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Design Dilemma
mn0304

Revamp our hallway

mn0304
6 years ago
Our hallway needs a total revamp, we want to change everything apart from the floor. We are thinking of white on the doors, skirting, architraves. Any idea of an warm, inviting colour for the walls? Also looking for a nice light fitting not so much a chandelier but something that stands out. And plan to hang photos above a side table. Any opinions on colours/decorative pieces to make this hallway fabulous to come home to :)
Featured Answer
  • mrsmcee74
    6 years ago
    I think Farrow & Ball Oxford Stone or Stony Ground would be lovely, or Dulux Timeless Classics Ancient Artefact would give you that warm welcoming feeling, it would look great against all the new crisp white woodwork you're planning. For lighting I'd go quite traditional with a lantern light or a sphere light.

    Comments (44)

    • Brandi Nash Hicks
      6 years ago
      Before you paint the doors and trim I would suggest changing the wall color first, and afresh coat of white to the ceiling,I usually always say paint the trim white but I think with paint and lighting upgrade yours would be nice

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    • PRO
      Amber Jeavons Ltd
      6 years ago

      Hello mn0304,

      It would be nice to paint the woodwork.. For the ceiling I recommend Whitening by Little Greene.. It's a lovely chalky creamy colour that has a nice depth to it.. It's good on walls too as a contrast to a darker colour.. So What about a lovely sage green? Matt and chalky... Possibly paint the wood slightly darker green to compliment, rather than opt for the more usual white or cream woodwork..

      One thing that would be good is to include the rad. Paint it an all purpose undercoat first and then treat it to the colour you choose for the walls..

      Like mrsmcee's suggested light that or something similar would work nicely..It will be lovely.. it's already nearly there.. : ))

    • minnie101
      6 years ago

      Hi. I think I'd also go for a stone colour. Either skimming stone on the walls with elephants breath for woodwork or elephants breath on the walls and strong white for wood ( all farrow & ball). I would think about a radiator cover, deep enough to add skinny lamps, flowers etc and then hang your photos over that. I quite like them in a symmetrical layout wider than the cabinet ( although hard to tell if that would work from the pic!) perhaps in a series of 8 with matching frames? I might change your rug for a runner and place it further down the hall. Where the side table is maybe some kind of slim bench seating depending on your taste with a decorative mirror in an interesting shape over the top. If not see what a small chair looks like angled where the table is as I think it's nice to have a chair in a hall to put your shoes on if there's room. I also like mrsmcees light. Maybe plainer lighting/ŵall lights in the main part of the hall with a chandelier through the arch as its kind of framing the view? Or are you dead against chandeliers?!

    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      Thanks for all the great suggestions, I love that light so will definitely look into this and really like the grey olives suggested which I think would work really nice with the White trims et. Any suggestions on a rug runner and mirror? Thanks
    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      Hi Minnie101 not against chandeliers as such but had the lantern style in my mind thanks :)
    • PRO
      Amber Jeavons Ltd
      6 years ago
      last modified: 6 years ago

      Hello mn0304,

      Have a look at some antique options for the mirror something with a little more height.. For a runner, something like a Persian but close to the board colour if you leave them as is.. Then have a hint of sage/olive green to bring the walls and flooring together..

      : ))

    • PRO
      Jessica Buckley Interiors
      6 years ago

    • PRO
      Jessica Buckley Interiors
      6 years ago

      Hello

      I love the space and light in your hallway (it's quite unusual to have such a light-filled hallway!) and my suggestion would be to keep it light and airy and welcoming by painting it a pale aqua colour such as "Pale Powder" from Farrow and Ball. Pale blue hallways look really elegant and would work well with your existing floor and fresh white skirting boards, doors and architraves. I have put together a style board to show you some examples of furniture which could work really nicely in your hall, such as a slim chest of drawers or console table (perfect for placing a welcoming pair of table lamps on, and hanging framed photos over) and a smart lantern or chandelier which are modern takes on traditional designs. A rug, such as a cotton dhurrie or a sisal rug trimmed with cotton banding (from Alternative Flooring) would complete the look.

      Skimming stone, as suggested by others, is also a lovely colour full of warmth - you could team this with any of the furniture/lighting ideas I've suggested too.

      Best wishes

      Jessica

    • PRO
      Home Furnishings UK Ltd
      6 years ago
      last modified: 6 years ago

      Hi Jessica, I love the design concept, could you tell me were the star light is from please?

    • PRO
      Jessica Buckley Interiors
      6 years ago

      Hi Home Furnishings UK Ltd - it's a beautiful light isn't it? This one is from Vaughan but there are similar ones on the market. Best wishes, Jessica

    • mrsmcee74
      6 years ago
      I was looking at those Moravian star pendants the other day here: http://www.dovemill.co.uk/Traditional-Vintage-Moravian-Star-Antique-Brass-Ceiling-Light-Shades
    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      Jessica I totally love the look you put together thanks!! Exactly what I would love in our hallway. Thanks so much for the suggestions re: paint colours, we are moving in to the house in 2wks so it'll be all guns blazing to redecorate it and I'm very much a novice when it comes to decorating
    • mrsmcee74
      6 years ago
      I've got Pale Powder in my bedroom, it is a really beautiful colour.
    • PRO
      The Paint Makers
      6 years ago

      Hi,

      I think people are always afraid to put colour into their hall and it's so great you are after something warm and inviting. Why not do it properly with a rich orange colour like our October Squash? You could accessorize with black ornaments to make it extra stylish and the colour would look great with your wooden floorboards.

