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Color Inspiration For The Cabin

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Hopefully, you didn’t fly to Vegas and gamble away your life savings betting that I am not using blue in our mountain house. The odds were against it – therefore you could have CLEANED UP!!! And to be fair at first I was pinning mostly grays and mauves, telling myself that I can eliminate blue and instead do other colors in my own home. And maybe I should! Then Brian threatened divorce (jk) so I came to my senses and decided to go with the colors that surround a mountain/lake cabin – a lot of blues and greens.

After my gray and white phase, I found myself pinning these moody colors, these mid tones that feel so cozy and special. Maybe it’s the pretty lighting. Maybe it’s the styling. These colors feel mountain cabin-y to me and even in the summer, I think they still feel ‘lake-y’. For the main areas (living room, stairway, loft and our master bed and bath) I’m likely choosing a neutral color, but for the bedrooms and bathrooms, I’m leaning VERY much towards some of these tones.

The color in the first photo, above, is just so pretty and soothing and yet inviting…

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey2
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Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey5
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The mixing of the tones here is super compelling, although I don’t know if I will end up doing that in our house. But again, its so pretty.

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey6
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I’m dying over the photo on the left (above) and a huge source of inspiration to me for the cabin. There is something so classic, yet Scandinavian about it and yet so cozy like a cabin. The lantern style pendant is unexpectantly timeless and it says ‘traditional and country’ without being too ‘trendy farmhouse-y’. Then the herringbone and the vertical cladding adds quiet texture. I tell my team all the time that I love a ‘peeking into another room’ shot like that one because it gives you so much context for a house. Can I do a dark moody bedroom? Maybe for the kid’s bunk room? Maybe for the guest room? It just feels so appropriate up there, despite all my initial imagery of lighter spaces. If you haven’t got the memo yet, Brian is basically winning this style battle and it’s going FAR more ‘cabin’ than ‘chalet’ but that’s ok because turns out we don’t live in Switzerland and I can’t say ‘chalet’ without wanting to punch myself in my face because it sounds so pretentious. But that gray cladding on the ceiling? You BETCHA.

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey7
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That above shot (which is surely a set) does make me feel all cozy, with that color being so soothing. And the below says ‘cabin’ in a way that also says ‘color’. Fine. I like both those things.

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey Blue1
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The tones of all of these say ‘I’m cozy and inviting but maybe my kids will be normal’.

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey Blue6
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Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey Blue5
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Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey Blue7
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Life is good here. I have blue on the wall, a pretty fabric covered strangely low light fixture and a wooden elephant in the window. MY LIFE WILL BE EASIER IF I PAINT MY WALL THIS COLOR, RIGHT??

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey Blue4
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My kid’s bunk room needs a treatment like this and they just might get it. Maybe if they stop testing my patience all day every day asking for packaged snacks I’ll give them the bunk room of their/our dreams.

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey Blue2
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I’ll go moodier if you push me and I can be pushed. I love that room so much and if there is one thing that turns Brian on it’s a ‘modern paisley settee’.

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey Blue3
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Put that beautiful blue on a wall with some interior board and batten and both our dreams come true. And by ‘our dreams’ I mean, my dream of texture and his dream that our house isn’t a minimalist stark museum-like hole. Oh boy, I’m so excited about this house.

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey13
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Is that above blue the perfect ‘powder’ or is just styled right?? I’ve tried to find such a blue for a while and unless it’s styled perfectly and shot with the perfect light, guess what – it looks ‘baby blue’.

But I want that blue. It’s so happy but soothing – but be warned – if you choose a ‘blue’ that feels on the gray side know that it’s most likely going to look ‘baby blue’. If you choose a gray that looks a TINY bit blue then you might get closer to that non-baby-blue-but-mostly-gray that you actually want.

And then the greens start taking over my mind …

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey8
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Greens are the color of trees, and YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT A TREE (see this post if you don’t, or see my daughters first and second tree mural rooms).

But how do you get that perfect green? What is it about these colors that don’t feel dated (hunter) but instead feel modern? Is it the amount of black in them? The fact that they are matte? Is it the quality of the paint and the pigment that gives it movement and texture??? I DON’T KNOW AND I’M A PROFESSIONAL BUT I’LL FIND OUT AND TELL YOU.

