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Chocolate Brown

Smart Design : Episode SDN-301 -- More Projects »
Mocha, espresso and cocoa. That's not the menu at a local coffee house, it's the latest way to describe the new color in design--deep, rich brown. Find out what makes chocolate such a yummy color:

  • Brown is in every room in wood, fabric and accessories and it's the latest design trend. Brown is a really good base color for a room and it mixes well with the wonderful earth tones, making all the colors around it come alive.
PHOTO

Figure A
  • This color is all about shape--the more simple the piece, the better it looks in a chocolate brown. Today's chocolate brown furniture has clean lines without a lot of detail, which allows you to mix several pieces without overpowering a room and making it look too dark.

  • To tone down a brown color scheme, use sisal carpeting to act as the anchoring. It shows off all the upholstery very nicely, but keeps the room a little bit lighter in feeling (figure A).
    • PHOTO

    Figure B
  • For a stronger, darker look, go with modern furniture because its simple geometric shapes are shown off best by dark brown.

  • This color can be used all over the house. This bedroom has a very clean-lined espresso-colored bed and what keeps it from being heavy is a bronze-toned duvet cover, light suede throw blanket over the ottoman and light-colored throw pillows (figure B).
    • Photo

    The guest room is very boring and not a welcoming retreat for company. In fact, it's never even seen a guest because the homeowner is embarrassed by it.
    Photo

    Designer Eileen Devine turns this ordinary room into something exciting with just a coat of chocolate brown paint and a few accessories.

    • Working with chocolate brown is simple if you remember some basic rules--keep proportions and balance everything accordingly. This color always acts as a great anchor so it's all about using it as a base.

    • When choosing brown paint, the easiest way to make sure it's not too dark is to paint a big swatch on the wall. Look at it in the daylight and at night before painting the entire room.

    makeover room wall paint (Brown Crisp 3A29-5) (Behr)

    Resources
    paint
    Behr Process Corp.
    Website: www.behr.com
    Guests
    Kevin Burns, Creative Director, USONA
    223 Market St.
    Philadelphia, PA 19106
    Phone: 215-351-9160
    Fax: 215-351-9161
    E-mail: usonaUSA@aol.com
    Website: www.usonahome.com

    Eileen Devine, IFDA
    Devine Designs
    100 East Lancaster Ave., Suite 204
    Wayne, PA 19087
    Phone: 610-688-6518
    Fax: 610-688-6519
    E-mail: Eileen@devinedesignsinc.com
    Website: www.devinedesignsinc.com
    Also in this Episode
    Smart Design : Episode SDN-301
    •Chocolate Brown
    •Purchasing a Sofa
    •Cable Lighting Options
    •Luxury Pet Beds
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