You asked...about colors for a Western retreat : Annie Elliott Design

Hi Annie – i stumbled across your blog while hunting out paint colors/ideas for our house we just purchased….

The new house is a lovely post and beam.

All the walls throughout the house are currently painted a slightly outdated looking yellow. There is a wallpaper border…It needs to go…

So we are contemplating colors. Currently we are leaning towards a light beige as the main color throughout the house (or at least the main floor).

I would like to paint the one wall in the kitchen/hall a complimentary color…I’m thinking a dark burgundy/maroon I like Benjamin Moore AF 300. Having read your post about accent walls, I am now reconsidering if this is a good idea….

Also, having read your post on “starting with the rug“, our rug is a southwest kind of design, with different shades of beige, with navy blue and burgundy/maroon accents. We have 2 western style large tan leather couches.….Our style leans to western…

So do we do the whole house in one color, or do we mix and match colors, or do we do each room in different colors? Any suggestions on a nice beige color?

After looking at the pictures, any other idea/suggestions would be greatly appreciated-I didn’t inherit a decorating gene!! Thanks in advance!!
– Isabella MacQuarrie

Dearest Isabella,

Your reconsideration of the accent wall is warranted. It is not the correct solution for this space.

I’m not entirely confident I understand which wall is in question, but in looking at your photographs, I see no wall that warrants the attention painting it a different color would bring.

It’s the view that demands our attention. Don’t you agree?

So let’s take the pressure off and scrap the idea of the accent wall. (We can talk about bossy color’s feelings about burgundy another time.) If your taste were more contemporary, I’d advise you to keep all of the walls very light. It’s a gorgeous look with those ceilings.

But given that your preference is for the wild West, you are on exactly the right track in thinking about a beige – or taupe, or warm gray – for the walls.

Take a look at this bossy color favorite: Benjamin Moore’s HC-173 Edgecomb Gray. Your search may very well end there. (This picture makes it look a little yellowy, but in real life, I haven’t seen the color go that route.)

OC-5 Maritime White is another color to consider. It’s slightly warmer, but still not yellowy.

If you’re miffed about not being allowed to do an accent wall, consider painting your kitchen cabinets instead.

Not burgundy, though. A nice strong navy would be beautiful and wouldn’t detract from the view. It also would relate to the colors in the living room rug.