Debbie Wiener's Blog

Dilemma: Dear Debbie: We bought a Transitional style home that has an
office right by the front door. Although the room is fairly small, it
has wainscoting, bookshelves, window and door trim all stained medium
brown. The 20 foot high ceiling is also brown wood. All of this wood
stuff makes the room seem small and dark. Would it be a “crime” to
paint it a creamy off-white to lighten it up and enlarge it visually?
Or a color perhaps? I’m not really into wood and we like a more
contemporary look.

Hi Anne:

I guess there are two ways you can go with this room. Leave it as is and use very contemporary furniture. Add some low voltage recessed lighting to brighten up the wood walls. With a 16 foot ceiling height (that’s unusually tall) you could also add a hanging fixture in the center, to bring more light down to a ten foot level. How about a glass top desk on shiny chrome “sawhorse” legs? Add in a contemporary rug and fabric for the windows and the room could be right out of the now defunct “Metropolitan Home.” I could definitely see this working….very, very well.

Or..you could paint it all. It could be all one color- like a creamy white, or you could truly have some fun and style. Imagine you’re walking through the pages of Elle Decor, which features more European homes. You could use steel gray, bone white and plum…or any three colors you like…to take advantage of the architectural features in the moldings. Done right- it is not whimsical or loud, but sophisticated and understated.

That’s my four cents worth.

Debbie

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