At this point, I remember I have a GPT account associated with my work email. I don’t trust GPT’s assertion that I can’t upload an image even if I log in, so I find the password for my old account and log in. Can I upload a picture of my sitting room for you to give me advice on what colour I should paint it? I ask this new iteration of the chatbot.
The reply is instant. “Absolutely! Please go ahead and upload a picture of your sitting room. Once I can see the space, lighting, furniture, and overall vibe, I’ll give you tailored paint color suggestions that suit the room and your style.”
Brilliant. I have no idea what the first instance of GPT was thinking, but it was totally wrong about uploading images. I scamper downstairs to take a picture or two, stopping to move some washing and put the ironing board away (reader, you are not truly houseproud until you have tidied your flat for an AI).
This time, I don’t tell it anything about the room in words – not that it’s south-facing, what the flooring is made of, nothing. I just upload three photos. GPT immediately responds. “Thanks for sharing the photos — your sitting room has a lovely warm mid-century-modern feel, with great natural light, lots of wood tones, and a nice balance of textures.”
This time, GPT recommends specific paints from Dulux and Farrow & Ball – oddly enough, it picks one named paint from each brand, each time it suggests a colour combination. For warm neutrals, for example, it suggested “Skimming Stone” by Farrow & Ball or “Egyptian Cotton” by Dulux. These, apparently, work well with “wood tones, rattan, black metal accents and [my] leafy plants”. But I should avoid anything too yellow or “it might clash with the softer wood tones.” I actually disagree with this. I like a serious yellow room, which can look beautiful in the mornings and evenings, and of course in the autumn. The first flatshare I lived in in my 20s had an inspired and unusual deep yellow sitting room, in which we spent many peaceful hours and which was well furnished with wooden pieces – albeit perhaps a tone or two darker than my sideboard.
GPT’s next suggestions for this room are greens, which “add depth and connection to the plants and wood”. I should think about “Lichen” by Farrow & Ball, apparently, or “Tranquil Dawn” by Dulux. I agree that one of these would go with the mid-century sideboard and the plants, at least in theory. Out of curiosity, I ask if GPT gets a commission if someone buys a paint it recommends. It doesn’t, it says, and “can also suggest options from specific brands you prefer, or give you a palette that works with budget-friendly paints (like B&Q, Wilko, or Valspar) or premium ranges (like Little Greene, Farrow & Ball, etc.). Just let me know your preference!”
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