DEAR Marc: My husband has horrible taste in design. I have been begging him to upgrade the colours and furnishings in our living room for years and he has finally agreed to the renovation, which is great but he is insisting that we paint our entire living room in dark, almost black grey which I think will look too dark and depressing. Help! -- Helen
Dear Helen: Congratulations on your recent venture into the world of design. I tend to look forward to colour selection in all my projects. I love how colour can bring forth emotion and passion and turn a dull space into a wonderful cheerful room with the use of certain hues. Grey has been seen for years as a faux pas when trying to create a warm and inviting space but in 2010 that is no longer the case.
To create a designer space, you can use your husband's colour selection in your living room but I would suggest going for a more middle-range shade of grey such as Gray Shower (2125-30) by Benjamin Moore. This particular shade of grey is dark enough to please your husband's taste but will not overpower the room's design. I would also suggest choosing your favourite colour out of the following hues: bright red, deep violet, lime green or bright orange; and using your selection as the room's accent colour.
The accent colour can be applied to pillows, a throw, window coverings, or in an area rug.
Be sure to also consider upgrading your lighting since darker colours such as grey tend to absorb light, which is why grey has a bad reputation for being dark and depressive. The use of a larger light fixture exuding more light will uplift the overall mood of the space.
With this recipe for success, I foresee you and your husband enjoying your living room's design for years to come.
-- Canwest News Service
Marc Atiyolil, celebrity designer and home trend expert is the editor-in-chief of Canadian Home Trends magazine. To submit a question for Marc Atiyolil, visit www.CanadianHomeTrends.ca
