A reader needs your advice: I need some urgent help. My co-op is repainting the interiors of our building and unfortunately they have picked the most horrendous colors possible. The walls are a light green and the doors are mauve/purple. We aren't changing the tiles yet so we would need to work with the brown and cream colors...


I would like to suggest to them a warmer palette something that would play off the colors of the tile and the florescent lighting in a more compatible fashion. Does anyone have any ideas? This needs to be resolved in the next few days or I'm afraid it will be too late. Also what are your thoughts on bright red doors with cream or light yellow walls? Please help!!!!!!
slate blue and black doors
view Lady J's profile
the mauve isn't really that bad-- but the light green AND the fluorescents makes it all look a little bilious. Maybe just some cream walls- to match the floor tiles?
view 212gretchen's profile
Well, lets keep it sweet and simple... Since your not changing the flooing anytime soon, I definately suggest a warmer and more sophistcated palette.
I would bring a warm beige to the walls, and pick a darker, almost chocolate tone for the doors and stairs. This way your keeping it neutral, so everyone will like it.
If the walls have baseboards installed, it will give the hallways a cleaner look also.
Think about changing the light fixtures as well- think swanky hotels.
kitzie.kpdesins@gmail.com
view kitzie's profile
I'm picturing walls in some shade of golden yellow with earthen red doors, but that might be too bright for some.
view ltblmr's profile
That purple is hideous by the way. Looks like a really college dorm or really cheap motel.
view ltblmr's profile
I like the red / creamy yellow pallate but rather than a bright red use a red with brown undertones so the tiles make sense in the scheme of things...
view lizzieS's profile
The mauve/purple/pink is pretty bad. What about a linen white or cream and deep deep chocolate brown doors and bannisters?
view lucidez777's profile
LIME GREEN WALLS
view saraesc's profile
i second the slate blue or black. . .maybe even a dark green. i also vote for cream walls to keep it simple and not add more colors to the mix.
view jhayne's profile
Cream walls, w/ Brown-almost-Black Doors and trim - and get some 6" wide MDF baseboards installed too and paint them to match the rest of the trim.
view bepsf's profile
I like the suggestion of the blue walls with black doors and trim.
I live in a huge condo complex. We have mandated colors -- off-white walls with sort of a barn-door red doors and door trim. Some people have not painted their doors with the 'authorized' color -- they've used much brighter shades of red -- it really is harsh and doesn't work. If you were going to go with either yellow or some sort of white for the walls, you'd want to make sure that red doors and trim aren't too 'fire enginey red'.
Cream walls with brown trim would be good too.
I can even visualize keeping the green walls and doing something more neutral with the stairwells and the doors -- maybe black or brown or deep-deep green.
To me -- the colors in common areas should be sort of "neutral" -- not mind-blowing, like the purple. I think of a neutral palate in the hallways and stairwells which then flows into the apartments or condos, which is where all the color should be -- sort of a neutral introduction to more color beyond.
Barb
view moose53's profile
Oh my that is unfortunate. Cream walls, chocolate brown trim.
view alexis's profile
Grey walls and bright yellow doors with white trim.
Kinda like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allabouteve/2761532362/
view Eve in Hochelaga's profile
Navy blue doors and cream walls. Elegant, neutral, not as harsh as black, will look good with the current tiles. Also won't look terrible with the fluorescent lighting.
view semidivine's profile
I really like kitzie's suggestions.
view wig3000's profile
Chocolate trim and doors and the baseboard idea is a great one. Leave the walls the color they are and it should all be ok.
view labchick's profile
I second the idea of cream walls and chocolate brown doors/trim. That's what I have in my building and the colors work well together.
Normally, I love mauve (I like bold colors), but even this is just not working for me.
view groupie's profile
I love the idea of navy blue doors and cream or even light grey walls with pristine white trim.
view kls's profile
Hmm... It would be a pain in the butt to have to repaint the stairs and the doors, and obviously someone liked the color recently. I think painting the walls brown would tone it down, but still keep the funkiness they were going for.
view jamiealyse's profile
Whatever colors you choose, they will seem less "harsh" if you put covers on those florescent light fixtures...
view Quince's profile
Go with much darker purple doors and stairs---kind of dirty purple. Do the walls in a soft warm gray color(kind of like that gray floor tile. perhaps a bit lighter). And get some really nice lights that give off a rich glow or sparkle and ad baseboards done in that gray wall color---not the purple. Baseboards need to be done in a gloss finish.
Also paint the ceiling in a lighter shade of that warm gray color. Try to create a cocoon of warmth and richness without getting to dark.
view poptart's profile
Please stay away from the cream/green/brown choices. Anyone who went to school in an older building will IMMEDIATELY get flashbacks to their time in those confines... or maybe the confines of a Psych ward. I'm a teacher and school districts STILL insist on using these "Institutional" colors. Gag.
view ldevere's profile
These colors are awful, how did the coop come up with them? Was there a huge sale on light green and mauve paint, or are they just trying to decrease the building's property value?
view justnest's profile