And?

It's much easier to add color with a gray palette than a beige/brown palette. Sounds like you'll be fine. If you're struggling with colors it would help to compare color cards and carry them wherever you are shopping etc etc

Yes you can do that. nOW LETS TALK ABOUT YOUR typing skills . . .

My suggestion is to make the trim a lighter value than the walls...can be same hue family!

I like the idea of painting the walls gray. It is possible that you could get tired of the dark trims, so I am with Virgil on this one. Consider to paint trims lighter.

And if you don't like it, you can always change it.

Gray is typically a neutral hue, but many have a color bias in one direction or the other. Color is typically introduced using furnishings, fixtures, art work, accessories and the like. Gray walls and trim are a good environment for this approach. But almost any "neutral" will also work, depending on personal preference.

Yes, gray is a good backdrop for bold, clean colors.

Excerpt from this post: http://www.mariakillam.com/greyisout/

The reason grey is trendy right now is that it provides a crisp backdrop to the bold, clean and colourful hues we’re all decorating with now. The media focuses on grey and whether it’s in or out, but the real news is that bright and happy colour is here to stay. Those happy colours need grey as a backdrop because the beiges we were using as part of the brown trend generally die when combined with clean colours. Pale beiges are allowed, but the darker ones mostly look dirty.

We've swung full circle on colors over the years. Our walls are mostly gray (there is a burgundy accent wall). My wife decided it's a lot easier to add splashes of color with pillows and throws and it allows her to change her mood several times a year (oranges and reds in fall, greens in spring...whatever).

IMO the gray trim will be an issue very soon, as for bright colors the gray walls a great backdrop for those.I would keep large and eaxpensive items pretty neutral and then add the color with accessories

Thank you all so much. This has been such a help. Will try to post pics. I slowed down so I could type better....

Sounds to me like wallpaper would be a good option for one or more rooms. I have done projects with gray walls and darker gray bases. It can become a bit monotonous, but I think it would be successful if one room where gray with dark gray bases, followed by another (probably dining) with the same dark gray trim and very bright floral paper (both swatches above are offered through Anthropologie) that incorporates colors you intend to use in additional adjacent rooms. The further rooms might not be gray on gray but would continue the language of a lighter hue on the walls and darker on the trim. You might also consider painting the walls and trim the same hue of gray, which can really heighten the architecture of a room, as shown in the last photo, a project by Chicago Designer Summer Thornton.

I like where you're going! I, too, have an open concept home. I chose to paint all of the connecting rooms the same color. I stopped each time a room was painted, and while I wanted more variety, I didn't want my rooms to look like a patchwork quilt. I kept resale in mind when I painted my home and kept a single color on all the open areas. Your grey will be a nice backdrop for those bright colors in your accents (pillows, throws, art).

love the color . Esp. the first one. and thanks for the tip on painting the trim to accent the arch. I also have a piece of cedar from a special tree that we are making into a mantle. We will sand it and put a lititle bit of stain on it. Thought the red color would be too much. What do you think?