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ASVInteriors Grey could work with both the current colour and if you painted the trim white
family photo wall
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decoenthusiaste Ben Moore's color of the year is Lemon Sorbet, if you want a light yellow.

Barnhart Gallery Hello Chloe -- That is a magnificent piece of furniture, the lyre base table with a flame mahogany top. That would be a travesty to paint. Your woodwork however, meh -- take a brush to it, and let the table be the star of the show. I think a sisal runner would look sharp here too...

Andrea Prasch I agree wit you a light yellow will not really work here. I love the first photo ASV interiors posted and think it would work with your flooring.

Barnhart Gallery Ahh, see how great that table is? I'd clear it for one strong choice -- fabulous floral arrangement of three types of flower or less, an antique clock, or something sculptural. Walls I'd make closer to neutral than you currently have, whether it's a gingery soft yellow, grey, or camel, maybe. (Cursor over photo to see all.)

sjkingston You might test Benjamin Moore's Calming Cream. It's an off white that looks a subtle yellow but changes with light so it never looks dated. Has an undertone that works well with wood tones and tan/camel carpets. When set off by white trim (try Swiss Coffee) its a classic. http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/calmingcream.

julielen i've always wanted black and white stairs. Can't say I like the purple walls in the one picture at all, but a grey or beige or off-white would work for me

[houzz=Stewart St. entry]

[houzz=classic stairs with panelling]

ChloeM Thank you - I had always thought of grey as dull, but it looks fantastic in the pictures you've posted, and timeless. I have always loved stair carpets fitted using stairrods - will have to see what condiion the wood is in :)

Marie Flanigan Interiors A very muted yellow might look cheerful! Especially since the wood has warm tones in it!

julielen just a thought... I recently took out stair carpet rods (they were old and ugly and runner had to go anyway). But for the length of time I was living with them - they really collect dust and grime and dirt. They were a magnet for pet hair and dust bunnies. This is our only stair case and we go up and down a lot. Regular vacuuming with an attachment didn't get some stuff out from behind them.

I"m waiting to refinish my stairs, but if I do go with a runner again, I'll pass on the rods.

cheryldalluhn There may not be wood under your carpet like the other photos show so wait to pick out paint until you find carpet you like, in my opinion I would not paint the wood on stairs unless you are going to do all the trim everywhere else. a grey with a bit of a blue hue would look very fresh !

Barnhart Gallery julielen good point about the rods -- I photoshopped in the best example of a sisal staircase I could find to go with Chloe's table and it happened to have them, but doesn't need to. And the treads wouldn't have to be white either if there's nice wood under there.

ChloeM Thanks for all your input - have loads to think about now. Have seen some lovely striped carpets - was thinking I could maybe bring in blue and dark brown, with pale blue/grey walls?

Barnhart Gallery Not sure I love it with the table, but perhaps I'm obsessing on making it the star and everything else the backdrop. Maybe give the table a new home (mine!) in another room (mine!) and then work from the colors in this carpet if it's what you like. They're not completely mutually exclusive if you want a sort of Newport look (RI, CA, wherever...) but will be a little tricky to sell as a pair...

...well okay, you challenged me to see how it would look, and now I'm sold!

ChloeM :) Was having a rethink when I saw your comment earlier but I do love that seaside-y look... Thank you for making the image come alive - I am no good with computers!

Valvorie Dunn Commenting so I can follow. :-)

cc I think just to start with this space I would prep the room for paint. You really just have to go to a really nice cream or white just to fresh it up. It seems a little dark. I love the flooring though!!! I would also look at replacing your interior doors and an idea would be to restain your skirting trim to tie in with the wooden floor. That would be my starting point. Then I would reassess where you are at - then tackle the stair case. I would also take away your runners and put one rug at the bottom. Do you like having pictures in the house? because I think a gallery wall down the stair area would be fun rather than down the hall way.

aniluap2 If you want to update definitely change the shade on your lamp to a drum shade or a simple flair shade without the fringe as this dates your room.

ChloeM Great point cc - I always get carried away with the finished look and don't pay enough attention to detail as I go along. The lamp shade will have to go - any ideas along the Newport theme?

Barnhart Gallery (I believe somewhere there's a photo of me in Newport wearing a lamp shade...)

aniluap2 Hysterical Barnhart galleries! We all need to look on the light side

Barnhart Gallery The light side -- as in a lamp?

Debra Gunstanson You can't go wrong with grey even wainscoting top dark and bottom a tad lighter ?????

aniluap2 I meant the light side of life...a lame attempt at a pun

Barnhart Gallery I know, ditto! :)

cc So give me 12hrs and I had to come back and post.... this is really what I have in mind.. keeping the concept of your timber and really lightening it up. So if you can envision something like this with the timber you have... It could be a way to go. But I'm still with my idea of replacing doors, paint job and restaining your skirting... I would love to see what's under the carpet... Is it concrete or timber?

cc and can we just take note of this cute little ledge... the concept I adore to go in the hallway. could go over that heating vent you have there...

