Paint Palettes We Love

Here us now, there's no reason that a functional room can't also be stylish. This white- and steel-accented kitchen in an American colonial has mahogany counters, a table on casters, and chairs designed by Arne Jacobsen.

In a rosy guestroom of her Maine cottage, Martha had a lampshade made to match the Italian alabaster reading lamp; the ruffled edge echoes the fluted top of the ivory lamp base. The sconce is one in a set of Italian lyre-backed pieces that belonged to Martha's grandmother. 

Be bold and paint your space a darker shade, or start with an accent wall if you're still hesitant to go full-force. And, contrary to what you may think, going with dark walls can actually make a room feel bigger, especially when done correctly. 

Grayish blue-greens are layered here to create a calming effect. The warm gray wall color was also used on the sides and interiors of the open-back bookcases, giving them the feel of built-ins. A minty green on the case's front adds definition while the desk, painted a misty grayish blue-green, help rounds out the palette.

In a pink room, gray wainscoting and bare floors soften the vivid walls, which are adorned with an asymmetrical array of paintings, sea fans, and a framed collection of starfish. The Gustavian settee is upholstered in gray linen to match a mid-19th-century stool, and the side chair is baroque. A mid-20th-century Danish lamp stands on a rococo side table with Victorian decanters.

Looking at this room of subdued peaches and tans, the color contrasts may not be obvious. However, the accent pieces—end tables painted Lancaster Blue and a tray coated in Babouche yellow—are complementary colors that bring modern pop to the formal setting. And the exterior of the lampshades are painted peach to project the flattering color.

"I wanted the bed to look like a bento box," Kevin Sharkey says. A low platform bed frame stained black alongside marble-topped tables achieves the effect. An oversize graphic painting against beige walls helps furniture to feel grounded in the soaring room.

A graphic damask fabric was used for the floor-to-ceiling curtains in the living area of this Manhattan Loft. A tan couch and wood-based floor lamps highlight the exposed ceiling eaves. The rug is by British designer Neisha Crosland and the deep blue upholstered slipper chairs are antiques.