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey9
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That above shot is definitely not the right vibe for this project, but man is it compelling and I want to stare hard in its direction. I want to be in that house and get to know those people. They put a sofa on the edge of a rug facing the other way (surely for just a shot) and it cracks me up, but I still love the shot!

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey3
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Will green make me feel as happy and soothed as blue does?  Maybe. Or will it look like a 90’s wanna-be-modern-color that really just dates the whole house? WHAT A FUN EXPERIMENT!!

Emily Henderson Bedroom Living Room Colored Toned Walls Blue Green Grey12
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This dark jade in the shiplap looks GOOD and cozy and warm.

Emily Henderson Mountain Fixer Upper Color Inspiration Moody Cabin
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For a bunk room, I’d do that in a second.

The key for our house is choosing tones that look natural and then applying them in a way that amplifies their nature inspiration. No royal blues or emerald greens here. We want tones that are more muted and soothing, but then we need to apply them so they aren’t the star – the nature and the architecture need to be in charge here.

I’m down for the challenge. This isn’t an ‘I design, You decide’ because I’ve already decided. I want these colors to help shape the tone and feeling of the house. I want it to feel happy but cozy, moody but in a soothing way. I know I can paint all the rooms white and get likes on Instagram, but if that’s not what I want to live with then why consider it?

Are you into moody? Are you ready for less all white walls and interested in some deeper tones, darker colors, and a moodier, cozier feel?

Yep, I think I am too. Weigh in, folks. Because if you are into it I’ll test a ton of colors and help us all figure out the best, most sophisticated blues and greens. I’m up for the challenge – just say the word.

Update: Check out all of The Mountain House REVEALS here: The Kids’ BedroomThe Kitchen | The Kitchen Organization | The Kitchen Appliances | The Powder Bath | The Living Room | The Downstairs Guest Suite | The Loft | The Hall Bath | The Upstairs Guest Bath | The Dining Room | The Family Room

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Laurel
6 years ago

Love it. I’m going moody myself right now, in our living room. I’m glad Brian is getting his way, because I’d been feeling a teensy bit bad for him. #teambrian

Kadri
6 years ago
Reply to  Laurel

#teambrian here too!!

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Kadri

Ha. NOBODY should feel bad for Mr. Brian Henderson. His wife is designing his dream cabin for him. Its just a great exercise in true compromise and truthfully he is right most of the time because he ‘gets’ what this house should be more than I have or do. But i love that you guys have his back 🙂 #teamhendo

Deb
6 years ago

I’m with you on the moody blue but that green…nope. But having said that, with any color, once you seen it in your space with the lighting etc., it could be great. I find I am amending my old rule of no green, gray, black, or brown. A little.

Molly
6 years ago

#teambrian here too!! These dark colors will only work if you incorporate natural finishes into this house! Don’t loose sight of what American mountain houses really look like – none of those pictures say natural get away to me.

MIMS
6 years ago

I love the blues. All of them. Current fave for me is Van Deusen Blue by BM because it’s navy but also sorta peacock and looks amazing in my interior dining room (and powder room).

Erica
6 years ago
Reply to  MIMS

I like that color too! It’s the back of my bookcases.

Vicki
6 years ago

I love the blues more (blue is just my favourite!) but I’d be really interested to see how you work with the green! Definitely feeling this moody vibe!!

Peggi
6 years ago

I am all about the greens! And the blues. I especially love those with a black backbeat and some gold/brass/mustard accents to make them zing a little. Also, I’m just naturally moody. (I was NEVER into white walls!)

Wendy S. Munsell
6 years ago
Reply to  Peggi

I hope you go moody! Although the fresh clean look is pretty to look at online I’m getting tired of it. The muted blues and greens that you are contemplating remind me of why I love forests… mysterious and inviting!

Admin
6 years ago

Yes, mysterious forest!!