      Have a nose and let me know what you think or if you need any more help / options:

      http://www.paintbyconran.com/en-GB/collections/kitchen-garden/m/product/view/71/preserve-elements

      Georgie :) xx

    • PRO
      Rise Art
      6 years ago

      Hi mn0304!

      Some warm toned artworks would make a fantastic addition to this area. Having artwork in the hallway will really impress your guests! How about the warming tones in Paul Bennett's seascapes or how about photographer Tommy Clarke's new aerial series onsalt ponds.

      Let me know if you have any questions or need any help!

      Rise Art

    • championcat
      6 years ago
      I'd avoid too warm a colour as it'll make your woodwork seem very orange. I've painted our dining room in farrow and balls cornforth white (a warm grey) recently and it's done wonders for toning down the woodwork while feeling inviting and comforting. for a cocooning effect keep with skirtings and walls the same colour. very neutral and a perfect backdrop for any artwork
    • PRO
      Pat Oliver Interior Design
      6 years ago

      When you say that you want a total change to the hallway, are you meaning decorating or also structural. The first thing that jumped out at me from your photo was the rounded arch in front of the rectangular double doors. If you are considering some structural changes, either make the arch a rectangular opening or, depending on the age and style of your home, using and over door (similar to a fan light but no glass involved) to repeat the arch shape.

      Because your floor has an orange complexion, choosing a paint from the opposite side of the colour wheel brings you to blues. Have a look at the Paint and Paper Library, specifically Blue Blood, Teal or Between Dog and Wolf. Woodwork would contrast well in an antique natural white.

      Since you want a side table, what about having a table height radiator cover, painted to match the other woodwork with soft brushed brass grillwork.

      Because the walls would be darker, you need good lighting. Choose a 2-3 pendant lights that are 120-180W each or equivalent in LED. They can also be soft brass.

      Finish with artwork that draws your attention and contrasts against the blue walls.

    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      We hadn't planned structural changes in the hallway but maybe a rectangular arch would look better. I knew there was something about this arch that I wasn't mad about and that's probably it - the rectangular doors behind. We are putting a stairs in to the right where you can see a doorway just past the radiator so that will also change the look of the space.
    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      Thanks for the great ideas and advice
    • Pauline cotton
      6 years ago
      I wouldn't paint the wood at all unless it is in poor condition, natural wood looks warm anyway. If you put a light colour on the walls and leave the wood alone, I think this would really lighten the hallway. Amazon do some wonderful lights at reasonable prices so you could look on there for a light fitting. Personally I wouldn't box in the radiator as you are cutting down the amount of heat that gets through, I would just paint it same colour as walls. When we moved into our house, we did nothing for the first year and then decorated, as we changed our minds a number of times over what we wanted by living there first and finding out any problems.
    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      Hi Farrow & Ball is not sold anywhere near where I live, can any one recommend a paint that is similar to skimming stone and elephants breath please?
    • PRO
      User
      6 years ago

      If you go to Dulux, they should be able to match those colours with their paints

    • mrsmcee74
      6 years ago
      Dulux Egyptian cotton is similar to Skimming Stone - I had a tester pot of both for my kitchen and there wasn't much in it.
    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      I'm getting hallway painted tomorrow and went with dulex dapple grey for walls with white trims and coving. Now I just seen previous comment that Egyptian cotton is good match for skimming stone - have I made the right choice?? Need to let painter know in the morning. Thanks :)
    • mrsmcee74
      6 years ago
      Oh dear. What did you go with in the end?
    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      This is how the paint looks at the moment, the back wall is a light grey and the main entrance walls are a darker grey. It looks slightly purple to me which I'm not too keen on but it's a work in progress! The white trims look a lot better than the wood i think. Not sure what I should do about the double pine doors at the back. I was thinking maybe painting them white but the rest of the doors that lead from the hallway will be left unpainted.
    • hortonhearsawho2013
      6 years ago

      wow the woodwork painted white looks loads better! I would paint those double doors white too.

    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      I bought this mirror for the hallway. And will probably put it above a rad cover like in this pic.
    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      Anyone any advice on whether these doors would look better painted white or leave them as is? I'm thinking about a rad cover. Do you think I should go with white or oak to match floor. Updated picture so far :)
    • Helen
      6 years ago
      I wood definitely paint all of the doors white. And get a white radiator cover.
    • alannarichards
      6 years ago
      Sage green walls, white ceiling, white borders and doors, a new white/grey rug and grey/white accessories. :)
    • mrsmcee74
      6 years ago
      I think I'd paint them.
    • championcat
      6 years ago
      paint them!
    • kmullin85
      6 years ago
      I would paint them. I also think what you have done so far has made such a difference :-)
    • hortonhearsawho2013
      6 years ago

      Get those paint brushes working again! I vote for painting them all too and a white radiator cover : ) Good work, it looks gorgeous!

    • PRO
      Eco Economy Roofing Specialist
      6 years ago

      Paint the doors black matt and the fames cream add silver crome door furniture. Huge silver mirror above the covered radiator then add a runner of any colour you like and match it with the lamps and lighting. hey presto done.

    • PRO
      Eco Economy Roofing Specialist
      6 years ago

      do all the paintwork cream not just the door frames the skirts aswell or paler grey than the walls

    • kazza_hayward
      6 years ago

      I'd paint the doors white too! Not a fan of orange knotty pine

    • Jo Arnold
      6 years ago
      Paint them as the Orange pine is clashing with the floor colour. The grey/white combination looks very chic.
    • mn0304
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      Still haven't gotten around to painting the doors white but we'll get there
    • dottymax
      6 years ago
      Lovely job. What a difference.
    • Nathan G
      6 years ago
      What a transformation!
    • raul_breganzo
      6 years ago
      What a transformation! Well done!
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