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Friday, April 5, 2013

What Do You Think?

Moody Blue?
Isn't this a cozy spot?
I adore this room even if it is full of boots.

Back to the Question at hand...
Moody Blue
or
Cloud White?
Oh...you can't beat this marshmallow of a room with it's candy colored furniture.
Love the different shades of blue/turquoise in this white room.

I've been wanting to paint my living room and dining room for quite some time.
I keep going back and forth between sea foam green walls or white walls.
I've pinned favorite rooms over and over trying to decide.
 via
When I pinned this room...I thought .."Oh that's it for sure!"
Another room that made me sure sea foam was the way to go.
So pretty with all the white.
So fresh with the brown furniture and walls.
But I've always loved this look.
And just last week I pinned this room and it made me change my mind about having blue walls.
This is the color of my living room now.
Ivory lily is the color....or pale pale butter yellow.
I have come to hate it.
via
This used to be my most favorite room in the world saved long, long ago from either Country Living 
or Country Home. But now...I would not like the yellow striped walls.

Because my art tile fireplace is sea foam green, 
I've thought having a similar yet lighter color on the 
walls would ground the space and make the fireplace more at home.
I did a quickie mock up in photoshop of how a light sea foam paint would look.
Here a little darker.

And here white. 

What is your opinion? 

I am ready to start painting. 
I already have the sea foam paint but it occurs to me that I should probably paint with 
primer first which would be white and that would tell me if I liked white in the room or not.

Tell me what you think.
Sea Foam or White?

38 comments:

MimiG said...

Nita,
I can see the reflection of your beautiful ceiling in the mirror and actually like the white with it. You have so much charm and color in your furnishings, the white would probably cause them to come into the forefront more. Maybe just give it a try on the one wall (fireplace) and see if you like it.

An Urban Cottage said...

Either of the sea foam choices would be beautiful. I think the white you showed is too stark but perhaps an "old white" might be perfect. Something with an undertone of the beige tile in the fireplace? I see the ceiling is already painted in that color family so an off-white walls with that ceiling might be perfect. Either way, I think it would great.

"Create Beauty" said...

What if you paint all the walls with the white primer, and then just the fireplace wall with the sea foam and live with it for a few days.

I'm thinking of a similar color for my laundry room. I've redone our bedroom in whites with touches of blue, and the walls are a putty color which is so neutral but makes the heirloom white moldings pop.

I love all the color you have in your home. and I think those pale blue sea foamy walls would look lovely with your decor.

~ Violet

Renee said...

I like Create Beauty's suggestion. Paint the primer first...and then live with it for a time. You may find that you get bored with white (even though, I love a shades of white look). The seafoam is so soft and warm.

Mari said...

I'm really liking the lighter shade of the seafoam, it's in between the white and the darker seafoam....
Can't wait to see your final choice ;)
Happy painting....
Mari

Dawna (Stitches from the Tub) said...

I vote the light seafoam. It allows your fireplace to stand out, with the darker seafoam the impact of such a gorgeous fireplace is muted.the white looks really clean & sharp, but depending on the time of year it may end up feeling too cold.I am a little biased as I have had the seafoam color in my house for the last 10 years and have never grown tired of it.

Debra@CommonGround said...

I think a pale seafoam would be perfect. A little color but not overpowering or interfering with your lovely furniture.

Dewena said...

Those old tapestries on the iron daybed are exquisite!

Your fireplace tile is too wonderful to not play off of. For me, white would not be an option. I can see the sense your other commenters make of seeing what the primer does for you first and then one wall in the seafoam to live with a couple of days first although I hope you don't leave it at one wall. No doubt about it, my favorites are the two sea foam rooms. The darker one with the fire burning and the library steps beside it is cozy and the other lighter room with the white fireplace, more pared down and elegantly comfortable. Yours of course would end up being just right with your furniture and accessories, and your beautiful pinks.

I can't wait to see what you do.

P.S. Your Easter table decor was fabulous! Oh, too pretty to take down. After all, Easter is usually much later. And I am so thankful that Becca is okay and her other dachshund family. Your weenies in their Easter bonnets were so cute. I want to hug them!

Bente said...

Oh my, this is too difficult. All the colors look so pretty. Wonder what you choose.

Hugs

Anonymous said...

White always looks amazing; it adds so mych light! I think you ought to prime everything, then paint one wall--the easiest one to paint!--sea foam since you already have the paint. And really, really look at it for a few days.

We had almond paint and trim for years. Looked like a big bowl of vanilla ice cream. Then we started adding color to the walls, and white to the trim. It's amazing how much better the exact same furniture looks next to some color!

What's an extra week?

Blogless Peggy

sharon said...

Hello Nita,

Light sea foam -- it allows the tile in the fireplace to sing!

I'm so glad you've posted photos of your living room in your side- bar, because it allows us to look at the rest of the room, too -- and to see how your color choices would play against the dining room paint color. So with that in mind, I stand by my opinion, light sea-foam!

Which leads me to ask, what are your plans for the ceiling? Would you change it? ...pale pink, maybe?

Funny how one thing always leads to another!

I so enjoy visiting your blog and can hardly wait to see what you decide.

Cindi Myers said...