Caro
6 years ago

Darker wall colors are definitely a coming trend. I’ve been seeing them more and more for the last few years and thinking that their time has come round again. I love light and light colors, HOWEVER, there was a photo of a bedroom painted Hague Blue that I saw 3 or 4 years ago and it stopped me in my tracks. I’ve seen it a few more times and every time I see it I love it more. And I’ve even started wondering what would happen if I maybe painted just one wall that color I’m old enough to have seen this happen before. This is exactly how trends change. It’s like painted furniture- for 10 or 15 years everyone is painting wood furniture, then you start seeing a few pieces of natural wood furniture that just look really good to you. Then, suddenly everyone is stripping the paint off and showing natural wood. And the tide has turned and all you see is stripped wood everywhere. All of these pictures really attract me. Some of them I really love. I can’t wait to see where you go with this. Maybe I will paint just one wall a nice dark… Read more »

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Caro

I know the zeitgeist is just such a strange thing. And after years of painted kitchens we are all of a sudden seeing and wanting raw wood cabinets again. The shiny maple killed it, but its headed back! But man its more expensive …. debating both for the cabin (and no, painted cabinets won’t be out).

Stacey
6 years ago
Reply to  Emily

That green painted kitchen with the white marble (and beautiful stove) is divine! Thank you for the inspiration! As always!

Tiffanie
6 years ago

I’m loving the moody blues and greens in these inspo pics. I’d like to see those colors used along with moody raspberry and moody marigold. The current design trends and typically what fills up my Pinterest and Instagram are all about making white, gray, and light woods warm. The injection of color in the modern mountain will be a nice change of pace. I think if your going to go for cozy and warmth on the walls the woods need to meld well with it and the Scandi ash gray and pale tans just doesn’t do it for me. My newest favorite wood is the honey color Mango woods.

Bea
6 years ago

Although these photos are all beautiful, I say be CAREFUL! I’m assuming a lot of them were taken in a colder “northern” light with lots of grey / blue tones (i.e, Scandinavia / the UK) and they may look very different in your setting. (I’m thinking of the old blue colour in your former TV / play room area…)

I’ve been in a number of properties with these dark colours and they may look great in photos but I find them oppressive in real life. Also, many of the above options are in older properties (either with very low, cosy ceilings or very high Victorian ceilings with lots of ornate mouldings). From the photos I’ve seen of your mountain cabin, its very 1980s, very different to the above looks and therefore may be a lot tougher to pull off.

I’d say go for a downstairs toilet / bathroom with very little natural light for these darker colours but steer away from larger rooms with lots of natural, bright sunshiny light …

Bea
6 years ago
Reply to  Bea

Oh – thought I should also mentioned that Farrow & Ball have an excellent online brochure which covers which colours to use in what kind of light and how to create warm and cozy feeling. Definitely worth a read:

http://www.farrow-ball.com/inspiration-brochure/content/fcp-content

S
6 years ago
Reply to  Bea

Very. Good insight

Melissa
6 years ago
Reply to  Bea

I totally agree with all of this! I was wondering if most of the photos were taken in European countries because there is just something different about the light.

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Melissa

SUCH a good point. That northern cooler light absolutely affects things and yes, most of these are from Scandinavian sites. I’ll be testing the heck out of these colors on large pieces of paper and then staring at each of them in the room before painting. But I will likely still make a mistake and repaint. My history of my old family room/den absolutely TERRIFIES me. That blue was cozy at night, but otherwise OPPRESSIVE. SHoot!!! I may not have the guts … or maybe just a guest room, it’s also WINTER and its easier to want dark colors in winter, but when its 90 degrees outside I want to be in a lightfilled white room!!

Bethany
6 years ago
Reply to  Melissa

I agree the light in these photos is so different from the bright sunshiny sunlight here in Southern California making it difficult to execute this “feeling”.

Lynn
6 years ago
Reply to  Bea

I agree — I think these rooms are striking — and I can appreciate a deep color in, say, a restaurant or a club (or, as you say, a 1/2 bath), but if this color was on all the walls of my bedroom (or living room, etc.), day in and day out, I would find it unbearably oppressive and depressing. But, to each his own — and I look forward to what Emily creates!

Shenleyonthames
6 years ago
Reply to  Bea

Yes, some of these I recognise from uk sites. Very dark colours have been a trend (see Abigail Ahern). But a couple of uk bloggers* have gone back to white or pale colours because the darks were hard to live with. The darks look fabulous and are ok for transient spaces, bathrooms , even bedrooms, cinema rooms but not for large scale use in living spaces.
*Lisa Dawson and Kimberley Duran are the ones that come to mind.

kai
6 years ago
Reply to  Bea

I would agree with the above cautionary tale. My story involves another color. Once when a buttery yellow was all the rage, I decided to break with my all pure white love, and paint the family room. It didn’t look right, color was pretty, so I bought a new rug. Still didn’t work, so I added silk draperies. And accessories. It made me a nervous wreck until I called in the painter and repainted with architectural white and got rid of all that buttery yellow stuff ($$$) As Bea says, it’s all about your natural light…

Brandyn
6 years ago

The right blue and green combos make me think of a tree against a stormy blue cloud (I love storms). It was actually the inspiration for the colors in my last kitchen (green walls, dark blue cabinets).

