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Tell me about Decatur Buff now. Please!

15 years ago

Well, after everything, Lenox Tan looks terrible in my house. I was worried about it being too dark and I actually think it's not dark enough. Plus it looks a little pink. It's a great match for my carpet and floor, but I just don't like it. My son saw the blue tape on the baseboards and actually had to ask me if I painted, because he couldn't tell. When you look up high, you can definitely see a difference in the old color and LT, but when you're just looking at the wall I painted, the color isn't that noticeable. I'm trying to figure out my next step and I'm wondering about Decatur Buff. I still remember the first time I saw it in Newhomebuilder's house. It was love at first site. That being said, I've always thought of it as a really bold color with yellow in it. If that's how it looks in person, I don't think it will work in my house, but the sample (poster size sample) doesn't look yellow at all. Those of you that have DB, what undertones do you see in it. Do you think of it as being a bold color?

Laurie

Comments (16)

  • 15 years ago

    Laurie-First of all, I'm sorry, but I don't have it. I only wanted to chime in with the encouragement to go bold, if beige is ever considered bold. I have discovered that, as far as paint goes, love at first sight is a really, really good indication that you'll love it (or some version of it) in your home. It's only paint! :D

  • 15 years ago

    I have Decatur Buff in my home as well, and love it. I have had the color for almost 2 years and have not tired of it yet. I will post one picture tonight and try to get some more taken tomorrow for you. I don't consider it a bold color. It shows more of a tan/gold in my home with my lighting. I don't consider it to look yellow at all...

  • 15 years ago

    I agree. I have db in my kitchen. The colors look exactly like the picture above.
    Not yellow at all. Very neutral. And I have had about 10 years and have been able to do touch up painting with excellent results too.

  • 15 years ago

    I have it in my study.
    {{!gwi}}

  • 15 years ago

    ok, that does it. I'm trying DB next. I'm still worried about it matching my carpet and tiles, but it's gorgeous in your pictures. Just curious, what finish did you go with? I bought eggshell in the Lenox Tan, but I'm thinking about getting DB in flat. I'm thinking the flat may have a richer look than the ones that have a sheen to it.

    Laurie

  • 15 years ago

    Laurie - that sucks! Too bad it did not work for you..but thank goodness you sampled it first!

    I have DB in my living room and I love it. I am a confessed 'paintaholic' (which many on this board can attest too! lol) and I repaint rooms constantly. DB was the 3rd color in my living room I have tried (only been in my house 3 years!)..anyways I love it and have no plans to repaint. It is perfect but I will say in no way would I consider DB a bold color....not at all..it is a nice mid point warm neatral. It really is beautiful.

    Here is a pic but not a very good one.

    I may have asked you this before but do you check the LRV ratings of colors? It is a good way to judge a colors light or darkness and it is also good tool to compare colors.

    PS: My fireplace decor was not complete as we just installed our fireplace when I took this pic :)

    Haley

  • 15 years ago

    I love the look of DB too and I currently have C3 Thatch...love it but I feel it is too dark...I also have dark cabinets and light beige tile floor.

  • 15 years ago

    Laurie,
    also take a look at SW Camelback if you haven't already. My sil has it throughout her new home and it is gorgeous and goes with everything

  • 15 years ago

    tfm1134 - I have looked at Camelback and I'm thinking the sample looked more yellowe than DB, but I'll have to pull it out again and see. Do you see a yellow undertone in her house?

    Haley - Thanks for adding another picture. I remembered you saying you used it, but I couldn't remember if you liked it. BTW, I love the piece of furniture your TV is sitting on. I just looked at my fan deck and it doesn't show the LRV ratings. I think I remember someone (it may have been you) saying LT and DB had a close rating. How do you find out?

    It sounds like everyone that trys it loves it. Is there anyone that hasn't like it?

    eagertopaint - I have tall ceilings also and I wasn't going to paint them because I was afraid the room would feel too dark. Are you happy with how yours is or do you ever wish you had painted the ceiling in DB?

    gemini - Is thatch darker than DB?

    Laurie

  • 15 years ago

    Laurie check link below for the LRV ratings.

    Here are some:

    Dijon 56.9

    Shaker Beige 55.75

    Lenox Tan 43.61 (cool)

    Yorkshire Tan 43.35 (cool)

    Bennington Grey 43.33 (warm)

    Decatur 41.3

    Greenbrier Beige 41.1

    Ginger Root 40.9

    Capilano 40.7

    Huntington Beige 38.9 (cool undertone)

    Brookline beige 38.46 (cool)

    Remember the higher the number the brighter it is.

    On the site do a BM color search and it wil give you the rating.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Link

  • 15 years ago

    NO, I have never regretted not painting the ceilings...My DH painted the living room and it was difficult enough without doing the ceilings.. we had to rent a very large ladder to do the area. I have the same color in my entrance hall, up the stairs and on the upstairs landing. I will take some photos in a bit and post them for you.

    My DD has camelback in her townhome, and it definitely has more yellow than the decatur buff.

  • 15 years ago

    Here are some more photos of my decatur buff taken in different areas of the house, so that you can see how it looks in different lighting. The foyer gets lots of sun in the afternoon when these were taken and you can see that the paint doesn't look yellow. Hope this helps with your decision.

  • 15 years ago

    I have SW Camelback in my dining room and absolutely love it. I tried a few other warm golden tan shades first and found them to be too yellow, but this one is perfect for me. When I compare the paint chips side by side, I don't see any additional yellow undertones in the Camelback, but I would say it is a touch lighter than DB (Camelback has LRV of 42).

  • 15 years ago

    Laurie, I don't see a yellow tone at all in her home but she has high ceilings altho I am not sure that makes a difference. I can tell you that it is very neutral and she decorates w/all kinds of colors. It especially looks beautiful with blues, golds and burgundy. Now in my home I have Whole Wheat and it does have a tinge of yellow but it's still more "camel" than yellow.

  • 15 years ago

    eagertopaint - Thanks for all the pictures!

    I may have been thinking of Whole Wheat instead of Camelback. Cambelback sounds like a great color too.

    Laurie

  • 15 years ago

    I just did my bedroom in whole wheat. Love it during the day. At night there are greenish undertones. Nothing major but it might bother you if you have a low lighting situation. My bedroom is bright enough during the day and, as my husband says, your eyes are supposed to be shut at night anyway.Oh, and I'll NEVER get husband to agree to repaint it so I'm focusing on LOVING IT! In my TV room I have Baguette, which is a few chips down. That one I absolutely love. We have antique Persian rugs all over the house and I've found that the colors on this card are almost perfect with the bronze/gold tones in them. Good luck!