Paint color help for Country House with T&G Fir ceiling
Hi There -
My husband and I have bought a cute little place in the country (built 1961). We love the T&G fir ceilings with huge beams and beat up oak floors. There is also a huge old brick fireplace.
My quandary of the moment is what color to paint the interior walls. The living room has a huge, shaded, west facing window. this window generates big heat in the summer afternoons, and makes it cold in the winter. So far since the season has changed, it is also very dark. I'm hoping that will change when the trees drop their leaves.
I haven't started decorating, as we are a ways off from moving in. However, I need to get some drapes up for temperature control. Since I don't want any drapes that would natch the peach walls, I want to paint.
I like taupes. I want a color that will contrast well with the ceiling and floor and look great with my mostly brown furniture. I currently use mostly cranberry accent color - but am thinking of going to a dark teal color as accent. I like some of the neutral grays, but am worried that they may seem to cold in the winter when there's not much natural light. If we go with something warmer, I think it will be too warm in the summer with the wood walls and ceiling.
Help!
My husband and I have bought a cute little place in the country (built 1961). We love the T&G fir ceilings with huge beams and beat up oak floors. There is also a huge old brick fireplace.
My quandary of the moment is what color to paint the interior walls. The living room has a huge, shaded, west facing window. this window generates big heat in the summer afternoons, and makes it cold in the winter. So far since the season has changed, it is also very dark. I'm hoping that will change when the trees drop their leaves.
I haven't started decorating, as we are a ways off from moving in. However, I need to get some drapes up for temperature control. Since I don't want any drapes that would natch the peach walls, I want to paint.
I like taupes. I want a color that will contrast well with the ceiling and floor and look great with my mostly brown furniture. I currently use mostly cranberry accent color - but am thinking of going to a dark teal color as accent. I like some of the neutral grays, but am worried that they may seem to cold in the winter when there's not much natural light. If we go with something warmer, I think it will be too warm in the summer with the wood walls and ceiling.
Help!
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Good storm windows and caulking and weatherstripping help, and closing insulated blnds and drapes at night also help, and keeping them down in the summer heat helps as well.
I like taupe/greige type colors or antique white--nuetrals that have a bit of warmth in them, but don't feel hot in the summer. My house had butter yellow walls, ceiling and shag carpet when we moved in August, and that was a bit much on a hot day.
When the previous owners re-roofed, they added that sheet insulation, which helps. The windows are newer so that helps. What doesn't help is that there is central heating that has only two vents. So the house gets COLD in the winter. It actually stays pretty cool in the summer until late afternoon, then it's hot.
In my old house, I used the accent color on drapes and a couple of pillows. Since I want to get drapes now, I'm trying to figure out colors. I'm also having trouble figuring out the right fabric as I can't go formal on this house. Velvet looks so great for insulation...but won't cut it here.
Nest series of postings will be about the kitchen re-do and then the master bed/bath re do.
Think hard before tearing it all out--could be a gem in the rough! Don't know where you live (Australia?) but RetroRenovation.com is a fun website with loads of info on older kitchens--most are on the funky side.
We could use a fan for both winter and summer but..... I have a hard time thinking about adding something like that. The ceilings are high, but not that high, I don't think it would be aesthetically pleasing. That said, give me a couple more seasons, I may get over my aesthetic.
Husband is nixing my gray ideas, I need to buy some samples so I can actually get some big patches on the walls.
We are in Northern California, in Yolo county. It is very rural farming community. It gets HOT in the summer.
The kitchen..... We will be downsizing from a 3200 sq foot house with a laundry room and pantry to a 1500 sq ft house. I need every inch of that kitchen to be functional. All of the big lowers have enormous wasted space and the appliances are 1961 originals. So, while I agree that aside from the washer/dryer, I could live with the look, it really just wont function.
Here's where I get in trouble... I start adding space, knocking down walls. On the other side of the dining area exterior wall, is covered a patio with the same ceiling. I am itching to knock down that wall, use most of the current kitchen as a mud/laundry room, and move the kitchen into the dining area. Here's a photo of the patio... Unfortunately this house is so cute...I could spend big money tailoring it to our needs. I just don't have those big bucks at the moment.