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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

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You asked…about MORE colors for bedroom/bath suites

Annie Elliott | September 11, 2009

The Gentle Reader who sent in the previous question also wondered about the colors in her guest bedroom and bath suite...

Annie – The guest bathroom is near the guest bedroom and although I wanted it to harmonize, I also wanted a little more drama for this bathroom.

The pedestal sink, water closet, tub and tile in this bathroom are white and the tile surrounding the tub goes all the way to the ceiling. My color choice (the wallpaper I wanted was discontinued) is Ben Moore’s graphite (1603)…Should the ceiling be the same color or a shade of gray?

The nearby guest bedroom is painted Ben Moore’s linen white (probably not a strong enough color or even right shade for the rest of the house). Bedding is a red oriental toile on a creamy white background.


Dear Andrea: Ok, are you sitting down? Ready? I LIKE the Graphite paint in the bathroom!
I hope my color colleagues out there will weigh in, because I’m sure there are reasons not to do it. But I like the high contrast.

Do NOT, however, paint the ceiling Graphite. Too dark. Waaaaayyy too dark.

If you’re up for something spectacular – to match the high drama of the Graphite and white – paint the ceiling a really intense, bold color…a chartreuse, for example. Benj. Moore’s Flower Power 398 is an excellent one.

(The red banding on the shower curtain did not escape my notice, btw. I like it.)


If you’re still speaking to me, let’s turn to the adjoining bedroom. (We would have started there if the bathroom weren’t already painted.)


I agree that the 912 Linen White doesn’t do much for the room. We’ve established that you’re keeping the Graphite bathroom, so what about a light WARM grey on the walls in here? HC-172 Revere Pewter could be perfect; it’s one of my all-time favorite colors. It’s sophisticated and versatile – and much greyer than the swatch at right appears. It would work with the oatmeal wall-to-wall carpeting and the bathroom colors.


This recommendation is made with the assumption that you’re NOT open to using a lighter chartreuse on the walls in here.

If I’m mistaken, please call me immediately.

Category: Bedroom, Color + paint color, Kitchen + bath

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