HG Openhouse Blog

4. Thanks Joan,

I hope this might be helpful to a few people that might want some good clean beige paint colors. There are many good “neutrals”, but a true beige might be hard to pick out of the pack, with so many to choose from.
I’ll have to check out H. B.s, color issue.
Good to chat!

by Cathy — 3/16/09 at 1:45 pm #

5. Hi Sydria,

Taupes come in lots of shades just like beiges, so there’s not an exact taupe color. Lighting will change your perfect taupe to someone elses, not so perfect taupe. So you’ll have to try a few to see what works for you. All a taupe is, is a beige that has more gray in it. It’s gray/beige. A beautiful neutral.
As for a few taupe colors to look at , try…

Benjamin Moore…Litchfield Gray,Grant Beige, Hampshire Taupe
Behr Paint…Sandstone Cliff, Castle Path, Pepple Stone

Check them out in your light to see what works best for you.
Happy painting.

by Cathy — 3/16/09 at 3:08 pm #

9. Hi Linda,

I did check out your Carlyle Cream (BM). Very nice. If it looks good in your lighting and you like it…go for it. I bet your house looks great covered in Carlyle. Thanks for adding to the beige list!

by Cathy — 3/18/09 at 12:35 pm #

10. Hello MSM,

I checked out your Behr, Class Taupe color. It’s a nice beige as well. You can’t beat it with white trim and moldings. I bet your’s looks wonderful. Thanks for your input and recommendation. Enjoy your beautiful home.

by Cathy — 3/18/09 at 12:41 pm #

11. Hi Sandra,

I love your combination of Alpaca (BM) and Cloud white(BM). Beautiful in the bedroom. Sweet Dreams!

by Cathy — 3/18/09 at 12:43 pm #

12. Hello Janet,

Your honey hardwood floors probably have warm golded tones to them. If your beige looks too gray (clay), use a beige with warmer undertones. Lean the beige more to the tan side (yellow it a bit). Heres a few I’ll throw out just for an example to try with your floors…
Behr Paint…Rivera Sand, Pabble Path, Sensible Hue. Somewhere in that range might work better with your floors.
Good Luck!

by Cathy — 3/18/09 at 12:55 pm #

14. Hi Michelle,

I love beating the system! Your daughter sounds like she did a great job with her “knock off’ furniture. The wall color sounds beautiful as well. Neutrals really give you alot of options to use great color in the room. Way to go!!

by Cathy — 3/18/09 at 6:24 pm #

16. Hello Carmil,

It sounds like your colors turned out great. Thanks for sharing them. Yes, some beiges on a whole paint chip would be great to use. Like you said, not a bad one in the bunch. Thats like Benjamin Moore’s, HC-91 through HC-96. Beautiful neutrals on that chip.
Your other colors sound wonderful with your beiges. What a beautiful home you have to enjoy.

by Cathy — 3/19/09 at 8:16 pm #

19. Hi Kate,

Lenox Tan is a classic tan. It always looks great!

Thanks so much.

by Cathy — 3/21/09 at 6:46 pm #

21. Hi Michelle,

Your Alexandria Beige is beautiful, a nice deep rich beige color. No pink in sight. Very nice, it goes on my list. Yes, B.M. Aura paint is pretty amazing. Pricier but well worth it.

Thanks for adding your beautiful beige choice to the others, and for dropping by to chat.

by Cathy — 3/23/09 at 11:06 am #

22. Back to Mary at # 18,

Your house sounds nice. It sounds like you want to paint your family room and kitchen a beige color. Always a good choice. It would be hard for me to pick your exact color, I can’t see your lighting and the colors in your home. Using my list and some of the others that have written in, maybe you could get a few paint samples that would blend with your interior and try a few. You might lean it toward the taupe side a bit because you have some gray in your floor and black countertops.

Look at Benjamin Moores, Manchester tan or Bennington gray to start and see if that gets you close.

Happy painting and enjoy your home,

by Cathy — 3/23/09 at 11:24 am #

24. Hello Jacque,

It’s great to get a new paint job in the house. Fresh and clean.
I don’t know the exact name of the paint in that photo. It was a beautiful warm beige. One that is close to it is Benjamin Moore, Bradstreet Beige.
Of course you have to see it in your light , if it will work for you. B.M. Shaker Beige is another nice one you might look at. Hope one works for you. Let me know.

by Cathy — 3/25/09 at 6:55 pm #

26. Hello Geri,

I think you’ll like Shaker Beige. It’s a warm beige, good for a north facing room, and not too dark. Of course, test it first in your light. If that’s not the one, look at B.M. , “Putnan Ivory” it’s a little warmer yet. One more, look at “Powell Buff”, warm and leans a little to the gold/beige side. All beautiful, but it has to look right in your light.

Hope you find the perfect color. Those beiges should look beautiful with the other elements in your room.

Happy painting!

by Cathy — 4/7/09 at 12:26 pm #

28. Hi Julie,

Yes, sometimes those beiges just don’t cooperate. I looked up your Barely Beige and Malton to see the value you were looking in. They do look a little pink.
Try these…
B.M…. Everlasting (a good one), Carrington Beige, Shaker Beige,

Let me know if one of those works for you.
Good luck!

by Cathy — 4/10/09 at 3:43 pm #

31. Hello Susan (29)

I’m glad you found this site. Good to have you join us.
The problem with beiges…there are a million of them. It’s like going to a restaurant with too many good choices. The two colors you picked are very nice. I really like B.M. Harmony, a nice clear beige. Just to confuse the issue even more, here are a few others to check out…B.M. Antique Parchment or Ocean Beach. They are all so close, but your lighting will let you know which one.
Good luck with your project.

by Cathy — 4/20/09 at 12:19 pm #

32. Hi Susan (30)

Your colors in you living room sound wonderful. I’m glad you found a good beige that works with the adjoining rooms as well. Sometimes you have to play with them a little and sample until you get it right. Thanks for your pick of paints. Valspars Prairie Dance sound like a nice one!

Enjoy your home!

by Cathy — 4/20/09 at 12:27 pm #

34. Hello Karen,

I do like white trim with beiges because there’s a nice contrast and “framing” quality white brings to many wall colors. Like a white mat around artwork. Colors seem true,fresh and important when framed with white. The Shaker Beige (BM) is a classic beige for your walls. You will be happy with it. But, yes I would paint out all the woodwork a white color. It’s fresh and has an updated feel.

A few “whites” that might work for you are…

Benjamim Moore…
White Dove, Cloud White or Swiss Coffee. (sample in your light with the Shaker Beige).

Much luck with your project and it will look lovely!

by Cathy — 5/4/09 at 1:48 pm #

36. Hello Pat,

I’d be happy to.
With your dark wood trim and low light, I would recommend a lighter beige. Here again, looking for some contrast between your trim and the wall color. Also it will keep your interior brighter with your low light. So, here are afew beiges to consider…

Benjamin Moore paint, Manchester Tan, Grant Beige, Everlasting.

One of those should work, try them in your light and with your trim color.

Let me know if I’m close.
Thanks for dropping in.

by Cathy — 5/6/09 at 7:50 pm #

38. Hello Fatima,

It’s great to get some color up on the landing wall. It’s a good focal wall and adds interest to an empty stairway. SInce you have some reds in the open study at the top of the stairs, maybe paint the wall a red color from one of your elements. Since it will only be on one wall, it acts as a large piece of art. Accent walls do just that, they act as art in a space and add interest and color. Paint the wall with a gray primer before the red to lessen the amount of coats of red to cover evenly. You may want to add a large mirror or some large art to the wall as well, to “layer” the interest. Add black frames to them to tie in the black from the study area.

Another color that would work well is a shaded gold or tan color. Not as strong as red but will add a brighter feel and still some great color.
Look at colors like Ben. Moores… Mansfield Tan, Heirloom Gold, or Golden Hills. These look wonderful with reds and black.

Those are afew I think would give you the “nice bright color” you’re looking for. Remember it’s only paint, so have some fun with the color.

by Cathy — 5/12/09 at 3:14 pm #

40. Hello Christine,

Yes, I’ve been there with the paint chips taped to the wall, hoping one will speak to you.
You say you have cherry hardwood flooring which tells me the stain has some red undertones to it. Have you tried looking at a cool beige color. A beige with a little hint of green. This is a nice cool compliment to the warm reddish floors. Think of a khaki color, somewhere in that range. If you’re painting your whole house use 3 colors next to each other on the paint chip to define seperate spaces/rooms, but blend the whole. Here’s a blog I wrote on this idea…

http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2007/04/14/wall-color-idea/

You might want to read it and use this application for your home. It could work well.

As for a few colors to look at…try…

Benjamin Moore… Baby Turtle, Flowering Herbs, Limestone.
Behr Paint… Lion, Wild Honey, Country Beige.

See if any of those might work better for you.
Good luck and happy painting,

by Cathy — 5/13/09 at 7:42 pm #

42. Hello Valerie,

Your room sounds nice and will make a great music room. A nice neutral beige color for the walls in the room could look good because of all the other colors you may be using, album covers, guitars etc. Look for one, exciting color running through your elements, and use that as an accent color in the room, could be red, blue, green etc. Use this brighter color for draperies, pillows in chairs or sofa, in an area rug. Also the neutral background will give you your “earthy” feel you want, but the room will get it’s “Pop” of color with the accent color you choose.
I wrote a blog on a music room for a client with this same approach. Here’s the link if you’re interested…

http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2009/02/15/room-that-rocks/

For the beige color, look at a few samples I’ve mentioned in the top post, one of those may work for you.

Have fun with that room, and make it a room that rocks!!

by Cathy — 5/14/09 at 12:39 pm #

44. Hello again Valerie,

If you think the beige colors may not give you the contrast you want with your trim, then yes, there are other colors that would work. You mentioned a warm color which would be in the yellow/green, gold, tan, terra cotta, red range. A warm green color might be a good way to go. Looks great with the trim and can be warm in feel.
I’m looking at some yellow/green colors in the Benjamin Moore line. Look for a shaded green so it’s not too intense.

B.M. Paint… Dill Pickle, Pale Sea mist, Folk Art, Sweet Daphane
somewhere in that range could look good.

The apricot might work but it could turn pink at different times of day and it’s more of a feminine color, not as compatable with more masculine guitars on the wall. Just my thoughts, it might work fine.

What do you think about the yellow/green color? Could look great!

by Cathy — 5/18/09 at 5:10 pm #

46. Thank you John,

With certain permanent elements in your home, you may have to adjust the colors to work with them. Yours sound like the right combination with the elements in your home. They sound beautiful and it’s nice when it all comes together so wonderfully
.
Enjoy your home and thanks for your great addition to the topic.

by Cathy — 5/20/09 at 12:26 pm #

50. Hello Holly,

I don’t have the exact name of the paint color in that picture, but it’s very close to Benjamin Moore paint color…Bradstreet Beige. It has a little warmer/pinker undertone, but it looks great in this light and application.
Hope that was helpful to you.

by Cathy — 5/26/09 at 1:35 pm #

51. Hello Karen,

I hear you. Sometimes beiges have a mind of there own. It sounds like you’ve had your share of misses. I’m trying to put my finger on what the problem is. It could be your lighting, or a reflection of colors/finishes in the room onto the walls. Anything in the room can influence color perception.
Since many of the beiges you’ve tried are turning a bit orangy. Try to counteract that with more of a hint of green undertone. Look in the range of these beiges…Benjamin Moore paint… Carrington Beige, or Shaker beige, or Behr Paint…Oat Straw, Sand Fossil. They are stll nice beiges, but a little on the cooler side. This might delete the orange but still feel warm enough for you.

Let me know if one of these colors works better for you.

by Cathy — 5/26/09 at 2:20 pm #

54. Hello Sue,

There are many good beige colors that could work well with your elements. With your grey countertops and white cabinets, you might want to lean toward more of a taupe color, which is a grey/beige mix.
Since you’re painting both your open kitchen and dining room, you could pick two taupe shades on the same paint chip, and paint one area the darker shade and the other the lighter shade. This will blend both areas but define each as well. This is a great look when rooms are open to each other. (Here’s a link to a blog I wrote on this paint application)…

http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2007/04/14/wall-color-idea/

As for a few colors to look at…

Try, Behr Paint colors…Sand Fossil, Clay Pebble

Benjamin Moore paint colors…Brandon Beige, Coastal Fog, Revere Pewter, Grant Beige

Somewhere in that range could work nicely with your permanent elements. I hope that will get you going.

by Cathy — 5/28/09 at 11:44 am #

55. Hi Cindy,

I’m sorry I can’t tell you the exact name of the paint color in the bookcase photo. I believe it was a custom color. But it is very close to Benjamin Moore paint color, Bradstreet Beige. It’s a warm slightly pinked beige. Look in that range and you’ll be close.

Thanks for asking.

by Cathy — 5/28/09 at 11:51 am #

58. Hi Tina,

Hopefully your house sold and you don’t have to worry about it anymore.
I’m glad the information was helpful to you. Enjoy your new house and get out the beige paint!

by Cathy — 5/29/09 at 11:30 am #

59. Hello Karen,

Yes, all those paint color samples can get to be expensive. I don’t know if this will work for you but it might be the way to go since you’re having a hard time with finding a color. I wrote a blog on making wall color samples with inexpensive craft paint. These can be adjusted easily to vary the shade you want. When you get the color you want from your own mixing, take that sample to the paint store and they can electronically mix the paint to your color. This might be a good way to go so your don’t have to buy so many samples. Here’s the link…

http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2007/08/06/mix-wall-color-samples-with-craft-paint/

I looked at your BM Fairway Oaks color. It’s a nice color, but much warmer than the Carrington and Shaker. It looks fine on the sample but I can’t tell how it will look on your wall. Only you can decide that.

If all else fails, give that craft paint mixing a go. I’ve found some great colors doing this because you can adjust what goes into it.

Keep me posted on your adventures of finding the right paint color and GOOD LUCK!

by Cathy — 5/29/09 at 12:13 pm #

61. Hi Amy,

Thanks for your question. I looked up your Durango Travertine. It has warm and cool color variations in it, A beautiful neutral. Since you’ve tried a darker, warmer color and didn’t like it. Try a lighter cooler shade. This will look wonderful with your cherry cabinets and should blend beautifully with the travertine. Think of a khaki color. This has just a touch of green in it (cooler side). I read that your travertine has a little khaki color in it as well. It should neutralize that yellow feel you were getting off the counter. It will also blend with the Shaker Beige you have in the rest of the house.

Look in this range of paint color…

Behr Paint… Belvedere Cream, Sand Fossil, Wild Honey

Benjamin Moore…Carrington Beige, Abingdon Putty, Limestone

Maybe one of those will work for you. Much success with your paint project.

by Cathy — 6/13/09 at 12:49 pm #

64. Hello Patty,

Many colors go well with your yellow pine floors. If you’re thinking in the beige range, try a “cooler” beige. One with a little green or blue to contrast the yellow in the floor, still beige but on the cool side. Pick a color about midrange on the 7 color chip to paint your walls and go all the way up to the top of the chip (lightest) for a ceiling color. They will blend beautifully. Go with a cool white color for trim.
You mentioned you wanted a warm, brighter feeling. Look to colors in an analogous color range. These fall within 90 degress of your gold color. A terra cotta or olive oil (yellow green) color would be a warm feel. Look to the top of the same paint chip to paint your ceiling and go with a warm white trim to pop the colors off the wall.

