Retro Renovation

Remodel & decorate in Mid Century Style

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Open Thread: Where do you use the color red in your house?

pam kueber - Updated: February 2, 2010

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

Every month this year our collage-artist-laureate Mel Kolstad is creating a new assemblage that helps us to celebrate the houses that we’re in. (That’s a house pendant she also created – click on it to go to her etsy.com shop.) An open thread to go with this month’s red-headed muse:  Do you use the color red in your house? Where is it working well? Tips for other readers?

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  1. Michael J. Sonntag says

    We recently did a small renovation on our 1922 kitchen – it was in need of serious love after we bought the house, but we didn’t want to do a full remodel. So, as part of restoring the vintage look, I copied the color scheme from a 1946 Hotpoint kitchen ad – butter yellow, mint green, and cranberry red. The red really acts as more of an accent, and I was told by several “design” friends that I was crazy before we did it (I painted the countertop and the backsplash red) – and afterwards, they all apologized. The results were stunning. It’s funny sometimes how paint can make more change than anything else – we probably get more comments on how “cool” the kitchen is more than anything else in the house. A few other red accents pull the color through – and then we painted the dining room walls to return them to their original cranberry red (it’s got dark wood trim and lots of windows, so the dark color on the walls worked well) – and followed the red accents into the other room adjoining the kitchen – the TV room, so that the eye carries the effects of the red through the space. I was nervous doing it – and now, I wouldn’t change it for anything.

  2. Neil says

    In my kitchen remodel I used a turquoise Marmoleum with a red and yellow inlaid accent design for the flooring. I used the same yellow Marmoleum for the countertops, edged in stainless steel. I love the vibrant colors of the Marmoleum and the feel of it. Easy to maintain as well. I highly suggest it for renovators!

  4. genjenn says

    I tried red walls in our dining area. Oh, how I tried to love it. Then came the migranes. I needed to accept the truth; I’m a neutrals/ greys, browns, camels, cremes and taupes kind of girl. Now, there’s one bright red lamp shade in the guest bedroom. It’s perfectly unexpected, and I think, pretty fabulous.

  7. The Jenny says

    Where isn’t the red? Dark red in the dining room walls. Red towels and rugs in the dark gray bathroom. Cherry red Congoleum studded rubber tile flooring in kitchen, hall, and utility room. Red accents in the kitchen, until we can remodel — then hopefully red lower cabinets. Red in the pattern on the semi-circular sofa, and a circular red rug underneath. Red is used so much in our house, I swear it reads as a neutral!

  8. Kristy says

    I have the red big chill fridge and dishwasher front. I have a vintage tappan range sitting in my dining room waiting to be put in my kitchen someday. I’ve thought about re-porcelaining the stove in red to match, but I might leave it white and just play up the red tappan accents. Love that typhoon bread box, I’m going to have to hunt up one of those in red now!

  9. Terri says

    Red leather couches in the rathskeller (blue/grey walls) that match my Cardinals seats from the old Busch Stadium. Line of b&W photos – with red frames.
    Breezeway has red checked overstuffed chair with matching pinch pleat valance.
    Livingroom has velvet panels on the sides of my very large front window.

    My old flat had a b&w tile kitchen with red counter – did Mickey Mouse accessories…beyond cute for a young working girl.
    Terri