When should you have a bright foyer color?

Providence Downs home, Marvin NC / Current client

For the most part, when I think about foyer color I usually use a neutral, light beige, pale gray or really any hue that has just a little hint of color. I do this for a reason. 

As you know there are usually rooms on each side of the foyer (this pertains to the homes in South Charlotte) a dining room and an office. When I choose color for a home, the substantial color usually goes in the dining room or office. In some cases, the mainstream color needs to be in the foyer.

Why? There are so many reasons why but I'll explain why I chose Approaching Autumn, a Color Stories hue from Benjamin Moore, for this particular foyer.

This home is located in Providence Downs, a beautiful gated community in Marvin, NC. Large homes that on the average are a good 7,000 square feet and also have an open floor plan. Most of the time, these foyers take up two out of the three stories so you have to be EXTREMELY careful when choosing color for these foyers. Here's what I did in this home.

If you look at the photo, you'll see part of the foyer and dining room. Did you even notice the drapery between these two rooms? I was in this home myself and didn't notice it until I was right next to it. Right now the foyer is just a basic Contractor's Beige. The dining room on the left is some type of creamy yellow with muted green cabinets and paneling which is also in the kitchen. You can't see it here but the room on the right has an explosion of colors from salmons to yellows - really beautiful room and I hate that I don't have a photo of it to show you.

Anyway, going back to foyer color, why did I choose Approaching Autumn for this foyer? Because the rest of this home is quite colorful. The homeowners love color!! How great is that? To me, the color palette that best describes their home is very “Fifi Flowers”. Again, you can't see it in this photo but the home has beautiful yellows, purples and colors that look like they just popped out of a spring bouquet. 

Tea Table by Fifi

Foyer: I chose Approaching Autumn because this entrance needed to make a statement and also needs to transition the color that is in the dining room and the very colorful sitting area on the right. 

Even though a neutral is a good color to use to “rest” your eyes, it wouldn't work in this home. Using Approaching Autumn will now make the columns stand out (see photo) and the neutral drapery will at least be noticed when draped again the peachy foyer.

Dining Room: This again is a very color specific room. The drapery is a monochromatic green toile, the cabinetry and decorating trim work is a hand painted muted, distressed green and the artwork in this room is very colorful. I chose a clean soft green by Color Stories, Sweet Celadon. The color swatches I have here don't do ANY color justice - you really need to look at the paint deck to see these.

Kitchen: She LOVES blue and it couldn't have a trace of gray in it so what did I go with? A very clean “Light Blue” from the Benjamin Moore Preview Collection.  I gravitate towards that paint deck when a client needs a bright hue. Really beautiful colors there! Kitchen cabinets are getting painted White Dove with brown glaze to brighten up her kitchen.

I can't wait to choose color for the rest of the home (this one has to be done in stages) and show you some AFTER shots. 

If you have any questions about foyer color or the choosing color for the large homes in South Charlotte. Just contact me to schedule a color consultation. I'd love to help!