We just moved into a home with an open floor plan - Entryway leads right into the great room with high pitched ceilings (18ft), the wall opposite the entryway is ALL windows overlooking a lake. It faces South. The Kitchen is adjacent to the room, there is also a LARGE bay window overlooking the lake. Do I paint this large space all one color? My husband thinks we should paint it a very light color so it doesn't distract from the view, but I'd like to make it warm and inviting.
We are thinking SW Antique White for the Great Room, Entry Way, and SW Morning Sun for the Kitchen. Will this look weird.
MTA: We have crown molding around all the entryways, pass through areas, and around the baseboard, not around the ceiling.
The only general rule of thumb in open floor plan is that the wall that multiple areas share is painted one color. Both your SW selections are very similar and look like they have pink undertones. Both are neutral and somewhat on the cool side. If wanting to stay neutral but on the warmer side, a paint color with yellow undertones would warm things up a bit.
You don't mention the colors in your decor. But, if wanting to stay neutral and warm things up, look at Tea Light, Hinoki, Buff, Concord Buff, Dromedary Camel, White Raisin.
RE; painting it a light color so it does not distract from the view. We have windows overlooking the lake too. Because of the light coming in from the window the wall with the windows will always appear darker than the rest of the walls because it does not get the light. I tried painting it an even lighter color and it still looks dark. So I experiemented. If you paint the rest of the room light and the wall that the windows are on dark it will make the view the focal point. I know it sounds odd but it works. Since you are going with neutrals you might try a camel or dark tan on the window wall.
Posts: 1267 | Location: North MN & Northern AR | Registered: Oct 01, 2002
