The Paint On My Walls
October 28, 2009
I’ve received several emails lately inquiring about paint colors in my home. Shelley recently wrote,
“Dear Kate,
I’m curious if you would mind sharing the paint colors on your walls in your dining room, stairs and entrance hall? I so want to take my dated golden oak stair rail and replicate what you did with yours with the gel stain and glaze! Thanks for the inspiration…now only if I can get a dose of courage as well. I love your home! Simply beautiful !”
I’m so very flattered whenever anyone wants to know about the colors on the walls in my home. So I thought it was time to link it all together in one place ! Some of the colors in my home are right out of the paint can. Others I’ve tweaked by blending my own color. Recently, I took the time to collect enough paint swatches from a dozen suppliers in order to find the closest match to the custom blended colors on my walls. When I say custom blended, I mean I’ve mixed more than two colors, and usually added some tint.
The living room and master bedroom share the same color - ‘Pueblo’ by Ralph Lauren. 
The kids’ playroom/game room is ‘Beachwalk’ by Behr.
In the dining room and foyer (and family room which I haven’t featured yet) is a color we painted over five years ago and I don’t have the name of it.
I’ve color matched it to these three swatches. From left to right, ‘Classic Taupe’ by Behr; ‘Sand’ by Laura Ashley for Valspar; ‘Oat Straw’ by Benjamin Moore, Affinity collection*.
*All swatches are from My Perfect Color.com – the shade may vary based on your computer monitor.
The wallpaper on the staircase is Jaisamand by Graham & Brown, and the color matched paint around the trim on the staircase is ‘Saddle Brown’ by Valspar, one of Martha Stewart’s colors.
Don’t tell Mr. CG, but I want to change this paint color. Not because I don’t like taupe. But we’ve had it for five years, and that’s when I hit the point where I want something fresh. I’m really wanting to talk him into painting the foyer and dining room one of these two colors.
‘Lapland’ or ‘Meditation’ by Benjamin Moore. Greener, grayer, moodier. Love these !
The granny unit (or guest studio) we built above our garage has another custom blended color. I color matched a blue gray paint to the fabric swatch from the Pottery Barn ‘Slate’ slipcover on the couch, then added a bunch of black tint to gray it up even more.
It’s three closest relatives are from left to right: ‘Autumn Fog’ by Valspar; ‘Flint Smoke’ by Behr; and ‘Silver Gray’ by Benjamin Moore.
I painted our kitchen three times in order to get the right shade. First it was too lemony, then it was way too apricot, finally I got it right the third time. The kitchen best described as a a shade somewhere between Dijon mustard and butternut squash. Aaah, food. What better inspiration than that for a kitchen?
These swatches can look a little too apricot on the screen, but in reality they are more muted and closer to Dijon tan. The color is very warm deep yellow in daylight.
All colors by Benjamin Moore.
The master bathroom is another custom blend of 1/3 ‘Silver Sage’ by Restoration Hardware; 1/3 ‘Mountain Creek’ by Glidden, and 1/3 ‘Swiss Coffee’ by Behr.
The two closest matches to this color are from left to right: ‘Silver Marlin’ by Benjamin Moore and ‘Silver Mist’ by Sherwin Williams.
In my daughter’s room I painted the walls a pale gray green: ‘Thistle’ by Ralph Lauren.
In my stepdaughter’s room, the wall color is ‘Blue Green Gem’ by Kelly Moore.
In the office (another work in progress), I’ve hung grass cloth wall covering, but I’ve painted the non-papered opposite window wall in a very close match by Valspar called ‘Seafoam Storm’. The bookshelves that are getting installed will have the backs painted this color as well.
And my powder path is Restoration Hardware’s ‘Silver Sage’ – an easy choice to match the burnout scroll sheer on the window.
Can you tell I am drawn to blue/gray colors ? So there you have it, for anyone who’s ever had any questions about the paint colors in the CG household. Now if only I can talk the hub into investing in repainting the foyer and dining room next year. . . wish me luck.
A great blog post! We are re-modelling and I seem to be drawn to cream, but all different shades of it!
Totally bookmarking this too! We just found out that the Air Force is moving us back home to America, which means we will be buying our first house. I can’t wait to decorate!
Lovely to see your whole house!!