Julie S
6 years ago
Reply to  Brandyn

Yesss. I love this combo in the great outdoors whenever I see it, and is inspiration in my own home as well.

NT
6 years ago

Yes, would love you to show us your tests to find the perfect moody blues and greens! So timely for me because that’s exactly what I’m looking to do in my new new home (moving in this weekend!)

S
6 years ago
Reply to  NT

Yes. This. A round up of moody blues pretty please

Meredith
6 years ago

Don’t listen to the green haters! I’ve been slowly and unconsciously morphing my house full of blues to a house full of greens, and I’m loving it. Try Newburg Green from Benjamin Moore historic colors – it changes all day long and I’m obsessed. Used it for clients too and it’s different and excellent in each room it goes in.

Tiffanie
6 years ago
Reply to  Meredith

Agree. Yes, green is a gorgeous color for inside the home! Practically every shade found in nature can be translated for the interior.

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Tiffanie

I LOVE Newberg green, too.

Elizabeth
6 years ago

Maybe it’s just because you’re posting this in February and I live in Chicago, but these rooms are like the essence of seasonal affective disorder to me. Don’t get me wrong, some of them are also beautiful, but in a tragic way, like a French concubine succumbing to consumption.

I don’t doubt that you’ll do a version I like, but dang, some of those rooms are depressing.

Bea
6 years ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

LOL “like a French concubine succumbing to consumption” really made me laugh!

Beth
6 years ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

Agree completely!

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Beth

HA. That’s hilarious. And yes, I just commented back to someone above you about how its winter (barely in LA, but still) and so OF COURSE i want to be in cozy rooms but come 90 degrees and we are headed back from the beach and i’ll want a light bright room … but again, this would likely be in the guest or kids rooms, not main spaces or master bedroom .. xx

Courtney
6 years ago

I’ve got a huge swatch of F&B’s Green Smoke taped to my dining room wall right now. So glad to see color make a comeback!

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Courtney

that is what is on my kitchen island and I LOVE it. Maybe I need to just do the bottom half, maybe stained on wood instead of painted?

Courtney
6 years ago
Reply to  Emily

If that’s the color on your kitchen island, than I’d echo the comment above that warned to watch the light. I know there’s some Level adjusting and Instagram magic at work in your kitchen photos, but your island and the sheet of painted board hanging in my south-facing Chicago dining room could not look more different. I think you’ll have to go darker and greyer with your color choices to achieve this post’s level of moody saturation in the California sunshine.

The stained wood idea is an intriguing one! A kind of textural color wash on wood might feel more in line with the Scandi Cali Cabin you’re going for (though I think doing it on half the wall might go a little more cottage?).

Sarah
6 years ago

Yes to the gorgeous moody blues and greens! You’ve reminded me of the kitchen of this house, which is still one of the most beautiful rooms I’ve ever seen: https://www.themodernhouse.com/past-sales/stroud-2/

Amanda
6 years ago

We are building a weekend cabin with a loft space for kids. Mine are older–ten and seven–and I’m thinking about using hammocks instead of beds. Ideally, their friends would just bring their sleeping bags when they come and laundry would be simplified. No one has seemed to have done this, so maybe there’s a catch I don’t foresee yet!

HH
6 years ago

I think that Emily can pull off anything, so I’m along for the ride. That being said, most of these photos are not what I’d think of as being Refined Scandinavian Chalet, Scandinavian Cabin, or Refined Scandinavian Californian Cabin. (Whew, that’s a mouthful. 🙂 ) A lot of these photos, and the photos from some of the fireplaces, are way more what I’d call “relaxed traditional” than Scandi.

Hanna
6 years ago
Reply to  HH

Totally agree! Where is the blond wood and whitewash I associate with Scandinavian/Danish/Swedish design? This is a little Edgar Allen Poe/Edward Gorey/Modern Victorian to me.

