Here's a corner of our bathroom at Chester Court. The walls are an inviting green, and we used black vintage furniture, artwork, patterns, and an ethnic rug to add warmth to the green walls. The bathroom is super inviting and engaging and keeps the eye intrigued. We found the vintage Dorothy Draper cabinet on eBay. Note that we also painted the ceiling in the room green as there is no crown molding. This helps make the room feel larger.
Gang:
Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a spiffy week…
One of our devoted blog followers–let’s call her Barb–wrote us a very kind missive last night about the use of the color green in her home. If you follow our work, you know that John and I are passionate about green and use it in many of our projects as a neutral.
But, notes Barb, green can be overpowering… And a tad antiseptic.
Good point, Barb!
After all, who wants to live in a world that channels Kermit the Frog? And green can also come across as too minty fresh…
So how to use green, but perhaps tone it down and warm it up…
Here are a few tips from your frisky friends at Madcap Cottage:
Mix green walls with black furnishings. Black will help “ground” the green and add a striking contrast. For example, place a black chest of drawers against a green wall. The eye will register black first and then the green, so green becomes a background hue instead of the prominent tone.
Hang lots of artwork. Tone down your green walls with brightly hued photographs, prints, and paintings. The eye will take in the gorgeous artwork first.
Paint your molding a glossy green hue that is darker than your green wall color. The molding will “finish” the room and engage the eye.
Use patterns on your upholstery and pillows for visual interest and a dynamic energy. Solids are too static.
Layer rugs. Add drama with layered rugs over seagreass. A few ethnic-inspired rugs will add visual interest and color that will tone down the green. P.S. Always use seagrass, never sisal. Sisal is too unforgiving and shows stains. Seagrass is much more user-friendly and less maintenance. We are especially partial to the seagrass creations from the folks at Merida.
So go paint a room a room green this weekend, and send us photos…
And thank you for your query, Barb!
John and I used green and yellow to delicious effect in our bedroom at Chester Court. The bold graphic patterns create a dynamic quality that reads as anything but minty or clinical. And the pops of color on the pillowcases and duvet add further warmth.
Here's a bar that John and I designed that employs green-on-green-on-white wallpaper and a green chair rail. The numerous patterns, prints, and brightly hued plates add warmth to what might have been a too-cold space. And the frondy leaf pattern on the chair brings a taste of the tropics into the space. And how about the green-and-white diamond pattern-painted floor. Fun, n'est-ce pas?
Love the tips, and many thanks! I think I’m on the right track in the living room but need more artwork (the walls are far from bare but a few more pieces could be squeezed in effectively). Budget permitting, I’d like to go back to a predominately black area rug.
Oh, I love green and it can be a daunting color to use in a space. This is such great inspiration. Thanks for this post.