I don't know about the extra fee (Ellen is always very reasonable about such things IME), but different bases make for slightly different colors. And, the darker the color, the glossier the finish. I have used Velvet Matte and Velvet Sheen in my house -- it looks flat in the paler colors and more like an eggshell in the darker colors (Ashen Green).

I think this problem might carry over if you use two different finishes in the same room, if that's what I understand you're suggesting. The eye tends to accommodate, but you have to decide how much light each of the walls gets and if subtle differences would bother you. I don't like glossy paint, except for trim. Heck, I don't even really like eggshell! :-) So, my decision would be easier...I'd just get the minimum gloss recommended for a wet environment.

As for scrub-ability, I have a matte paint in my kitchen. I scrub it with no ill effect. I don't scrub down all the walls all the time, but where the KA mixer and the espresso machine sit, I occasionally do spot scrubbing. The paint is holding up well after two years. I have also retouched here and there and I can't see it.

Pastel EK color, I'd likely opt for Lifemaster in Eggshell. Also the Ultra in Eggshell is quite nice. Is it super shiny for an eggshell??, well maybe borderline. I don't think ICI's Eggshell finishes are the shiniest eggshell finishes out of all the other brands, but it does show as more of a shiny eggshell than a dull one. Hope that helps and not confuses.

As far as wear and tear, I have two boys. Have Velvet Sheen in Tuscan Sun in their bathroom - going on two years and we're still in good shape. Velvet Sheen touches up BEAUTIFULLY.

In another one of their bathrooms I have Ultra in Eggshell in Slate. Little bit of an issue with water whitening but I know that will subside as the surfacants get worked out -- it's mostly around the sink area. Water whitening is where you can see white water splashes and drips on the wall color, but then it evaporates and disappears. This will stop over time and happens with all brands and sheens of paint in moist environments, can depend on the color.

So bottom line, I don't think you need to go semi-gloss on the walls. JMHO mind you.

Thank you both, that does help. Funcolors, what do you feel the difference is between the Lifemaster and Ultra eggshells? I take it you like how pastels come out better in the Lifemaster? (Are they pretty much the same sheen?)

I was thinking of using the soap-and-water cleanup alklyd for my trim throughout the house. I can't help it, I just love the way that looks. I will probably use Velvet Sheen in other rooms to mask the wall imperfections.

I got my samples of Aqua - in the bathroom it looks grey most of the time. You really can tell it is a darker version of GG. I looked at "Rose," took the board to my west-facing mud room, and bingo. It reads gorgeously aqua in there.

Similarly, the Cameo pink looks more pleasing than any other color in the bathroom. I bet eggplant would look fantastic in there as well, or maybe in the north-facing bedroom. Intersting that EK has no deep purples in her collection. I wonder what she might have done custom, and I'm also thinking about ordering some Citron samples. But woah, that is a lot for shipping on the Citron paint.

Aqua does have a provenance, as they say, and it's me. I asked EK to mix "Aqua" full spectrum about a year ago and she then made it a part of her 84 stock colors. So I can say for sure that it's root hue isn't G. Gray. But, by golly they could be related! :-)

Differences between Lifemaster and Ultra can depend on the substrate, but on your typical smooth drywall, I'd have to say the differences in sheen is minimal and a lot depends on what color it is too -- the darker the color, the shinier the finish gets. Generally, I prefer a flat/matte finish, but both Ultra and Lifemaster eggshells are attractive to my eye.

I just paint my foyer this evening with a fresh coat of Cognac mixed in the Lifemaster eggshell. It went over Cognac in Velvet Sheen. I let DH strip ONE stinkin' wall of wallpaper and he didn't get all the glue off. It was a mess, crazing and cracks all over the wall. The Lifemaster is new since I painted with Velvet Sheen, and I wanted to use it in my own home.

C.J. Volk at Citron is a wonderfully talented colorist in her own right and offers a quality product, but it is rather difficult to obtain if you're not in her immediate area.

EK only keeps 84 colors in rotation at any given time, but she's mixed many a color full spectrum. If you think you want a deep purple, you should call and see what they may have already done so they can shoot you a sample.