I hope that gave you a little direction and good luck with your project.
Thanks for your comment.

by Cathy — 6/19/09 at 12:04 pm #

65. Hi Holly,

It sound’s like you have the “beige blues”.
Before you change your paint color, that you say is turning yellow on you at night, try changing your light bulbs. If you have incandescent bulbs, they throw off a yellow glow and that could be the problem. Try fluorescent bulbs that come in a cool variation (and are much more energy efficient). That may be all you need to do to correct the problem.
If you decide to repaint, maybe darken your paint color a bit to contrast your double crown molding, and contrast more, the light sofa and carpet. Darker beiges look wonderful against lighter elements. Try “cooler” shades of beige paint to decrease the yellow cast as well.
I can’t give you any exact answer. Maybe one of these ideas will work for you. I hope so.

Hang in there, it will work out!

by Cathy — 6/19/09 at 12:32 pm #

68. Hello Emily,

I can see how the BM Oat straw could turn a little green in your lighting. A beautiful color but maybe not right with your furnishings. You might try a beige that’s a little on the warmer side. Try samples first before you go to all the expense and work. Here’s a few in similiar value but warmer…

Benjamin Moore… Lenox Tan, Powell Buff, Yorkshire Tan

Maybe one of those might work better for you. You can have them lightened a little if they seem too dark.

I hoped this helped a little, and you find a great color.

by Cathy — 7/6/09 at 12:16 pm #

69. Hello Linda,

Remember, beige is not boring…it’s all how you wear it that counts. You have some nice permanent elements that dictate a color direction. I think you’re on the right track with your taupe (grey/beige) color. A nice mix to blend with both major elements. Let’s look at some warm taupe colors…
(try samples before committing)

Behr Paint… Sand Fossil, Clay Pebble (below it), Oat Straw, Mochachino (below it).
Benjamin Moore… Bennington Gray, Carrington Beige, Abingdon Putty

Look in that range for a taupe color for your exterior. I hope one fits-the-bill.

Happy painting and good luck!

by Cathy — 7/6/09 at 12:35 pm #

71. Hi Patsy,

I bet you love your Shaker beige (Ben. Moore)…it’s a classic! If you’re looking for a dark green/brown, then (B.M.) Hampshire Gray is it. Very dark though, rich and dramatic. It will blend nicely with Shaker. Here’s a few others in that range that might work also…

Benjamin Moore… Greenbrook (a little warmer), Crownsville gray (darker), Dry Sage (lighter)

Maybe pull a little of the dark color of the entry, into one of your Shaker Beige rooms as an accent wall. Pick a wall that has a sight line connecting visually the two areas together. Just a thought.

It all will look great. Enjoy your beautiful home.

by Cathy — 7/13/09 at 12:41 pm #

74. Hello Julia,

I’m glad the post was helpful to you. Your house sounds nice. Since you’re having trouble with your beige paint looking too yellow or too grey, lets stick with a cooler neutral to see if that might lean-it in the right direction. Your other colors in your rooms are on the cool side, green, blue etc. So I’ll list a few that might work better, but lighting does have a lot to do with how paint color is perceived, so that will be your call.
Try samples first before you commit.

Benjamin Moore Paint…Crown Point Sand, Abingdon Putty, Carrington Beige

Behr Paint… Oat Straw, Sand Fossil,

Those might be a few to try. Compare them to the ones you’ve tried, to see what direction they “read” in the room. No, you don’t have to match the carpet, just blend with what looks best in your lighting.

I hope one works for you. Let me know how it comes out.

by Cathy — 7/31/09 at 5:41 pm #

75. Hi Christine,

Thanks for your good description of your rooms. With your dark oak flooring, cabinets and red brick fireplace, a warm beige could look nice. Although, if you’re thinking about painting the brick fireplace white, I would do it. White always looks wonderful next to a beige. Whereas the brick next to some beige, washes each other out. It doesn’t look crisp and clean, the beige can look muddy. I love all the white molding and trim you already have.
You also could use two colors next to each other on the paint chip to paint seperately the family room and kitchen. They will blend beautifully but introduce a little seperation and delineation of space. You can always lighten or darken a color by 1/3 to have the same effect.
Some great beiges for you might be…

Benjamin Moore paint… Lenox Tan, Shaker Beige, Powell Buff

Somewhere in that range would look lovely with your other elements.
Always sample first.

Have fun painting and drop back soon.

by Cathy — 7/31/09 at 6:09 pm #

78. Hello Tara,

Thank you so much. What’s more relaxing and beautiful than a tropical bath. I did go to the site you listed and, I hope I found the color you wanted me to look at. It was a baeutiful aqua blue in the girls room?? Since I don’t know the name of the paint, this is just a guess at the color, or a color that might have the same feel.
Look at Benjamin Moore Paint colors…

Waterfall, Tranquil Blue, Hazy Blue or Seaside Blue. For more shaded colors…Covington Blue, Mill Springs Blue.

Any of those colors would make a terrifcally tropical turquoise bathroom.
What a beautiful and fun guest bath it will be using this color.

Write back soon.

by Cathy — 8/3/09 at 12:54 pm #

82. Back to Kelly # 76,

Hi Kelly,
I’m happy this post has helped you. Your house sounds very warm and sophisticated. Love all the colors. I checked them out. You asked specifically about a beige color to blend with your BM Bed of Ferns color.
The Bed of Ferns is a rich cool gray/green, very nice. The Shaker color goes well and is on the warmer side. But you might try a couple of cooler beiges and see how you like those with other elements in your house.

Look at Ben Moore… Grant Beige, Carrington Beige or Abingdon Putty

They were about in the same value range as Shaker. If you want a different color change in the same range as the one you like, always stay on the same paint chip and any color you pick on that 7 shade chip will go beautifully with the others, but still give you a dark to light value range to play with.

I hope one of those will work for you. They looked great together here.
Let me know.

by Cathy — 8/6/09 at 4:47 pm #

83. Hello Karen,

Don’t go too crazy, something will work out. It’s just trying to find that “something” that’s hard.
I looked at B.M. Marble Canyon. It does have green undertones. To see how a lighter shade might project on a wall, go all the way to the bottom of the paint chip, a color is on, that is the darkest color of the 7. It reveals what the shades above it and undertones will project. You are looking for a true beige. Just remember, your lighting and other room reflections may change that a bit. But from my perspective check out…

Ben. Moore… Lenox Tan, Shaker Beige or Wheeling Neutral can’t be beat.
But, test in you light and adjust if needed.

Much success on your project. Drop back soon.

by Cathy — 8/6/09 at 5:09 pm #

84. Hello Ken,

What a beautiful new townhouse you have. Your Asian decor, colors, and styles reflect a aged earthy eclectic flavor. I love a mix of elements and yours sound lovely.
I think a neutral background is the perfect way to go, to let your beautiful furnishings take center stage. Since all of your rooms are open and seen from each other, you can pick one paint color and paint all areas. Or you can add some depth and interest to the areas by painting with two or three shade changes on the same paint chip. This looks beautiful, but is subtle but dramatic. Use 3 shades of paint next to each other on the paint chip and paint the 3 different areas (dining ,living and family rooms), one of the shades. I wrote a blog about this exact idea. Check it out and see if this might be of interest to you…

http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2007/04/14/wall-color-idea/

This could look great. Go one step further and go to the top of the paint chip you use, and paint the ceilings the lightest color. Everything will blend beautifully.
As for paint colors, check out these 3 colors on the same chip.
Benjamin Moore Paint.
Spice Gold, Stone House, and Everlasting
Deer Path, Sandy Brown, and Lady Finger
or,
use Lenox Tan (a favorite) as the darkest, and lighten by 1/3 each, two shades above it. (your paint dealer can do this)
These are warmer beiges and should blend well with your butter pecan floors.
Let me know how this goes for you and enjoy your wonderful new townhome.

by Cathy — 8/6/09 at 5:56 pm #

86. Hello Lynne,

How nice to have a new (to you) house to decorate. Thank you for your good description of the elements in your home. SInce your home is an open floor plan, and you don’t want one color on all walls, then the 3 colors on the same paint chip might be the way to go (reread the above post to Ken and go to the “wall color idea site” I highlighted). This will work great in your home to blend all areas but give defination and contrast to spaces.
As for color, your lighting plays a big part in how color is perceived. So, I can’t account for these subtilties from my perspective. But, I’ll suggest a few colors that might work better with your backsplash and oak cabinets.
Lets try a little more gold undertones to neutralize the grey from your backsplash.

Try, Ben. Moore paint…
(3 colors on same chip) Twisted Oak Path, Marble Canyon, Shakespeare Tan.
or, Dunmore Cream, or Pittsfield Buff. Have the paint store mix 2 other shades above and below these single colors to try.

Sample first to see if they work better with your elements.
I hope we were close. Let me know.
Good luck.

by Cathy — 8/10/09 at 1:31 pm #

89. Hello Nayiba,

It sounds like you’re thinking through the lighting issues in your home. Actually any color can be painted in any room if you provide the correct lighting, be it natural or artificial. But, lighter walls open the space more and reflect, not absorb more light.
You are interested in a light wall color to blend with your choc. sectional and robins egg blue accents. I looked at Ben. Moores antique white that you mentioned. In my light there’s a definate pink undertone. If it looks good in your light and you like it, then go with it. But, from my perspective, I would lean the white in a more a yellow undertone. Yellows reflect light more and it would work well with your blues and browns. Just my way of thinking.
Here’s a few warm whites to look at…

Benjamin Moore paint,
Opaline, Linen White, Ivory Tusk

Sample them first. I hope one will work for you. To add a little color, you might add a robins egg blue accent wall in the room. It shouldn’t darken the room, just adds more interest and repeats your accent color a bit.

Good luck on your project and write back soon.

by Cathy — 8/11/09 at 4:48 pm #

90. Hi Joanie,

I looked up your Glidden Prairie Sage, beautiful medium grey/green color. It would look beautiful in a living room. I’m with you on painting your stained wood trim. I’d stay in the cool white family for the trim. Cool because the sage color is a cool shade. I like adding cool white trim to cool wall colors and warm white trim to warm wall colors. They just seem to blend nicely.
If you like Glidden Paint then take the Benjamin Moore sample to the paint store to match it to the Glidden equalivent. I don’t keep all brands of paint palettes, and I don’t want to match off the computer.
So, look at Ben Moore paint…

French Canvas, Cloud Nine, or Sebring White

One of those should work well for you. Sample first.

Happy painting and enjoy your beautiful home.

by Cathy — 8/11/09 at 5:34 pm #

93. Hi Nancy.

Thank you so much. You are looking for a rich taupe color for a dark room with a little modern glam. Many of the taupe colors could work for you, mentioned in the post. Maybe stay on the med.-lighter side of the palette. Look at the 2nd or 3rd color down from the top of the chip. For the “glam” part, and some reflective quality (bounces light around the room a bit), Paint the room in wide tone on tone, matte and shiny, subtle stripes. Here’s what you do…

Paint the whole room in the “flat” taupe color you choose. Then add vertical (more traditional) or horizontal (more contemporary) stripes in wide (9-20″) pattern in the same taupe color, but use a “semi gloss”, gloss level for just the stripe. This will add a subtle stripe effect and look chic and glammy.

As for taupe colors, Look at B.M. HC-79 through HC-84. There’s not a bad taupe color on that entire chip. Manchester Tan, or Grant Beige are lighter, but any would work well.
Behr Paint… Wild Honey, Oat Straw, or Sand Fossil are also good choices.

Have fun it that glammy room of yours. I bet it will look great!

by Cathy — 8/17/09 at 1:16 pm #

94. Hello Michelle,

Oh no, can’t have hubby annoyed! Sorry all the beiges you’ve tried are giving you “pink eye” lol. Lets see what we can come up with to make you both happy.
I’m looking at beige paint colors that lean to the cooler and warmer side…HUH? Cooler side to counteract pink and warmer side to blend with the floors. Think of a greened tan color. In the Khaki range. Look at these colors for the idea…
Benjamin Moore paint… Light Khaki, Marble Canyon, Abingdon Putty

Somewhere in that range should work, yes more sampling, but it’s cheaper than repainting the whole room.
Good Luck and let me know if any of these works for you.

by Cathy — 8/17/09 at 1:40 pm #

96. Hi Gwen,

Ah yes, B.M. Dunmore Cream is a beautiful warm beige, lovely for a living room, or any room. For more contrast in your kitchen, but blending the two rooms together, have your paint dealer darken Dunmore about 33% darker (since it’s a single color on their HC chips). This will give you contrast between the two rooms, but they’ll blend beautifully since they’re mixed from the same tints. It will still be a warmer deeper beige, but not too yellow, nice with your white cabinets and trim.
I hope it works for you.

by Cathy — 8/18/09 at 1:39 pm #

99. Hi there Kerry,

It sounds like you did your homework on color matching. Great job, I appreciate it. I looked up all your colors. A nice mix. I’m with you on painting a beige color with all the other color elements in your home.
SInce your beiges are washing out or turning a little green at night, lets lean a little warmer. Staying with the Behr paint palette, look at…
(all on the same chip), Raffia Cream, Gobi Desert, Harvest Brown,
Or…(same chip), Cozy Cottage, Oat Straw, Mochachino. Yes, you’ll have to sample these, but worth the effort. You can paint all areas the one color or pick three on the same chip to paint the different areas in the house. They will all blend beautifully but will have more depth and defination.
Check out this post for that idea…

http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2007/04/14/wall-color-idea/

I hope one of those works with your other elements. With so many variables, it’s hard to narrow it down, but look in this direction and I think you’ll have success.

by Cathy — 8/21/09 at 2:34 pm #

102. Hello Denise,

Yeah, you have to be a little careful with yellows and beiges together. They can fight a little. I looked at your colors and they aren’t as complimentary as they could be. I think they are too close in value and one’s warmer and one’s cooler. I’ve found that a yellow/gold with more green in it seems to works better with many beiges. If your decor will accept a cooler gold, here’s a few to try…

Ben. Moore… Henderson Buff, Adams Gold, Bronzed Beige

Maybe one of those might work better. Sample first.
To tie them together even more, “cross-pollinate” both colors into both rooms. This reinforces the color story and looks purposeful.

Good luck.

by Cathy — 8/24/09 at 2:20 pm #

103. Hi Julie Luria,

What a beautiful color Amber Waves is. A rich golden orange, squash color. Nice and lively for the family room. I’m liking your direction with a green color for the kitchen. But not a browned out sagey green. How about a nice lively fresh shaded green that’s in the same value range as Amber Waves (4 down from the top of the paint chip). More of a light apple green, pear, green grape comes to mind. A beautiful compliment with the squash color.
Look at these colors for the idea…

Ben. Moore… Pale Avacado, Dill Pickle, (love Pale Avacado). This will also brighten and lighten the north-facing room. Like I siad in the above post, “cross-pollinate” the two colors in both room to unify the scheme.