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Hanna

You guys, this is just for paint color reference, don’t worry!!

Christina
6 years ago
Reply to  HH

I agree — I get that they’re just paint color reference, but to me Scandinavian always means white walls. One of my best friends did an exchange year in Sweden during university, fell in love, and has been living there for the last 20 years. We visited them this summer, and she mentioned that the general feeling/rule in Sweden is you have not-too-light wood floors to keep you grounded, and light walls to keep things not too oppressive. The reverse (dark walls. light floors) is thought to be topsy-turvy and a recipe for psychological maladjustment or something. I was amused, but also agree because ever since I was a kid in the late 80s I’ve liked warm wood floors and white or near-white walls and I feel like light walls help me through Canadian winters. To me, these colour samples are more moody and less cozy, I’m with Elizabeth in Chicago on feeling the Seasonal Affective Disorder ramp up just looking at some of them. But the California context makes a difference. You’ll have a lot more light in the winters than they do in Scandinavia (or Chicago, or Canada) and I believe you can make the darker walls work.… Read more »

Alice
6 years ago

Great post! So much inspiration. Sources for the photos? I’d love to click through to see the designers’ other spaces.
I’m loving your cabin series. My fave part of your blog and Instagram stories is watching you work through the design decision process, the transparency. You and the EHD team rock!

kellie
6 years ago
Reply to  Alice

I’d definitely appreciate original sources of the photos too (as I’m sure the original creators/photogs would as well.)

Lauren
6 years ago
Reply to  Alice

Ditto–it feels rude not to credit the original creators/photogs. Plus you didn’t name any of the colors used, so if I want to use a moody blue (which I do), this isn’t that helpful…

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Lauren

We are on it, guys. I wrote and posted this late last night so we are just behind. Stay tuned. We may not have the paint color but we’ll try. xx

Heidi
6 years ago
Reply to  Alice

There’s a small link underneath each picture reading “photo source”

Jb
6 years ago

I know you have high-end colors and brands at your finger tips, but no joke, look into Autumn Fog by Valspar. Smoky blue with the perfect amount of grey. We just almost doubled our home with an addition (still waiting to move in!) and painted the master that color. It could not be more perfect cozy moody soothing blue!

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Jb

I want to see pics!

JB
6 years ago
Reply to  Emily

Emily–I just sent you an email with some pics of the color in our room. It’s so pretty!
Kimmy–That was fun to read! I hope you love it as much as we do!

Kimmy
6 years ago
Reply to  Jb

I just painted a test swath of Autumn Fog on my boyfriend’s master bathroom wall! I haven’t got to see how it looks dry yet and won’t until this weekend, but it looked promising in the wet phase. We’re putting Valspar Grey Putty in the master and want to layer in a slightly darker slate-ish blue in the bathroom. Have yet to see if Autumn Fog is dark enough contrast against the gray or if we need to go a bit darker, but either way, it’s a pretty color…

BT
6 years ago

The moodier the better! The saturated white palates that have dominated the last few years seem so flat boring and I am VERY into the darker hues you are being inspired by!

Jessi
6 years ago

I started buying into the moodier colors a couple years ago and went navy with my baby boy’s nursery. My husband was terrified and now he loves it and how it’s really the coziest room in the house. I also mentioned a deep forest green on the walls, which he wasn’t going for. So I’ve introduced the green a few other places-a throw here, a lumbar pillow there. It’s worked very well and I think I almost have him on board for painting something a moody green.

For what it’s worth, the navy we chose reads more “gentleman’s lounge” while I think the green would have read more “mountain man.” One hundred million percent go bold and moody, but I am feeling that green for your cabin pretty hard.

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Jessi

We used Gentleman’s lounge at the barn makeover and loved it, too! Oh wait, i think it was gentlemens gray … nevermind. ..

Brittany
6 years ago

I used Farrow & Ball, “Light Blue” (color matched to Behr paint) for my bedroom and it is the perfect shade of light blue that is not too baby blue. It’s got a note of green undertone that mutes it just enough to keep it from going baby but doesn’t turn it into mint. I have plaster walls and the color had so much depth on the texture. I would definitely recommend giving it a try!

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Brittany

Ooh i’m interested. Thank you!

