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09-26-2011 at 9:39 PM
hippie4yah...
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hippie4yahweh is not online. Last active: 08-05-2012, 7:15 PMSilver

Help with the color to paint my bookcases?

I want to paint my Billies. They're currently "medium brown", and I've been working on trimming them out with real wood trim and a matching stain, but actually getting the stain to match is not working. I've recently realized that with all of the dark books they look even more cluttered than they actually are!

So I'm thinking of adding the trim and painting, a la: 

 Any color suggestions? I like gray, but I'm needing a little more warmth. The wall color is MS Whetstone Gray (not my image, but true to life on my screen)

Other colors in the room are a darker slate gray (sofa), green (mid-tone, ranging from a lighter olive to a pretty natural, not-quite apple), orange, dark wood (black/brown laminate and dark walnut stained real wood) and creams/whites. Our style is eclectic, pretty casual, kind of goofy.

I'm wondering if I should stick with a mid-tone neutral, or one of the other colors in the room? White is boring to me, I don't want them white, but bright orange would be too much, so....? I like white with a color on the backs, but I have a LOT of books, I think the "punch" would be lost. These are not fancy-styled bookcases by any means!

Color suggestions would be hugely appreciated, major bonus points for specific color names that I can look up! (color is not my thing, to say the least)

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09-26-2011 at 10:13 PM
astroMom
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My first thought was a yellow, but what shade would be based on your style.
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09-26-2011 at 10:30 PM
Mandy6585
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What about a burnt orange so it doesn't stand out too much from the darker woods but is a splash of color.  Don't know how to make it clicky but here's a link at Lowe's

 http://www.lowes.com/pd_94101-4-30096ORANGEGLAZE_4294766291+4294791315_4294937087_?productId=3330806&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_OrangesPeaches_4294766291%2B4294791315_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%7C0%7C%7Cp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=Oranges/Peaches 

or even a lavender if you want something totally off the wall but would still go with the grey and lighten up the bookcases

http://www.lowes.com/pd_93679-4-EB53LAVENDERHEATHER_4294766291+4294791313_4294937087_?productId=3326772&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_PurplesLavenders_4294766291%2B4294791313_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%7C0%7C%7Cp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=Purples/Lavenders 

 
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09-27-2011 at 8:04 AM
mlhubbard
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What about painting them all over white, then using an orange stencil just on the back?  It would add your punch of color but keep it a little conservative with the white!
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