I'd be afraid that lightening a greenish color could turn it minty.

There are a lot of threads here about gray/greige paints that have undertones. Many don't want green undertones, although I happen to prefer that in a gray over blue or lilac. You might find some insight in those threads.

Thanks Linelle, I've been looking at the threads and pouring over my fan decks. Do folks think Hot Springs Stone could work or would it end up looking purply against the Urban Nature?

Hot Spring Stones if going to be very pink/purple, I suspect.

How about BM Wheeling Neutral? LRV 51.55

BM Wheeling Neutral

Yes, I looked at that though it looks a wee bit more tan that I wanted to go. I guess I'm impossible! I'll try a sample. Any thoughts on Bleeker Beige, Ashen Tan or Glacial Till? And I still may sample Sag Harbor just to see how it looks if I self lighten.

Looks like Ashen Tan might end up being purply as well, yes? So Bleeker Beige or Glacial Till or Wheeling Neutral?

Yes, Ashen Tan also looks very pink/red. Someone here may know better.

Bleeker Beige, Glacial Till, Wheeling Neutral

I like the Bleeker Beige and Wheeling Neutral. Wheeling Neutral would be warmer than the Bleeker Beige, and the Bleeker Beige seems to have more gray in it, cooling it down a bit.

Tibbrix, what's that basket beige color? Oh man, I should have written that one down. It had basket in it's name. I'm still so in love with that color, I think everyone considering beige should check it out! Wish I could remember the name. :(

I also am in love with Copley Gray, but I haven't painted anything that color either. Trying to convince my mom to paint her dining room that color.

Sherwin Williams Basket Beige?

Thanks all. I actually spent a good long time looking through all the paint company fan decks avail at my local paint shop (BM, Muralo, Calif, Pratt & Lambert). I'm drawn to Pratt&Lambert's Lambswool, which looks like a beige with a bit of gray to my eyes. In any event, it's the color I liked the most of all my many samples so I think I've gotta just go with it at this point. Thanks for all the help, it's so great to have thought partners in this effort!

The other contender is P&L Shadow Beige. I'd welcome input, but I don't know how to copy those paint samples like Tibbrix.

Tibbrix do you know how to look up the LRV for colors if their website doesn't offer?

Good grief. The Pratt & Lambert Web site is HORRIBLE. Can't pull up a specific color, whether by name or number! What kind of paint Web site is that???

I managed to find this swatch of the Lambswool on another site. Looks very pink to me.

Can't find the LRV of the P&L colors. Can't find the colors, for that matter! What a lousy, very user unfriendly site. And to boot, the one time I used P&L Paint, I didn't like it. It was like water and went everywhere.

do you know how to look up the LRV for colors if their website doesn't offer?

You can look up LRV over at EasyRGB link here: http://www.easyrgb.com/new/en/similar/

It takes a few steps:

1. Choose your paint brand from the drop down menu
2. Enter color name and when it pops up, click on the yellow underlined name
3. From this new page select "convert" from the five options on the right-hand side
4. Look for XYZ or Yxy - the capital Y on either line is LRV. It's technically called CIE Y and CIE Y is = to LRV.

The CIE Y value on EasyRGB may vary from manufacturer's published LRV's but that's normal, to be expected. The difference is usually just a few points one way or the other - not a big deal and perfectly fine to use the EasyRGB numbers. It happens due to different samples, equipment, labs doing the measurements.

In fact, if you were to measure a color chip in a fandeck, that sample probably would not measure with the same LRV result that's published in the index of the very same fandeck.

Ok, Lambswool out. I feel like I'm impossible, we just want a color that 1) doesn't look tan, 2) doesn't look green, and 3) doesn't look pink. I know I'm reinventing the wheel here. How about BM Stone Hearth? Its the next card over from Coastal Fog, which had the warmth, the grey and the depth I liked. I know it's more red, but looks pretty subtle/neutral to me?

Here is BM Stone Hearth on my wall looking at dining room.

This looks great next to Urban Nature: BM Spanish Olive, LRV 53.4.

Stone Hearth looks very pink to me. You seem to be gravitating toward the mauves.

As for colors I have not yet sampled and eliminated, what about BM Baffin Island as an alt to Coastal Fog, or Laurel Canyon Beige?

I think the issue is my husband is rejecting colors that look "green". Looking for Spanish Olive in my fan deck

BM Clarksville Gray LRV 38.91

Spanish Olive is a great color, but will prob read too green for his/our tastes.