Let me know what you think! Hope it works for you.

by Cathy — 8/24/09 at 2:38 pm #

105. Hi again Kerry,

For some reason your pictures did not come through. But I’m glad you checked out some colors I suggested. Any of those could work for you. Any should be fine with your floors. Wood floors have many color and tone variations and blending them is fine. Also baseboards play a big part in seperating color shades from floor to wall. As for the color, you have to be my eyes since I can’t see all the shading and lighting differences. I can just lead you in a direction but you make the call. Sample the ones you like on the walls and look at them in daytime and nighttime light. Try a few places around the house because lighting changes from room to room. Pick the one ( or more) that is the most comfortable and paint away. Use 2 or 3 on that same chip if you can’t decide on one color.
One will speak to you. Have fun painting and enjoy your home.

by Cathy — 8/28/09 at 12:12 pm #

107. Hello Carrie,

I like the direction your going with your blonde maple flooring. A lighter brighter, casual feel and won’t be as much upkeep as darker floors are. I think you’ll like them. You are looking for a beige paint color to blend with the floors and stay on the warm side with no pink undertones. I think that’s a good direction.
Looking through my Benjamin Moore paint chips, a few colors popped out that might work.
Look at B.M….Powell Buff, Pittsfield Buff, or an Affinity color called Splendor. These are warm beiges and a light/med beige color. If you want to darken the color, have the paint dealer darker the shade by 1/3.
Behr Ultra paint had a couple that looked nice…Sand Motif and Bone. Darken a shade if need be.
As for your kitchen cabinets and trim, I would stay in the warm white colors as well. These work well with warm wall colors.
Look at B.M.paint…White Dove or Simply White. Both nice and crisp.

As I always say…sample before you paint in your lighting. I hope this was helpful to you. Much success with your decorating, it sounds fresh and fantastic.

by Cathy — 8/31/09 at 2:14 pm #

113. Hello Julie (109.)

Sorry those didn’t work out for you. They are a little clearer, but great colors in the right room (I’ve used Pale Avocado with a taupe color and it was smashing). But fear not, I think I have a really good one. This one is leaning more yellow/brown/green (almost an olive oil color). It’s B.M. paint, Timothy Straw. If that’s too dark move up one shade to Mellowed Ivory, although Timothy Straw is yummy! I sure hope that’s closer to what you had in mind. If not…you know where to find me… and we’ll try again.

Hope this is it!

by Cathy — 9/3/09 at 5:31 pm #

114. Hi Sara,

Thanks for your question and great information and assessment of your problem. You are on the right track. I think with your warm tile floor and gray grout, the beige should lean in a cooler shade. Your Monroe Bisque is warm and a little golden and that’s why it might not look right to you, with the tile.
I’m not feeling the Lenox tan with the tile (just me). But, I’m liking the Manchester Tan or Bennington Gray. Much cooler and compliments the warm tile color and gray grout. This feels like a better combination, but sample first.
Swiss coffee should work fine as the trim color. It’s a cool clean white ( look on the white paint chips and you’ll see a “C”for cool or a “W”for warm,
This tells you the undertones of the white). Cool whites look good with cool wall colors. Yes, you can paint the dark hall ceiling the white as well to lighten up the space, or paint it all the wall color to eliminate boundries and sometimes that expands the space. Try both and see what you like the best. It’s only paint and a small space to rework if you don’t like it.
See, you had all the answers already. I just confirmed them. I hope it all comes together for you and all looks great! Let me know.

by Cathy — 9/3/09 at 6:15 pm #

115. Hello D. Romano (112.)

Thank you so much. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
Your daughters room sounds sophisticated with a pop of color. Great color choices. As for off-whites to blend with dark beige wall, there are many that would work. I’ve found a few that aren’t pink, yellow or too gray. These are all Ben. Moore whites. Swiss coffee works with many cool and warm wall colors and is a classic. Icicle is nice. Simply White is nice. White Dove could work. Seashell is a little darker but nice with the other colors. You will have to try a few with your lighting to narrow it down more. Whites are so close, just a shadow or reflection could send it in the wrong the direction, so you be the judge. But, I think one of these might work for you.
Have fun decorating your daughters room. It sounds delightful.

by Cathy — 9/3/09 at 6:49 pm #

118. Hello again D. Romano,

Yes, most of those whites are fairly light and would not be have much contrast with the trim. I guess I was reading into your off-white request lighter than you envisioned. Let’s look at a few darker off-whites that might give you more contrast.
Look at Ben. Moore paints…
good old Navajo White is a classic.
Try Creamy White, or White Sand.
Try in your lighting for the best choice.

Thanks again for checking back. I hope one works!

by Cathy — 9/4/09 at 5:35 pm #

121. Hi Catherine (good name!),

It sounds like you have some great open areas and rooms to paint. I checked out all your paint colors and I like the colors on the B.M. Sandy Brown chip. Yes, intead of painting all areas of the open floor plan one color, use 2 or 3 colors next to each other on the same paint chip. This will define rooms and spaces but each area flows beautifull into the next because the colors are mixed from the same tints. A little more drama in one area and lighter and warmer in another. It’s a great look for open areas.
As for colors, maybe you could paint your living room the darker (Sandy Brown), your dining area the next color up (lighter,Lady Finger). Then the lightest one above that, (Lighthouse Landing) could go in the stairwell and halls. One step further…have the Lighthouse Landing lightened by 1/3 to paint all the ceilings. All will blend sooo nice!

Here’s a post I wrote on the paint application if you need further details…
http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2007/04/14/wall-color-idea/

Good luck with the painting and give those 3 colors a try. I know you’ll love it!

by Cathy — 9/5/09 at 2:04 pm #

122. Hello D. Romano,

Yes, I did see both your new comments. They have to be moderated before they post them on line, so with the long weekend, they will probably not post until Tues. But I’m so glad the White Sand paint color was the perfect choice. With Ben. Moores 161 off-white color choices, we did pretty good to narrow it down to THE one. What a team we are! I love when a plan comes together. I bet the room looks wonderful and I know you and your daughter are so happy with the results.
We will send Navajo White back to the 50s and enjoy some refreshing White Sand (with of course all your other great colors).
Enjoy that room and I’ve had fun being your cyber-decorator.

Stop back soon!

by Cathy — 9/5/09 at 7:00 pm #

125. Hello Sheryl,

Your house sounds nice. Love the contrast of elements. Your neutral color choice for the walls will be a beautiful backdrop for the other elements. I’m looking at your BM Monroe Bisque and Powell Buff. Both nice warm beiges. Try them in your light and see which one looks the best. You mentioned a lighter color. You can take any of these single shades and have you paint dealer lighten them a bit. Usually shades go up or down about 1/3 when they are on a full 7 color paint chip. But, what makes beige rich and interesting is if you have a little color depth to them. So, consider the colors as is.
A few others that fall in that range might be…
Benjamin Moore….Pittsfield Buff, Dunmore Cream.

This color family will look wonderful on your walls. Hope you get it all done before your company comes. Enjoy your beautiful home.

by Cathy — 9/10/09 at 12:14 pm #

127. Hello Carol,

Your eastern light is fairly intense and is throwing a yellow cast in the room. Is your wall color a warm beige or warm color? That will add to the yellow feel. Your Travertine floor is fairly neutral so I don’t think that’s a contributing factor. What you might try is a cool neutral paint color. A beige with more gray,blue ,or green undertones. A taupe might be the way to go because it’s a gray beige color, a cool neutral.
Here’s a few to sample first…

Benjamin Moore paint, Bennington Gray, Grant Beige, Litchfield Gray,
somewhere in that range might counteract that yellow. Sample them in your light first, but I think this direction may help with your problem.
Good luck and let me know if this helped.

by Cathy — 9/14/09 at 4:01 pm #

129. Hello Susan,

It’s great to have an office space. Yours sounds nice. I’ve looked up your colors. The only High Noon color I found was in Dunn Edwards paint and the Oyster in Kelly Moore. So I have a feel of what you’ve tried.
The High Noon is a little dark for a low light working space. If you like the color (it’s a nice warm beige) have it lightened at your Dunn Edwards paint store by 1/3. Then you can paint 3 walls the lighter shade and keep one wall as an accent wall in the darker shade. They will blend beautifully because they are mixed from the same formula. You can do this with any color or brand of paint you like.
If you want a few other choices in Dunn Edwards Paint, Here’s some that might work for you. (I love Dunn Edwards Paint, but it’s not sold in all states, so I’m happy to pass along some I like).

D.E.paint, Chaparral, Inside Passage, Boutique Beige.
These are all warm beiges. The slightly yellow undetones reflect light better than a cool beige. and will feel brighter in your office.

Make sure you have good task lighting in the room. Some recessed as well as desk light and you can then have a darker wall color.

I hope this was helpful to you.
Enjoy that office.

by Cathy — 9/15/09 at 3:51 pm #

131. Hello again Susan,

Sorry, I thought your “High noon” paint color was from D.E. I did check Frazee ’s site and, for-the-life-of-me, I couldn’t come up with that color ( I even wrote to them asking about it). So I don’t have a visual on it. Also I don’t have every paint deck available to me, and I don’t like to pick paint color off the internet (colors vary). So, what I can do is give you a few colors from the Behr Paint or Benjamin Moore pallette and you can have them matched or mixed at your Frazee dealer if there’s one you like. Here’s some warm beiges that might work for you

Behr Premium Plus Paint…Pale Wheat, Sand Motif, Bone
Benjamin Moore Paint… Pittsfield Buff, Dunmore Cream, Philadelphia Cream

I hope one of these will work for you. You could still add a darker accent wall by droping a shade darker on the chip.

Good luck with that office, it will be warm and inviting. Also, have fun and enjoy shopping at that HomeGoods down the street from you. Luckyyy!

by Cathy — 9/18/09 at 1:57 pm #

135. Hi again Catherine,

Monroe Bisque (BM) is a great warm beige. Since you used this in your living room, have your BM paint dealer darken it one or two shades for your lighter brighter dining room (rich and warm). Then have the dealer lighten it (Monroe) one shade, for your darker stairwell. So there’s your 3 shades that will blend beautifully in all areas but will define each room.
Again, if you want, go one shade lighter yet and paint your ceilings.

I hope this will give you the look and feel you want without stressing over what beiges go together. This application always works.

It will look great!

by Cathy — 9/21/09 at 1:08 pm #

136. Hello Kara,

Thank you so much. Thanks for your good description of your home and colors. I’m looking at them and they are light and refreshing. In regards to your 2nd bedroom and bath. The two colors, (BM) Rich Cream and Shaker Beige are not as complimentary together if used in the same spaces. They are too close in value, and different undertones. If used in seperate spaces, they should be fine, but if they can be seen in open spaces together, maybe not. Since the bathroom is between two rooms and walled off, then either might work. But since you have the Rich Cream in many areas, then paint the bath the Shaker Beige to pick up the bedroom color. Or, even the Fernwood Green looks wonderful with the Shaker Beige for the bath color. How about 5 wide horizontal stripes around the room, of Shaker and Fernwood in the bath. Then paint the other bedroom Fernwood, then the bath would relate to both rooms. Just some thoughts.

I wrote a blog on horizontal striped baths, check it out…
http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2008/03/23/go-horizontal/

Good luck on the painting. I hope I provided some direction for you.
All the best!

by Cathy — 9/21/09 at 1:55 pm #

138. Hi Leslie, #134,

I’m happy you found this blog as well. Lots of good info. and great ideas exchanged here.

Ben Moores Shaker Beige is always a good classic beige. Maybe the red in the room is throwing the color off a bit in a reflection or you didn’t prime the red out before you tried to paint it. Make sure you use a good stain blocking primer on the red walls before you paint over them in beige. Lots of bleed through of the red, will change the color a bit. If you like it, give it another try when you have all the walls primed white. It may “read” differently and more to your liking.
As for your BM Brandy Cream, it’s considered an off-white. But it does have some color to it. All I can say is try it and see if it’s enough color for you, if not, look for a color a little darker. You could even have Shaker Beige lightened a shade by your paint dealer and that would blend beautifully in your dining room and rest of the house. Worth a try. I hope one “speaks” to you and works well with your lighting.
No, I won’t ask about the “Curry” nightmare in the bath…slap a coat of Shaker Beige on it and you’ll have sweet dreams. (prime first).

Good luck and have fun painting. Stop back and let me know the results.

by Cathy — 9/22/09 at 10:25 pm #

139. Hello again Kara,

The best thing you can do is to probably stay on that color chip that Rich Cream is on. You could go a shade lighter, Ivory Tusk, to paint your windowless bathroom and go a shade darker, Desert Tan to paint one or both bedrooms. Or combine them in some way. Ivory Tusk on 3 walls and Desert Tan on an accent wall. Horizontal stripes in bath with Ivory Tusk and Rich Cream. In other words stay on that same paint chip and your whole house will blend beautifully. These are all wonderful neutrals and pulling in another similiar valued neutral may not work as well as this sure thing. That’s how you will keep the house calming, cohesive and color friendly.
Hope that will work for you. Get creative working with those 3 great colors on the same chip. I think you’ll like it better.

by Cathy — 9/23/09 at 12:39 pm #

145. Hello Alicia (# 140,141,)

Love your Spanish style house.
I looked up your B.M. Hampshire Taupe. It would be a nice color for your exterior. As for trim color with it, I like to keep things simple and easy. You could stay on the same paint chip and go darker 3-4 shades. Look at Beachcomber or Fallen Timber for trim and patio cover. They blend beautifully and this way you know they all work together nicely.( Note: sample the Hampshire Taupe in your light, it has a little pink undertone to it, if that’s what you want, that’s fine.) If you don’t want, look at B.M. Smokey Taupe for house color, and Smoky Ash, Buckhorn for trim, or somewhere in that range.
One more idea, beiges and greens look good with Spanish style homes with terra cotta tile roofs. Look for a creamy beige for the body of the house and use an olive, smoky green trim. something like B.M. Lancaster whitewash, Philidelphia Cream for the body and Tate Olive, or Sussex Green for the trim. Just a few more ideas for you to consider.

Good luck on your project, it will look great when complete.

by Cathy — 9/28/09 at 1:21 pm #

146. Hi Louise (# 142)

Ohhh, don’t you hate that! Sorry, that sometimes happens. It’s only paint (time and money lol) but it can be changed. Yes I do see a lot of pink in B.M. Evening White. In the right room it could look beautiful, but you don’t sound happy with it. If you want to stay in the same value range, very light with little contrast with the trim, look at B.M. Bone White or Linen White. Sample them in your light. Or if you want a little more contrast but still light in feel, look at B.M. Clay Beige, Elephant Tusk, or White Sand.
One of those might work better for you.
I think you could get away with painting one coat over the Evening White with any good high quality paint.
Enjoy your beautiful rooms and good luck!

by Cathy — 9/28/09 at 1:46 pm #

149. Hello Lindsey,

I’m glad you like the paint color in the photo, unfortunately I don’t have the exact name of it. It’s a nice warm beige probably close to Benjamin Moore paint, Powell Buff, or Putnam Ivory. Hopefully in that range might be what your looking for. Good luck!

by Cathy — 9/29/09 at 5:57 pm #

151. Hi Carol (#143),

I posted an answer to you a few days ago. Apparently it ended up in cyberspace somewhere. So I’ll try to remember what I pontificated about.
You asked about painting your two bedrooms and bath. Many colors would work well in those rooms. You didn’t state wheather you wanted to stay in a beige direction or are open to other colors. Since you used a nice light mauve in another bedroom, let’s run with that feel. You could paint the rooms in other pretty light pastel colors. Your dark cherry furniture would look lovely with these fresh minty colors. Find some inspiration in each room that you can draw a color from. Maybe a piece of art has some light green in it that could become the wall color for one room. For the other room, maybe a light blue from some fabric, rug or art could inspire the wall color in that room. Then for the bath, use your neutral and add accents of both the light green and blue of the other rooms. Or paint some pretty stripes in the two colors to combine the feel of both rooms. Your Soft Cloud color from your hall will work fine with the pastels.

Or, if you wanted beiges, pick 3 shades of one color on one paint chip to paint the 3 different rooms. These would all blend, but have different depth and feel in the different rooms.

