PAINT COLOR DECISIONS

If I were to sum up my thoughts on this whole choosing-paint-colors-for-the-new-house process, it would sound something similar to:

AaurrgggHhhhhh!

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After months of agonizing over paint chips and surfing Pinterest for inspiration, I selected my favorites and bought a ridiculous number of paint samples from the local Sherwin Williams Store.

I rushed to the house and enthusiastically slapped colors all over the walls in shadow, direct sunlight, and every other lighting scenario in between. When I stepped back to admire my carefully selected colors...I was thoroughly discouraged. 

The grays were suddenly blue, everything was waaay darker than I expected, and we ruled out 90% of our choices on the spot. What a relief I learned this early with paint samples, rather than later with expensive walls I hated...but...it was now back to the drawing board. 

Between the camera and different computer monitors, this picture does not accurately represent what we were looking at, but you get the general idea.

After further deliberation, research, and paint sample splashed walls, I think the final decisions have been made. Emphasis on think.  

Sherwin Williams -- North Star

I really wanted a pale blue-gray for the kitchen and/or bathrooms that didn't look like a baby boy's bedroom. Eventually, I found that any color appearing remotely blue on the chip--or even in the can--was way too blue on the wall. 

When I bought a sample of North Star, I actually questioned the attendant, because it looked sooo gray. (Do you see any blue in there at all?) But once on the wall, it was perfect. Just the right amount of blue to be pretty...without being juvenile. 

 


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This on-line example might help you visualize it.

SW -- Pussy Willow

This color will probably go in the bedrooms.The new trend for wall colors seems to be leaning toward grays rather than beige. I think gray is a lovely neutral.

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Pussy willow example

SW -- Dovetail

This dark gray-brown will go in the entry way accompanied by a white wainscoting, four feet high. 

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Dovetail example #1

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Dovetail example #2. This picture makes it look slightly lighter than the samples looked on my walls. But I like this cute room.

SW -- Repose Gray

A light gray was the hardest color to pin down. Why did my choices always look bluish? After extensive research, I found this helpful explanation...

Basically, grays have three undertones: blue, green, and purple. It is often hard to identify the undertone without first comparing it to other gray samples. Once on the wall, gray paint with blue or purple undertones, suddenly look blue or purply, rather than gray. If you want it to really look gray, you have to find one with a slight green undertone. 

So that's what I did. And I loved it as soon as my paint brush touched the wall. 

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Repose Gray. Looks gray rather than green, doesn't it?

Anyway. There you have it. If you don't like these colors...do me a favor and don't tell me. I am so sick of rehashing the same colors over and over...and I need my brain to move on to the next big decision: 

tile and counter tops.