BM Baffin Island LRV 45.93

Nice combo, IMO

I'm feeling embarrassed for being so difficult.....I like Clarksville but want something in the LRV range of 50-58....I can self lighten but my local paint store doesn't like to money around w/ formulas, so it would be my home mixing. (I like to support our local businesses, so I'm stuck with them.)

Ok, I'll check out Baffin Island. What about Laurel Canyon as it's a smidge lighter?

Don't be embarrassed. We're all here because we think it's fun.

BM Laurel Canyon

I like the Baffin Island better, has a little more oomph.

Ok, and do you think Baffin Island has a bit of grey in it to keep it more neutral than tan? I actually liked Grant Beige, but it's just a bit too light. I think our paint store is more willing to darken than lighten a color.

You have to pick what you like, not what I or anyone else does! Lol.

I could be wrong, but I think the Baffin Island will radiate more warmth than the Laurel Canyon. Yes, I think the Baffin is a softer, but warmer beige than the Laurel Canyon.

My suggestion would be to pick three colors and get sample pints of each color and paint LARGE swatches of each on each wall, right up to any wood trim so you can see the contrast, live with each for a few days, then make your decision.

And don't look back!

Thanks. I may pick up the Baffin. For kicks and giggles, I've also thrown up some samples I previously purchased which include Grant Beige, Revere Pewter, and Bleeker Beige since I've already got those in the house. I'll send photos when dry, and see if I can sneak out for Baffin in a bit. THANK YOU!

slaurajones, were u thinking of BM wicker basket #255 instead of basket beige?? i think that's a great color and maybe what u are looking for!!??

wicker basket does look great, but I saw this a bit late and it's a bit darker than I'm looking for. Husband vetoed Baffin, looking at Stone House and CSP Warm Sand now. Waiting for swatches to dry and crossing fingers! We may be pretty far from where we started, but I *think( the goal is an understated cafe au lait type color. Thanks again for being part of the process, so helpful!

BM Mocha Cream

BM Tyler Gray

BM Market Square Shell

We recently used Benjamin Moore - Indian River

Tibbrix, I was feeling good about Warm Sand but now Market Square has caught my eye. Uggh. What do you think of the Warm Sand?

Ok, due to complete exhaustion, the color will be Bleeker Beige. It has warmth but seems neutral enough, and is a close as spouse and I can get to being on the same page. I surrender. I think it will be fine not wow, but that's ok. Thanks everyone!

I think the Bleeker Beige is a great choice.

I saw Bleeker Beige in a show home once and mentally filed it away; I think it's a great colour.

Thanks! I'll send after pictures, tomorrow or Tuesday. Hopefully the painting will go much faster than the selection! ;)

I'm having the same problem. I thought I wanted coastal fog for my living room but it does look very green. I think I'm going to use Camouflage.

We had Camouflage on the exterior of our previous home for almost 20 years. Absolutely loved it.

My fav is Grant Beige, it goes with every color and so yummy. paint

I need to find a color this weekend. Right now my LR is an olive green. I was leaning towards coastal fog and camouflage because I want to go with a green tone but not too green and definitely not minty. My sofa is kahki as well as curtains and I have bronze curtain rods and sconces. My rug is chocolate brown, with beiges, greens, pale gold & touch of blue.

You should sample Coastal Fog. Depending on light, it reads gray, greige, beige, even bluish. It's definitely not minty. I don't like green, but I saw CF at an open house and had the realtor email me the paint color because I was intrigued.

Baffin Island is a beautiful color and has a slight green undertone that you probably won't notice on the paint swatch, BUT be wary that next to natural woodwork for example (I have orangish undertone hardwood floors and natural woodwork in my home) -- it will read green. A pretty green nonetheless, but still green. Against white woodwork and not a lot of orange wood / hues in the house it will read more neutral.

I love the color personally but every paint looks different when used against white woodwork vs. natural woodwork. So, it depends if you want it to be a contrast or blend with your woodwork. In my case, it's a contrast.

I finally went with \the Coastal Fog and absolutely love it! It is so soothing. I'm having my bedroom done the same color.

My concern is yours. I love the soothing effect of Costsl Fog.

I have 22 foot high walls in some places in my living room and I’m concerned about CF bringing out too much of the green.

Im going to do a bit more sampling today since I’m having the same dilemma. Will it be Costal Fog or Accessible Beige increased to 125%?

Would you be willing to share your final choice? Re-Painting begins on Wednesday.

Thanks.