Paint colour help! Dark brown cabinets, dark counter!

3 years ago

Bought a new house that needs a paint redo. Looking for wall paint suggestions for a large open space that includes a kitchen with dark cabinets (French Roast colour), dark counters (some greens) and light coloured floors. Also connected is the dining room and living room. I am not expecting too much natural light though there are plenty of windows facing East, two small facing south, and one large facing West. There is stone work connected to the same open space.

There are so many things going on, I can't focus on an undertone that would work. Looking for a lighter colour (LRV 60 to 80) to brighten the place. I've looked at so many colours! Thinking a light greige would work and I want to avoid cream and pink undertones.

The furnishings in the pictures are not mine but the current owner. We have a leather couch (also dark) and darker (mid century) type wood colours.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

simplechoices

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

So your close up has helped. I think you were on the right track with SW Agreeable Gray because I think that even though your stone has yellows and oranges, I think the grey stone actually shows a little violet.

I think you are risking getting this wrong if you rush yourself too much, as seeing the new color, and even the current finishes will be hard with all those bright colors around.

Before you go into the house, paint several extra large poster boards with some of your contenders so they are ready to go for you as soon as you are on sight. Look at:

SW Agreeable Gray (lighter than the next 3)

BM Fossil

BM Balboa Mist

BM Collingwood

BM Wind's Breath (Lighter than the others)

BM CSP-95 Sea Salt (Full Spectrum color that will behave different from the rest)

I know you want to get rid of those obnoxious colors, but I think it is fair to ask your painter to prime the front entry, and give you a few days to decide the new color. Maybe even after he primes, you ask him to delay your job a bit, so you can really see the colors as the light shifts and moves.

The big risk with low chroma colors in this area of the color wheel is that they shift, and you might not like what you see. It would be a costly mistake to rush.

Take a look at the new list and let me know if there is an alternate route you would like to look at.

Please slow down this decision. I hope you land on the correct color easily when you are in the house. I would paint a few from the list that you think might work because you will know instantly when the board is next to the stone and stairs, which direction you need to go.

I would love to see the house when it is freshly painted. It will be magnificent!

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Comments (9)

simplechoices
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Beautiful home! Before you try testing colors, I would suggest you prime out a few, if not all of them. All those bright colors will bounce their wavelengths through the room and you will have a very hard time seeing the true nature of the colors you are testing.

Look at:

BM Manchester Tan

BM Clay Beige

BM Jute

BM Grant Beige

SW Wool Skein

SW Canvas Tan

SW Neutral Ground

Your stone, countertops and cabinets will dictate which greige looks good. Your light in different areas will affect how these colors look. Can you post a closer picture of the stone and countertops? Although it won't be totally accurately portrayed online, it will help to guide you in the right direction.
Kate
3 years ago
A pale green would be nice or a khaki color.
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Soulsu
Original Author
3 years ago
So I see the recommendations are more on the beige/green side. I was wondering about more if of a neutral greige like agreeable gray?
sprtphntc7a
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
if u can, take a sample of your stone to the paint store and color match it.

you want to stay in the same color temp of the stone. i would not pair a 'cool' color with that stone, which is gorgeous by the way.

we did our MB Morris Room Gray and love it.

it is definitely a greige which i wanted - calm, muted and great for any wall art.

first poster had a great idea to prime it all to stop the color deflection from the those bold colors.

the original owner was pulling our the orange in the stone, where i feel like u want to pull out the gray. best bet is to bring sample to store.

did want to add, we did our LR in SW Balanced Beige. worked out well!
Soulsu
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the feedback. We want warm, I just don't like creamy, yellow, orange.
simplechoices
3 years ago
Post a picture of the stone. I suggested more chromatic greiges because lower ones shift color in unbalanced light and you said you didn't want it to go pink. Agreeable gray can flash purple or pink in unbalanced light. From your pictures, we can't tell how it will react in your space. Only testing will. Your stairs and wall are gorgeous. Can you post a close up of that area, so we can get a better sense of both? I wouldn't go too cool though. What do you think about

SW Useful Grey?

It is less chromatic than the original colors I suggested, and sits closer to the center of the Yellow Hue Family, so less chance of pink or purple flashing through.

When I see a picture of the stone and wood stairs, I will make additional suggestions.
Soulsu
Original Author
3 years ago
Here are close-ups. The stair case has lots of natural (west facing) light and the fireplace is mostly artificial on the fireplace side. Same stone in both photos
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Kitchen · More Info
mxk3 z5b_MI
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
What beautiful spaces!

Paint colour help! Dark brown cabinets, dark counter!

simplechoices

Comments (9)

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Paint colour help! Dark brown cabinets, dark counter!

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