Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Perfect Greige - A Love Story

Can I just say - I LOVE our new color? I'm so glad I decided to paint... it was a huge task to take on, but it's so worth it. And honestly - it wasn't that bad! And my sore muscles makes me happy to know I'm got a good work out :)

Matt acted as photographer during this process. [Editors note: Matt doesn't paint. He doesn't like it and I'm not going to nag him to do something he hates. To be honest, he's not great at it and I'm a perfectionist, so it works out.]


Here I am taping - See all the scuffs? We really needed a new coat of paint on the walls.

Matt got some great shots of the during:


Here's the color!

Isn't it great? It's the perfect greige. I decided Thursday night at 8 pm that I wanted to go lighter than originally planned - so I ran to Lowe's (open til 10) and grabbed two samples. I painted those samples on the wall, and picked the perfect color.

The color: Woodrow Wilson Putty 6006-1, Valspar (Lowe's)

Weird name, beautiful color. It's one of Lowe's National Trust for Historic Preservation colors (I love that collection). Our wallets are glad we went with this color, too - it was only $17 per gallon versus $24 per gallon of Benjamin Moore (and that $24 is the cheap contractor's paint, not their good stuff).

I highly highly recommend Valspar paint. It's amazing quality; very thick and you really only need one coat. I always do two because I'm anal, but I could have easily stopped after one.

Okay, on to more pictures...


Char hung out and watched during the process.

And here are some afters. You only get previews for now because I have some plans up my sleeve for the living room decor and I'll share the full room after I'm done! :)






See this table? I just bought it from Craigslist. Can you help me pick a color to paint it? I plan on getting some antique drop pulls for it too. I also need a new lamp shade.

My final thoughts: I LOVE this new color. It's quite a bit lighter than I originally planned, but it makes the house so bright and airy. I think the new color brings sophistication, but I'm planning on bringing in some wimsy (like my new striped yellow fabric!).

Next weekend I'll do the kitchen & upstairs.

59 comments:

  1. oh wow - looks great!! I'm looking for that perfect greige as well, and have written that color down - going to try it out this week!

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorgeous! Everything seems so light and airy with the new color and I love how the fireplace really pops now! Can't wait to see more!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've been reading your blog for awhile and I LOVE the new color! You did a fantastic job and the new hall table is to die for! What if you painted the lampshade black??

    Meaghan

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the new color! The old color didn't look very gold-ish yellow until you put the new color beside it. It looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  5. The color looks GORGEOUS! =) I can't believe how fast you painted that! It would take me all week! haha I think it even makes the living room look bigger. I can't wait to see more pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the color. And I absolutely love all the light that room gets! Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love the color...I'm thinking about doing a similar grey, but maybe a little darker in the dining room of our new house. Very calming and goes with almost anything. And I think you should paint the table gloss black with crystal or milkglass knobs. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you so much for the pictures - that is the color I've been looking for to paint my office and maybe master bedroom. I just have to make sure it's perfect - you know what I mean?

    ReplyDelete
  9. I need some craiglist help...I have no idea what I am doing wrong..Good table...and the paint looks great Bryn.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi there! The color looks beautiful. I'm a big fan of grey shades accented with bright colors...can't wait to see how you use the yellow & white fabric.

    I used all Valspar when I painted my condo and I agree with you - awesome. (I think it's actually the top rated brand in Consumer Reports.)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the color! I have the same problem with my house color--the walls, floors, etc all blend. I've been looking for the right greige, and this might be it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looks totally sophisticated! I love it...Quick, I need greige now!

    ReplyDelete
  13. It looks absolutely fabulous! I am so freaking jealous that you have this complete grasp of exactly what your style is - so everything comes together just beautifully. Your after pics look like they are STRAIGHT from a magazine! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Bryn it looks so great!! You really got a lot of work done in just a weekend. I hope Matt made you yummy meals to keep you going!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your rooms look beautiful and I can't believe you painted them all by yourself in one weekend! And I love the pictures -the one of the flea market picture looks like it came straight out of a design mag.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It looks wonderful! I love the new color so much more.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The new paint looks fabulous - so airy and light! As for the table, I'd for a creamy milk white. Can't wait to see the room all done.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have never posted on a blog before, but I had to comment. When you first showed the paint color swatches and the photo of the living room, I thought you were crazy. It looked perfectly fine before. I have to paint often and I know how much work it is and felt bad that you were going to have to paint so much. But, OH, it is so beautiful now. What a difference. Great work and color choice. Can't wait to see the rest!

    ReplyDelete
  19. love the new color! Can't wait to see more pics!

    ReplyDelete
  20. That color is fantastic, neutral but with attitude! Really brightens up your room. And I love that table! I think a dark stain might be nice...

