Questions about choosing paint colors
Jean Molesworth Kee, an architectural color consultant and author of the blog The Painted Room, answers questions about how to pick the right paint colors.
Q. What colors do you think would go well with bathroom tiles that are the color of Benjamin Moore’s Elmira White? I’m looking to make my bathroom feel like a serene oasis.
A. Sounds like the tiles are a soft neutral. You have many options but I just love soft watery blues and greens for a bathroom. Take a look at Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt or Quietude and Ben Moore’s Gray Wisp (a close match to Restoration Hardware’s Silver Sage), Green Tint or Gray Cashmere.
Q. The painters are about to begin painting my soon-to-arrive baby’s nursery. Do I need to ask them to use low Voc paint or some other kind of special paint? We are using Benjamin Moore White Dove on the trim and a custom color on the walls that I believe is based on a Sherwin Williams color but matched by Benjamin Moore. I still have two months before the baby arrives, if I use regular paint will the fumes have dissipated by then?
A. Most major paint brands are low Voc these days. There is little difference between low and zero Voc. I would look at Ben Moore’s Natura line. And yes, the fumes will have dissipated by then.
Q. I have a cathedral ceiling in our large master bedroom, which is painted the same cream color as the walls and trim (trim includes crown molding). I’d like to paint the walls a pale blue-lavender, which I find serene and attractive. In doing so, I’m thinking of keeping the trim about the same color (maybe a little whiter?) but don’t know what to do about the color for the cathedral ceiling.
A. In bedrooms, I often like to create a sense of quiet envelopment — painting the walls the same color as a ceiling gives the space a cocoon-like feeling. Sometimes by painting the ceiling white, the eye is then actually drawn down to that line of contrast where ceiling meets wall. You should be fine going white on the ceiling and trim, but keep the wall color fairly pale to avoid that contrast.
Q. What is that color that looks like putty? It is commonly used on older French painted furniture and has some gray and maybe some green in it. Thanks!
A. “Putty” -- one of my favorite, murky complex colors. So many colors look great against it (white, coral, etc.) Take a look at Farrow & Ball’s French Gray or Ben Moore’s Clarksville Gray or Horizon Gray.
Q. I (illegally) brought some paint back from England earlier this month. I find the paints over there to be much richer and glossier than U.S. paints. Think of all the marvelous front doors you see in London, Dublin, etc. and then think of the front doors here. What’s the difference between U.S. and UK/European paints?
A. Yes, you are probably thinking of Fine Paints of Europe and their oil-based Hollandlac finish. ‘Tis true — that mirror-like finish that you see on the doors of London can really only be achieved with a laborious (sanding and more sanding) prep process and many coats of an alykyd (oil) product. That said, Farrow and Ball was an early adopter of “green” and most of their products are now alkyd-free. You can still find high gloss oil in some major paint lines but it is being legislated out of existence.
Q. I’m buying a house and need to paint before moving in. I need to move fast! What are your go-to greige colors? I’d like something with a lot of depth for the bright south facing living/dining/hall stairs with vaulted ceilings. For my bedroom, I’d like a soothing gray, it also has vaulted ceilings and is west facing. Thanks!
A. Some great “grays” (mid-tone w/ some depth): Ben Moore: Metropolitan AF-690 and Thunder AF 685 (great with crisp white trim). Horizon, and the paler Edgecomb Gray and Revere Pewter are nice. Sherwin Williams: Sedate Gray, Useful Gray, Analytical Gray; C2 Archival is lovely as well.
Q. I’m having a huge problem with my wood front door. For years I had it painted with Benjamin Moore high gloss oil paint in Essex green, quite dark. Now, due to the lower VOC’s and darker pigments, this paint is impossible to work with. It goes on gummy. My painter tried Fine Paints of Europe, but it seeded when brushed on. Do you have any answers for a high gloss paint in a very dark green that will work for me?
