I have decided to paint my living room gray, and hope that it turns out as beautiful as I imagine. But I am stumbling as I can't find the "right" gray. I want something light, luminous, and a true gray that does not look green or blue in different lights. I thought I had found the perfect color in BM Calm, but in almost every light it looks light blue?! My trim is a mahogany wood trim and there is a deep cranberry sofa in the room, and a rug with deep green, cranberry and purple. Basically, the furniture is all very dark, which is why I think a light gray is the way to go. Does anyone have a suggestion, I'd love to stick with BM, but am open!
What about a light WARM gray -- I looked at a lot of the very pale grays and they all had a much bluer undertone than Calm. Ice Formations CC-973 is the first one I've come to that is on the warm side of gray. Well, also Alaskan Skies CC-972. Muskoka Trail CC-974. Cedar Key CC-982 is pushing towards the very light taupes. And of course, Edgecomb Gray HC-173. Those are the lightest, warmest grays I can think of.
Casey: I have the BM Color Preview deck, so I can't find the CC colors you mention. Edgecomb gray is a bit darker, and beiger than I was initially thinking, though is it nice, does it have any gray to it?
Kerry: How would I find/match the ICI Universal Gray?
This is what we call a "warm" gray. And I'm having a hard time thinking EG is too dark. Let's see if I can find another gray you might like. BenM's American White 2112-70 is very similar to THIS color:
And that IS a gray. It reminds me of Martha Stewart's much loved Mercury Glass. In fact, it reminds me so much of that, I may paint my bathroom that color when the sheetrock finally gets repaired.
This color is close to Silver Fox 2108-50. I know it's probably WAY darker than you want to go but it's so pretty:
The Edgecomb looks so light in the picture, I love it. My biggest hurdle is that I have a dark oak-ish trim and floor and it is a struggle for me to pick colors that complement or at least work with the trim.
Anyway, the American White is definitely too blue. But I do like the Silver Fox, though I will check out the lighter shades on that strip.
I haven't seen it anywhere, but it looks like a good one. And it shows up on colormatch.org with the most matches to other brands of paint that I've ever seen.
Grays are beautiful, aren't they? I am also looking at grays for a small "gallery" area in a hallway with lots of south light. I have been wondering what the art galleries use, and how they pick their colors. Artwork and wood just look so beautiful against gray!
I have seen SW Horizon recommended, and BM Cliffside Gray, quite neutral light grays.
Nothing like a gray mixed full spectrum. Ben Moore's Chelsea gray is very pretty mixed FS - it's spectacular at 50% strength. A nice warm gray is Powedered Pebbles. Both from Ellen Kennon. Her Mushroom is a great color for artwork IMO.
Casey the universal grey that I have seen used in a friends home office was not dark at all. A nice light silvery hue with very little undertone. The second shade on the strip. I know it came from ICI because I picked up the paint for him but when I searched it on colorcharts.org, you are right it is a Glidden color. I guess he had it mixed
FC, it appears Ellen has some new colors?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: kerryokie,
Also, thanks Funcolors for the Chelsea Gray 50% recommendation - I did not know you could do this, but it makes sense. I would just not know how to visualize it. I have a hard enough time with the samples, let alone the paint deck squares.
For me, EK is easier than the others because you call in your orders for paint and/or samples. They send the samples to your house, you go to a nearby ICI store to pick up the paint.
The orderd are placed thru EK you pay EK. Designate the ICI/Dulux that is most convenient for homeowner/painter and EK has the order mixed at that store and calls when it is ready for pick up. Homeowner/painter with sample chips in hand goes to pick up paint, checks the daubs on the can to quick-check color accuracy and off they go.
I use ICI's Lifemaster in eggshell in my house and I have a store right around the corner. I love just walking in, checking my order, signing off, and getting out of there.
You can order 8"x11" hand-painted samples from EK in any of her colors, not guaranteed for other brands mixed FS. Chelsea Gray at 50% might be something they have sitting on the shelf and they could get you a sample pot or 8x11 or whatever, you'd have to call and check.
Kerry, yep, EK did a guest color designer thing. She asked some really talented folks to design signature colors and she lumped 'em all together into a really unique collection of colors. Don't know how I ended up included in that esteemed group, but my color is Powdered Pebbles.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: funcolors,
Right on target Kerry'O. It is a greige-y taupe. Can be pulled warm or cool. Almost a mid-tone so there is definitely color, but not too much. It is a taupe and it does work with many tones of oak. That was catalyst for its creation. An almost mid-tone taupe is, IMO, the perfect neutral for a wall and oftentimes the one thing standing in the way was woodtone. Powdered Pebbles was born as a solution; to dispell the oak doesn't like taupe issue. It works well with a multitude of wood tones, grains, types. From yellow grainy oak to darkish stained poplar and a lot in between.
It's particularly lovely with natural maple, but I'm biased.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: funcolors,
Funcolors, thanks for bringing up your gray. At an artist friend's suggestion, I am currently considering Ice Formations for my living room and hallway. Powdered Pebbles sounds really interesting and I just might have to order a sample. I am looking for a perfect gray that lets me change things around (fabric and rugs) without having to change my walls.
I am soooo terrible with color and I so wish you lived in Austin. These decisions paralyze me.
All, thank you for your super suggestions. I ended up going into the Sherwin Williams store in my neighborhood and finding the PERFECT gray that I have been seeking/envisioning...It is called Big Chill and I LOVE IT.