I hope this provided you with some direction for your painting project. Good luck and enjoy!

by Cathy — 9/30/09 at 12:08 pm #

154. Ha ha ha Leslie,

Yes, sometimes finding the right paint color can produce some high anxiety. I don’t know what’s up with your Shaker Beige? Maybe, 1. it was mixed wrong 2. some of your primed red is bleeding through somehow 3. Lighting or reflections in the room are somehow playing with the color. Bottom line, Shaker Beige is not your friend. Accept it and move on with your life. LOL.
I think your on the right track with more of a taupe color. B.M. Natural Linen is lighter and more grey which may offset the warm cast in the room. I hope that works. If not stay in the taupe range and sample first to find the right shade.
So, don’t pull your hair out yet…hang in there and one will speak to you.
I’m pulling for you! Good luck!

by Cathy — 9/30/09 at 6:25 pm #

156. Hello Louise (# 147),

I think you’re just going to have to sample a few of those shades to see what works the best for you. They are all close is color and feel. Your lighting may be the determining factor. Any one of those are nice colors.

Have fun!

by Cathy — 10/1/09 at 2:55 pm #

157. Hi Linda (#148)

I’m glad you found us too. We have fun here.
I looked up your two colors from Porter Paint. The Blue Shamrock is a beautiful light gray blue, nice. Your Ponytail color was nice but looked a little pink online. Maybe that’s what you don’t like about it. Can you find a beige shade that had more of a yellow undertone to it, not red ? A light tan comes to mind. I don’t have a Porter fan deck so you’ll have to check it out. That would look great with the blue.
Or you could drop down (darker) one shade of your Blue Shamrock color to paint the kitchen/family room. (or go up lighter one shade if you want it lighter). Then all areas will blend beautifully, but are defined with a slight color change.
I hope that gave you a little direction. All the best.

by Cathy — 10/1/09 at 3:27 pm #

158. Hello Mari (# 153),

Sounds like some fun, painting your living room. It’s always nice for a little change. You are looking for a beige paint color that will work with your brown sofa and rust drapery. I think a beige with some red undertones might work for you. Here’s a few to consider from Benjamin Moore…
Everlasting or Stone House, Moccasin or Blanched Almond. Somewhere in that range might be a place to start (or finish if you find the right one).
Hope were in the ball park!

by Cathy — 10/1/09 at 3:43 pm #

161. Hello Kristen,

How exciting to be building a new house. It’s great to be able to pick everything out you want in it.
You are looking for a red paint for your eat-in kitchen. Red is always a great color for a kitchen/dining area. It stimulates appetite and conversation. As for colors, If you want a rich shaded red, look at Benjamin Moore Affinity Colors “Caliente”. Or, a brighter clearer red, B.M. “Million Dollar Red”. Or, a great red from Behr Paint is “California Poppy” . Sample them first and prime your wall GRAY first, to lessen the coats of red paint used.
Also, pick up a little of that red in other areas of your house to repeat the color and unify the spaces.
Enjoy you beautiful new home and great red kitchen!

by Cathy — 10/5/09 at 12:59 pm #

164. Hi there Chris,

Thanks so much. I wish I had a basement. What a great space to have for more living space. It sounds like a great space. You are lookiing for a beige wall color to compliment your chocolate (yum) carpeting. You say you have ample recessed lighting and little natural light (normal for basements). I looked at your B.M. Lambskin color, it’s a nice warm off white. I am seeing a little pink in it, but in your light, it may not be as evident. You’ll have to sample it and see how it “reads” in your mostly artificial light. It may be fine. You were concerned about going a little darker. I think you would be fine going a little darker with all your good light. Also there would be less contrast between carpet and wall color.
It might feel a little richer and warmer with a deeper color. For an example, look in the range of… Benjamin Moore Paint…Everlasting, Stone House, Carlisle Cream, or Bar Harbor Beige. Just some ideas for you.

Enjoy your wonderful basement and don’t afraid to paint a little deeper in well- lit basements. It might give it the warmth you want.

by Cathy — 10/7/09 at 11:28 am #

165. Hello Katie,

I’m glad you’re enjoying the site. How exciting to be building a house. Your elements sound warm and wonderful. I like your paint choices. They are golden beiges, sunny and warm. A wheat color would be a good description. Since you get a lot of light in your home, you probably could paint a little deeper in shade, or use 2 or 3 on the same chip. I like Behr Paints Pebble Path. Look also at Behrs…Riveria Sand, Desert Camel.
All nice rich and warm. Try the Sherwin Williams Whole Wheat as well.
You are on the right path and thinking it all through well.
Good luck picking paint color and try some deeper shades for some color presence.
Have fun with your new home.

by Cathy — 10/7/09 at 12:15 pm #

171. Hello Jean (#166, 167)

Thank you for your kind words. Thanks for all the good info. on your colors and requests in your foyer.
I would say you could go a little lighter since it doesn’t get a lot of light and you want to showcase some art. You mentioned a warm light color. I like the B.M. Manchester Tan, but it’s a little cooler in feel. The R.H. Linen may feel a litttle warmer, a nice compliment to R.H. Latte. Here’s a few more to complicate the matter, but you might want to check them out.
Ben Moore…Elephant Tusk (warm), Creamy White (cool), Misty Air (warm). All nice off-whites with some depth.
As for trim color, I would use a white trim color. If you used a nice white color in the rest of the house you could probably use that. If you want the trim to pop and contrast a bit from the lighter wall color, then use B.M. Super White with a warm wall color or B.M. Decorator White with a cool wall color.

As I always say…sample first in your light because that will be the determining factor.
Make sure you add some small recessed spot lights to highlight your art in the foyer…very “galleryesque”.

Hope that provided you with a little direction. Thanks so much for stopping by.

by Cathy — 10/13/09 at 2:30 pm #

172. Hi again Kristin (#168)

The red colors I gave you were more of a truer red. You didn’t state you wanted more of a burgundy color. So, glad you wrote back for some burgundy colors. Look at…
Benjamin Moore…
Classic Burgundy, Cottage Red.

B.M. Affinity Colors…
Pomegranate, Dinner Party

All beautiful burgundy’s and would look wonderful in kitchen/dining area.

Enjoy that kitchen…love those colors.

by Cathy — 10/13/09 at 2:44 pm #

173. Hello Marlynn (#169)

So glad you could join us. I looked up your Sherwin Williams Bees Wax and Bamboo Shoot. Bees Wax is a warm golden beige and Bamboo Shoot is a cool gray/green color. Both beautiful, but on different color temperatures. You are looking for a beige color to blend with both.
To my thinking, let’s mediate the temperature and go with a warm/cool shade. I’m thinking in the taupe range, a gray/beige, a little cool and a little warm.
Look at Ben. Moore colors (or any you like in this range)…
Carrington Beige, Manchester Tan, Richmond Gray
Sample to see how they look with your other colors. I hope one of these will work for you.

by Cathy — 10/13/09 at 3:30 pm #

177. Hello Jan (# 170)

Thanks for all your great information. How exciting to be moving into a new (to you) house. Your situation is very common with rooms open to each other and some areas and rooms darker than others. Since you want to use a neutral paint color throughout, I’m with you. But the same neutral throughout the whole house can be a little flat and boring, so I like to use 3 shades of one paint color to define areas, add color depth and interest, but blend the whole house and sight lines (public areas) beautifully. I wrote a blog on this exact idea. Check out this link to understand this application…
http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2007/04/14/wall-color-idea/

I think this idea of painting your open rooms will work well. As to which rooms get what value of color, I like to paint the darkest areas in the house the lightest color (of the 3 colors you pick on the same paint chip). Then the lightest (brighter) areas in the house, paint the darker paint color. Then the in-between areas the middle 3rd color on your chip. This just seems to work well with the available lighting.

Don’t forget the ceiling. Since more people like a lighter ceiling color, go all the way to the top of that same paint chip and paint the ceiling the lightest shade. All will be unified and cohesive.

Since you like Benjamin Moore paint, some of their shades (HC, Historic Colors) are only shown in one shade…Shaker Beige, Lenox Tan etc. Your B.M. paint dealer can mix shades lighter and darker of the color you pick. (each shade change usually varies by about 33%). So this is how to get your 3-4 shades from one color. Or you can find a paint chip with all the 7 shades of one color on one chip.
Any of the B.M. colors you mentioned are nice beiges, but I would pick one and have the 3 shades mixed from that one shade. This way ALL of the beiges will go and you’ll have beautiful color intensities throughout your home.

I hope that gives you some ideas to work with and enjoy your beautiful new home.

by Cathy — 10/14/09 at 12:57 pm #

178. Hello Again Marlynn ( # 174-176)

I wouldn’t get too many different shades of similiar value neutrals going on, especially if rooms can be seen from one to another. They may not blend well (read above post to Jan for neutrals that work together but also add depth and interest). Since I’m at a disadvantage of not seeing colors in your light, I can just lead you in a direction, but you have to make the call. Try a few colors that you listed and see if they blend together. Or pick one neutral and use shades of that one color to paint the areas you want. This way you know they will all blend nicely.

Good luck and simplify the process.

by Cathy — 10/14/09 at 1:43 pm #

184. Hey Jan (#179-182)

Sorry your pictures did not go through for some reason, but I hope my answer to you (#177) gave you a little direction. I will check on our picture problem and maybe you can load them again.
Thanks for trying.

by Cathy — 10/15/09 at 7:23 pm #

185. Hi Marlynn,

Thanks for the update. I checked out your colors online ( I don’t have all paint palettes, so colors may not be exact, but close). You asked if your 3 paint colors worked together. I can’t give you an exact answer because I can’t see your rooms in question, or the lighting or what context the other elements play in your color selection. But, From my perspective I can tell you if they seem compatable. I like your Bamboo Shoot (Sherwin Williams) in your family room. It’s a nice light gray green color. The S.W. Pavilian Beige looked like a good blend because both colors have cool undertones. Macadamia was nice but a warm tan beige. Maybe not as good as Pavillian. So those two rooms colors work well. I wasn’t quite feeling the S.W. Bees Wax or White Raisen. Both were a fleshy, peachy beige and may not be as compatable in the hallway where other room colors are seen from. So with that said, could you paint the hallway a lighter shade of the Living room color you pick. Then the two rooms will relate nicely but contrast a bit with the shade variation since they are all within sight lines.

I hoped that helped or mixed you up completely LOL!
Anyway, think it through a little more and try some samples to see how they all “read” together. That’s the best way to know for sure.

Good luck!!

by Cathy — 10/15/09 at 8:21 pm #

189. Hello Marjan,

It never ceases to amaze me, the reach of the internet. Thanks for joining us from Saudi Arabia. You didn’t state what brands of paint you can get over there, so I’ll stick with Benjamin Moore as they are a world wide company. I’ll give you the numbers as well as the name of the paint colors. I think your neutral colors are a great way to go with your contemporary furnishings. You stated your olive color may be a little dark or intense. The best thing to do is to repaint it to a light khaki you requested. I have a great khaki color for you that I hope you can get.
It’s Ben. Moore Classic Colors (oldies but goodies). The name is…
2B Crisp Khaki #234. One other that looked good, and a hair lighter is B.M. 1B Delaware Putty #240. Either one should give you the look and feel you want. If you can sample them first, that would be the best with the strong light in Saudi Arabia.

As for you bedroom, you requested a tan beige like in the picture above.
Look at Benjamin Moore… Pittsfield Buff HC-24, Dunmore Cream HC-30,
or Powell Buff HC-35. All great warm medium tan beiges.

I hope you can get a hold of these. I think you’ll like them and would look good with the elements in your home across the sea (from me).

Thanks so much for dropping by. Everyone’s close by on the internet !

by Cathy — 10/16/09 at 3:06 pm #

190. Hi again Jan,

Good to hear back from you. If you’re worried about cool or warm beiges in your home, then go with a beige that’s both cool and warm…in the taupe range. Taupe is a gray beige and works just about anywhere. I would still use the 3 shades of a taupe color, as I told you about in #177.
Some great taupes in Ben. Moore paints are all next to each other. HC-79, through HC-83. Pick one (because they are seperate colors) and have 3 shades mixed in a light, medium and darker color of that one shade.
If you want Behr Paint, 3 good shades on one chip are…Mochachino, Oat Straw, Cozy Cottage. or Harvest Brown, Gobi Desert, Raffia Cream.
Somewhere in that range should work for you. Look at other paint brands in that same taupe range for more options.

Remember, sample first, I can only “see” so far for you.

Jump in, you can do this…it’s only paint.

by Cathy — 10/16/09 at 3:39 pm #

196. Hi Marjan (# 191)

Ohhh, sorry you can’t get Benjamin Moore paint. I have not heard of Jotun paint or the color numbers you provided. I don’t know what laws are for sending samples of paint from the U S to Saudi., but if you could get sample jars of the paint or even sample paint chips sent to you, then you could match the colors to the paint you can get over there.
Worth a try. Go online to Benjamin Moore and request those paint chips sent to you or any in that same range. Then see if they can color match it there.
The Crisp Khaki color is a cooler beige color, not olive green at all. It’s a rich cool beige color. The bedroom colors I suggested are warm beiges. More golden undertones. Similiar to the bedroom picture above. That’s the difference between the two. Since you’re using them in seperate rooms, they’ll be fine.

Good Luck with your project and I hope you can get some samples to check out. Be carefull picking paint colors off the internet, the colors are not exact. You need to see them in person if possible.

Let me know how things go and if I can help.

by Cathy — 10/19/09 at 1:01 pm #

197. Hello Catherine, (# 192,194)

I’m glad you’re enjoying the site.
I’ve checked out your colors. The B.M. Papaya is a nice warm beige color. But, as you said, you can’t get a lot darker down the chip. So, here’s a few to check out. Any of these colors you can have mixed in the Aura finish. The only Affinity color that might work is B.M. Morrel AF-125. But a few others were really nice as well. Look at…
B.M. Stone House 1039, Spice Gold 1040, Brunswick Beige 1061. Somewhere in that range looked good here.

They all seem to blend beautifully, but your lighting will tell you which one works best.

Hope that helped you out and thanks for dropping by.

by Cathy — 10/19/09 at 1:50 pm #

198. Hi again Marlynn,

Yes, choosing colors can be confusing. So, I hope I’m following you as best I can.
We are looking at colors for the hallway, right? I do like either Sherwin Williams Believable Buff or Toasted Pine better than the others you were looking at. Much more neutral. Hallways are transition areas from room to room. I do like more color in the rooms themselves and leave the hallways to transition and unify spaces, rather than compete for color attention.

Just my opinion. You’re welcome to paint what ever you like though.

by Cathy — 10/19/09 at 2:27 pm #

201. Hey there Marlynn,

You’re welcome. If I’m following you right, you’re now looking for a different neutral that will blend with your S.W. Bamboo Shoot and B.M. Indian White for your kitchen and living room. You could always look to the lighter and darker shade of Bamboo Shoot to do all areas that are open to each other. That way all will blend nicely but have shade variations in each room. Or, go with another beige with the same undertones as what you have, but a slighly different shade. This can get a little tricky. But worth a try if you want to sample some shades and see what works. Look at…Ben. Moore, Oak Ridge, Crisp Khaki, or Marble Canyon, Shakesphere Tan. Maybe paint the darkest in the kitchen to contrast with your white cabinets and the lighter shade in your living room. They all have a cool (green) undertone to them and should blend with your colors. Sample first with all of these beige values.

