Al and Peggy's Corner: Need Your Help, Decorators, Stagers, Painters or Anyone With An Eye For Picking Colours

Al and Peggy, I don't have a creative bone in my body, so I will just sit back and listen to what other have to say.

Al & Peggy - I always like to see the room and the paint before I make such a decision.  Some of the home centers now offer small sample cans of paint just for that purpose.  While I may have a good idea of what I want, I never commit until I see some of it in place.

Sherwin Williams also has a great tool, the Color Visualizer that lets you experiment with colors on the computer.

LOL! Us too George! That's why we had to ask for help!! Guess we will learn all together!

Thanks John, this sounds like a helpful idea.  We did try the sample cans, but are totally undecided on what colour!! Will check out the Color Visualizer, thanks for the tip! 

Al and Peggy!

I just painted a room with a great color that I think you are going to love...

I will take some photos to show you... Give me 3 days...

A maroon color-Looks like dark red wine...I will keep the moldings white...

If you are afraid to take a chance, than you can go with a dark shade of beige...

We'll wait to see your colour Josh, very interested. We are not afraid of bold colours Josh, however, we just painted the living & dining rooms in a Cabernet, a very deep purple. The kitchen is right off the living and dining rooms. What we are afraid of is the colours not blending.....what's your opinion???

Hi Al and Peggy - I can see that this could be a very politically explosive issue so I am staying as far away as possible from answering. :)  I can just imagine if I said what colour to use, that one day one of you would love the colour and the other one would be mad at me.

It is best to keep things simple.  Peggy should make the decision and Al should put on a big happy face (a fake happy face can work wonders sometimes) and be very very agreeable.  Keeps everyone very happy, eh?

Oh, and one of the other reasons I'm not answering is because I would need to see the colour schemes in other parts of the house near the kitchen, the furniture, understand the mood you are trying to create and so much more.  I leave decorating to the experts. :)

What does Laura think?

Al & Peggy - I was always told to paint a kitchen the color of food and I really think it depends on what other colors you have throughout the house.  Are they bright, bold colors?  Are they earth tones?  Are they pastel?  Regardless of what the answer is I can tell you any type of tan probably won't work due to the color of the cabinets, which are beautiful.  I definitely think you'll need some type of color that also goes well with your countertops.  My parents had an oak color and we painted the walls a wine color and it made the whole kitchen warm, later down the road we painted a chocolate color, which also kept everything warm.

Hey guys.  I work on a lot of kitchens...hard to pick a color on line, but in general, I think it's best to pick the paint after everything is in. So, I would choose the backsplash first, and you should install this before you paint.  There are infinite paint colors so it's very easy to retrofit this after everything else is in. 

For you backsplash, I would prob. do some sort of subway tile (3" x 6") - natural stone is nicer, but if too expensive then do ceramic. this size/shape is very stylish and will make space look larger.

Blue pearl has some cool tones in it, so be sure to match this w/ the tile and the paint.  I usually go for neutrals and go on the lighter side for the kitchen - makes it look brighter, mory airy and larger,  Plus, pscyhologically will improve your outlook on a daily basis.

try some samples on the walls to confirm your choice

Oh what a fun challenge.  I think I would pick out a backsplash first (you defiinitely need one to warm up the space) then choose a colour from the stone or glass in the backsplash.

Maybe little glass tiles to match the granite.  Pick a neutral colour for the walls to let the counter and backsplash really pop. 

I will come back tonight to see how you are progressing.

LOL Marc, you make quite a politician!!!  Nah, its not an explosive issue, just trying to make the right decision..... we are going for a soothing, calming elegance.  Our living and dining rooms are done in a deep deep purple called Carbenet with white trim and neutral stone furniture, its beside the kitchen. The paint pro said to go with a beige in the kitchen which we thought was a little bland,  BTW Laura likes the beige or maroon ideas LOL!

Like the idea of the colour of the food Michelle LOL  Maybe we should stain the cabinets and solve the problem!!!  Maroon sounds nice but our next room is dark purple, so it scares me.

Debbie thanks for your input, we were thinking of the natural stone for the backsplash....need a calming effect for sure!!

Hate picking colours Jenny, this is why we haven't done it yet LOL! These kitchen cabinets have been the hold up and a pain!! Ya, check back we may end up with rainbow stripes!!! 

Good morning Al and Peggy!

I did not see the floor...What type of floor is it? What colors?

Good morning and happy Tuesday to you too Josh!  The floor is a neutral beige/cream 18 inch ceramic tile.  Initially we thought keep hard items neutral and play with colour on the changeable items.  Our ultimate goal for our home is a quiet elegance, soothing, calming and welcoming to guests.

Hi Al & Peggy,

I think we need more - we need to get an idea of what everything looks like.

What colour is the floor? What colour are your appliances? Is there a dining room attached? What does your furniture look like? What are the tones throughout your house?

Come on now - play real estate agent and give us a good picture of the room.

Al & Peggy, I agree with Debbie...pick the back splash first...I like the tumbled tile look.  As far as paint; there colours I like, but would have to get back to you with the names.  Maybe it was just me be that Sherwin Williams link from John seemed to be selling anything but paint for the walls.

I had to paint this room and change the window treatments...

As you can see the walls were white and now they are a deep warm color...

The wood blinds were the perfect choice because you can control the amount of light and privacy..We kept the pictures

and picked the colors from the pictures...

Josh 516-599 3569 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              516-599 3569      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Ha, Ha, ok Pam will have to do that.  Our appliances are black, the counter is granite called blue pearl but shows alot of black, cabinets are a natural Maple, floors off white or cream ceramic, no backsplash yet but leaning towards  a tumble cream coloured ceramic with a bronze ribbon bar in the shape of a square over the cook top. Dining & Living rooms are separate but next to the kitchen and are a deep purple called Cabernet. Hardwood is honey coloured. Everything is basically light.

Yes Nick we had troubles with the Sherwin link, but went directly over to Sherwin and in. The virtual look works great! Love the tumble ceramic backsplash look, with a touch of flair with a bronze piping.

JOSH!! Only the before shot is showing!! :( Please re-send your other pics............please!

Hi Al & Peggy,

You need to tie your kitchen in with the adjoining rooms, so I would use the cream coloured ceramic back splash but in a small tile which includes random Cabernet (or as close as you can) tiles scattered throughout.

Without seeing anything and trying to picture it my mind, I think I would paint the kitchen an eggshell and accessorize with a lot of splashes of black and blue pearl and Cabernet to tie everything in together.

I agree with Debbie-but I would have added matching to the floor of course!  And I definitely agree about the subway tile!

Al and Peggy - Surple Purple, of course :-) Stand out from the crowd!

We are also getting the whole house painted. Buts its my wife who runs the show. Been to Home Depot again late in the evening for change of color !!!