I think you're going to have a hard time finding any neutral color that you love while you have fluorescent lighting down there. I have the Sarasota Sand in my fluorescent basement, and you're right, it doesn't look anything like it does upstairs in my main living area. For us, it's just a basement, so it is not as important as it is in your case.

Have you looked at Ellen's website where you can see Cognac and Dusk used together by Demifloyd? (Cognac was created for her, btw.) They look lovely together and I have found pale blues generally play better with fluorescent lighting than other colors.

Of course, I don't know at all that pale blue would work with everything else you have going on. I just know that in the best of lighting circumstances, managing the undertones in beige/tan neutrals is tough. Under bad lighting conditions...it's a bear!

One other thought is to try full-spectrum tubes if you haven't already. They cost more, but they might make the color selection easier/more successful and they will render the colors of everything else in the room in a nicer way, too.

Good luck!

I'm not sure who that belongs to, but I'd love to find out where they got their table and chairs. I'm also trying to find a nice golden tan, a little dark than what you're looking for. I also have the fluorescent and didn't even think about that making a difference. That could explain why most of my samples look more tan than gold.

Laurie

Hi Amy...

Actually, most of my upstairs public area is Cognac with Dusk ceilings, except the DR which is EK Rust, and the Kitchen, which is Honeysuckle. So, I need some flow, and the Dusk would work. I know what you mean about the lights playing nicer with cool colors, but I really don't want cool colors in my basement, which is why I changed the bulbs, which did not help at all!

I saw some fluorescent bulbs call Sunsticks, that are supposed to be like natural light, but the Kelvins on those were even higher than the cool white, which my research tells me will be even bluer. I guess I never thought about natural light as being blue.

I have always said that I want to get rid of those hideous fluorescents and get pot lights put in, but I just wasn't ready to spend the money. My cats forced me into ripping up perfectly good (well, until they did their dirty work) 5 year old carpet. I bought a wood floor to replace it, so I had hoped to hold off on all that electrical stuff for a while.

Has anyone used those sunstick fluorescents?

Can you use regular lamps on tables down in the basement and not turn on the flourescents very often? Then you can use regualr light bulbs.

Well, higher Kelvins will probably be harsh on the eyes too, just in a new and exciting way! I bought some "daylight" bulbs with that high Kelvin and I though they might burn my retinas.

If my DH catches me bringing one more pack of bulbs into the house, I may need a divorce lawyer! I keep trying to find a CFL I can live with. Hasn't happened yet...

So, what about using lamps right now for lighting down there? You could use some inexpensive uplighting cans, some table lamps, etc. Would that be enough? Either that, or pick a color that works for the wall you see from the LR (I assume that doesn't have the fluorescent light shining on it?) Sorry, it's hard to imagine what the situation is, how the two spaces connect visually.

Is there another way to warm up the basement space? I put my old red sofa down in the playroom, along with some oriental rugs. They really distract from the less-than ideal wall color. I will probably repaint that room Gustavian Gray when I find the time. The carpet is a warm tone, too, so I don't think the room will feel cold.

Cognac walls and Dusk ceilings sound gorgeous, btw! We have the Sand walls and Gustavian Gray ceiling thing going on here. Theme and variation! :-)

Looks like we crossposted...

That color is tobacco road. It is discontinued but I got it mixed at sherwin williams. :)

http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/2008/02/paint.html

Thanks lilliepie! I was wondering if it was Tobacco Road. Discontinued, huh? That's weird. I had heard of it so often that I figured it was one of their most popular colors. Duron, right?

Did SW have the formula or did you have a swatch to copy?

Gorgeous kitchen, btw!

Yeah, amy and 3d, that's the way I will have to go! Thanks for the input. Now, let's see if I can scare up some lamps to test my colors again.

Discontinued? When did this happen? My daughter's new home in Raleigh was just painted in Tobacco Road about 4 weeks ago.

It's my kitchen! The folks who recognized the color as Duron's Tobacco Road were correct ... it's been three and a half years now and I still love it. Great neutral, although you're right, it does change a little with the light. As someone mentioned, it is indeed from Duron's "old" color deck, but I think many of the Duron and even some SW stores (they own Duron now) have the formula and can mix it.

msrose/ Laurie - I bought the table at Domain(may it RIP) and the chairs are from JC Penney.

It's funny to see these pics - the kitchen definitely has a few more miles on it now, but it's held up well. And that high chair - DS is a giant now and has definitely outgrown it :-(

I used BM Chocolate Mousse in our office which is lit by fluorescent lights. It is a nice, light tan. I had so much trouble finding a tan to work under those lights and this was the best. Other browns/tans showed green, pink, yellow. This shade has grey in it and stays tan. I liked it so much, I used it in my laundry-room at home which is also lit with fluorescents. Looks very soft and clean.

It is an old color, but still available.

Hope this helps,
Jane

I spent a lot of time and many color boards choosing Powell Buff for our LR, loved it, golden tan as you describe. Then recently had an energy audit and the auditor replaced our incandescents with CFLs for free. Gave my Powell Buff a distinctly green cast - back to the incandescents for me!

Can you get full spectrum lamps? If they are T-8s (1/2" diameter) you may be able to find them. He also said you could try gel sleeves, which would have to be replaced every 2 years or so (theatrical accessory). My lighting designer husband just fed me this information - let me know if you want more and I'll ask him. :)

Good luck!

Mary

Choc Mousse, huh? I'll look into it. I have a gazillion swatches and samples, but I don't have that one.

Yeah, I really hate fluorescents. I refuse to use those CFLs. They are ugly, put out ugly light, are toxic if broken, will pollute landfills (that's an oxymoron!) with mercury, and are made only in China because of how dangerous they are to produce. I plan on ordering cases of incandescents when it gets near the time when we will have to switch over.

Enough of my rant. I think I will try to put in enough lamps that the fluorescents won't matter, and will go ahead and have the pot lights done sooner rather than later. I'm not going to spend any more money on fluorescents, unless I find that getting the pots done is crazy high, which I don't think it will be.

I'm going to check out all the colors mentioned here and pick something that is not hideous under the fluorescents.

Thanks for all the help, everyone! Any more colors that have looked good under these lights? Let me know.