I bought a whole bunch of BM samples using SW paint. The SW samples are at least a pint, but they are cheap, like $4 each. I used the BM chips, took them into my local SW store, and they made samples. I also got paint samples in BM colors from Pittsburgh Paints. Their samples are a bit more expensive than SW's sample pints, but less than BM samples. I figure I can use the extra sample paints for kids' painting projects! I painted my entire entry hall in a BM color using Behr Premium paint (Behr's top of the line, not sure if that's what it's called exactly), and it worked really well. My painter, who is a paint snob, told me he was really happy with the Behr paint, and surprised by now well it covered and by the final effect, which is really nice. It was significantly less expensive than equivalent BM paint. I mention this because while I love the BM colors (in some cases), don't get too hung up on using only BM paints. There are other paints that are equally good, for less money.

Thank you for the detailed technical analysis and insight! I'm not familiar with some of the terminology so I don't understand everything being expressed. However, to answer some of your questions - the sample cans are I think a pint - not pre-mixed. I've used them before without problems. The aura can was a gallon. In my phone conversation with the store - I mentioned that perhaps there may have been some human error, but I was assured there was no way to make an error other than a computer malfunction. The part that defied logic for me was that even though both times I got paint the colors were incorrect - I was told I am the only customer ever to have had this problem! I went into the store this afternoon with my bag of paint cans and asked for a refund. I suspect that the owner didn't want to engage in a discussion in front of the other customers about my issues and begrudgingly gave me a refund. Hopefully that is the end of my paint problems!

Thanks. I was in my local store yesterday but couldn't make up my mind which sampler to get. And indecision pays off. I'm repainting the hallway because after 8 months of living with the colour I still don't like it.

Well, I bought a quart of Revere Pewter, and one of Gossamer by Pratt & Lambert...just a tad deeper than the Feather Gray, as well as a test quart of Sherwin Wms Requisite Gray--the pretty one from Ttodd's old bedroom pictures. They are all so close. Seriously close. The Requisite Gray has the same depth as Revere Pewter, just maybe one slight tad more gray. The Gossamer is almost a match for Revere Pewter. So, now I've determined that what I need is something just a little warmer, and perhaps a shade darker. If you saw my living room right now, you wouldn't even know what to think. I've splotched a dozen things. All walls are painted. Just not the same!! Red