So, as I embark on the massive task of decorating my new place in San Francisco from scratch, I thought I'd chronicle it here on the blog. I'm hoping that 1. it'll keep me accountable to actually getting stuff done in a timely manner and 2. (hopefully) provide a bit of inspiration along the way.
Since my place is completely empty, save my bed, I thought it would be convenient to paint now rather than later. The downside is that I'll have to make sure my furniture works around my paint colors, not the other way around. But I think I can do it (hopefully I won't prove myself wrong.)
Since my Chicago home was so light and airy, I knew I wanted something warm and moody in SF. So, I've decided on gray - a fantastic neutral I just can't get enough of.
So, I took to Benjamin Moore and Farrow & Ball's sites the other weekend and started ordering samples of grays. I wanted a beige undertone (not too blue, green, or purple), and here's what I choose, clockwise from top left: BM Chelsea Gray, BM Silhouette, F&B Cornforth White, F&B Down Pipe, BM Bunny, BM Sweet Innocence, BM Graytint, BM Bear Creek, BM Stone Harbor, and BM Revere Pewter.
After testing them all on various walls in my home, (and staying very organized with labeled paint sponges along the way :) I have some clear favorites: Cornforth (my absolute favorite of all!), Chelsea Gray, Stone Harbor, and Revere Pewter. I had heard such good things about Down Pipe, and though I love it, it has too much of a green undertone for my aim. Oh well...someday in another home! Which are your faves from above?
I also took notes of what I'm thinking for each room - here's a look. Now, I have to find a white for all the molding. So, if any of you have some favorites, I'd love for you to leave them in the comment section below!
Hopefully, for next week's update, I'll have my white!
41 comments:
Hey Crystal! All the greys you chose are gorgeous, though I think my fave is bunny gray (the middle color on the bottom row). One thing though -- I painted my living room grey before I settled on furniture. Then, when I got the furniture, I found it completely changed the shade of grey. It worked out because I love it, but still...!
Now that is the way to to test colors. How come pro painters can never do it that way? So organized. I love it.
Woops! I meant to say I personally love the two on the far left of the bottom row and the one in the very middle of the top row!
They seem to be more neutral vs. some of the others that appear to have a lot of blue tones. What fun to start from scratch.
I'm sure no matter what you choose it will be gorgeous.
How fun! I am a huge fan of revere pewter myself (I will be painting my main living areas this color at some point this year)but if the colors are showing true to life, then I'm also excited about the stone harbor, bunny graym or sweet innoncence working well in my entryway and/or sunroom (there are enough windows to work with the darker colors)....Thanks for posting!
First and third in second row depending on whether you want the room to feel light or moody !
I have really been struggling with choosing a grey for my place. What are the two in the bottom left? Thanks!!
Hey! Middle top row and second from left on second row - best white is Dove Wing OC-18 from Benjamin Moore...love gray!
-elizabeth(modern24seven.blogspot.com)
how exciting! i think grey is a wonderful choice! and i had a quick look at your old apartment and noticed you have these white jars with wooden lids that i've been lusting after ever since i saw them in "giada at home." did you get yours at ikea too?
What a great approach to painting! Thanks for the tips.
Last time I picked out a white, I simply walked into the store, spotted the brightest, whitest-white they had and went with it. It was the most painless paint choice I've ever made and I never stopped loving it. That was for the walls in my tiny, window-less bathroom though. You probably have a lot of natural Cali light in your new place, right?
Grey is actually my favorite color, and I love the blue-grey in the bottom row, far right. I had no idea that you were in Chicago (I'm a new reader/am living there right now) but I popped over to see your apartment there and WOW. I had no idea Chicago apartments even had such gorgeous courtyards, much less a space so feminine and pretty! I'm so excited to see what you do with your new place in SF!
Love the second from the left on the bottom. My fav! For trim, I've heard people just buy a can of pure base, since it's a really natural white- no need to add any tint, just paint it right on as is.
fourth from the left, top row! love love love!!
some of my favorite whites are benjamine moore simply white OC-117 and oc-65 chantilly lace, but choosing the right white is the hardest thing in the world... Love the gray, I can't wait to see it all come together, congrats.
GREAT color choices!!
MEGAN LAND
xx
Oh, I am so into grey right now! I love where you're going with these colours - can't wait to see the process and the final pics!
Ooh I imagine this is a difficult choice, especially without your furniture! If I'm looking at it from the right order I like Revere Pewter, Stone Harbor and Cornforth best, seeing them having exactly enough subtlety compared to the others. But it depends on how fresh or warm you want it to be I think. Good luck with your choice!
