Years ago I was at a colour consultation where the entire house had (like new) mint green carpets and my client informed me that her husband would not change them. The living room furniture was entirely a dark pinky beige, just like BM CC-330 Hillsborough Beige or SW 6094.
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What were the wall colour options? Either a mint or darker green to relate to the carpet or a lighter shade of pinky beige to relate to the furniture. Or leave it what it was, a pale cream colour.
When her husband got home he wanted me to come back because he was upset that those were the only options I had given my client (darn, that mint green carpet was still there).
However, there was no colour in the world that would have made that bossy carpet magically go away. Sometimes a client will hope that a colourist has that ability and I am so sad that many times I canât wave a magic wand!
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Like today, when I arrived at a restaurant that had pinky beige tile, pinky beige and black granite countertops and very red cherry tables and chairsâand their corporate colour was RED (and no changes other than colour and fabric were being made)! I truly wished I had some pixie dust!
So if your tile or broadloom is bossing you around! Better to bite the bullet and get rid of it now, rather than work around it or worse, ignore it for the next 10 years!
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10 things I learned (so far) from my Designer; by a Happy Client
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If there was one color carpet you would advise selecting, what would thou magic wand deem perfect?
Neutral? I can feel your pain or having a bossy carpet or floor. Great post. (again)
pve
I'm lucky that we have either floorboards or a pretty neutral beige carpet so I'm not getting bossed around!
I agree-of course I sell flooring…but I see some pretty hideous carpet colors in homes. I certainly try when people come into the store to steer them away from making costly mistakes!
As always – another timely and informative post! My hubby and I are in the midst of discussions about our carpeting that we inherited with the house. We are tired of "working around it". So, it's coming up!! Sadly – no hardwoods underneath. Just humble plywood which we'll just paint and poly until bigger and better things happen.
I have absolutely experienced the bossy carpet. Not just with clients, but in my own home! For years I lived with a very dark oriental rug, handed down to me. I did so for sentimental reasons and guilt as it was an expensive, well made rug. I finally decided it had to go, and the room has never looked better AND is now in my style! One of these days I'll post about it and link back here:) May I add you don't need fairy dust…you say quite well everything we all need to hear in each amazing post that you turn out!
Some colored carpets I see in design magazines look really gorgeous, but whenever I feel tempted, I try to remember that:
– the color will get old pretty fast
– a colored carpet will limit my color choices when it comes to painting and decorating
– I will most likely get tired of looking at it for at least the next 10 years.
That always helps đ
Yelena
That's like an aqua sofa I once had. What was I thinking when I picked that fabric? Some colors should just be left in the crayola box :- )
I agree, Maria! When we recarpeted the bedrooms in our house we went with neutral colored carpets. We did have colors in the bedroom carpets previously, but you are so right, you are very limited in what colors you can then repaint. I think it was one of the best things we did, especially now that we are selling.
Because color is so important in my business, your Blog is a huge resource for me. Thanks for all the information, Maria!
I remember when Tommy on Design Inc used the phrase "bossy" to describe an area rug – thought it was a great adjective and I use it all the time too with clients. Love how you were able to find an image of mint green carpet to illustrate your point!
Oh colored carpet is one thing I just don't do đ I go neutral all the way so I can paint my walls as much as I want without fighting the floors too!
Great post. I don't even know why they still make crazy carpet colors. I would love white carpet I think it is a fabulous choice for carpet but not practical, darn-it. So I am dealing with my bossy orange toned hard-wood.
My carpet is very bossy! It's green (NOT my choice!) and we just painted a room Shaker Beige thinking it would tone it down, but now the carpet looks clean and the walls look dirty. đ I'm thinking maybe the builder was color blind. I'm having some mercy on him.
