Almost done
Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14 Comments 
My deep chocolate living room walls. I just want to lick them. Gorgeous. Murowash by Murobond in Murobond Brown. Matte as matte can be and rough to the touch. Completely breathable so hopefully the answer to my damp problems. You can see the lead up to my colour choices here. The cedar doors and jambs were just lightly matte varnished showing all their history. Slight problem with the windows being painted the wrong colour ... white gloss not a gloss Murobond Brown so they disappear as opposed to standing out like dogs balls like they do now. Being fixed soon I hope. I took these photos today without styling the room. Just started dragging things back in. That's actually a lie. I'm home sick with a gastro bug and Kelvin dragged the few pieces into their rough spots after Jane the cleaning lady (best one I've ever had!) cleaned the room of the inevitable painter's detritus. Rug needs to be pulled a bit closer to the wall than where it is in the photo but don't those terracotta floors look so much better now the walls are brown. (The string hanging down in the middle of the picture is the on/off cord for the pendant light. Told you it was an old house!) I haven't taken shots of the fireplace side of the room. You'll have to wait because there is a pile of furniture stacked there and anyway you can't see it all at once. I want to string out the reveal.
The colour scheme is browns, dirty black and white, natural tones of timber, some cane, lots of brass. Basically building on a palette of earth tones then accents of reds, pinks and oranges brought in with art work and accessories. Well that's the plan but maybe that will change by the time the room is styled .... The photo below is the sun coming in very early in the morning. The room faces north east so gets sun streaming in for most of the morning. (I'm in the southern hemisphere remember so I'm the opposite to you guys up north.) There is a lot still to do. More texture, smooth art glass and metals, leather, linen. Layer upon layer. A never ending journey of styling and re-styling. I'm in heaven. Dining room shots soon. It's dark blue and just as gorgeous.
And just a little reminder of what it looked like as we first moved in last year. Before we tore down the wallpaper to find the damp and mould. Yum! So much better now.
Reader Comments (14)
Like I told you this morning on IM, that paint totally makes me want to eat your walls. The matte finish is UNREAL. I may rethink my whole white wall strategy for my place.
Spectacular. Well done you.
I love it...so moody Jo. I have been planning on chocolate brown walls myself and I must say this has been very inspirational! (I have been thinking that I would do more of an ombre or ombre/stripe, but I love the texture. Hmmm.)
Thanks Christa!
Ombre would be fabulous Ottawa alternagrrrl. I can never imagine my painter doing something like that or me paying him for it! :) You MUST send us photos if you do it.
I still can't stop myself from stroking the walls Kim. It will mark easily seeing that it is so matte but it's worth it.
That colour is so rich and yummy - and how good does the GF look against it?
It looks so good, Jo. That matte finish is very cool. And I wish I had kept our número iv s after seeing yours. We had two corners and two high backs and ottoman. Should've held on to them. You must be loving your place even more now! xx
Hey, Jo. All looking everso gorgeous. Am very much looking forward to how you work in your original 1860 cedar shield door cabinets ... they deserve it!
Black walls... not my cup of tea... however, I love your chairs
Sure, I will send along my pictures. Could be awhile before I do it...still working on enlarging my dining room window and other envelope-related things. I am in the middle of picking the actual colours too - that will take awhile. The fabric I have chosen for my chairs and sofa is not unlike the one you have on your chairs.... but the print is smaller and not yet on my furniture.
By the way, wanted to let you know that I plan to outright steal your idea for the stained marine plywood countertops. I`ll be doing black too....
Thanks again everybody. I really appreciate your comments. ElvisFan when I die I'll leave you the chairs in my will :) Hopefully I'll have more room shots soon especially in the other direction. My art gallery sofa is arriving this weekend.
These walls are so gorgeous!! I'm not sure I could hang art on them. But, I do love your art. Are you going to be using your green laquered dresser? Maybe in your dining room? Can't wait to see more!
I can't wait to see how all of this will come together. I love how brave you are being in making such bold colour and design choices - I definitely think it will look amazing and totally be worth going off the beaten path.
- agata.
Thanks Peggy. Thanks Agata. I'm a bit late getting back to these comments what with my computer problems but thanks again :)
Unbelievably, I am a newbie to your site and am SO happy I finally got my self over here. Just so beautiful and I am a new fan. Dying to know if you ended up getting that gorgeous venetian mirror!? I have wanted one of those forever.....Cheers!
xo
Melissa