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I just purchased this house and need help in deciding on a wall color and accent colors. Picture shows LR wall with fireplace, tongue and groove ceiling, white oak flooring. Adjacent wall has double french doors. Opens to DR and Kitchen. Kitchen has dark shaker style cabinets, granite countertops.

Hello and welcome to the boards CabinGirl.
COngrats on your new home.Love the ceiling and rock FP.I would of said a neutral beige but with all the wood tones and lovely leather furniture.You need color.This to me depends on your style.What sytle do you like?What setting is this home located in?Woods,country setting?

If this was my home,a beautiful sage or terracotta color.Then you can add colors of teal,blue and pops of other colors.I change seasonlly 3-4 times ayear.So i stay neutral on walls.Change curtains,art,pillows and decor.I changed my curtain panels today...tomorrow art & decor.Small changes but big impacts.

Keep us informed and with pics.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jackierenette,

Welcome CabinGirl!

I too love the ceiling and fireplace...also french doors of your new home. Your leather furniture compliments the ceiling and stone very well.

W/ the wood floors, ceiling and furniture all being warm wood tones, you need a colorful inspiration print to establish your scheme. This could be an area rug, window treatment, a fabric chair or even art. Project your scheme throughout your public spaces to a degree w/ built ins coloration in mind.

Since your woods and leather are warm w/ orange undertones, cool blues, greens, cool purples, blue-grays or teals tend to compliment them. When drawing the perfect wall color out from the inspirational print, consider the lighting (natural and artifical) and purchase sample paint to use on test board(s) which can be moved about this space to see how lighting impacts each color. Remember that once found, you need not use the same hue value as found in the inspirational print as long as you are in the family of the color. Also, contrast to ceiling/fireplace/furniture and flooring should be factors too. Keep in mind that the wall color should be a complimentary backdrop to your furnishings while evoking the feel you seek.

The print can also give you cues to colors you can carry onto adjoing spaces where the same rules of thumb apply. Not every color found in the print needs to be used in adjoining spaces and neutrals can always be viable candidates too. What color is the kitchen granite?

Your spaces, even if kept monochromatic, should feature some print and textural interest. Touches of metals/glass and black accents in addition will bring some sparkle or reflective surfaces and depth/drama to your spaces.

Shop for that all important inspirational print that compliments your furnishings, ceiling, fireplace (btw, this too is an inspirational palette source such as a blue/gray in the stone?), and floor and it will become the springboard for your entire first floor. Do know that an occasional accent can always be added in your spaces to keep things less matchy-matchy. If rooms are divided vs. open concept, they can feature different feels also as the flow of scheme (to a degree) will unite them.

Blessings in your new home.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,

Welcome.

Love the scale and features of your hew home. Here's a link from Houzz.com that might give you some ideas and inspiration: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks...-Style-in-California

I appreciate the responses. The link with photographs was very helpful. I was having trouble visualizing the strong colors, but love the terra cotta and blues. I have not yet learned how to upload more than one photograph at a time. I will certainly load pics when I have some color in the rooms. As you can see from this photo, the wall of windows usually grabs all the attention. Color will definately add some interest to the room itself. Thank you!

Frankly, I like the white walls. (You WERE asking about the walls weren't you?)
However, perhaps you would like to keep a monochromatic tone in which case a warm cream or ivory would be a bit brighter but still in keeping with the mono theme.
From there you can throw in all kinds of your favorite colors on rugs, paintings, accessories, etc.
It's a lovely looking room.
Enjoy your new home.

We have a ceiling alot like yours in our house. I LOVE your fireplace!! If you are looking for a nice green, I really like antique jade by Bejamin Moore. Stone House is another color that would look wonderful with your fireplace. It's sort of a dark beige color. Very warm and cozy!! You have a very pretty home!!