Lisa
Funny, the lol some days in our office is the colour of carpet one of us comes back with from a clients measure…designing around a bossy "old trend" colour with the fabrics of today is a migrane headache about to happen… oh my … oh my… been there, worked it out, a few times the only fabrics and paint etc we come up with, that work, help change their minds…and the carpet goes by by…
This also happens with a old trend colour area rug…
I always have a 2nd room presentation without the carpet to show clients… this has helped get the clients back on track…after all, clients just want a new look, just can't see past the extra $ for a new carpet or area rug, that takes a little time… but I must say most get there after a great presentation…(I think some days I can here the house thanking me as I leave)
Designer fairy dust…now that's a great idea!
Who in world would put in a Mint Green carpet? Yech.
How can that horrible colour ever have been 'in'. Yuck. It's amazing how one thing in a room can take it over. You're right: bite the bullet and get rid of your boss, it's your home after all, and you're in charge.
That picture reminds me of Florida rental condos! Just want to say I appreciate your blog..referred to it constantly last year as we were making color choices for renovations due to hurricane Ike damage. It was more helpful than you'll ever know! Also, thanks for the comment awhile back!
A Jerry Maguire scene popped into my head as I read this. Tom Cruise was pleading intensely with Cuba Gooding Jr, saying "Help me help you!" If our clients are open to making necessary changes, they will definitely be happier with their results. Thanks for another great post!
ooooh…those consultations are so tough! there are just some projects that need much more than paint. magic dust would be great, but I think I'd use it on the clients – not the carpet!!
I recently discovered your site and am amazed at how timely each of your posts is! I just repainted my entryway Monroe Bisque and carried it up the stairs and into the small hall by the bedrooms. I need to refresh all the paint on my first floor, living room, dining room. I have red oak hardwood and am wondering if I can carry Monroe Bisque throughout-I want a unified continuous look for my smallish 60's colonial. I have no molding except for a small baseboard throughout. I have only east and west windows and a lot of black accents/furniture in the house that will stay. Do you have any other "neutrals" for me to look at before I continue? Much appreciated!
Maria –
I featured the room we discussed on my Inspirations for 2010 post this week.
The post is at http://www.thedesignfile.net/thedesignfile/2010/01/design-inspiration-for-2010.html.
Thanks! Keep up the awesome work.
-Lesley
This is why I want hardwood floors one day soon! Area rugs over them. I loved your last newsletter Maria!
My carpet on my stairs and upstairs hall are almost that exact colour of green, though mine are even uglier I think. It's one of the reasons I'm having such a hard time choosing colours. I've actually been considering a darker green for the upstairs hall but I worry if it's the wrong shade it will just clash terribly. Unfortunately, we rent so I can't change the carpet. đ
YIKES. I've encountered some pretty tricky color combos as a home stager. The worst was mint green and peach TILE. AUGH. Of course we could not demo the bathroom so, white won out. White walls, white trim, white towels. Anything to lessen the very 80's tile
KarenE
How about a BIG area rug to cover the hideous green?
Too funny….it is HARD when there are giant obstacles such as that to overcome. I wold definitely stick with the creamy neutral walls!
Enjoy your weekend!
xx
Good tips on what not to do.
I brought home some rug samples today and I'll be sure to pick a neutral- that *should* be easy. Picking the weave pattern and binding is another story. đ
My carpet definitely thinks that it is the boss of me. Sadly, because it is a rental, it is. I just try to pretend that it isn't there and am grateful that stains and dog fur don't show.
I actually don't mind the green carpet in that first picture – am I weird?! Everything else in the room seems to work with it, not against it. Wouldn't want it in my whole house though – yikes!
Very well said…a color combination of the room decor with the flooring and the furniture plays a very important role apart from the choice of materials and designs.Everything could go wrong for a color chosen wrongly.
Mint green is a hideous colour-I would rip it out and paint the plywood or chipboard floors rather than live with it. Silly husband. MAYBE HE WANTED A DIVORCE. I would divorce a man who made me keep mint green carpet.
My exact sentiments! Who should be the boss in their own home anyway? Certainly NOT the carpet lol!