Thanks, that helps. I love that you are the impetus for Aqua. My painter friend loved it, BTW. I got the idea that it was a version of Gustavian Grey from Ellen's own description on her website... (shoutout ahead)

"Aqua (for walls and ceiling) is a darker version of Gustavian Grey, yet lighter than Oasis, which crosses that fine line between blue and green. Therefore, it is both healing and soothing, yet rejuvenatingÂa popular new color for 2007 according to color consultant Lori Sawaya!"

She says the same thing about Oasis. Someone else here, and I'm sorry I can't remember who now, says that Oasis reads very neutral in her bathroom (and it's her only EK room she feels "meh" about.) That statement surprised me because the chip looked very green to me -- but when I painted my board I can see exactly what she means. I would bet she has a north-lit bathroom! But then again if you put it or Aqua next to blue (say, the Azure) it reads much more green.

Aqua looks amazing up next to my print of Georgia O'Keffe "Poppy" because of the aqua she uses in the background. I may have to do the mud room aqua and hang that print there.

Interestingly the GG looks fantastic in the bathroom, especially with the Cameo, and doesn't dull down in the room like the Oasis and Aqua do.

So my short list for bath and bedroom at this point are:
-Cameo & GG
-some type of Eggplant/Aubergine (plus something else?)
-Browns... Cognac and Bronze? I love Mushroom and Sand too. Or go even deeper - Citron Lick the Bowl? Maybe cool blue bedding and Azure ceiling, maybe this is how I can do my blue and brown.

I don't see browns in "Rose" and wonder how they come into play.

Finally consulting w/Ellen tomorrow. I like Cameo for walls, GG for ceiling, Rainbow Fog for trim (ties in dingy tile color) and... not sure about the furniture. Don't like high-contrast with the deep brown now, so I want to go light. GG is a bit *too* light; I may use Aqua!

North lit bedroom idea is now Milk Chocolate on 3 walls, and Violet at the foot of the bed accent wall. I have a Monet print that lights up in front of violet to hang there. I'm either way ahead for 2008's hottest color combo, or out of my mind!

Dangit, what I meant to post was the furniture (obviously these are the boxes, not assembled yet.) I have a pro painter friend who will spray these with the newfangled alklyd. I think I will have her formulate it for the semigloss though. Darn it, they would have looked great dark brown.

These pix try to show how the colors pick up the existing color in the floor and tile. That's a furniture sample with GG and Aqua... in Velvet Sheen. It's hard to say how it will look in SG though. Aqua basically reads grey.

Textured tile and Rainbow Fog (this somehow matches the grey in the floor AND the dingy in the tile)

What looks to be an original Deco/Streamline shade from the house. I put a dimmer on the light. Note some genius put acoustic tile ceiling in the bathroom. I painted with Zinsser Odorless primer, and it looks fantastic. You don't need to topcoat it with paint, if you don't want.

Suppose I'm verging into decorating, sorry, I will stop!

can't wait to see how it turns out! your bedroom of milk chocolate/violet combo sounds lovely :) do you happen to have a sample of the milk chocolate?

Why, thank you! I don't have a sample board of Milk Chocolate yet -- just the small chip at the moment -- but I will request one with some other samples when I talk to Ellen tomorrow. I'll post a pic later I'm sure :)

how did your consultation with Ellen go?

It went really well, she's a sweetheart. She thought I should do the bathroom ceiling pink as well as the walls. She likes the idea of the grey furniture. Hopefully I will get my samples today. I have not started doing walls yet because she wanted me to see Seven's Pink and Shell Pink to make sure I get my favorite shade.

She loved the idea of Milk Chocolate, Azure and Violet in the bedroom. We talked about a bedroom drape, so she is also sending fabric samples. I am such a fabric newbie though, that I didn't really realize I am probably not a taffeta person. I will ask about velvet or chenille.

I went to the psychic fair this weekend and got my aura photographed. It's full spectrum! There was a lot of pink. Then I had a Colorcards reading which indicated Brown, Orange and Lime Green are important colors for me now. No wonder I liked Green Apple and Pumpkin Spice so much.

did you get your house painted? :)

We need to repaint some of our Cameo walls because we installed windows. What brand of paint is the Cameo color?