Questions about colors and contrasts
Architect and interior designer Carmel Greer joined The Washington Post staff writer Jura Koncius recently on its Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt:
Q. I have wood floors in my kitchen, but I'd also like to install wooden kitchen cabinets. Do the two wood colors need to match?
A. No. Unless you are installing new floors and using the exact same wood to build truly custom cabinets, there is no way they will match exactly. If something is not going to match exactly, I prefer a very intentional mismatch. I love some of the woods with unusual grains/textures that Boffi (www.boffi.com) is using right now. They are modern, but still have a lot of warmth and texture.
Q. I'm painting my tween daughter's room. She really likes pink. Any suggestions?
A. Ace Hardware's paint line, Clark and Kensington, is doing some fun things. They have a line of paints that exactly match OPI nail polish, so her summer toes could exactly match her walls. I Eat Mainely Lobster, a bright, fun and unconventional coral pink, would be a great color on one wall and the ceiling (yes, I said the ceiling), with Don't Touch My Tutu neutral/gray on the other three walls to balance the intensity.
Q. We are expecting a wee one soon. I've dreamed of a wonderful and fun nursery for her, but I'm frozen because I can't decide what color to paint the walls. Should I stick with white?
A. A monochromatic white nursery can be beautiful. I don't think nursery colors need to be gender-specific! We just did a beautiful little girl's nursery with one wall of robin's egg blue. The other walls are a soft gray. Another option is to do white walls, but pick a color you love for linens and wall hangings. Wall decals are another great option for adding color in a noncommittal way.
Q. I really like the look of marble in kitchens but don't like the idea of it staining. What are some alternatives other than granite?
A. A quartz such as Caesarstone is a great option. It provides a durable work surface, but also provides the material richness of natural stone.