indoors
AT H O M E
BALANCING ACT
In the kitchen,
above
, Michele changed everything but
the cupboards. “When I told the painters I wanted brown
for the walls, they thought I was crazy and said it would
be way too dark,” she says. “But I knew with the white
ceiling, trim, and cabinets, we'd have a balance.”
TRIPLE TREAT
In the dining room,
right,
blue walls are the focal point.
Mahogany furniture plays the brown note and
buttercream comes in on upholstery and the wainscot.
The rug flirts with all three of Michele’s favorite colors.
Atrium White,
Benjamin Moore
Winter’s Lake Blue,
Benjamin Moore
PALETTE CLEANSER
Color-coordinate your whole house. Some tips:
■ Building blocks Choose at least three
colors that work together, and use them in
different combos.
■ Light and dark Play with lighter and
darker versions of those colors or exchange
the blue for another accent color to keep the
mix interesting.
■ Common thread Use a single color on all
trim and millwork to tie the scheme together.
■ Match game Carry paint swatches with
you when shopping for upholstery and
accessories so you can be sure they blend.
4 0
OCTOBER 2008 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