Gray is a beautiful choice on the walls! My favorite is the first one on the second row. And for white, I have had luck with benjamin moore's "moonlight white." I also like bm's "horizon." Both have subtle gray undertones as well! :)
I would definately go with the cornforth white from Farrow and Ball. I think it is airy but not wimpy with a definative grey tint that is neither too blue or god forbid purple. San Fran light can be very overcast so keep that in mind. How exciting, blank slate, have fun!!!
Ahhh finding the perfect gray... I have painted walls a few different grays in my lifetime and I've come to finding bluey grays wayyy to cold..
My favourites are: third one from top left, first of second row and second to last.. Also love the first two for a more dramatic effect!
For white trims, I would recommend Designer White - it's a colour available in almost all paint brands and it's a pure white without being too flat and boring. I painted all my trims and ceilings in that colour and it turned out great! Good luck with it all! I'm sure it will turn out beautifully!
All that gray paint is GORGEOUS. So glad I don't have to decide!
<3 leigh
my faves: Sweet Innocence, Silhouette, Revere Pewter and Bunny Grey. I think Silhouette and Bunny Grey are my faves. I don't know though... they're all pretty great. i love painting. i'm impressed at your organization!
It will be nice to see the samples at different times of the day. Great choices. Grey on the ceiling could give you the mood you are seeking.
Mary Ann
I saw that you were thinking of Silhouette for your bathroom... love it! I did that just this past weekend and could not be any happier :) The dark, rich color looks great in a small space and I swear it actually makes my BR look bigger. Good luck!
Jess
Wow...such organised painting!! I could never be so organised. As for matching - with such a neutral palate you have plenty of options.
All lovely!! I've used Revere Pewter before - it was actually on the outside of my last house - it's a terrific color because it has a lot of warmth and changes with the light. Can't wait to see what you pick and how it looks up!
Great choices! I have a feeling you can not go wrong.
I have been on a grey kick and repainting so many different rooms in all sorts of shades of gray, loving them.
Have used both Chelsea Grey and Revere Pewter and they are both nice.
My favorite white trim (because it is not shocking white, but that's my preference) is BM: White Dove. Soothing, simple and has enough punch to offset the colors perfectly.
Good luck. Can NOT wait to watch your progress on your adventure. xo
Great post! Love all the grays. Gotta go with BM White Dove. It's my go-to trim paint; not too yellow, not too blue so it goes w/every wall color!
Good luck.
My favorite whites:
Grey Mist, Pratt and Lambert
Swiss Coffee, Sherwin Williams
They all look great! Can't wait to see it all. Love Cornforth.
My husband was actually the one who chose Revere Pewter for a bedroom at our cottage - I'm amazed at his choice! We're using it in the great room as well. It goes from grey to a soft beige depending on the elements in the room and time of day. We used Benjamin Moore Oxford White for the trim. Good luck!
Looking forward to updates of your new home. Grey is my neutral and I have a grey laundry pile :-) I'm into Sweet Innocence,Chelsea Gray and Stone Harbor but depends where it's used. Cornforth projects quiet strength and I like it best among the lighter swatches. Xoxo!
Revere Pewter. Have used it and it is a soft taupy? beautiful gray.
I love this. I can't wait to see the progress....I have had paint chips on my wall for over a year now...its pretty sad...but I want to paint such a large area one color and I can't decide...
jen
http://blankwhiteframes.blogspot.com
it's going to look great. I love all of those colors. good luck!
www.aweekfromthursday.wordpress.com
Just brilliant...I heart blogs...your always learning something new...writing the names on the paint handles...smile.
wonderful greys!
I follow your blog and I am so looking forward to you decorating your apartment in SF. I can't wait to see the process and what furniture you select!
Can I just tell you I had the hardest time finding the right color gray for our living room! It was harder than I thought since light kept changing whether the gray looked too purple or blue or green! I swear, I think we ended up trying out 20+ colors! But I absolutely love the one we went with - it's a greyish-brown and so perfect! Love the colors you've picked
such nice tones of greys. Makes us want to repaint everything
I've been told the Cornworth one is amazing. I can't get a sample for a match before I need to paint. Any idea of a gray that is pretty comprobable? It seems lighter then the others on your test. I'm wanting one that nearly matches it:). I did read somewhere Benjamin Moore Nimbus was somewhat similar.
Thanks!
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