Question about why you selected this shade of gray

12 years ago

I'm curious to know how you selected this shade of gray. I'm going through this process for our bedroom and baby room, painted several swatches on the walls and have found it difficult to choose a gray.

We have a rancher-style house -- mostly single level. The baby room faces north, garden level, smallish window onto green backyard.

The master bedroom faces south, also with a window that is garden level, medium sized -- likely gets decent natural light during day but somewhat dark in the evenings.

In both rooms we've painted Balboa Mist (BM), Repose Gray (SW), Alpaca (SW), Classic Gray (BM)....so far no luck.

We're not yet living in the house but have most of the furniture elements already from our previous home.

Gray owl has a green tint so what impact would that have on our situation with the two rooms?

Brooklyn apartment · More Info

Featured Answer

lenniel

9 years ago

***Also painting swatches on the walls with existing color can throw the sample colors way off***

Grays pick up surrounding colors very easily. The best way to test colors is to go to the $1 store and buy some white foam core boards, this is the perfect medium for paint. (you will see what I mean immediately) Paint your colors on the boards and move them around the rooms at different times of the day. This will give you the truest representation of the colors.

Always try to keep your tester colors away from any other colors. A white background is best. Tack up a white sheet and put your sample boards on top of the sheet. Another route is to prime the walls if you can and then paint the sample colors on the walls but keep the colors far away from each other.

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Comments (20)

PRO
Maletz Design
12 years ago
I tested many grays as well and ended up finding that Gray Owl was the most purely gray, without a noticeable tint. It's really nice. There is also Collingwood, which is really nice.
Megan
12 years ago
I have also found that Grey Owl (BM) has a green tint.
lenniel
11 years ago
I too have been trying to find the right gray ( all paint colors mentioned are Benjamin Moore), without much luck. I have large south facing floor to ceiling windows and Grey owl looks muddy green in my lighting. Revere Pewter looks muddy green as well, Abalone and Barren Plain too pink Classic Gray kitchen pic 1 under fluorescent lighting is pretty but more greige than gray. pic 2 the bedroom is Gray Huskie, mid-tone with brown undertone. Classic Gray is in the hallway. I like Gray Huskie but I want a nice pale gray grey for everywhere but the bedroom. Gray is soooo challenging. I feel like I'm never going to find the right one : (
mlosc
Original Author
11 years ago
For our south facing bedroom, I like Horizon. Not too blue, red, purple or green. Isn't it amazing how greys can have so many undertones???
PRO
Maletz Design
11 years ago
Maybe Collingwood? Or if you want a light gray, Silver Satin is one of my all-time favorites.
lenniel
11 years ago
Thank you for the suggestions. I tried Silver Satin, it does not have enough color. Collingwood reads too beigey brown.
mlosc
Original Author
11 years ago
If you like Collingwood, Balboa Mist is lighter...It looks gorgeous in our north facing, poor natural lighting bathroom/laundry. It's not too dark, not too light, not to "cement-cold" grey if you know what I mean. It's warm without being too brown. I'm telling you...when I put the sample on the wall, I hated it. Ran out of time, went with the BM paint consultant recommendaiton and voila! It really works. (P.S. Not all the colors she chose worked in other rooms so definitely go with your gut about colours! We didn't go with all her recommendations)
lenniel
11 years ago
Thank you. I wanted to love it but it didnt work. Except for the kitchen and bathroom I have mostly south facing rooms which get warm light kind of orangey-yellow light that makes colors like Balboa Miist, Abalone, Callingwood, Edgecomb Gray look terrible, pinkish-brown which is not my taste. I like gray, neutral or with slight green or blue undertone.

Here are some of my favorite rooms
PRO
Cruz Interiors Inc.
11 years ago
You should try Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter. Really pretty gray without the industrial cold feeling, but no funky purple undertone. If you want something darker, I really like Benjamin Moore peppercorn. Best of Luck!
stylingjg
11 years ago
I agree Revere Pewter
Is a great color zit won't disappoint ;)
Megan
11 years ago
I tried revere pewter for our bedroom and it looks like a very warm, sandy/beige grey especially next to other swatches of grey. It's not the grey I was going for but I think it will be perfect in our entry way as a med/light, warm and inviting color.
PRO
Cruz Interiors Inc.
11 years ago
Silver fox and modest gray both from benjamin moore may work for you as well.
PRO
Amanda Rose Home Decor
11 years ago
Revere Pewter is a warm grey with red and yellow undertones, a great neutral colour.
lenniel
11 years ago
Mlosc, thank you for your suggestions. I think we have similar tastes, would you happen to have a photo of Horizon in your south facing room that you could share, please?
sammsmith
11 years ago
The photos you like look very much like Stonington Gray. We have it in our living and dining rooms and it's a very nice, light grey with very subtle pale blue undertones.
molly2413
10 years ago
I too am struggling with true warm gray for south facing rooms and have purchased almost every color sample mentioned and all have green, pink, blue or purple undertones. So far I am moving forward with Benjamin Moore Smoke embers.
Debbie S
9 years ago
Help! I have had paint samples on my Livingroom/dining room walls since December 2015. I need to pick something by tomorrow. Painter is scheduled to start and finish by next Thursday. My dilemma is that the living room faces north with a large picture window that looks out onto covered porch. The dining room faces south with a large picture window looking out into backyard from a 2nd floor perspective. The paint color needs to continue into kitchen and down a dark hallway towards the guest bathroom and bedrooms. I need a coordinating trim and doors color/finish. Painting not hung yet. Couch is called grey but can look green or brown. Opposing wall to The paining wall is a large red brick fireplace from the 50's that I want to paint but husband doesn't. What to do?
lenniel
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It is very difficult to recommend a gray without more information however one important thing is to make sure the undertones in your furniture and fixed elements go with the undertones in the paint color, if they don't and clash you will have an uncomfortable feeling room.

I ended up painting Sherwin Williams First Star, it looks grey- greige in my south facing rooms, See post here. Scroll to the bottom of the page for photos Good Luck!

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/sherwin-williams-first-star-sw-7646-dsvw-vd~2784093?n=37[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/sherwin-williams-first-star-sw-7646-dsvw-vd~2784093?n=37)
Sharon Wettlaufer
8 years ago
Oh my gosh . I am right in here with trying to choose a color. paying a color consultant $75/ hr to find a color to go in my south facing kitchen which has 2- 4' skylights a patio door and an east and a west window. The designer has suggested grey owl or collingwood. I'm not really a fan of grey but she insists that I will love it. I like the warmth in collingwood but she says it will pull pink. THe grey owl seems very cool. I'll be following posts and watching for input