of hot chocolate.
Tamarind Fruit by Behr is a different animal than the Iced Expresso. This medium-dark paint color has a tinge of red, and is reminiscent of freshly dug garden soil.
Sorrel Brown by Behr is a rich, versatile brown that looks like pleasantly-burn caramel. Pair this interior home color with Behr's lighter Sesame or with the tan Jute. Add the barely mauve Tandoori Spice by Behr to complete the fall palette.
Nutmeg by Pantone is almost a grayed deep brown color.
a warm brown color (medium shade) and she's having trouble finding a good color. Can anyone recommend a good one?
Two ideas are Friar's Robe 11-18 from Pratt & Lambert. and... If that one is too dark, take a look at Lodge from Ben Moore's Affinity Collection #AF-115.
Complex browns, much like complex grays, are your best bet. Mud is mud, but a good brown mixed right can be spectacular and wildly flexible with all kinds of other colors. It's important that she likes the color, that she thinks the brown per se is pretty in her space. The rest will take care of itself.
Here's a picture of my favourite brown room - made me want to repaint my master bedroom right away. The colour is Coco by Devine Color. The designer is Janell Beals.
