Carol, you posted while I was writing my response so I didn't know of your disappointment with the plant. Of course, if you don't like semi-doubles/peony forms, then it would be a good idea to take what you bought right back to whoever sold you the mislabled plant. If you actually do like the looks of the flower, and just wish to own only plants whose identity you're sure of, then I wish I'd posted my opinion more strongly. I'm really quite sure as to the identity of your plant, as sure as anyone can ever be without seeing the plant up close and in person when blooming. Your pictures are dead ringers for our Marie Braceys/Spellbounds, right down to the minute texture on the petals. Your pictures are actually closer to what we see here every year in our Marie Baceys than the picture at the American Camellia Society that I posted, as a matter of fact. (Their picture failed to capture the petal texture well.) It's an outstanding camellia if you happen to like the form. Best wishes, Mary

Yes. I have very leafy windows 8-9 months out of the year. I'm amazed at how different the colors look (and how much brighter the house is). I love it at all times. I found that what worked best for me (and I actually found this out quite by accident) was to choose a color that is not green, but has the faintist cool/green undertone. I went with all warm colors, including my grays, because that is just what I like. But the Farrow & Ball "Farrow's Cream" in the living room and dining room have a definite olive undertone. I see it, my father sees it, but most others do not. The "Off White" in my bedroom same deal. Some see it, some don't. I'm glad I decided not to fight the green. Especially after expanding all the windows. But I didn't want true green, so I went with ever so subtle works with green. The "White Tie" in the kitchen and the "Pointing" on all the ceilings and trim, curiously enough have enough rose undertones that there is ZERO green reflected in it. At least to my eyes.

Haha, yeah that was my plan too. Pick something she would be able to grow with. We had BM gray owl at our old house and it looked nice w the lavender bedding, and I felt like I could change out the bedding and it would change up the room comepletly. But I felt like gray owl would be awful with the trim color. So I wanted a warm purplish gray. I painted the room myself, so when it came out more PURPLE than I wanted, I figured it was no more work to repaint in the future when she has an opinion than to repaint then. Unfortunately, I'm finding that girls have many more opinions much earlier than boys. My 18 mo DD has very strong opinions on which clothes, shoes, coat, etc that she wears. She also has strong opinions on what me and my DH wear. So I feel like it's only a matter of time before she starts critiquing my paint color choices :) DS is 4, took navy as close enough to black to make him happy, and hadn't looked back. DD is her own person, that's for sure! Cant wait to see what you end up with!

Did you look at BM historical colors? Have you looked in your closet for colors that you feel good about and get compliments when you wear them? Another direction would be to just work with lighter and darker variations of the gray you're already happy with. What other shades are on that color strip card? Most decorating projects end with the paint selection because it can be custom blended to work with your fabrics and textiles which are set in stone. Best way to test colors in a room is to paint a large square of each color you're considering in the center of a big white poster boards. That way you can move each color from wall to wall to see how they change with the different lighting effects including rainy days, sunny days, night, with your lighting, etc.