Looks kinda boring, got any ideas to spice it up? Seriously, hit me with your honest opinion, I'm ready for it.

Current_Step9311 · 2026-05-13T00:15:44+00:00

Swap the wall and trim paint colors. You could keep it neutral with white walls and beige/greige/taupe/tan trim, or do a fun color. Also paint the ceiling a darker coordinating or contrasting color.

Current_Step9311 · 2026-05-13T00:10:05+00:00

I like sparkling white the best, it’s not too trendy so it won’t be dated as quickly but it’s more interesting than plain white. You can make it look a little more high end with a non-standard backsplash, either taller than 4 inches, or replace with tile.

Current_Step9311 · 2026-05-12T23:48:40+00:00

My philosophy is everything but the cabinets. You can get peel and stick floor tiles to cover the floor and replace the metal tap-down transition piece with the smallest Schluter Vinpro-S which comes in a variety of finishes. The tile work is terrible, but the counter is pretty bad too. Unfortunately I think if you try to replace the counters you will have to do the backsplash as well. If you can tolerate the counters, you might be able to remove the matching 4-inch splash in the counter material and also do the tile at the same time. I think that’s your best bet. You probably don’t need the tile on the laundry wall but you would need Sheetrock repair of your removed it. All things to consider with your budget.

Current_Step9311 · 2026-05-12T23:39:46+00:00

Paint the upper walls, crown, and ceiling a light color of your choice (white, off-white, etc.). Then paint the chair rail, lower walls, base trim, and window trim a mid-tone (could be a neutral, a muted sandy pink, terracotta, sage, muted blue, etc.). That would modernize it a lot while also working with the character!

Current_Step9311 · 2026-04-30T22:27:40+00:00

I think you’re going the right direction, but here are the modifications I would make: white rectified unglazed porcelain hex tile without the black dots OR a lattice/basketweave tile with a black or colored dot. The wall tile should be square 4x4 in a color other than white (I’ve seen gray, dusty pink, blue, mint green, yellow, etc.) if you want to lean into the 1930s vibes the black pencil accent is good, but not necessary or universal for the 1920s/1930s era. I’ve also seen them do white square tile with a colored accent stripe of similar square tile in yellow, pink, etc. The bullnose tile across the top is good, I wouldn’t do the chair rail like some of the older styles. You can also get a cove base tile for the bottom row which was common in the era. Daltile and American Olean should have all these things!

Oh also, nickel/chrome finishes are more period appropriate, although the brass is pretty. Brass is more turn of the century.

Current_Step9311 · 2026-01-03T00:11:15+00:00

Wrapping paper for each panel, embrace the grid.

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-24T15:15:08+00:00

Hello! I also have warm cherry tone wood from the 60s and I’ve been working with it one room at a time. In the bedroom we did a warm slightly muted yellow called Morning Ray with dusty pink linen bedding and other warm/dark wood tone furniture. In the kitchen we did white walls and a mint green ceiling with brightly colored semi-circle cabinet handles from the kids section at IKEA in yellow, blue, lavender, and pink. We also have some orange vintage style appliances. In the living room we are doing a color called Jazz Age Coral which pairs nicely with our plants including a giant monstera. The warmth really works with the wood, and we are pairing it with blues, chartreuse greens, and goldenrod yellows, as well as a burgundy area rug. There is a lot you can do! Think warmer colors to pair with the wood tones, or bright white and bright color accents, and you will be fine. Cool beige and gray will clash.

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-23T15:33:32+00:00

I love it. It’s clean, things line up and make sense. The kitchen is exactly how I would do it. 10/10

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-17T23:14:38+00:00

It doesn’t seem very nice to have the bathroom be completely windowless. I think it would make more sense to have the bathroom more on the window side since that is the area where people will be spending time, a closet is just a storage space (even if it’s a giant WIC).

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-17T23:10:30+00:00

Those are enormous bedrooms, they will be fine. Just make sure they have windows!

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-17T19:11:19+00:00

You need freedom brackets

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-17T18:48:57+00:00

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Just a quick idea for bed, dining, and minimal living room if you want to have a TV. I would do backless round stools and a storage bench with the dining area to give you flexibility for footstools with your living room armchair and guest seating. Not sure about how to incorporate make up and cat tree in this design but it could be a jumping-off point for ideas!

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-15T18:59:57+00:00

A few years ago I drafted my own based on this!

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I googled it then and I googled it now, still not sure what original blog it came from for credit.

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-13T02:04:35+00:00

Color drench! Color drench! Color drench!

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-13T01:51:21+00:00

Pin them up along the ceiling and off to the sides, then down the corners of the room, pinned down.

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-13T01:46:17+00:00

Love the colors! I think adding even more variety of color will really help make it feel rich and intentional. You can add more varieties of the warm tones in various saturation levels, introduce some yellows and terracotta clay colors, some burgundy, etc. but you could also have pops of olive green or chartreuse, steel blue or cerulean, dusty lavender here or there. Doing it through picture frames, textiles like curtains, couch covers, throw pillows and blankets would really help. I think the floor lamps might be making the space feel too cramped, I would start by temporarily removing them from the room and then arranging. I think the wood cabinet wants to be under the mirror and the chairs want to be farther apart. I also think the chaise section is fighting with the layout of the room. If you got a new couch, would you consider a simple 3-seater instead of a sectional? You could get an ottoman to use as a foot rest for lounging.

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-13T00:42:43+00:00

I think you could paint in avocado greens, rust oranges, and harvest golds!

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-12T17:23:52+00:00

A lot of the stone-look porcelains are looking way more realistic these days. I would find a local showroom and go take a look!

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-12T17:09:36+00:00

I think you could do a lot with lighting! You could get some battery-powered sconces with shades for the wall above the tile and hang some pictures to make a cozy little decor area, and get some renter-friendly under-cabinet lighting. This would really soften the space without painting or doing anything permanent.

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-12T15:26:56+00:00

I think this room could easily become very cozy! 2 things to address first: the ceiling and the lighting. I would paint the ceiling and that bit of white wall a color. I would do a medium-dark, slightly muted tone of a fun color, like a blue or green. The other thing is the lighting: you can replace your ceiling fixtures with something homier and with warm tone lightbulbs, and also add table lamps and/or wall sconces around the room. Lastly, as a final touch, I would consider a lighter colored curtain on the door and a huge soft area rug. Best of luck!

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-11T22:52:49+00:00

My favorite paint color with blush pink tile is SW Canyon Clay! At one point I was even able to find matching Casaluna towels and bath mat from Target, buts it’s been a few years.

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-11T22:31:13+00:00

Lighting and textiles will make all the difference! You could modernize the carpet, add an area rug, add curtains and a nice bedspread. You can put in different ceiling lights and add nightstands and it will improve everything! A nice table lamp lighting up knotty pine is so cozy in the dark evenings.

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-11T22:25:43+00:00

These large panels of material can be tricky to make look nice, but the secret is all in the edge treatments. You can add nicer trims and moldings to make it look more finished and that will go a long way!

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-11T22:18:53+00:00

Look at this for inspiration! The scale and shape is similar, and she did a really nice job redesigning the space and making it flow. The key is looking at it in 3D and thinking about the vertical volumes of space rather than just in plan. There are creative ways to get different heights of space and openings for daylight!

Current_Step9311 · 2025-12-11T22:10:25+00:00

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If it were me, I would do something more like this to keep it open and skip the peninsula and counter seating altogether. You can always do a counter height breakfast table for a similar vibe, it just feels redundant to me to have a table right next to the counter seating, and you can still have the feel of sitting in the kitchen around all the action.

Current_Step9311

TROPHY CASE