I have used Sherwin flat for many years and am still happy with it. That and Valspar Signature are my go-to paints.

Thanks!

Does anyone know what quality Martha Stewart paint is these days?

I just used MS paint for a project - painting my daughter's bed - and in that application I found it acceptable.

I can't recommend one paint over the other. I have never used MS and I personally prefer Behr to SW, although I realize I'm the only one in the world who feels that way. I don't know if HD will be able to mix the MS color in the Behr paint or not. Several years ago I wanted a Glidden color mixed in Behr paint. HD sold Glidden at the time. They weren't able to mix it for me. Apparently they had had some legal issues stemming from mixing the colors from the other brands they sold in their Behr paint. I don't know if this rule was enforced at all HD's or if it is still in place. All I know is I had to get my Glidden color mixed in Glidden paint if I wanted to purchase it at HD.

Totally Confused

We use Behr and are perfectly happy with the paint. We are so satisfied that we only use that brand.

I used Martha Stewart flat on my daughter's ceiling this past summer. It went on well, but I haven't used it on walls that may need to be wiped, so I can't say how durable it is. For her walls I used a leftover can of Benjamin Moore Regal. She loved the color from another room and it was free...

Behr Ultra goes on pretty well, but I don't know how durable it is for the long haul either as I used it on our rental's master bathroom just prior to selling. I've also used it on trim in my current family room, but it's only been on a year.

I've used SW Duration on my dining room walls. It's tricky, I had to constantly stir as I noticed the pigments separated easily. It also seemed a bit thin to me, but after 2 coats, it looked great. Beware, the finish is shinier than it sounds. Matte you'd expect to be flat, but it looks more like eggshell in other brands. My uncle is a contractor who swears by SW Pro Classic, but I've never used it.

I'm not too sure, but I seem to remember hearing MS's old Kmart/Sears line used to be manufactured by ICI who also makes Ralph Lauren. I'm not too sure about the current line.

I have used SW, EK, BM and Behr. Personally, I really like Behr. Especially for the money.

Behr.

The new Martha Paint at HD has not been well received - just had this conversation this week with a friend/client who tried it. She was very disappointed and surprised.

Behr won't mix Martha colors in Behr paint -- supposedly. Your mileage may very at your Home Depot store. If they will mix the MS color, go for the new Behr Premium Ultra.

SW Super Paint, Cashmere or Duration are all good choices too if you decide on SW.

Mixing Milk Pail shouldn't be an issue no matter which brand you choose. Just take your chip with you so you can check. Ask for a draw-down.

What's a draw down?

I have a paint question regarding all of the rules about company X not mixing their paint in company Y's color. I get that it's all about branding and money and contracts, but what would happen if you bought a sample pot of whatever color you wanted, painted it onto something, then took THAT in to be "colormatched" and mixed in the brand of paint that you wanted? Surely they wouldn't refuse to do that?

Architectural draw-down color sample.

Sometimes it's kind of fancy on a formal printed card and sometimes it might just be an index card or scrap piece of white cardboard.

Your paint color is mixed. They crack the lid to check it - usually put a dot on the lid. At that point some paint store staff stop.

So you have to ask them to complete a draw-down for you. They get one of those white cards - either all fancy and printed with info/logos or just the index card.

They will brush your color out on the card and then dry it with a dryer. It's best if they cover the card all the way to the edges with just a lil area left to hold on to.

You can then use the draw-down card to check your color match.

Most people don't know that you are not obligated to buy anything that is custom mixed until you approve the quality of the color match.

Lots of times I think folks feel like they HAVE to take whatever is mixed up -- you don't. Paint store staff may not like it, sometimes, but it's their job to nail color matches and you have to be happy with the cans you walk out of the store with!

franksmom,

You're a clever one now aren't you? lol! :~D

That is actually the BEST method. What we're talking about is called 'crossing brands'.

They can look it up in the computer scenario:

The typical story here is you can go to any paint resource and ask for just about any paint color for which you have the color name and number. They'll look up the formula and mix it in their paint base.

What happens -sometimes- is the process of converting the color formula from one paint base to another encounters a few hiccups. Understandable because not all colorant and paint bases are exactly the same so converting formulas is obviously not going to be a seamless, completely mathematically tidy process.

If you take a real paint sample, a draw-down, then the process is different. They don't look up the formula. They have to custom match it.

In this scenario, scanning the sample with the computer to generate a formula is a great place to start. Just to start tho. The color matching pro needs to eyeball the match too - shouldn't just rely on the computer generated formula.

The computer generated formula might be a home run, but if it's not, then he/she should be able to tweak it to your satisfaction.