ChloeM cc - I love the ledge - would camouflage ugly radiator perfectly :) Won't get back to the house for 2 weeks - now I have so many ideas I'm really frustrated! Will let u know what lurks under the carpet as soon as I get the chance - do you think I should stain wood trims and new doors lighter or just go for white?

Gallery walls - should pics have same frames or a mixture of texture and colour? Thinking uniform may suit this hallway best?

Valvorie Dunn I would paint them, Chloe. Since the hall is so narrow I would frame & mat the same.

cc Look... In all honestly my personal opinion is paint them. I actually really dislike 60s brown. That's why I mentioned restaining, but lets be practical... That's a whole lot of work to restain but the time and effort could be worth it.

About the gallery wall. I think two rows of frames - like the picture I posted with the ledge would suit quite nicely. To be honest in all the design magazines I've been reading lately. I haven't seen a single mismatched framed gallery wall. To me that means I'm safe to say that mismatched isn't the way to go. The illusion of the frames evenly spaced and in line will make the hallway longer. I'm trying to find you a nice rug online and a concept for the entry where your table is now and the next bit we have to look at is lighting.

Do you think you could describe what it looks like if you were down the hallway looking at the front door? Or if you have a picture?

Valvorie Dunn What about painting your walls Farrow & Ball Matchstick & trim in White Tie ( said you wanted a light yellow originally). If you don't have a Farrow & Ball you can order their color guide & have it matched. Their colors are timeless & that would really lighten up the hallway w/out looking fuddy-duddy. Not to mention your crouch mahogany popping off of it!

Valvorie Dunn http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Hand-woven-Country-Living-Reversible-Tan-Braided-Rug-23-x-12/5756935/product.html This is a braided rug but the colors & stripes are very "Newport" & it would look great with sisal.

Lkristine These possibilities are to identify with the character of your home.......Replace your lamp shade, not the base, and then find some dark bronze ribbon to wrap around the bottom/and or/ top of the shade. (this keeps your lamp base for personality, character and choice. ) http://www.lampsplus.com/products/white-horizontal-pleat-lamp-shade-15x16x11-spider__20281.html You may want to consider replacing your flush mount lighting with something like this as well, http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Indoor-5-light-Antique-Bronze-White-Shade-Flush-Mount-Chandelier/5152198/product.html You could paint your walls something similar to BM sombrero, and the ceilings, a slightly diluted version of this paint to tie everything together. I would absolutely NOT do any rug with stripes running vertically in this space. Horizontal stripes and balance of style will widen the room visually and adapt to what you might like. Example rug that can be purchased in a runner, http://www.wayfair.com/Bashian-Rugs-Verona-Floral-Sediments-Aqua-Rug-R130-AQ-LC127-QKD2524.html Then find an oval shaped mirror that combines everything to hang on the main wall of the vertical walkway. Example, http://www.wayfair.com/Cal-Lighting-Sartene-Oval-Polyurethane-Frame-Mirror-with-Beveled-Glass-in-Argent-WA-2151MIR-CG1644.html

ChloeM cc - thank you again for your advice. The frony door is white pvc with glass panels to either side, there is about 1m beyond the table you see in the picture. I was sold on grey blue but am now having doubts - thank you Valvorie for reminding me where I started out! Matchstick is a great colour, my only reservation is that so many homes over here are magnolia from top to bottom - I would like something fresh, a little different. But still hanker for warm and inviting... Lkristine - I love your ideas and vertical stripes would make the space look very narrow. I guess I was relying on the carpet being a feature as I don't have a large space to work with. Barnhart Gallery suggested early on that I make the table the main feature - now searching for something stunning to place on it. I'd love to think I would always have a beautiful fresh floral arrangement but it's not going to happen!!! I love the rug and mirror - so much to think about....

cc Just wondering . Is there any room to the right? Could work shifting your table if you said you wanted your staircase to be the highlight..

ChloeM There isn't but I'm not sure that I want to put a feature carpet on the stairs anymore - I'm too cowardly for big patterns and as Lkristine pointed out vertical stripes may make space look too narrow... Have been researching my picture frames - hoping to print a series of family photos in black and white for them :) - cannot wait to get back into the house and do something a bit more practical though!

cc Hoping to hear an update soon :)

Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. Pale yellow isn't a good colour for your hardwood floors.

White with a touch of yellow or green/gray undertone is always a nice compliment to your light hardwood floors.

I'd add wainscotting (or applique) to your hallways and stairwell to lighten and brighten.
the problem with them currently is there is too much of your accent blue tone. By adding wainscotting you'll raise the feeling of elegance in your home while lightening and brightening.

aniluap2 If you just paint your wood trim white you'll get the same brighter effect.

cc Any update? I'm so keen to see how this turns out!