Where were you thinking putting B.M. Marblehead Gold? It’s a strong gold color. Nice but intense.

I hope you can get this figured out. I don’t want to confuse you or the issue at hand. So you’ll have to try a few colors and see what works best.

by Cathy — 10/22/09 at 4:35 pm #

202. Hello Jeff,

Welcome! I’m happy you’re enjoying the site. Your home sounds nice, open and airy. You asked about one color to paint your 3 spaces. Keeping in mind your oak elements throughout. You could go a couple of ways, a warm yellow toned neutral to blend into the oak elements and keep it lighter in feel, or, paint a cooler green toned neutral to contrast your oak a bit and compliment each other. I’ll give you a couple in both ranges to look at.
You requested Behr Paint. They have some great new paint called Behr Premium Plus Ultra. These colors are in that collection.

Warm Neutrals…UL160-7 Pale Wheat, Ul 160-8 Sand Motif

Cool Neutrals…UL 170-7 Cabo, UL170-8 Washed Khaki

Sample some of those in your light and see which way feels right and looks good in your spaces. I hope one will be the perfect beige for you and your great home.

Let me know if I’m close to what you had in mind.
Happy Painting!

by Cathy — 10/22/09 at 5:10 pm #

207. Hello Haley (#203)

What a nice living room with your khaki colored furnishings. I love khaki, it’s a great color (or non-color…neutral).
So we don’t want to get too dark because the furnishings are darker. I looked up the colors you were interested in and, in my light, the B.M. Carlisle Cream, Fairway Oaks, and Seirra Hills were a little to pinky (but they may be better in your light). For a warm neutral, I liked B.M. Antique Parchment (lightest), Stone House, or Sandy Brown. Lenox Tan may be a little too dark. Also for a nice “cool” neutral that works well with khaki, look at B.M. Wheeling Neutral (darker), Carrington Beige (lighter). With all that said…sample, sample, sample. One will speak to you. Let the samples sit for a few days so you can “read” them in different lighting.
I hope that gave you a little direction to narrow down your choices.

Much luck and you’ll love how rich your walls and room will feel.

by Cathy — 10/26/09 at 3:39 pm #

208. My dear Marlynn,

You are never a pain. You just need to get a life girl, beyond picking paint color LOL!!! Hey, I know it’s a tough job and you want to get it right the first time.
OK, I looked at the three colors you liked and saw the combination. B.M. Delaware Putty, Chestertown Buff and S.W. Bamboo Shoot. They all seem to blend well because they are all shaded and slightly greened undertoned. The combination should work for you (you did want a golden color thrown into the mix ,as I remember). The only thing I can tell you is to sample them first, just to make sure they work in your lighting.

See, you knew all along what you wanted, I was just your support group.
Make sure you write back and let me know how it all turns out! I’ll be waiting for your name to pop up!

Happy Painting!!!

by Cathy — 10/26/09 at 5:02 pm #

211. Hello Nitza,

Congratulations on your new condo. Now you can paint it whatever you like (tastefully). It sounds like you have a good start with some great colors. B.M. Lenox Tan is a nice rich warm neutral. I think your blue dining room will work well with the Lenox. But you have to get the right blue to compliment it. I’m not sure what blues you had in mind, so I’ll throw out a few nice ones that look yummy with the Lenox. I’m liking the shaded blue greens, but you can choose what you like. A few to look at are…. Benjamin Moore…

These have a little gray in them….Kentucky Haze, Smoke, Santorini Blue.
There are more shaded blue/green…Beach Glass, Rhine River, Catalina Blue and Stratton Blue.

Once you pick your blue color, you might want to add a little of the color to your living room to tie the two rooms together (draperies, pillows, art, rug etc). It will all blend nicely. Sometimes it’s easier to start with a rug or fabric for the room and pull the blue color out of the piece. It’s easier to change paint color than it is to find rugs and fabrics to blend with paint.

All of these blues are nice with warm beighes, dark browns and warm white.
Sorry I didn’t get your picture, but hopefully this might give you some ideas to work with.

Enjoy your new condo!

by Cathy — 10/27/09 at 6:55 pm #

212. Hello Judy, (# 206)

Sorry, we got out-of-order here somehow. It sounds like you’re doing some exciting paint colors and applications on your walls. It all sounds beautiful. Love your copper glaze idea. I like your direction with the creamy wall color under the glaze. Copper is a warm color, so let’s look at some off-whites with a warm creamy base.
Check out, Benjamin Moore Paints…

Lambskin, Devon Cream, Capri Coast or somewhere in that range.
All of these are warm whites and would make a beautiful base for your copper glaze. Please sample first to see what works the best for you.

Have fun and enjoy the creative painting in your lovely home.

by Cathy — 10/27/09 at 9:16 pm #

218. Hello Mark (# 213)

There are many beiges I like in the Behr palette, but you have to pick the color you like that will go with the elements in your home. If you have elements that work well with Behr Sunset Beige then that’s the color for you. Yes, it’s has alot of orange in it. I would call it a light terra cotta, very nice in the right setting. It is a very warm color with a peach/pink undertone, so be aware of those subtleties. If you want to look at others in that same range, value and feel, look at…. Behr Paint…
Peanut Butter, Classic Taupe, Burnt Almond, Cliff Rock, somewhere in that range. These are all warm beiges. SAMPLE first in your light. Colors can really change from the chip to your wall.
I hope we’re in the ballpark there. Take your time and look at those colors good for a few days and at different times of day to pick the right one. Make sure they blend and compliment the other elements in your room. It’s worth the scrutiny.

Enjoy you home and good luck picking your paint color.

by Cathy — 11/3/09 at 2:22 pm #

219. Hello Diana (# 214)

You’re Victorian/Colonial sounds lovely. I have a few good colors that work work well in your living room and kitchen. Since you get good light and have a period home, I think you could go with a medium beige color. Not too light because you want to contrast with the white trim and cabinets. Also richer colors work well in period homes. Here’s a few to check out…

Benjamin Moore Paint…
Lenox Tan, Greenbrier Beige, Danville Tan, Bennington Gray.

You can paint both areas the same color or, lighten/darken by 1/3 the color you choose, for one of the rooms. They will both blend beautifully, but the slight color change will define each area and add interest.

I hope one of those is “the” one. Sample first and enjoy your beautiful home.

by Cathy — 11/3/09 at 2:48 pm #

220. Hello Catherine (good name), #215,

Another great Victorian home. It sounds wonderful. It’s always nice to update even a traditional Victorian. I like your direction and it will be a nice change from all the red. Use your reds in your other rooms for accents and all will blend.
As for colors, I think I have some really good ones for your dining room.
Since you painted B.M. Ivory Tusk in your living room, drop down darker on the same paint chip and look at Desert Tan or Cork (may be too gold for you), but the two rooms will blend beautifully since you picked the colors off the same paint chip. That’s always a good safe way to go. Another color that works beautifully and is not as gold, is B.M. Waterbury Cream. A lovely color and is in between your Chesterton Buff and Powell Buff. One more that might work, Shakespeare Tan.

I hope we’re close. It will all look beautiful and a fresh feel to your period home.

Let me know how it works out.

by Cathy — 11/3/09 at 3:23 pm #

221. Hi There Bonnie ( #s 216, 217)

I’m glad you’re enjoying the site. Your house sounds nice and I love all the colors you’ve blended so well together. I looked them up and they are a cohesive mix. I do like your B.M. Wish for your entry/hall/stairs. Thanks for your update. You now are looking for an accent color for your hall wall upstairs. I’m going to throw out an idea out of left field. But it could look great and be a beautiful accent in your hall. In looking at your colors up and downstairs, the taupes, grays and light and deep purples (and not knowing what other color elements you’re using), How about a green accent wall. Yes, green. Not a true green, but a nice shaded yellow green. Green and purple are complimentary colors on the color wheel and look beautiful together. You asked for an accent wall, and that would be my pick. If you like that direction, you’ll have to sample a few to find your comfort level, but I’ll give you a few to look at and you can adjust from there.

Check out Benjamin Moore… Wasabi (Affinity color), Grasshopper (Affinity), Pale Avocado.
Those are a few, and are not shy colors, but could look exciting and act as “art” in a very neutral setting. I always like to say …If you’re going to make a statement…don’t whisper!!

Let me know what you think and try that green wall, it could be striking!

by Cathy — 11/4/09 at 2:07 pm #

223. Ohhh, your sweet Diana,

Sounds like your ready to jump in and put a little paint on the walls of your first house, how exciting!. You’ll love the look and feel even neutral colors make.
B.M. Bennington Gray is a great warm beige. SInce you would like to get a similiar color in Behr paint, I can recommend a few. Check out, Behr paint…Gobi Desert (lighter shade), Harvest Brown (darker shade), or Oat Straw (lighter) Mochachino (darker). If you really want a more exact color, closer to Bennington, take the paint chip sample to a Behr paint dealer (Home Depot) and they can custom computer match it very close to the original. They also can lighten it a shade, for your second color.
I hope some of those ideas work for you.
Enjoy that new house of yours and have fun painting some beautiful beiges.
Check back with the results.

by Cathy — 11/4/09 at 10:41 pm #

229. Hello Cathy A. (# 224)

Thanks for all your great info. I’m understanding what you’re looking for.

The B.M. Shaker Beige does have a little gray in it, and the other colors you looked at do have more yellow undertones which is why they probably didn’t look as good together. The best way to get the contrast you want and blend beautifully with your Shaker, is to have your B.M. paint dealer darken one shade darker(approx. 33%) the Shaker Beige color. Then all will blend and you’ll have the darker contrast and interest you want with unity of color.
A couple other shades that you might check out as well are B.M. Greenbrier Beige, or Bennington Gray. They look to be more compatable with Shaker. Also, nice with B.M. Moroccan Spice.
I hope one way works out best for you.
The colors will be lovely together. Enjoy!!

by Cathy — 11/9/09 at 2:27 pm #

230. Hi Angela (# 225)

Yes, sometimes it’s hard to come up with a beige that works well with permanent elements through many space in your home. With your situation, maybe more of a taupe color would work better for you and the cooler colors in the kitchen. SInce you like Behr paint, they have some new Behr Premium Plus Ultra that has a few nice taupes to check out. Look at Behr… Washed Khaki, Almond Whisp, Vast Desert, Riveria Beach. Or Sand Fossil or Clay Pebble. Lots to look at but I didn’t know what value you are looking for. So, Hopefully one will do the trick. Sample a few in your light and you willl know which one.

I hope a taupe will give you the look and feel you want. Happy Painting!

by Cathy — 11/9/09 at 2:52 pm #

231. Hey there Tami, (# 226)

So your Kangaroo is too gold, (maybe it’s something he ate LOL).
Yes, B.M. Affinity color Kangaroo does have some warmer golden undertones. Beautiful, but maybe not for you. If you stay right in the Affinity collection, some that are redder and browner are…Pensive, Interlude, or Truffle…all beautiful and one might be more of the color you had in mind. Sample in your light for the one’s that’s right!!!

Fingers crossed!!

by Cathy — 11/9/09 at 3:06 pm #

232. Hi Bonnie (# 227)

Oh boy, I always have a few other tricks up my sleeve. Love the green you’ve used in the other bedroom as well as the gray lavender in another one. If you can see these two colors from the landing in the hall, you could combine the two of them as your accent wall. You could paint maybe 5 wide horizontal stripes on the accent wall in the green and lavender. Then your eye picks up these two colors as it sees the two colors in the bedrooms, visually relating the two together. Kinda cool and different! Or paint two large canvases to hang on the wall with a modern art feel and combine all the colors in the whole upstairs that you can visually see…green, lavender, gray, Wish color. Really great way to unify all the room colors together and still have the colorful accent wall you want.

I hope that gave you a few more options. Let me know if any sound good…if not, I’ll check up my sleeve again!!

by Cathy — 11/9/09 at 3:36 pm #

233. Hello Karin (#228)

I’m happy you’re enjoying the site. Your home sounds lovely and all the warm elements are nice. You’re smart to think of trying a cooler color on the walls with all the warm in the room. I think it’s a great way to go and add interest and compliment the warmer elements.
Staying in the beige feel, lets look at some beiges with some green undertones. Look at Benjamin Moore…
Abingdon Putty, Richmond Gray, Flowering Herbs, Carrington Beige

Do some sampling first and see what works best in your light and elements. Hope that gave you a little direction and enjoy your lovely home.

by Cathy — 11/9/09 at 3:54 pm #

238. Hi again Cathy A. (# 234)

OK that makes sense painting the darker hallway a lighter color. I’m looking at the B.M. Manchester Tan with your Shaker beige. They seem to work well together from my vantage point. Not a whole lot of contrast between the two, but Manchester is lighter and has the same undertones as Shaker. Or like you said, you can lighten Shaker a bit as well. I think you’re OK with Manchester, but sample some just to make sure. Good job for seeing how those two compliment each other. I hope it works out. Let me know.

by Cathy — 11/10/09 at 1:08 pm #

240. Hello Jennifer, (# 235)

How wonderful to have a new home to decorate in all your own colors and style.
I looked at both your colors together. Both beautiful colors. My gut tells me you’re OK with the two colors. There is a seperation with the cased opening to transition the color change nicely. And the two are different enough to look like you weren’t trying to match them. Also the warm S.W. Whole Wheat will feel much warmer in a basement than the more grayed B.M. Revere Pewter. So, no, I don’t think it will be “yuck”! It should be fine and once furnishings and art etc go in, the walls will just become beautiful neutral backgounds with a subtle color change.

Good Luck and enjoy that new house!!

by Cathy — 11/10/09 at 1:47 pm #

241. Hello Debra, (#236),

It’s always nice to update the kitchen cabinets. It’s much less expensive than a remodel or refacing. It sounds like you want a little darker beige color than the cream or white color. I think it will look great. Make sure you prep your cabinets well before you apply paint. Google “Preparing cabinets before painting” or “How to paint kitchen cabinets”. Important!! There are a few ways to go when painting your cabinets. You can paint them all one beige color, or paint the top cabinets a lighter beige and paint the bottom cabinets the darker beige/brown on the same paint chip. Rich and beautiful. Or paint all the cabinets the lighter beige and the island cabinets the darker beige/brown. Or any combination. That would add some nice interest in the kitchen and two toned cabinetry are quite stylish and trendy. Easily done with paint. With that said, here’s a few shades to look at…
Benjamin Moore Paint…

Everlasting or Stone House for the lighter color. Go down on the same chip to Carmel Apple or Blue Ridge Mountains for the darker shade.

Carlisle Cream or Bar Harbor Beige for the lighter color. Go down darker on the same chip to Cambridge Riverbed or Deer Trail.

One more. This is nice but it has a green tone in the darker color. Could be beautiful in the right kitchen.
Crisp Khaki for the ligher color, Green Tea or SIlken Moss for the darker colors. Still a neutral but cool and calm.

Those are a few to look at or some similiar if those shades look different in your light. Sample as I always say, just to be sure.
Have fun in your newly painted kitchen, you’ll love it!

by Cathy — 11/10/09 at 11:36 pm #

242. Hi Meghan, (#237)

Thanks so much, I’m glad you’re finding the blog helpful. Let’s see if we can find you a color range to offset/neutralize the pinkish tone in the oak cabinets. A good way to offset a color you don’t what to play up, is to look to the complementary color. Since the cabinets are pinkish, look to a paint color with a green undertone. (green and red are complementary colors). So that leads me to paint shades that are a cool beige with green undertones. That should eliminate and neutralize some of the pink cast.
Check out Benjamin Moore Paint…Abingdon Putty, Richmond Gray, Danville Tan, Crisp Khaki…might be a good range to look in.

