I was flicking through last month’s Sunset (which just gets better and better), when what did I see? A Seattle Craftsman house very much like ours, even down to the need for kid-friendliness. 

Loving the furniture placement here.  Unfortunately we can’t emulate it because of our built in bookcases.

They’ve even got a Tripp Trapp! And I like the way they’ve done the lighting over the table.  I’ve been contemplating doing something like this, but am wondering about maintaining the symmetry in the room.  Need to think about this.

Nice kitchen, for when we ever have the money to do ours.  I like how the cabinets and shelves look modern, but completely fit in with the look of the house.  

I ADORE this lamp. The house is owned by an architect couple, and from their website it seems that they’ve done some very sympathetic renovations of Craftsman properties in Seattle.  I’m keeping them on file just in case we ever win the lottery and can afford to remodel our basement and downstairs kitchen.

I’ve been going through agonies of indecision about the paint colours for our main living room. I can’t tell you how many different sample colours I’ve tried out and rejected.

Just to bring you up to speed, we’re looking for a colour to replace the egg-yolk yellow walls in the downstairs living room. There’s a bit of a crazy colour scheme developing in here of chartreuse and white with raspberry sorbet, cranberry, dark brown and er, orange accents (see pictures below) and I need a paint colour to pull it all together.

And before you say anything, yes, I am well aware that this room needs lots of ‘editing’, though at least it is mercifully free of the toys which are normally scattered about with gay abandon.

The sitting area is going to be a white, though a white which will pick out the mouldings and the white fireplace which you can see better here.  This white is TBD. However I’m looking for a colour to go above the panelling in the dining area.  The colour needs to be sufficiently bright to withstand the grey Seattle winter light; sufficiently deep to emphasise the panelling, but not so pastelly that it looks like a little girl’s bedroom in bright sunshine (the room has lots of south and east facing windows, so can get very bright).

After much deliberation I have narrowed it down to this green (Greenwich by Ralph Lauren) or a pink.  The pink in the sample is actually the pink of the sample board itself which I rather like, but I don’t actually have a paint identified.  I wanted your input before I go searching further though.

First up the green.  It is a beautiful colour and I think it’s the right green if we decide to go the green route. I’m just a bit worried that with green curtains and a green table runner and a green rug the room is just going to end up being rather er, green. 

Here it is in strong sunlight

And here it is when the light is more subdued.  I’m pleased that it doesn’t go too grey.

On the other hand here is the pink in strong sunlight

And here it is when the light is more subdued which is when I like it best. Subdued light happens a lot in Seattle.

Here finally are both colours in tungsten light. The green stands up well, but the pink goes a bit too ‘bubblegum’ for my taste. Sorry about crappy blurred photo – my little point and shoot doesn’t do well in low lighting conditions and flash would have defeated the object.  I do miss my camera!

Anyway, shall I go for the green? Or keep looking for the right pink? If so, do you have any suggestions for pinks I should try? Or should I do something completely different entirely?