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Kitchen paint - Sherwin Williams Sensuous Gray

9 years ago

Last year I posted about choosing a kitchen paint color. At that time, I was thinking of something in the green color family. I never felt good about any of my choices so I put the project on hold. My current kitchen is too yellow (golden oak cabinets, light yellow counter tops that I will be changing later, mustard yellow walls) and I wanted to balance that out. I have fallen in love with Sherwin Williams Sensuous Gray because I see it in person regularly at a local business. It is very dark, but I love the undertone of plum in it.

I'm worried about how it would look in my kitchen because my windows are north and east and it has fluorescent light fixtures, the kind like in an office (stuck with this situation for now because the whole ceiling needs to be redone in the future). The LRV of this paint is pretty low. I do have wainscoting on the bottom of my walls that will be a light cream or off white and I have a light floor and white appliances, so I feel like some of the darkness will be offset.

I am reading about lowering the intensity of paint colors. I'm trying to find a picture online of somebody that has done this shade at half strength. I'm worried about it looking too lavender if this is done. I don't want it to look childish or candy-like. I'd like to hear some feedback on this possible color choice and whether or not it sounds like a big mistake.

We will be replacing the counter tops with a laminate that has brown/black/cream specks with maybe just a hint of gold to tie into the cabinets. The areas with mustard yellow paint are the areas in question. Thanks!

Comments (12)

  • 9 years ago

    Only one way for you to know what you think get a sample can and put it on the wall in one of areas to be painted. Or a large section of foam board taped to the wall. You are going to be painting any way so just do it. If you don't like it paint over it with the one you decide on. Light in the space makes a huge difference and honestly every screen we are all looking at is showing us something different. I learned that when I was trying to pick my paint. My laptop, my pc, our phones and tablets all showed the same paint drastically differently. I went and bought a box of samples and painted walls so glad I did my choices changed.

  • 9 years ago

    Your sensuous gray looks like a good match for the stone in this graphic. But if you don't have a lot of light, you can always go with the same tone in a lighter shade so it will appear the same in your kitchen. Absolutely get a sample and test it in your kitchen. It's the only way to really know. And when you're testing, it will be best in a place you can see it with all your surfaces that are staying.

    Further, when you're ready to change out your counters, be prepared to change the paint accordingly. Paint is much easier to adjust than the right counter is to find,

  • 9 years ago

    There are a few other colors I'm considering and they are shown here against my wood color and the counter top samples I'm considering. The 4 colors that I have labeled are the ones under consideration. I don't know if I'm on the right track with any of this, but I like these colors a lot.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    From these samples I like the Nantucket Gray and Smoked Oyster with your cabinets and laminate samples. I think the NG would be a safe choice but I would try the SO because I think it could make a very dramatic effect in your kitchen. Buy samples and paint up your walls.

  • 9 years ago

    Warm toned cabinet and cool grays do not work well together. Neither brings out the best in the other and the overall effect can be drab. "Grays" that are really blues or greens with a gray undertone can work, especially if you don't mind the darker kitchen look as opposed to the light and airy look.

    For my own oak kitchen I have a soft creamy beige that has just enough color to set off my white trim.

    https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58830325

    https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~71048330

    This person refreshed their oak kitchen with darker countertops and presently has a more green wall color - pics are in the comments section:

    https://www.houzz.com/discussions/affordable-update-dsvw-vd~4347799?n=13

    One of the regular Houzz posters auntthelma, chose this pretty green with gray undertone with her wood cabinets:


    Do get sample jars and paint a large area with the sample - 2 coats if possible and look at it for a few days and in different lighting - also gray vs sunny days.

  • 9 years ago

    If you love the sensuous gray, try it out. Here's a dark griege with what look to be purple undertones pair with honey oak. You will probably want the beadboard to be a brighter white.

  • 9 years ago

    Thanks for the feedback! I will get some sample cans. I wish there was a cheaper option because those sure add up! I wish the samples were smaller.

  • 9 years ago

    Home Depot can make the small samples in Behr paint of Sherwin Williams colors. I didn't use SW paint, but my color is a SW shade.

  • 9 years ago

    The Lowes in my area carries Sherwin Williams paint. They charge $3.50 for a sample jar of Valspar. I don't know what they charge for a sample jar of SW.

  • 9 years ago

    It would be awesome to find smaller sample sizes. At most places I've gone, the smallest I can buy is a quart. That's why this is getting expensive. I did find one place that would sell a 16-ounce can so that helped a little. No Lowe's is very close to me but there is a Home Depot about half an hour away. I think i will make a trip there and see what I can round up. Thanks for the suggestions.

    I am also contemplating ordering 2 Farrow and Ball samples online. I'm interested in Elephant's Breath and French Gray to see how they look. Maybe I'm off the mark with them but I like how they look in pictures I have pulled up.

  • 9 years ago

    Now I'm also considering BM Cleveland Green, which looks like an odd color but still is intriguing to me. Can't wait to get some samples and see if this happens to work out at all.