I hope it works out well for you. Let me know if this does the trick.

Thanks so much for dropping by.

by Cathy — 11/11/09 at 12:01 am #

243. Hi there Cathy A. ( # 242)

Excellent! That’s the safest way to make sure your colors blend well and go together perfectly. When in doubt, stay on that same paint chip and you can’t go wrong. I’m glad it’s all coming together for you.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Thanks for letting me know what you ended up doing. I always like to here the outcome.

Drop back soon.

by Cathy — 11/11/09 at 4:09 pm #

245. Hi again Bonnie,

Thanks for clarifying the layout better. It’s always nice to have an accent wall, but it has to make the right impact. With the two doors on the wall, maybe it’s better to paint the wall the Wish color and bring in the colors in the rooms, and an accent color if you want, in some large art or a few smaller pieces of series art, in a space on that wall or another wall. Try your hand at some abstract art using the colors you have. They even can be as simple as 3 canvases painted one of your colors and hung in a row vertically or horzontally. This will bring the interest and color you want in the hall without commiting to a paint color.
One more idea. If the ceiling is confined or defined and doesn’t run into all the other rooms, paint the ceiling one of your colors…gray green, lavender etc…a GREAT place for an accent wall (the ceiling is the 5th wall) Could look SUPER!

Hope that helped. Let me know.

by Cathy — 11/19/09 at 12:56 pm #

250. Hello Andrew (# 246)

Thanks for your question on changing your living room wall color. I looked at all the colors you mentioned. The B.M. Alexandria is a darker beige. So, I have a few that might lighten the room a bit but still give you the contrast you want with your white trim. Also will work well with the Dorset Gold in your other rooms.
Check out…Benjamin Moore….Sag Harbor Gray, Bennington Gray, or Greenbrier Beige.
Beiges/taupes with a little more gray in them look great with the gold colors.

I hope one of those is close to perfection for you!!! Take Care!

by Cathy — 11/21/09 at 12:23 pm #

251. You’re welcome Bonnie (# 247),

I think the art will look great and bring the interest and color into the space.
It’s been great chatting with you.

by Cathy — 11/21/09 at 12:25 pm #

252. Hi Lisa, (#248),

It’s nice to have a little change from time to time. SInce you’ve tried a few beiges and found them a little off, lets try a few others to see if we can get closer to what you had in mind. I’m considering all of your other permanent elements as well.
Staying with the Behr Paint, Look at, Gobi Desert, Harvest Brown, Oat Straw, Mochachino or Baja. A few to look at, but hopefully more to your liking.
Good luck and enjoy your home.

by Cathy — 11/21/09 at 12:49 pm #

255. Hello Andrew,

I’m glad you’re trying a few neutrals to see what works best for you. I do like B.M. Revere Pewter. It’s beautiful taupe and more grayed than some of the others we looked at. It works well with Dorset Gold. Like I said, the grayed toned neutrals blend nicely with warm colors, but you’ll have to decide if it’s “the one”. If you can bring a little of the gold into the living room you paint neutral with pillows, drapery , a rug or art. Then the two adjacent rooms will be unified and will speak to each other nicely.

Let me know what you decide. It sounds like it will be striking.
Good to talk with you!

by Cathy — 11/25/09 at 1:12 pm #

256. Hello Annie ( back up to # 249)

Sorry I missed you somehow. I love your colors, but it’s just the fine tuning you need to do to get it right. I looked at your colors and followed your great information you sent. From what I can glean, you’re looking for a neutral that is not too green or orange in undertone, but still warm and a little contrast to all the woodwork. I’ll give you a few to look at, but in your light they may read differently in their subtleties. But, maybe it will help a bit.

Look at Benjamin Moore… Bridgewater Tan, Palm Desert Tan, Brunswick Beige. They are more tan, less orange or green. Maybe somewhere in that range will be more neutral, and then you might bring in a darker shade for an accent wall or two. Just go down 2 or 3 shades on the same paint chip you choose your neutral color on and all will blend beautifully for wall color and accent wall color.
I hope that gave you a little direction. Good luck and thanks for your question.

by Cathy — 11/25/09 at 7:24 pm #

261. Hello Lin, (# 257)

B.M. Shaker Beige is a beautiful exterior as well as interior paint color. As for trim and accent color, I’ve consulted my Ben. Moore color combination exterior fan deck. They show Shaker as the house color, Grand Teton White as the trim color and James River Gray as accent. A beautiful combination but I’ll give you a few more to consider as well, from my point of view.

Look at B.M. … House or base color, Shaker Beige, Trim, Ivory White, and accent color, New London Burgundy

One more… Base, Shaker Beige, Trim, Cloud White, and accent color, Creekside Green

Any of those combinations should look great together. Sample them first to get the feel you want. I do like a white/cream trim color next to the beige for a crisp clean feel. Then a little punch of color on the door and/or shutters and into the yard to unify it all.
I hope that provided some direction for you.

Happy painting!

by Cathy — 12/1/09 at 3:27 pm #

262. Hi there again Annie (# 258-259)

BOY, you are the mixing queen!! Hey, I’m for anything that gets the job done and works the way you want it too. I think it’s great you know enough about color to see where your vision lies. Sometimes the best colors are ones you mix yourself. Thumbs up to you!!
Finding that one color you had in mind takes tenacity and the hard work and expense paid off. I’m sure it will all look beautiful and more importantly, that right color will always feel good to you as you and your family enjoy the room.
Thanks for the adventure, and enjoy your home that you take much pride in…it shows!

by Cathy — 12/1/09 at 3:46 pm #

263. Hi Karen, (# 260)

It sounds like you’ve tried a lot of beiges and they aren’t cooperating. Also you’ve tried the change-all-the-light-bulbs trick and that hasn’t worked.
Since you’re getting a yellow and pink cast in the room at night, have you tried looking at a paint color with more of a slight green undertone to conteract the pink and yellow. Worth a try. Here’s few that might work better for you…

Benjamin Moore Paint…Crisp Khaki or the one lighter,Cream Fleece,
Jonesboro Cream, or the one lighter, Delaware Putty
Carrington Beige, or Manchester Tan

Maybe somewhere in that range will give you a better feel at night.
I hope one of those will work for you. Your home sounds lovely and I know you want it to feel right both day and night.

by Cathy — 12/1/09 at 4:09 pm #

267. Hello Linda,

It sounds like you’re another that’s tried a barrage of beiges. I think you and your husband are on the right track. Move away from the yellow or green toned beiges and look at the browner/red taupe range. Does that make sense? Especially in your kitchen with your cream yellow cabinets. Also go a little darker brown in the kitchen to contrast the yellow better. Otherwise the yellow and lighter beige look too similar, but “off” if placed together. So, I might pick two shades of brown beige next to each other on the paint chip. Paint your kitchen the darker of the two shades and the family room the lighter shade. They will blend beautifully, but look better with the cabinets.

A few to consider are, Benjamin Moore…
Hillsborough Beige (darker) Bar Harbor Beige (lighter)
Sherwood Tan (darker) Seirra Hills (lighter)
Dellwood Sand (darker) Shabby Chic (lighter)

Maybe somewhere in that range will be more appealing to you both.
Yes, more sampling, but that’s the only way to be sure.

Good luck!!

by Cathy — 12/4/09 at 1:39 pm #

271. Hi Annie (# 265)

Well, I think you’re getting there. You think the color needs muting, you want it to look a little more on the rust side, and looking for some depth. A simple glaze with a slight rust color might be the answer. I would first get a half dozen white poster boards, paint them your wall color, to play with the mix amounts first without painting it on the walls. Buy some glaze (or you might even try water before spending more $). Buy some rust colored paint (Benjamin Moore “Rust” is just that). Mix at least 4 different combinations, then paint over the wall painted poster boards to see if one will give you the color and depth you wanted. The glaze amounts will dilute the paint pigment to give you a slight haze of paint color over your base coat or heavier coat depending on the dilution.

Try…
6 parts glaze to 1 part paint ( on a board, light mix)
5 parts glaze to 1 part paint ”
4 parts glaze to 1 part paint ”
3 parts glaze to 1 part paint ( ” heavier mix)

Or you can try this with water and paint, but it may dry too fast and not look as even on a big wall. Sample first.

Then when you find a glazing mixture that gives you the color and depth, paint or roll it on a obscure wall to see if you like it. If so, paint all the walls.

Keep me posted…I want to hear how it turns out. I hope this will work for you. Sample first to see if this is where you want to go.

Talk soon!

by Cathy — 12/5/09 at 1:27 pm #

274. Hello Angie,

I bet your enjoying your light, sunny B.M. Cornsilk wall color. Love the crisp white trim as well. Your looking for a beige color for your dining room to compliment. You have to be a little careful with yellows and beiges, they tend to fight a little if the beige is too warm. I like to swing the beige, with a yellow, to a more taupe or grayed neutral. Yellows and gray look wonderful together. Lets find one that’s warmer in feel.
Check out, Benjamin Moore paint…

Annapolis Gray, Hot Spring Stones, Revere Pewter.

Somewhere in that range would work nicely with the yellow. To unify the spaces even more, bring a little of that yellow into the gray dining room with draperies,chair upholstery, flowers to brighten the feel in the room. Also take some of the gray into the living room and family room to tie those spaces together.

I hope that gave you a little direction. The colors sound beautiful together.

by Cathy — 12/8/09 at 2:13 pm #

275. Hi Christine (# 273)

Sounds like a great basement. I wish I had one. Not too many here in Southern Ca. (earthquakes, water table etc). Yes, basements can be dark without good recessed lighting. I’m happy you have that and some natural light. SInce you have a good bit of light, don’t be afraid to add a little color. It will warm up the cool basement a bit. Let’s look at some warm beiges (yellow and red undertones).

Look at Benjamin Moore Paint…

Everlasting, Stone House, Lady Finger, Sandy Brown.

That range might give you the warmth and depth of color to work with. Also will look beautiful with your red furnishings.

I hope one works for you. Enjoy your lower living space.

by Cathy — 12/8/09 at 2:37 pm #

278. Hello Becki ( #s 269 and 269)

Sorry, I got out of sequence here, hope you didn’t give up on me.

Your playroom for your kids sounds wonderful. The neutral background will be nice with all the colorful furnishings and activities going on in there. The beige colors in the photos give me an idea as to what you had in mind. You’re looking for a true beige with a little depth and color presence. Here’s a few to consider…

Benjamin Moore… good old Shaker Beige, Lenox Tan (darker), Richmond Bisque (warmer). Stay in that range and I think you’ll find success. Sample a few in your light. All will work with your colors.

Have fun in the playroom !

by Cathy — 12/9/09 at 1:54 pm #

279. Hi Melissa ( #270)

Sorry, I got mixed up here.

Your ‘vintage” not “dated” bath sounds great. Yes, those color combinations can be a challenge. But for now, you want to add a neutral to the wall area. My color sense tells me to lean the wall color in a more taupe or gray beige shade. Yellows seem to work better with a grayer base than a yellow base. Sometimes a yellow and warm beige don’t sit well together. With that siad, let’s look at a few colors that are cooler…

Benjamin Moore Paint…
check out, Bennington Gray, Coastal Fog, Annapolis Gray.

There’s a few to look at. They are all neutrals and should co-exist with your yellow well. Bring a little of the yellow up on the wall…window shade, art, towels etc. This might unify the two better.

Hope that helps you out.

by Cathy — 12/9/09 at 2:44 pm #

280. Hello Kim, (# 276),

Thanks so much for your nice compliment.
We better get some ideas in the works for you, so you don’t have that crabby husband to deal with! LOL. Let’s first try to salvage that 6 gallons of Shaker Beige paint. I’m going out-on-a-limb here, so if it doesn’t work, don’t tell him I told you this. lol. My thoughts are to lean the beige paint a little to the cooler side since it was looking too yellow and too pink in some areas. You should be able to take the paint back to the dealer and have him add a little tint to “gray” the color a bit. Now, if you add some dark blue, your beige will take on a slight green undertone, “killing” some of the yellow. That MIGHT work. If you add a touch of black instead, it will lean the beige to a more taupe color. That MIGHT work as well with your other elements. The only thing I can tell you to do is have the dealer make up a few samples to try before you tint all the paint. Try them and see if you like one or the other the best. If you find one you like, make sure you have the “recipe” to make more of the same if you need to get more paint.
Yes, this will be a little bit of a hassle, but you might be able to salvage that paint and hubby will be happy again.:) Worth a try…remember, you don’t know me if this doesn’t work, haha. It just might, so go for it.

As for your accent colors, I think the reddish color would look great with your olive green sofa and other elements.
I’d love to hear the outcome of this story (if you’re still alive)! Keep me posted and my fingers are crossed this idea will work. GOOD LUCK!!

by Cathy — 12/10/09 at 3:47 pm #

283. Wow Annie,
If your day job falls through, you can go work for a paint company and figure complex paint colors for people, LOL. Some people just have a knack for color mixing and you have it my friend. It sounds like you’ve found your paint color “nirvana” with your finely tuned eye. I’m proud you stuck to it and you will be so happy every time you enter your rooms. Thanks for the “recipe” for your great color. Someone else may find it useful. It sounds lovely and works beautifully in your light and all of your other elements.

Enjoy that wonderful custom mixed color called ” Annie gold” and have a wonderful Christmas with that lovely big tree showcased against that pale gold wall. A vision I’m sure!
It’s been great chatting and brainstorming with you. I’m glad there’s a happy ending and you’re satisfied with the outcome. It doesn’t get better than that…a great Christmas present indeed!

Merry Christmas and have a great New Year.

by Cathy — 12/14/09 at 6:30 pm #

285. Hi Lisa,

It sounds like you’ve tried a few colors that are not quite right. I looked at them with your SW Spicy Hue and They were too warm or gold. A few that looked nice from my end are…
Benjamin Moore…Putnam Ivory, Stone House, Sandy Brown
In that range was nice. No strong undertones in any, but the color in your light will decide the one. Sample and see how they “read” in your home. I hope one will work and look great with the Spicy color.
Happy Holidays at Home!!

by Cathy — 12/21/09 at 3:33 pm #

287. You’re welcome Lisa,

Powell or Putnum looked good. Hope one is “the one”.

Enjoy!

by Cathy — 12/23/09 at 12:48 pm #

290. Hello Kara,

I just wrote you an answer and it didn’t go through, so to recap. You can use many beige colors with wood trim and still have good results.
One way, is to look to warmer paint colors that will blend the trim and wall color. Maybe colors like Benjamin Moore…Mansfield Tan, Dunmore Cream, or Dunn Edwards paint…Bisque Tan or Buckskin ( I just painted walls for a client in these colors and she had goldern oak trim. It looked lovely, similar to pine in coloration).
Or go to more of a warm green color. Even a beige green would work well. Look at Ben Moore…Light Khaki, Timothy Straw.

A gray might not be as compatable but a warm blue or green blue would work well.

As for wood floors, stain them a little darker so there’s a little more contrast with all the wood tones.