Erin
6 years ago
Reply to  Brittany

I agree with this color. I painted my “tv room” in it and it’s lovely

Erica
6 years ago

For that mudroom wall color – I modeled my master closet after the one in Jeannette Whitson’s Nashville home featured in House Beautiful. The color is Benjamin Moore Blue Dusk. I think it’s very similar – definitely blue with a lot of gray, but not at all baby blue. Photo here: https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/house-tours/g1434/creating-a-new-old-house-0613/?slide=14

Victoria
6 years ago

Yes to all the moody blues. And if anyone could convince me on the green, it would be you.

Terri
6 years ago

Love the moody grayed out blues and greens… that’s my jam! I think you are on the right track for bedrooms and bathrooms and then you could use the lighter Repose Gray with the super white trim and use blue and green and natural wood for accent colors in the main living, dining and kitchen. It will look spectacular! Perfect for a mountain lake cabin and give you all the feels of what your going for which sounds like a combo of the two styles we voted for…I’m okay with that. I think its going to be great! Looking forward to the color swatches!

Cris S.
6 years ago

And yes, like one of the above commentators, I am in Chicago and I both love and fear the dark rooms. Though we painted our dining room BM Dior Gray with white wainscotting and trim a couple of years ago and the room FINALLY works vs. the much lighter Devon Cream and then Bunny Gray that I tried in previous years.

6 years ago

I LOVE that second-to-last picture, with the muddy jade green and the natural wood planks on the ceiling!

Rae
6 years ago

I love these moody colors, especially where the contrast is wood, cream, gray etc. I don’t love them when a stark white is right up against the deeper hue — to me that looks very dated contemporary. I am really looking forward to all of the posts about this cabin!

Grace
6 years ago

Greens greens greens please. Blue-greens. And greens. The blues are nice and calm but don’t really excite me or illicit feelings of nature really. But those greens are doing it for me!

bubu
6 years ago

Love this- all these shots and moods are totally talking to me. FWIW, we painted our bedroom Benjamin Moore “Tranquility” and I absolutely love it every day, because it makes me feel, well, tranquil. Also, I am curious about tree coverage on the house — is it going to be a lot darker when leaves are in full bloom? Only because darker rooms when there’s not a lot of light coming in can feel kind of gloomy, and foliage has such a major effect on sunlight.

Sara
6 years ago

Ugh you hit the nail on the head with your powder blue comments. I did what I thought was a powder blue on my walls and trim, doors included, so really committed and what looked like a very sophisticated, historical blue (Brittany Blue by BM) when we swatched it and really looked at it both during the day and at night looks like that sometimes, but looks BLUE blue little boy boy a lot of the time, as well. It’s so tough! I still have a love/hate relationship with the decision. Room is coming together slowly and adding more layers and warmer tones, gold, olive, definitely helps things, but I think I should have gone with F & B’s Light Blue, instead, or a pale grey with a lot of blue undertones, just as you said. But my husband wanted color…it’s a challenge for sure! Can’t wait to see what you come up with

S
6 years ago

Please do a color paint round up of the blues….I’m begging. 🙂
These blues are what I thought I saw in the pictures from Corbett’s house (upstairs). Turns out it was just a reflection, but I’m still on the hunt for that look to add to my home.

Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  S

me, too. On it!!

S
6 years ago
Reply to  Emily

yessssssss!

Marie
6 years ago

I like the moody blues! I think it’s harder to get moody greens right, as they can look muddy. I used Ralph Lauren’s Kauai in our master bedroom, which is a lighter green than the ones you pinned above, but still gives a moody vibe. It worked nicely with the light in a house in Los Angeles, and also looks great with the very different light in our current home, a Tudor cottage in New York.

Hanna
6 years ago

I do not like moody. I like bright. Why have windows if the walls are just going to suck up sunshine like black holes? More whites & brights, please!!! A cabin should be airy in my book. 🙂

Debby
6 years ago

You ask if I’m into the moody? My husband and kids would for sure say yes, I can be very moody ?. I just love your line about the packaged snacks. I’m sorry, it made me laugh out loud. This was a really fun post.

Erin
6 years ago

You are hysterical. I love this post. Thank you for being normal. I hope you’re enjoying this process, because I definitely am!