    ReplyDelete
  21. fabulous! and now I'm really gushing over you mirror above the fire place...pottery barn, huh? I've wanted that mirror for a very long time, but, alas, I'm too cheap. I keep telling myself there's a knock off out there, but I've yet to find one....humph. Looks great though!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Looks so lovely Bryn!! It's fantastic!

    Not sure what colors your going with in the room, but hankerchief by martha (the one you posted in your dresser make over post) would be pretty on that new table. Just a thought! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. It looks great Bryn! I love the color. I can't wait to see more pictures. And I'm a big fan of Valspar - it's always my go to brand. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love the color! I actually used the exact color in Cam's nursery on the bottom half of the room, but it looks so different in your home! I think the color actually looks better in your living room that is so open and "airy." Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  25. love the new color! it looks a lot like what we used in the living room/dining room -- Grant Beige by Ben Moore -- but it was definitely cheaper! good to know!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Looks great! And I can't believe you got all that accomplished by yourself...anytime you want to come to MS, I have some rooms that need repainting :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Bryn -- i am a loyal reader (and a first time commenter) of your blog. I love the color you chose for your home...i too wear the paint-pants in my relationship! Anyway, just wanted to give a quick comment to say that i LOVE your style and appreciate how thrifty you are! :) - EK

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow! You are Wonder Woman to do all that in one weekend!!! Looks amazing Bryn.

    ReplyDelete
  29. cute, cute! makes all the yellowish colors really stand out! without having seen its condition up close, i actually like that table the way it is! funky new drawer pulls may be all it needs.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Bryn,
    Come home to Dallas and paint our upstairs!!! Do you texture too? It looks fabulous! Love, Mom

    ReplyDelete
  31. it looks fantastic!!

    and I love your pup!

    ReplyDelete
  32. What if, you painted it a subtle metallic? I could see a sort of metallic taupe, and a black lamp-shade...
    LOVE that neutral color-
    pve

    ReplyDelete
  33. Bryn- it looks great!
    your house is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I LOVE the new color, it looks so so great!! What a fantastic change. I cant wait to see the rest of the house painted!

    Its such a pretty background for all the great furniture and accessories you have, everything looks beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  35. It looks so pretty, fabulous color!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love it! Can I hire you to come paint my place! :)

    Great find on Craigslist! I like idea from PVE design, of a subtle metallic.

    ReplyDelete
  37. WOW. Omg, it looks SO much better. Great choice of color, and yay for you for tackling it. Your rooms are huge!

    Nicely done!

    jbhat

    ReplyDelete
  38. I've been hanging onto a swatch of that exact color for almost a YEAR now. It looks fantastic in your space! Maybe it's the push I need to finally go ahead and get going on my own painting projects :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. What about painting the table in a deeper grey tone? Barb from Knack Studio has some great painted furniture pieces that you could use for inspiration.

    http://knackstudios.blogspot.com/2009/02/whole-new-attitude.html

    ReplyDelete
  40. I've been hanging onto a swatch of that exact color for almost a YEAR now. It looks fantastic in your space! Maybe it's the push I need to finally go ahead and get going on my own painting projects :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Love it! Can I hire you to come paint my place! :)

    Great find on Craigslist! I like idea from PVE design, of a subtle metallic.

    ReplyDelete
  42. What if, you painted it a subtle metallic? I could see a sort of metallic taupe, and a black lamp-shade...
    LOVE that neutral color-
    pve

    ReplyDelete
  43. Bryn -- i am a loyal reader (and a first time commenter) of your blog. I love the color you chose for your home...i too wear the paint-pants in my relationship! Anyway, just wanted to give a quick comment to say that i LOVE your style and appreciate how thrifty you are! :) - EK

    ReplyDelete
  44. fabulous! and now I'm really gushing over you mirror above the fire place...pottery barn, huh? I've wanted that mirror for a very long time, but, alas, I'm too cheap. I keep telling myself there's a knock off out there, but I've yet to find one....humph. Looks great though!

    ReplyDelete
  45. It looks wonderful! I love the new color so much more.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Bryn it looks so great!! You really got a lot of work done in just a weekend. I hope Matt made you yummy meals to keep you going!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Looks totally sophisticated! I love it...Quick, I need greige now!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I need some craiglist help...I have no idea what I am doing wrong..Good table...and the paint looks great Bryn.

    ReplyDelete
  49. The color looks GORGEOUS! =) I can't believe how fast you painted that! It would take me all week! haha I think it even makes the living room look bigger. I can't wait to see more pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Gorgeous! Everything seems so light and airy with the new color and I love how the fireplace really pops now! Can't wait to see more!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Looks great, but did you know that it's impossible to read your writing over the green burlap background?

    ReplyDelete
  52. Where did you get your curtains?

    ReplyDelete
  53. Great wall color! What color did you use for the trim?

    ReplyDelete

THANK YOU for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate each and every comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...