I hope that gave you a little direction. Enjoy you wonderful home.

by Cathy — 12/29/09 at 1:29 pm #

292. Hello Diana ( #289),

I’m sorry I didn’t get your pictures, but your information should be enough to give you some ideas.
SInce you’ve picked some great neutral gray/ taupe colors all on the same Behr paint chip for living and bedroom, you can’t go wrong staying on the same chip for your dining room and hall. You say that you want to paint a very light gray in the D.R .Could you use the same Behr, Sandstone Cove color that you used in your bedroom? Then the two, living room and dining room spaces, will blend beautifully. If you want to go even lighter than Sandstone Cove, go up to the lighter shade on that same chip to White Clay. It will still blend nicely with your deeper Castle Path in L.R.
As for the hallway, you could drop down on the SAME paint chip to a shade or two DARKER than Castle Path. Garden Wall or Village Square could look stunning in the hall (since you get good light). This would all look unified but have suble shade variations of a color in each room.
If you let that one 7 color paint chip work for you in open areas of your home, you’ll blend everything together, but convey wonderful areas of lighter and darker shades in each area. It’s a great way to tie a whole house together but add interest and drama as well.

I hope that helped you out and I’m glad I was able to lead you in a direction with the first color choice.
Let me know how it turns out. I know it will look great.

by Cathy — 12/31/09 at 6:54 pm #

293. You’re welcome Kara,

I hope you find a great color and you feel confident in your choices now that you have some direction.

Sample a few to make sure, and go from there.

Thanks for checking back.

by Cathy — 12/31/09 at 7:09 pm #

295. Hello Peter,

Thanks alot, I hope I can help you. Your house sounds nice. Love that BM Geranium color in your kitchen with all your other elements. As for the living room, right off the kitchen, a beige is a nice way to go with the strong kitchen color. Since you’re getting pink from the beiges you’ve tried, lets try some that are greened and golded a bit. You also get good light so you can go a bit darker for a little more color presence.
Check out Benjamin Moore Paint…Crisp Khaki or the one just darker, Oak Ridge. Or B.M. Marble Canyon or Shakespere Tan (more golden). They all blend nicely with Geranium. The little grren that comes through in them is a nice compliment to the red. Look in that range if these aren’t the ones.
Also, bring in a little of that Geranium color into the living room…drapery, chairs, rug, and /or floral to unify the two areas and sight lines.
It should look great. Sample to make sure.

Hope that helped you out. Enjoy your lovely home.

by Cathy — 1/4/10 at 3:41 pm #

298. Great Peter,
It sound’s like you’re on a roll. It should look good when all the painting is done.
Enjoy!!!

by Cathy — 1/7/10 at 12:51 pm #

299. Hello Julie (# 297)

Yes, some of those beiges can look like the perfect color in the paint store and you get them home and they turn on you. That’s why I always say to sample them first for a few days and see them in your light at all times of day and night. I do see how Richmond Bisque could turn a little pink. It has a slight red undertone. In some other lighting, it could be the perfect color, but your lighting is bringing the pink out in it apparently.
We could try to bring a little more gold into the beige and that should offset that pink color. Make sure you sample them first.
Check out these Benjamin Moore colors for a better beige in your family room… Powell Buff, Dunmore Cream, or Pittsfield Buff.
They all seem to blend nicely with your (greenish) Mellowed Ivory.
I hope one of those will work for you, if not, look in that range and you should be on track.

Good luck and happy repainting (sorry).

by Cathy — 1/7/10 at 7:06 pm #

301. Hello Ridge,

Thank you for your nice comments. I think it would be fine painting your hallway a darker color on the same paint chip. Do you have good lighting in the hall, either natural or artificial? If so, go for it. Now, you mentioned you were going 2 shades darker than B.M. Bar Harbor beige. That color is Clay on my chip, you stated Deer Trail which is the darkest of the 7 on my chip. You may want to stay more around Clay if you don’t want it too dark. You could also add a Clay, or darker, accent wall in the living room since you thought Bar Harbor was a little light. That way you don’t have to repaint the entire room again, just bring in that deeper shade on one wall. That will also tie the living room and the hall together nicely.
Your sage, mocha and beige sound lovely with the wall colors.

Enjoy that beautiful home and be a little daring with the wall color. It will look great.

by Cathy — 1/10/10 at 1:40 pm #

305. Hi Diane,

I hear ya!!
If you wanted to stay in the same neutral tone of your kitchen, but change it up a little bit and unify both areas, you can’t go wrong staying on that same paint chip. If you go up lighter on the same paint chip that B.M. Peanut Shell is on, that would be Arizona Tan. A beautiful warm beige with enough color to hide wear and tear, but not too dark to turn your entry cavelike. That would be my suggestion since I don’t know what other colors you have going on in the spaces. Both spaces would blend beautifully since they share the same color “recipe” on the paint chip.
Hope that will do the trick!

by Cathy — 1/17/10 at 10:40 pm #

308. Hello Tara (# 303, 306)

I’m sorry the color you picked for your walls came out not as you hoped for. Sometimes they look pretty good on that little chip and once on the big wall you ask “what was I thinking?” That’s why I like to sample a few before I commmit. Let’s see if I can help you out. You also state you need a no VOC paint. I do not have all paint decks in my office, so you’ll have to check out a few brands that are no VOC and match them up to the ones I’ll give you to work from. A few brands that are no VOC are Natura by Benjamin Moore, Harmony line by Sherwin Williams, Mythic Paint and I’m sure there are many others. Google “no Voc paint” and see what comes up.
Here’s a range of beige paint colors that might work better for you. They are Benjamin Moore in their regular line of paint. If you like these, match them to a no VOC paint brand you like.

Bleeker Beige, Bennington Gray, Shaker Beige, Carrington Beige. Somewhere in that range will give you a nice “go with everything” wall color.

Sorry you have to repaint, but it will be worth it to get a livable beige.
Good luck and I hope one of these settles nicely into the room.

by Cathy — 1/21/10 at 5:24 pm #

309. Hi Joan (# 307)

Your bath sounds elegant and relaxing. I’m looking at your B.M. Sea Urchin. SInce it matches so well with your travertine, can you drop down one or two shades to bring in a little more richness and color without making the room too dark. Check out B.M. Sierra Hills or Sherwood Tan. If your lighting is good in the bath, you should have no problem with a deeper color. Paint the ceiling a white color to reflect more light off of it to keep the room brighter. I think you’ll like the darker color for the richness and depth it will bring to the room.

What do you think?

by Cathy — 1/21/10 at 5:39 pm #

310. Hi there Ruth (# 304)

Sorry, out of sequence a bit.
I think a beige/taupe family of wall color would look great with white cabinets, brown granite, and floors. Sometimes staying in the same tonal range of the room, lends a very classy, restful and rich look to a space.
You can always add in a few accent colors to add a little edge to the beiges. A turquoise for accents popped into my head. You might want to lean the beige wall color to the taupe side because of a bit of gray in some of your elements. B.Moore. Revere Pewter is a nice taupe to use as a starting point.
I hope that helped you out a bit. Your kichen will look refined with this pallette. Enjoy!!

by Cathy — 1/21/10 at 6:07 pm #

313. Hello Shannon,

Thank you so much. So glad this info has been of interest to you. Your townhouse sounds nice and ready for a little color on the walls. It’s good to think- out even neutral colors before you commit to them wholely. The 3 colors you mentioned are all nice “go anywhere” neutrals and could look great in your applications. The only way to know for sure is the try samples of all 3 in your lighting, up and downstairs. They may “read” differently in both places because of lighting, reflections, or wall direction. So, sample all 3 and look at them for a few days in the day and night light and then make your decision. If you can use one color for both areas, that’s great, but it’s best to try a few to make sure.
I hope one will do the job and warm up your lovely home.

by Cathy — 1/26/10 at 1:56 pm #

314. Hello Ashley,

Thanks for all your good information. Your colors sound beautiful, but it might be nice to add a bit of a warm neutral to all the cooler wall color. I think you’re going in the right direction. You say you have an area rug with some creams and tans in it. Can you pick up a little of that tan color out of the rug to pull up on the wall. That would be a tying element that might give you a jumping-off point. A few other colors that work well with your B.M. Sage Mountain are Benjamin Moore… Dunmore Cream, Pittsfield Buff, Splendor (Affinity Color). Check out that range. They are a warm beige/light tan and look nice with your other elements. Maybe introduce a little more the that tan color into your sage/gray rooms to reinforce that color scheme and unify the spaces.
Good Luck.

by Cathy — 1/26/10 at 2:52 pm #

320. Hello Diana, (# 315)

You have a big project ahead of you. But it’s always nice to get some color, yes, beige is a color, on the walls. Yes, B.M. Bone White is very light. If you can go just a little deeper in shade, I think you’ll add a bit more interest and color presence to the walls and interiors. Staying in the same direction as Bone White, look at Benjamin Moore…Putnam Ivory, Monroe Bisque, Muslin, or Everlasting. Sample them first to get the feel and one of these might work well for you.

As for some pinks to look at for a little girls room, there are many. If you have an inspiration piece to pull the pink from, like the bedspread, rug or any piece that might be in the room, that’s always a good way to pick a pink. But, for some just really pretty light to medium pinks, here’s a few to consider… Benjamin Moore….Pink Ruffle, Rosy Glow, Strawberry Sorbet. You can go a shade lighter or darker but these say “pretty in pink” all over them.

Much luck with your big painting projects, you’ll love it when it’s done!

Enjoy!

by Cathy — 1/28/10 at 6:34 pm #

321. Hello Lisa (# 316)

Getting a house ready to sale is always a big job. Let’s see if I can find you a paint color in the Behr paint new Premium Plus Ultra palette. A warm beige that should work with your golden kitchen color might be…Behr PPU… Yellowstone, Bone, Sand Pearl, or Aged Parchment. That might be a good range to look in, to blend nicely with your other elements and give you that warm wall color.

Good luck with the paint and more good luck selling the house.

by Cathy — 1/28/10 at 6:57 pm #

322. Hello Arlene (# 317)

Thanks so much. I’m glad you’re enjoying the site. Yeah, if you post all in caps it gets kicked out, so I’m glad you jumped back in and posted again. Sorry, for some reason I’m not getting any pictures coming through… (don’t you love these computers!), so I’ll answer you from your good description of your space.

Your family room sounds great. I think the blue and brown color scheme will look good with your other elements. SInce you have brown walls, light carpet and tan furniture, you have a good start. It sounds like you’d like to change the carpeting but can’t right now. So, work with it.

I would find a great area rug, maybe a 5 x 8′ or 8 X 11′ size to place over the berber carpet and build a grouping around that. Look for a rug that has the colors you want…mostly blue, brown, tan, and off-white. Use the rug as your color palette. Pull the blue color in the rug up on one accent wall, or paint the back face of your built-in bookshelves the blue. Add a few blue and off-white pillows onto your tan furniture, add a throw in the color combination. Hang off-white full length drapery, banded (bordered) on the leading edge in the blue. This will lighten and brighten the mood a bit. Maybe bring in a little art with blues in it. Add good lighting in the room, so colors look rich and true.
In other words, the blue can be your accent color. Use it in smaller amounts than you tan and brown. The off-white carpet and draperies will keep it from becoming too color heavy. Just a few ideas for you.
It could look smashing!! Blue and brown is destined to become one of those truly classic color combinations.
Have fun decorating and enjoy that family room.

by Cathy — 1/29/10 at 1:18 pm #

323. Hi again Arlene,
Here’s a post I wrote on using area rugs for color inspiration. It’s titled “Start with an area rug” . Click on the link to read it. It might help you with your family room.

http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2009/08/08/start-with-an-area-rug/

by Cathy — 1/29/10 at 1:33 pm #

324. Hi Hope, (# 318)

I’m glad you found us too! What beautiful bright and cheery colors you’ve painted your kitchen and dining room. I love that you used the lighter and darker yellow shades. Now you want a beige for your living room that has sight lines to the dining and kitchen. You are thinking in the right direction with more a taupe or sandy beige. With a stronger yellow, the gray undertones work well. Gray and yellow are always nice combination. Let’s stay to more of a taupe (gray/beige) and I think you like how it looks.
Yes, I think the Benjamin Moore Crisp Khaki or Oak Ridge (shade below) would work well. Not sure on the Lenox Tan, maybe a little too pink, but you can try. Also look at B.M. Manchester Tan or Grant Beige. That range of color should give you a direction to pursue. Sample those in your light and one should look right.
You might want to bring in a little of the yellow into the living room to unify to spaces together. ALso add a little taupe to the dining/kitchen areas to do the same. I call this cross-pollinating the colors. A great way to make spaces cohesive and “speak” to each other.

I hope that gave you a little direction. It all should look sharp and stylish!!

by Cathy — 1/29/10 at 2:12 pm #

325. Hello Julie (# 319)

Your neutral colors are nice together. I’m looking at them now. You are in need of other beiges that blend well and are compatable with B.M. Elephant Tusk. There are 2, 7 shade paint chips you might want to look at.
Check out Benjamin Moore chips…Ivory Porcelain # 239 down to Free Spirit # 245. There are 7 good shades on that chip that might work well.

Another one is B.M…. Winter Wheat #232 down to Urban Legend # 238
Some shades are a little deeper if you want those as well. Or a very light one which is the Winter Wheat.

That range of color should compliment your Elephant Tusk nicely.

As for blue and green recommendations, there’s plenty to choose from. You didn’t state what direction or application you wanted it for, so I’ll give you a few that are just all-around nice shades.

Benjamin Moore blues… Wedgewood gray, Woodlawn Blue, Silver Gray, November Skies. Blues with some gray in them. All nice.

B.M. greens…Guiford Green, Pale Avocado (a favorite of mine), Central Park, Folk Art. All beautiful greens.

I hope that gave you a few to look at. Have fun painting the rest of your house. It’s nice to vary shades of one color from room to room. They blend beautifully but seperate spaces.
Good to chat!

by Cathy — 2/2/10 at 3:29 pm #

328. Hi Terry,

How nice to get new wood floors and trim. It sounds beautiful. You’re looking for a beige that works with your golden oak elements and doesn’t turn orangey. Well, what comes to mind first is a beige with a little green in it. A cool beige, like a khaki color. This should contrast the warm wood tones and neutralize the orange cast. You could deepen the color a bit so it doesn’t give you an ivory shade.
Check out this range of color… Benjamin Moore Paint… Manchester Tan (the perfect Khaki), Carrington Beige, Abingdon Putty (more green), Crisp Khaki. All nice, but sample a few to see how they “read” in you light.