Seafoam.

See how easy that was!
Why can't I do that for myself?
I STILL have not painted a single room and I'm surrounded by paint cans.
:(
But now I think I will paint the spare bedroom turquoise, thanks to your first photo and put my iron daybed in there!
Thanks!
xoxo - Cindi

Nita Stacy said...

I am loving hearing everyone's thoughts...keep them coming!

Nita Stacy said...

Oh...if I paint the walls blue...I'll have to paint the ceiling white. I do love my blue ceiling but it will still be pretty in white.

sharon said...

oh please consider a pale, whisper pink, or yellow ceiling. All your pastel sherbet colors, they are so yummy to the eye!

Danielle said...

I vote for white. I think it would make your fireplace the focal point :) x

Priscilla said...

Sea Foam... either shade.

pam {simple details} said...

I vote for either dark sea foam or white, but agree with Urban Cottage, a warm white would be pretty. I have Navajo White (very creamy) and LOVE it, but it's hard to tell if it would work with the tones in your fireplace. Have fun, it will be beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I love the lighter sea foam with your fireplace. I have a similar color in our living room and I really like it.

Jean said...

The lighter sea foam.

Kathleen said...

I like your current color a lot. Having said that, I wouldn't go white. I don't think that will give you the feel your after. I really like the sea foam too. I would go with the slightly darker sea foam shade.

lucy said...

I would do a soft, soft cream/white. It should blend the colors of your tiling. Your rooms are so beautiful and soft. Can't wait to see what u come up with.

Donna-s Lair said...

Cool fireplace! I really like the darker seafoam b/c it seems to pick up the lightest shade of the tiles. I'm looking at bedding in that color family now...thanks for the Pier 1 pics! I love green...esp light turquoise! Go green! ;-)

Anonymous said...

You have to go darker, it's just so much more dramatic and richer. The pale is nice but it's almost too sugary with your fireplace, which is beautiful and classic. Oh to have such a fireplace, I would buy your house just for the fireplace. Though there are other lovely features too. White is nice and bright, but the darker sea foam is wow! Can't wait to see what you decide to do, remember test patch it on walls that get different light. Patty/BC

CeCe said...

Want to write a lot more but not time right now...
I like the white or the lightest seafaom...not the dark...In fact...off the cuff, might try mixing the lightest sea foam with the white to make it an even lighter sea foam..... You have impeccable taste so you will make the right choice for YOU!

srpprcrftr said...

I read one of the commentors opinion and agree. Paint the fireplace wall with the sea foam and the rest white, see how you like them after you live with them for a few days. That can help immensely. You'll see how the light works at different times of day/night. Love the sea foam color. I'm thinking of that myself for one wall. Very soft soothing color. Good luck, will be interesting to see what you end up doing.

Unknown said...

Personally, I think I would go with a creamy white or pale beige that is pulled from your fireplace on that one wall, since your beautiful fireplace is the focal point and already so full of color and gorgeous detail. I think putting the seafoam on that wall would wash out and detract from the dramatic look of the fireplace.

Then, I would probably paint one opposite wall, or all of the other walls, the light seafoam as long as your other furniture would coordinate well with that. This way your fireplace gets to continue to remain the star of the room.

You can always bring in more pops of color from your accents, draperies, and furniture as well.

Sharon Rexroad's Bringing Creativity 2 Life said...

I'm liking the light sea foam the best. Fireplace seems to glow (even without flames).

Patti Willey said...

too light! Keep going darker! Try a green that's in the Majolica Plates, go for Rich!

Unknown said...

I love the white- but I am a neutral gal at heart. I am sure whatever you pick it will look lovely!

Scribbler said...

I like the very palest tint of the sea foam -- and do the ceilings the same. I think it would pick up the color in your tiles, but still allow it to stand out. Also, painting the ceiling and the walls the same makes a room seem larger, kind of like the boundaries don't exist.

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

I love your inspiration pictures. They might all go to my own inspiration file. I'm leaning towards the light sea foam around your fireplace. But I'm very biased as I'm thinking about painting my dining-room in the same kind of shade but I'm scared to death at the same time... If you don't mind painting your room first, I'll see how it looks like!

Paulette Kinney/Paper Nosh said...

We painted our living room a cool aqua blue and I want to say....after living with that butter yellow for years....that the blue is so clean and invigorating and relaxing all at the same time....I love love love it ! I think the light seafoam around your fireplace is stunning !

Unknown said...

I can just see you in a Sea Foam Green room. I think it would set off your fireplace beautifully and work very well with all the furniture it that room. If you ask me, and you did you brave soul, I can't see you living in a white room. When I think of you I think of muted tones of blues and pinks. And now sea foam green.
I wish I could come over and help you paint.
Traci

Patty said...

My living room is light sea foam and I love it.

Susie said...

Love the darker sea foam, like the lighter as well. Can't see white there; it just makes the fireplace look out of place to me. And keep the blue ceiling; just paint it a lighter tint of the sea foam. Have done this in our house & love it. White ceilings generally feel too much like taking the easy way out. Can't wait to see final choice!

Jess said...

Love the darker sea foam. Just gorgeous.

Cindy said...

I vote for sea foam! :)