Soap Box time:

Brands do have to promote the fact that their colorants and bases are special. They do not want you going into their stores, taking their collateral and never returning to purchase from them. Collateral and store staff time is not free. Just the facts of the business.

How it really works tho, is people *find their color* and have it mixed in the brand of paint they want or their painter specifies.

Some of the uber boutique color palettes DO NOT cross brands well. Farrow & Ball, C2, the full spectrum brands, Ben Moore's Aura, etc. There is a short list where buying paint color in the brand it *belongs to* is without a doubt the smartest thing to do in order to get THE color you want.

However, there are certain paint colors out there that DO indeed cross brands very, very gracefully.

I'm actually working on a collection of six of those known colors with a major paint brand. My beef with all of this is instead of telling people what they can't do, let's give people what they want!

Let's get a process in place that fits how people actually *do* this paint color thing instead of making people feel like they have to get creative - make them feel like they have to be deceptive - just to get the color they want in the brand of paint they want to buy.

Lots o' discussion t be had about this topic franksmom. Lots and lots and lots....

Thanks for all the information. Great ideas! i appreciate it?

Yikes! I got Martha. I had to make a decision so since it was her color I went with her paint. It helped that I had to go to HD for drywall supplies...

Do you know what the complaint about MS paint was?

Well a couple of things about the MS paint - and it could have a lot to do with the color altho I do not know which colors.

Comments were: thin like water, no coverage to speak of, splatters, final color resolution was *off*, and smells.

Never bought a can so I can't say for sure. Those are simply the comments that were shared with me.

Funcolors, that's what I suspected. I recently bought Behr paint. I chose a color from their "regular" line, but wanted it mixed in the Premium Ultra formula. I thought it was odd that the kid at the paint counter scanned the chip, then came up with a formula, rather than just coding in the color number. I asked, and he gave me a lengthy explanation about how the bases for the different formulas were different, even within the same brand, and that it was actually a more perfect match to use the computer to scan the chip, then to just shoot the color from the chip as given.

I also understand the competition between brands (even within the same store) and that the goal is for the customer to find that magical color and always buy it in that brand. That's just not going to happen, though. How many times do people post here that they want to paint brand x color in y brand? All. The. Time.

How many times do people post here that they want to paint brand x color in y brand? All. The. Time.

Yep. Here and everywhere. It is possible to formulate colors so they will cross brands very gracefully, with no problems. And those colors are good, core, viable wall colors that people want to live with. Can totally come up with a process to give people what they want.

I used a pint of the MS paint for a project for my son's school. It was crap...like painting with water. Their solid content must be in the negative numbers :) Yuck Yuck Yuck!

Of the brands you asked above, I stick to SW which is a mile higher in quality than the other two, but I am pretty exclusive to the Pro Classic. I don't like to baby paint ie the Aura or Duration paints. I want to stir it up and put it on the wall without question as to it's ability to stay there, and go on with the same sheen etc. Pro Classic always does that for me.

That said, I've recently discovered fine paints of europe and their matte is heaven...like painting with ummmm gad butter or pudding? It covers like a dream and the finish is durable and perfect, especially if you want a true period flat paint. Love love love the stuff!

I umm did I mention I love paint LOL I need a hobby.

I didn't listen to that little voice...maybe I'll add some SW in a creamy white...it's a small room so it should be okay.

Igloo-
You're a wise Woman...you FPE Girl you!
Did'ja use the Eurolux Matte? In my bath, it's more like an Eggshell sheen. Da*n nice stuff tho'!

Franksmom-
Yes...every specific line of paint has its own formula-set, even under the "Behr" umbrella of paints. Some base-series are "whiter" than others, etc.

Catkin-
Please give us YOUR review of your paint!

Faron

Years ago before having a lot of painting to do in a new home we checked with Consumer's Report. They found little difference between paint brands, quality wise. The house brand at our local farm fleet rated right up there with more expensive brands. Personally I look for anything not in a plastic container. The straining that is necessary is not worth the work!

We like Behr paint, especially the newer formula that has the primer mixed in. We used it in our bathroom last year and it is of good quality and color is great!

LOL! The best laid plans....I've now decided (at least for today) to have MS Milk Pail mixed in SW Cashmere...

Thanks for all the input.

The dry waller has another day so I have time to change my mind a few more times. He's patching up the wall where we removed the old tub/shower, receptacle holes that were moved and the hideous texture that was present. I'll be glad when the dust is finally all done. But then of course there will be more mess when the wallpaper guy comes to skim coat the den. After that, no more drywall dust!!!!! LOL The price we pay.

I like Behr Premium Plus Ultra... I painted a dark blue wall in it once and it went on it two coats, easy as pie.