I hope this direction works with your wood elements. Let me know.

by Cathy — 2/4/10 at 2:17 pm #

329. Hi Amber,

It’s a lot of work preparing a house for sale. But, a beautiful neutral paint color that works well with the permanent elements is a great direction to show the house at it’s best. Since you have some pinky/peachy beiges you have to work with, I would find a beige with contrasting undertones. This tends to neutralize (as I wrote about to Terry above) and play down the pink a bit. So, I could just about ditto the same paint colors for you as I did for Terry above. So check those out. Ben. Moore paint, Manchester Tan has been siad to be the perfect cool beige (khaki) and can be used anywhere. So that might be a place to begin to sample and see if you like it.
I hope that works for you and good luck with the sale of your home.

by Cathy — 2/4/10 at 2:34 pm #

334. Hey Terry, (#330)

You’re so welcome. Glad I could help !! Hope it works for you.

by Cathy — 2/11/10 at 1:38 pm #

335. Hello Denise (#331)

Thank you. Your open floor plan and home sound beautiful. Your kitchen colors are nice and should, as you say, influence the color in the rest of the open plan. You’ve thought through your colors well, and I agree with your assessment.The two colors, Ben Moore Monroe Bisque and Dunmore Cream are beautiful warm neutrals. Monroe is a little redder and Dunmore is a little more gold. Either sounds like it would work well with your green. Your lighting will tell you which one. Sample, sample. Just to add to your confusion, look at Powell Buff, it falls in between the two you picked. Also check out Marble Canyon, it’s a little more taupe/green could look nice with your Providence Olive. As I said above, sample them to make sure.
I hope that helped… or made you more confused (hope not the latter).
These colors sound lovely together. I’m sure you and your family will enjoy the feel and look of your home. Much success!

by Cathy — 2/11/10 at 2:17 pm #

336. Hey to you Jill, (# 332)
Thanks Jill, you’re not color-challenged, you have some good ideas here. What a great bedroom and color combination. Love the direction. The chocolate colored drapery is a statement in the room. Your grey /beige, taupe direction for wall color will work well with your drapery. I went to my Benjamin Moore 7-shades-on-a-chip paint sample and looked up “Chocolate Candy Brown” (close to your drapery color maybe). If I follow the shades up lighter on the 7 color chip I get to Sandlot Gray (5th up) or Sea Froth (6th up). They have gray in them and a little red. (Chocolate brown typically has reds/pinks in it’s formula). They are beautiful together. Yes, the lighter shades would work well with your blue accents. So one of those shades might work for you. I’ll give you a few others to look at as well to sample and see how they read in your room.
Check out Benjamin Moore…North Hampton Beige, Big Bend Beige, Hot Spring Stones. That range works nicely with chocolate brown and blue/gray or even shaded aqua accents will look super.
Enjoy that beautiful bedroom and I hope one of those paint colors will do the trick.

by Cathy — 2/11/10 at 3:18 pm #

338. Hi Rachel (#333),

Sorry, your pictures are not coming through. But I have enough info to work with. First of all, don’t go crazy, it’s just paint and can be easily changed. Yes, the B.M. Roasted Sesame Seed and Oklahoma Wheat are stronger golden colors . Sound’s like too intense for you. Let’s stay in that same warm beige tones and give you a few others to consider.
Check out Benjamin Moore…(These are two shades next to each other for your walls and accent wall). Arizona Tan/ Peanut Shell, Sandy Brown/ Deer Path, Oakwood Manor/ Bridgewater Tan. These are less intense, but warm and gold/beiges. Sample a few to see how they look in your light. I hope one (or two) is the perfect choice.

The room will look great with the two shades that are from the same chip (you could even go one shade darker than what I’ve listed for that accent wall.). That’s how you do it and make it work.

All the best!

by Cathy — 2/11/10 at 3:54 pm #

340. Hi again Denise (# 339),

It sounds like you’re wanting a bit more of a golden beige but not anything too saturated. I certainly can give you a few more to check out. Just be a little careful with yellows. What looks fairly innocent on a paint chip, can, on a wall, become fairly intense. But, you can try these and see what you think.
Look at Benjamin Moore…Consentino Chardonnay or the one shade below it, Mansfield Tan. These have a little touch of green in them. Both nice.

ALso, B.M. Bronzed Beige or Adams Gold (looks nice with Providence Olive) might be good to look at. I hope we’re close with one of these. They should work well with your other elements. You’ll just have to see how they read in your light. Let me know how things turn out…fingers crossed!!

by Cathy — 2/15/10 at 12:56 pm #

341. Hello Kobi,

Yes, sometimes color names don’t quite come out to be the color we think they should be. I looked up your B.M. Sisal color and it is as you’ve described, peach/orange or a fleshy color. A nice color in the right place, but not quite what you had in mind I guess. You, want to minimize the color a bit. First, as you thought, you might try to change the fluorescent bulbs to a cool or bluer light. This may be enough to neutralize the pink in the wall. That’s the easiest, but you also could distract the eye to more “interest” in the room. Add large contemporary art to a wall, a colorful area rug, colorful pillows on the black sofa. Add coordinating long side drapery panels on the window and hang them out on the wall area quite a bit to expose the window, but covers and adds interest to the wall. Also add a faux tree or two in the corners to divert attention and cover some color. Once you get a little more color in the room, the wall color will just become a neutral backdrop and your attention will connect to other pieces in the room.
Look in the range of blues and greens for colors in the room. These are complementary colors to the red undertones of the wall and are a harmonious combination. I think with a few of these interest drawing elements, your wall color will become more friendly.
Much luck!!

by Cathy — 2/15/10 at 1:43 pm #

347. Hello Penny ( #344)

Sometimes we have to work around what we have or have been talked into, LOL. I couldn’t find the Roxbury Cream paint in the BM line. They do have a Roxbury Caramel which is a caramel color. Is that the color of your furnishings and drapery? I will assume that unless you correct me.
Your current wall color is a burnt cinnamon. My thoughts are, your furnishings and wall color are in the same color/tone range and there’s no contrast between the two. Also they are darker/duller colors in a room with low light. So, no contrast and low light = an uninspiring room.

You requested a beige that will lighten, brighten and compliment your furnishings. I think a warm gold/beige might be just the trick.
Check out Ben. Moore colors… Dunmore Cream, Pittsfield Buff, Straw Hat
That range of color will give you light, contrast and a happy feel you are looking for.
As for mantle and trim color, keep the light and airy feel going. Paint them in the white/cream range something like…B.M…Swiss Coffee, Icicle, Moonlight White.

I think you’ll like the look and feel of the room with a wall color in this range and then you’ll like LIVING in your living room again.

Enjoy!

by Cathy — 2/18/10 at 2:12 pm #

348. Hi Carman ( # 343,344)

Well, let me see if I can give you a few ideas. There are a few ways you could go. You could go warmer or cooler (yes you can). Cooler by staying on the same paint chip as your B.M. Spanish Olive (kitchen) is on. SInce you get good light in the room, you could drop down darker one or even two shades below Spanish Olive. They would be, Dried Basil, or Bed of Ferns. The warmth in the room would come from your wood floors and furnishings. This is always a “no-fail” way to tie two ,or more, rooms together that share a visual connection.
But, if you want to warm up the space a bit, I could see a warm beige working as well. Something like B.M. Marble Canyon,
Dunmore Cream, or Pittsfield Buff, would work well with the Spanish Olive.
Sample a few to see what direction you want to go. I hope one will do the trick.
Good luck and happy painting.

by Cathy — 2/18/10 at 2:55 pm #

353. Hello Susan (#342)

Sorry, I didn’t forget you. Sometimes the comments come to me out of order and I have to backtrack a bit. I usually get to them within a few days, so don’t give up on me.

Your post and beam home sounds absolutely wonderful. What beautiful natural elements you are introducing to reflect the feel of your home. You are looking for a wall color that will compliment all those natural elements. My first instincts for a wall color was a cool beige, a beige with a little green in it. This would be a great compliment to the warm reddish/orangy/golden (pine) feel of the room. Also a very nature inspired color backdrop to the wood, rock and iron. I’ve looked at the colors you’ve mentioned and certainly sample them in your light. But, I have a few more for you to consider. Check out Benjamin Moore… Carrington Beige, Richmond Gray, Abingdon Putty. Also Flowering Herbs is nice and a bit more green. Your light will indicate where you can go with color.

As for your open staircase with huge window, instead of painting a lighter shade, try one shade darker, of the paint color you choose, for the rest of the room. Have your paint dealer make up a sample to try and he can also mix a darker (or lighter) shade of any single color. This will give some depth and shade varation to the walls.

I hope that gave you another direction to consider. Let me know what you think and if this will work for you.
Enjoy that beautiful home of yours …and put another log on the fireplace for me, I’ll be right over.

by Cathy — 2/19/10 at 2:11 pm #

355. Hello Lora (#343),

Your home sounds lovely. You have some nice finishes and elements. You, are looking for a beige for your family room which opens to your kitchen. I like your Hadley Red kitchen walls with Uba Tuba dark granite, light maple cabinets, golden oak floors. Here again, the advice I gave to Susan before you, might be a good way for you to go as well. A cool green beige would compliment all of the elements you have. the cooler wall color will balance the warm golden oak floors. Also the shaded red kitchen walls are a compliment to green and your Uba Tuba granite has a green color in it as well. So, from my perspective, These cooler green beiges could work well.

Look at the cool beige colors from Benjamin Moore I wrote to Susan about above. Here’s
a few others from Behr Paint that could work. Sample, Sample, Sample first. Behr Paint… Sand Fossil, Clay Pebble, Lion, Mochachino, Oat Straw.

I hope this will give you the look and feel you want. It works for me, but you have to embrace it as well. Good luck!

by Cathy — 2/19/10 at 2:57 pm #

356. Hello Carol, ( # 349, 350),

So glad you found us here too. I hope I can help you out a little before your painters come. I’m not getting any pictures coming through so I’ll have to comment on your great in-depth information and hope we can lean you in the right direction. I don’t have the Sherwin Williams paint line in front of me and I don’t like to pick exact colors off the internet. I do have Benjamin Moore, Behr, and Dunn Edwards paint lines that I mostly use and recommend (just personel preference and space limitations). But if you like and want to use any other paint then You can take a sample color of my recommendations to your dealer and they can match it fairly accurately.
Keeping all of your elements in mind and your warm beige request, I’ll give you a few to look at in your light. I always tell people to sample colors first and look at them both day and night before deciding. I’m at a disadvantage because I can’t see the subtleties in some color elements, so I can only lead you in a direction and you’ll have to make the call.
Check out… Benjamin Moore… Dunmore Cream, Monroe Bisque, Marble Canyon or the one shade darker, Shakespere Tan. That range of color might get you where you want to be. Maybe in your tray ceiling you can drop down darker, one or two shades of the SAME color you pick, to paint the tray. This will draw interest up to the feature and give it depth and importance.

I hope we’re close here for you. Let me know if we are. I always like to hear the outcome.

Enjoy your beautiful home and happy painting.

by Cathy — 2/19/10 at 3:45 pm #

359. Thanks Peter ( # 356) for your experience with paint color. It just goes to show you why you have to sample paint color in your own light. The B.M. Shaker Beige was not for you, but for someone else it might be the perfect choice. It sounds like you were able to find some beautiful colors that work with your light, furnishings and feel of your home. What a lovely and well thought out color palette you have. I can tell you take great pride in your home and I know it shows beautifully.

All the best to you and thanks for your comment and experience.

by Cathy — 2/24/10 at 2:51 pm #

360. Hello Cathi (#357)

Thank you so much. I’m glad you’re enjoying the site. It sounds like you have a good painting project in front of you. Let’s see what we can find for your spaces. You want a beige or taupe from Behr to blend with your camel/leopard furnishings. How beautiful!
Yes, I agree, you can paint the different spaces different shades on the same paint chips. This gives nice depth and definition, but blends beautifully together.
So, let’s pick 3 paint colors on the same 7-color paint chip. The lightest of your 3 shades could go in the hallway to your bedrooms. The darkest shade could go in your brighter entryway. And the middle shade could go in the Living Room. All will blend because they are mixed from the same formula.

Here’s 3 different paint chips to look at from Behr Paint (stay on one chip for all 3 spaces)…

On one chip…Raffia Cream (lightest), Gobi Desert (middle), Harvest Brown or Mississippi Mud (darkest)

On another chip… Cozy Cottage (lightest), Oat Straw (middle), Mochachino or Twig Basket (darkest).

One more chip, this one’s warmer more camel colors…Cracked Wheat (lightest), Rivera Sand (middle), Desert Camel or Mesa (darkest).

These are all beautiful neutrals and would show your house beautifully when it’s time to sell.

I hope this was helpful to you and enjoy your beautiful home.

by Cathy — 2/24/10 at 3:41 pm #

362. Hello Katie,

Thank you so much for your nice remarks. Glad to have you join us.
I’ve looked at your colors and they are all in a very similar range. I can see where your picking up some of the color of the floor. Hickory floors usually have many tonal brown, beige, gray and gold tones to them. So you can pick up on many neutral tones for the wall color. Your B.M. Baffin Island was one I was leaning toward because it has a slight warm and cool tone . It’s a little goldy/green beige and seems like it should look well with the floor. You were not sure. If you decide you like it, you can stay right on its 7 shade paint chip to paint the rest of your spaces. Depending on your light, pick 3 colors off the same paint chip and paint maybe your entry/hallway B.M. Jonesboro Cream ( 2 shades lighter than Baffin Island), then your dining room, Strathmore Manor or Free Spirit ( 1 or 2 shades darker than Baffin) Keep your Baffin Island in your sitting room. Take it one step further and paint the ceilings the lightest color on the chip. That would be Ivory Porcelain. EVERYTHING will blend beautifully because they were mixed from the same formula.
The shade changes will give lots of depth and interest to each space, but all will flow from one space to the next visually.

I wrote another blog on this idea. Here’s the link…
http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2007/04/14/wall-color-idea/

You can do this same idea with any color, but it’s easier with a 7-shade paint chip because you can see the value changes right on the chip.

The B.M. Carrington Beige was another nice choice. SInce it’s a single color on a chip, your paint dealer can mix lighter and darker shades of it if you like this color better.

One other to look at might be,( all on the same 7 color paint chip), Crisp Khaki, Oak Ridge, Green tea. WInter Wheat for ceiling color.

Can you see how this application might work for you? It’s a beautiful way to incorporate beiges but give them some presence and keep open spaces interesting but unified.

I hope this helped and you’ll be on your way to beautiful shades-of-beige walls. Much luck!!

by Cathy — 2/27/10 at 4:55 pm #

367. Hello SKM (# 363)

Yes, sometimes it takes a few tries to get the right beige. That’s why I always suggest sampling first. If you like B.M. Shaker Beige and Powell Buff, and you want a nice khaki as well, Check out these beige khaki to green khaki colors. You’ll have to sample them with your beiges, in your light to see what looks best.

Benjamin Moore… Crisp Khaki or Oak ridge, Manchester Tan,
greener khakis… Light Khaki, Flowering Herbs, Camouflage

Try a few together and one combination will speak to you. I hope this gave you a little direction. Good luck.

Enjoy your new house.

by Cathy — 3/3/10 at 4:07 pm #

368. Hi Katherine (# 364, 365)

Your E.A. British Classics bedroom pieces are beautiful. I know it well. Yes, it does have some beautiful warm reddish tones to it. I checked out your B.M. Yosemite Sand. It’s a warm beige and could look fine with your furnishings, but also check out some cooler beiges (your friend had the right idea). A cooler green beige would be a lovely compliment to the warm red tones of the furnishings. Why, because they are compliments on the color wheel. You could keep your whites/ivory for your trim and ceiling color, or lighten your wall color 2-3 shades for your ceiling color. They’ll blend beautifully and not be so stark on the ceiling.
A few cool beiges to look at might be, Benjamin Moore…
Carrington Beige, Abingdon Putty, Richmond Gray.

Sample your Yosemite Sand and one or two of my suggestions and see what looks best in your light with the furniture.

Let me know if you like any cool beiges.

Take Care.

by Cathy — 3/3/10 at 4:32 pm #

369. Hi there Heather (#366),

I’m happy you found us too! I hope I can help you out.
Thanks for all your great info. So, bottom line, we need to find a beige paint color that isn’t too pink or too yellow. SInce I can’t see your lighting or all the variations of color, I can only lead you in a direction and you’ll have to try a few to see what works.

Give these a shot… Benjamin Moore Paint… Putnam Ivory, Everlasting (might be a little pink, but try), Shaker Beige might even work well.

Hopefully you won’t have to change your permanent cabinet and trim color. Sample a few and see how they look with what you have. I hope one will work for you. Let me know if we’re close.

Cross your fingers!!

by Cathy — 3/3/10 at 4:58 pm #