A. So funny! My front door was also painted Essex Green and I’m dealing with the same issues. I tried Fine Paints of Europe Coach Green (Hollandlac) — the color has a bluish cast compared to Essex. The answer may be to strip the door all the way down and try the Hollandlac (there aren’t many painters who do this well) in a color match to Essex. This is a good product, but prep is everything.
Q. I have a townhouse with a living room and step-up dining room. I was looking for something that could go with an olive green living room set or just a color that is neutral.
A. A nice warm camel would be lovely. One of my favorite warm neutrals is Sherwin Williams Ivoire. Also take a look at Ben Moore Papaya, Powell Buff, or Desert Tan. Those warm tans would certainly complement olive upholstery and would look great with shots of red (accessories).
Q. What color would you suggest for kitchen cabinets in a kitchen that has oak floors, and lots of windows, and is open to dining and living room areas. I was thinking of a soft sage green.
A. Sage green could be just lovely for kitchen cabinets. Take a look at my Pinterest board “Colorful Kitchens” http://www.pinterest.com/paintedroom. There are many examples of painted cabinetry. You might also want to consider a grayed-off color to balance the warm tones of your oak floors. Take a look at Ben Moore’s “Hearthstone” 1601. Major cabinetry lines are now offering more grays. There is also a fabulous line, Crown Point Cabinetry, who uses Farrow and Ball paints — just beautiful.
Q. I’m ready to change my walls from off-white. I have a new pale gray/silver Berber carpet and want to paint the walls in living room a shade of gray that is not too dark and calm and relaxing, yet uplifting. Trying to keep a neutral organic look to the house. We have wide cherry molding on all windows but do not get direct sun in the room. Should I continue the gray all the way up stairs? What about the ceilings?
A. Yummm. Love the warm tones of cherry trim with gray walls. Could be very nice! Take a look at the images on my Pinterest Board “Gray Walls” It is a good starting point. Ben Moore “Edgecomb Gray” (similar to Farrow and Balls’ Skimming Stone) is very versatile. The new Ben Moore Color Stories range has some wonderful grays, such as Penthouse CSP-35. Consider also, Ben Moore “Gray Owl” with the lighter “Gray Wisp” in the stairway.
Q. I have a bathroom with no natural light and no window. The walls are fresh drywall, no paint yet, so what’s a nice color? Please no white paint. Vanity is chocolate with tan-ish granite, shower is white.
A. No ... “white” needs natural light to live, otherwise it simply dies. Go with some saturated color. Assuming your floors are also neutral, a complex-muted blue could be lovely with the chocolate vanity — take a look at Sherwin Williams Languid Blue or Rain, or Ben Moore’s Santorini Blue.
Q. We have a home with cedar shingles that are stained a medium gray, with white trim around the windows. Our doors and shutters are currently painted a forest green, but we’d like to repaint them. We’re thinking about painting the doors and shutters a dark navy, almost black. Any thoughts/suggestions for a specific paint color?
A. Yes, a darker blue- based charcoal or black might be an improvement over green and will visually pop against white trim. Ben Moore’s Midnight Blue 1638 might work.
Q. We’re thinking of repainting our bedroom a taupe or coffee color. We live in a ’50s rambler, so the rooms are small. Should we be worried that it will be too dark? We want the space to be cozy. Right now it is a very pale butter yellow, and it just doesn’t feel right.
A. Think about when you spend time in that room — guessing evenings? So a nice mid-tone neutral could be very cozy in the evenings with lamps turned on. Some great warm “coffee” or “khaki” neutrals are Sherwin Williams Ramie, Ben Moore’s Bleeker Beige, or Hot Spring Stones. These colors are great with white bedding or trim.
Q. Your favorite orangey-red for a front door?
A. C2 Paint has GREAT reds. There is more pigment in that brand and the reds don’t need four coats (like other major brands). They have great depth and luminosity. C2 Firefly and Tango are great orange-reds.