PEACH AND GRAY PALETTE

About 17 years ago my father passed away.  He's the handsome guy on the left in this late 40's photograph.

That's a real dimple in his chin, and the hat tipped a little rakishly over his eyes was a signature style, too.

That beautiful woman on the right is my sweet mother, Afton.  She was devoted to him for over 60 years.  

We lost her yesterday.

Afton was nearly 98 years old and mother to 9.  

Mom and Dad were married in the depression era, she just shy of her 17th birthday and he a robust 22 year old.  They married young in those days...

They also sewed clothing, made quilts, canned fruit, baked bread, ironed clothing, milked cows, gathered eggs and shot the occasional pheasant out the back door for dinner.  The depression and a large family made her thrifty and clever.   She had a great capacity to love, a thirst for knowledge, an appreciation of beauty and a talent for needlework and homemaking.  She gave home perms to her girls, and sewed all their clothing.  She became so good at it that she won ribbons at the county fair for her skills. 

I look at my stainless steel appliances, my gas dryer, store bought clothing and zippy little car that takes me wherever I need to go and wonder how she did it all.

When I was a teenager, she added 'teacher' to the mix .  She taught English and Social Studies at a school in Pesega, Western Samoa; just one of the many countries in which we lived.  She loved the South Pacific. She could sit all day and watch and listen to the ocean. 

 She loved to travel.  I was astonished to discover she climbed the Eiffel Tower at age 91.  

    In her last years she had begun to depart from us.  Her memory retreated to the past and we weren't always recognized.  Sweet Afton, we will miss you, but are so happy you can be reunited with Daddy, and brother Boyd who left us 7 years ago.  You live on forever in memory.  I love you Mom.

Sincere, heartfelt thanks to all of my wonderful friends, readers and family who have reached out with love, hugs, prayers and kindness.  I am touched beyond words.  

QUESTION FROM A READER:

Hi Claudine -

My husband and I are in the process of a closing on our very first home.  The main level of the home is a peachy cream color and the basement is a mint green.  At this time, we can only spare enough cash to paint one level and I chose the basement b/c it's just so horrible.  I feel like I can live with the peachiness of the main level, but I'm having the hardest time deciding on a furniture color/color scheme to match the walls. My dream would be to start over and paint the entire house in a silvery grey with some darker grey rooms/accent walls splashed in, but we can't afford that right now. 

I have attached a couple pictures of the living room and adjoining breakfast area/kitchen to get your thoughts.  The pictures are from the listing so none of the furniture/décor will remain....thank goodness! :)  I was considering a heather grey or very light taupe color living room set, but I just don't know that it would work...maybe with an area rug with a splash of peach? 

ANY help/suggestions you can provide would be greatly appreciated!!!  

Thank you.

Julie



Hi Julie,

You said your dream would be to repaint in a silvery gray palette, and I would definitely work towards that goal as you add rugs and furnishings to this area.   Try not to get stuck in the peach zone.  These rooms above are far too warm - the walls are warm, the rug is warm, the fabrics are warm the woods are warm. Results are an overheated color scheme.  Peach tones will work nicely with a medium to dark gray sofa, and you can pretty much ignore the whole peach color scheme, as it will become a neutral and a background as you add more of your gray tones and your accent colors.  When you can eventually repaint with the colors you prefer, you won't have to redecorate again.  Find a rug that has colors you love but that will also look nice with the wall color - Here's an example of what I'm trying to explain...

House Tweaking

Grays are a natural with peach and coral tones...  The cool grays look great against the warm peach and coral tones.

Be Colorful

 You can even accent with deeper coral.  It looks amazing with gray.

Find a rug you love that will look nice with the wall color,

 and the color you want to live with in the future...

Be Colorful

 Gray and peach really play nicely together...

Decoist

Escorial Design

Home Ideas

Interior Home Decor

 Peach and coral are making a huge comeback right now - mainly because grays go so well with them and it doesn't have to look like the 90's anymore...

Nieseology

 Coral and peach are always flattering to a woman's skin tones....

something else to consider...

Sally Jensen

So, you might fall in love with an 'updated' peach and gray color scheme.  I kind of love this combination!  Add some dark woods, painted finishes and deeper shades of peach (coral and russet) to the gray and you have a completely updated look.  

Good Luck!