What do you think of blue/grey walls?

15 years ago

I've been trying to find a neutral tan for our walls and was looking at f&b's cord but haven't ordered a sample yet (sample costs $14 with shipping).

Well, today I read a Mario Buatta quote where he says to pick out the least used colour in a chintz and paint the walls that colour. The least used colour in my floral chairs is a greyed out greeny blue. So now I'm trying to figure out if this would work - and if I'm willing to give up my monochromatic colour scheme.

It would go with grey blue ceiling I painted in haste a few months ago.

It wouldn't go with the olivey green in the kitchen, but hey, I can repaint that.

Do I try to get an exact match or go with something more neutral. Maybe farrow and ball's blue grey which is similar but more muted. An exact match would be BM's grenadier.

Here is a pic of the chairs. The blue/green colour in the chairs is the same as the colour of the pillows on the couch (but it looks much brighter in the pic than in real life).

Thoughts?

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Comments (13)

brutuses
15 years ago
Mario Buatta is practicing the exact opposite of what I've been taught. LOL

I don't think you have enough of that color in the chairs and as a result they will look out of place. Of course I can't see for sure on this monitor.

I would get the sample of paint, paint one wall and put the chair up against the wall or just out from the wall and see what kind of feeling you get when you look at it. You'll know if it enhances or clashes.

I'm going on the BM site to see that color you mention. I'll get back with you on how it looks to me.
brutuses
15 years ago
I believe that's an incorrect spelling for the BM color. I can't find it on their site.
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rob333 (zone 7b)
15 years ago
Picking out the least used color, makes the quiter item "pop" against a background that is the same.

I use this idea all the time, especially when matting a picture or hanging one I want to highlight

It's fun to change the colors... using a computer. To do this with your picture, first, set your picture as the "desktop background". Then, go to "Display", pick center for your picture, and then pick a background color. Sort of "framing" your desktop picture. Try these: use the color of the pillow, then the main color on the chintz, then a complement of the main color, you get the idea.

Does this make sense?
budge1
Original Author
15 years ago
Hey brutuses, was thinking of you earlier when I was looking at yorkshire tan. Did you end up using it?

And I know what you mean about the opposite, but I'm thinking it might work. I think I will have to try (but possibly with a cheaper benjamin moore sample - even tho I'm dying to use farrow and ball).
budge1
Original Author
15 years ago
Sorry brutuses, I think it must be one of those Canadian things. A few of BM's colours are either different or just have different names in Canada - drives me nuts.

Good to hear rob333, I think it is worth spending $10 on a tester. I will try the computer thing, but its really not my strong point so not sure it will work.
squirrelheaven
15 years ago
Budge, here are some colors to look at. I couldn't get a good green to work. In a couple I did change the ceiling to a light mossy/sage green. Last pic has a touch of green in it:

{{!gwi}}

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zaptor99
15 years ago
Hi squirrelheaven, what software did you use to change the colors? I have BM Personal Color viewer, but it doesn't give me good results on my PC.
rob333 (zone 7b)
15 years ago
squirrel, that third from the bottom one (green ceiling/lighter wall) is my favorite. I think the it brings the ceiling into the grouping, adding a good dimension. And that the grey-blues make it seem more sky like and kinda floating above it all, still good. Nicely done.

-Robin
Kathleen McGuire
15 years ago
budge, do you know the name of your fabric or if there is a sample pic online? I would love to see a closer pic of it with all the colors. Pretty fabric.
slc2053
15 years ago
squirrelheaven...could you reverse the colors in the photo of where the ligher gold color is on the walls and green is on the ceiling...making it so that the green is on the walls and lighter gold is on the ceiling?

budge...not trying to highjack..your post is right on with our color scheme and room layout..we'll have beams and are wondering whether to paint ceiling lighter shade than wall or another color altogether...
teacats
15 years ago
Brillant virtuals Squirrel! LOVE your work! :)

A vote for #8 from the top .....

Jan
budge1
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks kmcg85. The fabric is linen from Waverly. I'm pretty sure the line it comes from is called Romantic. But you may have to look around, I seem to remember that the Romantic series comes in a few different colour combos - one has robin's egg blue, one is tea stained and the one we have that is more saturated colour. I used to have a link to it at hancock's of paducah but they don't seem to have it right now. I'm sure if you did a search it would come up.
budge1
Original Author
15 years ago
Gosh squirrel, I completely missed all that work you did. Thank you! I definately like the ones with a bit of green best.

Not sure if it shows up in the pics but our walls have the wall paper with a raised pattern on it (put on when the house was built I think). I think I am gong to have to do a skim coat of plaster over top. This is going to be a major job, but I think it will make the paint look much different. So what I'm saying is that, it may be awhile before I post results - or post anything for that matter. I just loooove hard work (can you feel the sarcasm?)

What do you think of blue/grey walls?

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brutuses

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What do you think of blue/grey walls?

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