Emily
6 years ago

Whoa. I love you, Em, but these photos are like the design equivalent of major depressive disorder to me. Definitely not cabin getaway in the woods. Unless the cabin is where I plan to drink and pen a sorrowful opera.

Kate
6 years ago

I love moody colors, but mostly in spaces with classical architecture and upscale decor.

I’m a little surprised to see you going in this direction with this house! I would think you’d want to keep it light and bright to contrast the stone and wood. Even with a lot of natural light, dark colors are still…dark.

Cathy
6 years ago

You are designing from a sunny place – I look out to the grey skies here in Portland at the moment, and those moody colors make me feel a little down.

Lesley
6 years ago

YES to that dark (blue?) wall-to-wall carpet for a bedroom. It looks amazing and cozy.

Patricia
6 years ago

you make me so happy going more cabin. and I need me some happy. fell down a flight of stone stairs in mexico and wound up w/ a badly broken right arm; shoulder, wrist and metacarpal. back home again and looking for diversion. bring on the cozy cabin.

I hate sponge baths.

Mary
6 years ago
Reply to  Patricia

Feeling for you!

Carla
6 years ago

I love these colors, including the greens, and I am excited to see what you do! As a person who lives in a 1972 house in the woods and who has never been a white-walls fan, I am watching your design of this home very closely.

Anna
6 years ago

I love moody coluors in smaller rooms! Go for it!

A dark blue would be really pretty in the master bedroom.

I love green moore than blue, but to me it seems harder to find the right shade of green. Maybe it is because blue is a much moore calmer colour than green?

I really like the light green colour “tant johannas grona” (google it), it manages to be both light and moody at the same time.

Kristin
6 years ago

I painted our master bedroom Hague Blue by Farrow and Ball and I LOVE it. It definitely turned out more navy than the blue-green I’ve seen on the internet, but it is a lovely color. I’ve always had a light colored, airy bedroom so this was a huge change. It just feels so cozy and warm now. I do think it works in my room because I have many windows (5) and all white painted trim. And I bought a white duvet and bedding as well. I think it would look great in your cabin!

Kristin
6 years ago
Reply to  Kristin

And I forgot to mention that I live in the Midwest with many overcast, gloomy, freezing days and the dark blue walls are not depressing at all in a bedroom. I wouldn’t want it in a living room, but it does make our room feel snug on gloomy days, and I actually think it really highlights the windows and the light on sunny days.

Crystal
6 years ago

ohmygosh!! All that talk about blue that looks baby blue, but not baby blue when the lighting is perfect and it’s styled perfectly is exactly what is going on in my home. I love the bright, airy, light feeling during the day, but at night it’s just baby nursery blue. And I’m home mostly at night. And Ben Moore paint is expensive. Soooooo. Also, I love all the yelling in this post. IT’S HILARIOUSLY DRAMATIC IN THE BEST WAY!

Mary-Katherine
6 years ago

LOVE! I really think you will find a beautiful way to incorporate some moodier colors while still keeping it feeling like a warm cabin – you never cease to amaze me!

Really love the shot towards the bottom of the dark walls with the light wood shiplap ceiling. Something about the ceiling screams “cabin!” so it keeps the paint choice from feeling forced in the context of a mountain house.

xo Mary-Katherine
http://www.goldhattedlover.com

Julie S
6 years ago

All right, yes! Following so closely for my own home. The main open plan space is white but the bathrooms and bedrooms don’t have the vaulted ceiling or huge windows so I want to go moodier there, and natural blues and greens are always my favorite combo. They’re already the color accents in the bright part of the house. I’m SUPER INTERESTED in what you find out about those moody greens and how not to make them look like dated hunter greenl on the walls. I’ve noticed and wondered the same thing – the matte texture is definitely a huge part, sometimes even has a plaster type finish or variation in the paint.

6 years ago

PLEASE do this for all of us paint-color-failures! For the life of me, I cannot translate paint colors I see on screen/Pinterest to an actual paint line and color. Find all the good moody colors and tell us! And maybe in widely-available paint lines? pretty please?!

Miriam
6 years ago

I like it. I just painted one of our rooms Marlboro blue by Benjamin Moore and it can definitely look sorta baby blue, but I’m anxious to see it with the flooring and all else.

Regine from The 256 Project
6 years ago

Yes, I’m absolutely into YOU taking up the challenge for all of us. Thanks! 🙂