Painted my kitchen/DR last night and I LOATHE it

15 years ago

It's BM Wilmington Tan.

I love it in everyone else's pics, but on my bright, east facing walls it looks like a giant bowl of butterscotch pudding exploded.

I really should have put the paintbrush down after the first wall last night, but stubborn me thought everything would look better in the morning (NOT!)

DH has stoically left for the hour long journey to the paint store to pick up more samples. Lenox Tan looks promising - looking for a subtle "coffee with cream" color. Suggestions? Only have Benjamin Moore stores here.

Have several large sample boards standing around, including woodstock tan, decatur buf, yorkshire tan, huntington beige, putnam ivory, saybrook sage, and of course, wilmington tan :)

Dawn, who really needs some decorating help.

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Comments (13)

Circus Peanut
15 years ago
Pictures? If you can get one shot that has a lot of wall exposed, we can photoshop some new colors onto it as a first guesstimate. :)
growlery
15 years ago
Hi, I'm growlery, and I'm a serial painter.

The late nights, the inability to put that brush down. I've been there.

We've all been there. Am I right guys?

With me it was the greens.

It started with the gateway sages. We all start out like that. Then I had a little trouble with the historics. 'Cause I fooled myself that you can't get hooked on the good stuff. But I was wrong. So wrong. Wasn't I?

But honey, don't drag your husband into this. This is your problem. He loves you too much. Don't abuse that.

You have to confront that sample rack yourself. Face it, be bold, grab hold of every possible shade, don't be afraid to mess up that wall until you get it right. Because we all mess up!

That's my story.

My problem is -- I don't want to be well!
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dawn_t
Original Author
15 years ago
Circuspeanut - I knew someone would ask that :)
I'll go dig up some photos.

LOL at Growlery - I hear ya - I've got the paint store on speed dial :)

Dawn
charlikin
15 years ago
Dawn, I feel for you. And Growlery, as for you - when you get sick of repainting your own kitchen, come do mine!!!

I'm in paint chip hell right now. I have a million chips from BM. Several little sample pots of paint. An increasing collection of the 18" square sheets that are way more convenient than the sample pots except when the wall you're looking to paint doesn't actually have 18" of space. (Just bought two more of those today... uh, the sheets or the pots? Well, I confess - two more of EACH! Different colors, though.)

I considered all the colors you mentioned, as well as old stand-bys like Powell Buff & Monroe Bisque. Hated all of them. They were either too yellow or too green or too gray. I'm looking to paint my living room, too - not necessarily the same color as the kitchen, but it might turn out to be the same. Oh, and my bathroom. Having a heck of a time finding a paint color that will work with my tile and not turn my already-pale complexion some sickly shade at the same time.

Anyway, my living room/kitchen contenders are currently Shaker Beige or Wheeling Neutral. These may be lighter than what you want. They're the really boring neutral shades that HGTV specializes in (and which I've been brainwashed into liking). In my defense, I'm going to do really colorful furnishings and accessories.

Good luck, and please feel free to post photos!!!
boysrus2
15 years ago
The same thing just happened to me. Monday, I painted my BR with SW Wild Bamboo. Painted a test sqaure, taped it to the wall, and after a few days thought I'd found my color. After painting the first big wall, I had serious doubts but like you plugged along. Thought it would improve as it dried. It didn't. Tuesday, I primed and yesterday repainted in another color.

A decorator suggested BM Pittsfield Buff for our MB and the top of the tray ceiling is Yorkshire Tan. Pittsfield Buff is a beautiful golden tan that I've never regretted. My room is West facing and not super bright though. The Yorkshire Tan looks fine on my tray ceiling, but I wouldn't select it for an entire room.

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Good luck!
bestyears
15 years ago
Been there done that. It was my DR too. Painted it blue. Hated it right away, but figured it would grow on me. At least a year later I finally got around to painting it (latte), loved it instantly, have ever since, and immediately regretted not having repainted it right away. You've done all the prep work. The hard work is truly done. I'd repaint it right away.
november
15 years ago
I feel for you! We painted our powder room what we thought was a nice, rich brown, and it looked like cat barf. Then our third baby was born, and we lived with it for three years, until a few weeks ago, when I finally painted it a gorgeous dark blue-purple color. I'm SO happy!! Repaint yours quick - you won't regret it.
malhgold
15 years ago
same story here. Kitchen/Family Room painted colonial blue. Hated it the minute we finished. Kept saying we'd redo it, but 1 thing led to another. 3 years later it's still not done. Keep waiting until we "finish" the kitchen. Haven't even started it yet. As soon as you find a color you like, paint it, or it will just drag on forever.
eandhl
15 years ago
I have BM Lenox tan and coffee with a lot of cream is a good description. It is very warm and relaxing color.
caminnc
15 years ago
Can't your BM store color match SW paint? It's pretty standard.
rosie
15 years ago
Been there--in my new master bedroom suite. Wanted a soft cozy light-medium beige VERY slightly on the warm side and chose something highly recommended by many on the decorating forum. In my house it got me 750 square feet covered in DARK strong old/dirty gold (ceiling, too, because it's attic space), immediately and strongly reminiscent of my son's very first dirty diaper ever. The painter was still on site, so tight budget be damned, it was gone the same day, replaced by something I grabbed at a run off the shelf at the nearest paint store. My husband didn't even think of trying to discuss the $300 or so involved.
dawn_t
Original Author
15 years ago
You guys are the best ever!
Thanks so much for responding and sharing your experiences (and your pain).

DH got back at supper time with a gallon of BM lenox tan and I repainted the dining room.
So far we're lovin' it, but it still needs to pass the morning sun test :)
I have high hopes though. Whew, what an improvement!

Malhgold, I hope you're able to start your kitchen soon, sounds like you've been waiting a long time!
Charlikin, I have both those color chips and they're really nice. Good luck choosing.

Thanks again, everyone, for all of your help!

Dawn
Happyladi
15 years ago
I once painted my living room, dining room, entry, and hall yellow. It was awful. It had a funny green undertone and I hated it. I lived with it for 2 months and repainted everything...mauve! But hey, it was the early 80's.

Painted my kitchen/DR last night and I LOATHE it

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Painted my kitchen/DR last night and I LOATHE it

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