Love so many of the colors you picked…and what a great job giving us all several colormatches!
Great post!
I use many of these colors too. They are classic neutrals that go with so many decorating styles. You have such a beautiful home…I love coming to have a virtual visit
)
peace.
You have a great eye for color. I love all of the moody blue-grays you’ve used throughout your house, and the fact that so many of them are your own creation! I am not brave enough to make my own colors.
I am so glad that you did this post. I am leaning toward gray for my masterbedroom and bath. That is a huge departure for me. I have had Laura Ashley Gold 3 for about 10 yrs. (2 houses) and I am tired of it. I have also had taupe in our bedroom and office for about that long. (again 2 houses) I have a green kitchen with custom made cabinets hand painted in cream with a coffee glaze and I LOVE it! In the new house that we are moving to next week, I did espresso cabinets and a lighter counter. I haven’t decided what will go in there but I am loving gray for the bedroom. Thanks for all the color swatches. I have a bag full too and this post will be a good reference.
Concord Ivory is the paint color I picked to use in my kitchen! Glad to hear it results in the deep warm yellow tone I’m going for
I love this post! It is like a house tour – and your home is gorgeous!! I love that huge map in the playroom, and your kitchen is beautiful. What type of countertop is on your island?
Such lovely colors, Kate. I am with ya on the “five years and I’m over it” thing. I’m more of a three year limit girl. I love change, and nothing changes a room faster or cheaper than paint.
As usual, informative and entertaining post. I love the colors you have chosen. I will soon be choosing colors… however not much natural light so I will have to test test test… do you suggest funishing first , then matching? Also I noted we have the very same wood tone on our china cabinets (I have been thinking about painting mine!) but I like what you did on the insdie of it– did you paint it or is that paper? Thanks for your terrific blog!
I think those blues and grays are so serene and soothing. That’s a look I’d like to go for in our Master bedroom. Your kitchen is downright gorgeous. Our kitchen was the first thing I painted when we moved in 6 years ago, and I painted it yellow…but not a good yellow. It needs to go. I want something warmer, like what you chose for yours. Thanks for sharing all your paint colors!
What a lovely house! Thank you for sharing. I love your kitchen and am looking at counter tops for mine. Could you please tell me what yours are? Thanks!
Beth
Love your colors!!
These are gorgeous. I have the strangest shaped home in that first 3 rooms just flow into each other. I have lived here for 7 years and have not touched them with paint and it is driving me crazy! The foyer, formal living, and dining room are all connected. Moreover, the ceilings are 30 feet high, with views to the loft. Very open, so it is hard to divide everything. I’ve painted actual rooms, but want to tackle these 3; your lovely blues and grays will be just the thing ! Thank you so much for sharing.
Great post. I love that you are drawn to blue grey colours. I always seem to be drawn to creams, beige, pinks and reds in different shades. Your house is so beautifully arranged.
Thank you!! This is just what I was looking for!
Oh what lovely wall colors you have! It’s so nice seeing your home – it’s beautiful.
Be a sweetie,
Shelai
Your foyer is absolutely beautiful!! I love your style
He he. You are so funny. I just recently admitted to the hubby that I HATE our kitchen family room wall color, it’s SW’s Humble Gold. I waited until I had some bargaining power, then pulled the ‘ole “you can have what you want if I can repaint the family room and kitchen.” Worked like a charm.
Beautiful colors, by the way.
Stunning colours in a stunning home!
Lisa
Just lovely Kate!
I was so taken with your banister transformation that I’m considering it myself. I have the same horrible blonde wood hand rail like you had. I’ve posted your before and afters on my site in hopes my readers will give me the encouragement to tackle it myself! Thanks for the inspiration.
I know exactly what you mean, no matter how beautiful a color is or how good it still looks, each has an expiration date at my house, I just have to have a change!
(love your stairway!)
Good luck with that Kate! When I told my hubby a few years ago I wanted to paint the dining room a different color to warm it up, he told me to turn up the heat. I wound up painting that on my own.
Wow, Thanks for the referal to this post with all the colors listed. It has helped a lot but it has also raised another question, what is your wood floor in your living room and what finish/stain? That is a beautiful grand piano I might add as well!
Oh my goodness – your house is picture-perfect! Love the colors and all the details – very inspiring
Yelena