I've always likes Mona's home. She has excellent taste. Have you tried painting a large poster board and taping it to the wall and leaving it a few days in all light? I narrow it down to a few colors and paint the foam board and move it around the room for a few days in the different lights of the day. I will tell you though. I have a terrible dislike to sage green. LOL. Also blue. It took me a LONG time to find a blue I liked for my laundry. I think it was my Mother's love for painting EVERTHING these two colors as a child and I swore to never paint anything these again. Ok so anyhow FF to my sister who just painted several room in her house Restoration Hardware Sycamore green. It looks *really* pretty. I would have her take a picture. She is so opposite of internet savvy it would be her mailing a poloroid to you in the mail. here are some I found online though FYI she had is mixed in Behr paint. She is a big fan of their formula. :) HTH. http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/nursery-colors-2007-entries/entry-10-finns-soothing-sleeper-034984 http://lh4.ggpht.com/_sNLDFYYwT8w/Rp5YjlcTDRI/AAAAAAAAAEA/rcX6Jorklgw/Bedroom+3.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0ohAJwZWZsA/SZx01Tw4XrI/AAAAAAAAAgA/1FgG64_pdlE/s400/IMG_1034.JPG http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2038/2218655286_436cd8f978.jpg?v=0

The kitchen is 12' x 19'6" and is open to the family room which is about 14'x 18'8". We have 2 recessed lights over the fireplace in the family room, as well as 3 various lamps and 2 windows. There is a bay window in the kitchen and patio doors, as well as a window over the sink, so during the day we get plenty (sometimes too much) light. At night it's a different story. It can be pretty dim sometimes. We only have 200 watts above the table right now, and the big old ugly flourescent light box (4) 40 watt tubes, in the center of the room, and a flush mount fixture over the sink (2) 40 watt bulbs. So over the table we would be gaining 160 watts with the new fixture, 20 watts with where the light box currently is (although I don't know how a flush mount with 180 watts compares to flourescent tubes that are 160 watts) and also gaining 20 watts over the sink. I don't think we are going to do under cabinet lighting, because our budget is really dwindling. Would UC lighting be very helpful? If so, I may reconsider. We just don't want to keep adding extras we won't recoup when we move in a couple of years. BTW, if anyone has an opinion on the brushed steel vs dark bronze (which looks almost black IRL), I'd love to hear it. (SS appliances with some black on them, ss sink, brushed nickel faucet, probably satin nickel cab hardware, and 2 interior doors with antique pewter levers). I could always look at some other fixtures. I've seen some that I didn't like quite as well, but could get 500 watts over the table and 300 watts in the center of the room. Would this be a better option? Sorry, I'm all over the place on this. I hate pressure to decide quickly!

I love what u have so far! Great neutral colors. However, I do agree with you the room seems a bit bland as is. U have so many great neutrals. I would suggest getting dark grey drapes to flank either side of the window and accent with golden or teal colors for a bit of pop. The photo above has the warm colored floor and charcoal cabinets, the brass hardware and teal bar stools add a bit of character without losing its sophistication. U could accent with mustard and teal pillows. Do the dark curtain and possibly have a 2nd later under the charcoal drape in one of the accent colors.

Jillian, You have a lovely home. Apple-pie gave great advice. I think with those beautiful warm wood floors you might need a more neutral gray or greige paint. If you want me to choose one of your grays. I will have to say Repose Gray because it has a hint of warm beige in it that might work better with your floors. BUT.....that gray can look purple. I like the idea that Sara S had about priming a wall and choosing the right color rather than go over the colors you have. It is hard to see a colors undertones with teal or purple or yellow or really any color that might take away from the gray shade you are searching for. I know you will find the right gray. Those beautiful wood floors deserve a gray that will bring out the beauty. Visit a few blogs that talk about gray paints and how to choose them. Repose Gray Blog Warm orange floors and gray paint (blog) Fabulous warm gray paint colors And then find out how much light you have (natural or not) and think about the directions your rooms face. I am sure you will find the perfect color. I am looking at Balboa Mist and Shale for my own space. Shale is a little darker but I think it will work with my dark chocolate floors where Balboa works even better with warm golden floors. ~boxer