This is as simple as a test quart for all the rooms involved, with no "roll of the dice"

Roll some, let it dry. Roll a second coat, let it dry.

Happy? Not happy?

Satin finish on all trim, it need not shine like a boat side.

I am not for accent walls, so not sure what you mean by "end of the room" : )

Oh, thank you. I've tested a lot of colors, but it didn't occur to me that I could test the actual paint too. That's a great idea. Although when I check the SW site, it looks like Cashmere doesn't come in quarts, only gallons.

I actually found out from the builder that they have another house that's just been finished with this paint, so I went to take a look at it today. The low luster finish is slightly more shiny than I would normally choose, but not so shiny that I couldn't stand it.

But I am still unsure about the trim finish (this house had stained trim, so I couldn't compare paint finishes). The SW specs show that Cashmere low luster has a gloss rating of 10 at 60 degrees and 35 at 85 degrees. The satin enamel gloss rating is 15 at 60 degrees and 25 at 85 degrees. Does this mean that at certain angles the Cashmere seems glossier than the enamel? Either way, they are very close in sheen. Is it weird to have wall and trim be a similar level of sheen? Is it an old fashioned idea that trim should be a step shinier?

(The "end of the room" just referred to our extra long living room which has bookshelves at one end, wrapping 10 ft along the long wall around 2/3 of the short wall. The other third of the short wall and the 10 ft of plain wall opposite the bookshelves will be painted green (rest of living room white). It's to distinguish that as a "room" even though it's all one space.)

Before you spend the money to test the actual paint, read the TDS sheets. It will give the gloss ratio in a % formula that you can compare.

IMO, all SW paints are "chalky" when compared to the same level of a Benjamin Moore paint.

When reading the TDS, also compare the % of solids.

One of the reasons SW can run "40% off" coupons is they add alot of extra cheap fillers to their paints.

When it comes to paining, labor is the main cost. Use the BEST possible paint you can afford. And make sure the painters are using the proper prep, primer and # of coats needed.

For walls, my favorite paint is Benjaimin Moore Scuff X in Matte finish. Cleans like an eggshell, but a beautiful, soft finish. And for trim, Benjamin Moore Scuff X in Satin.

@Jane Austen, I missed the part of your comment where you listed the gloss ratings.

For comparison, this is Scuff X Matte: Sheen / Gloss 8 – 15 @ 85

N484_TDS_US.pdf (benjaminmoore.com)

And this is Scuff X Satin: Sheen / Gloss 20 – 35 @ 60°

N486_TDS_US.pdf (benjaminmoore.com)

Both list their "solids" as over 40%.

It's really frustrating to me, as my BM store has excellent service, but no sample displays of the true paint finishes.

@kandrewspa That's a good point. Thanks

Mary Elizabeth, I too am frustrated that paint stores don't have displays of the paint finishes. I have a little card with 1 inch square chips showing the finishes. Hard to get a good sense of it so small (just like the colors). It would be a great display in the stores to show something bigger.

SW does advertise that Cashmere is "scrubbable" - many flat paints are fairly easy to clean up now. I don't have any experience with Cashmere, so can't say how easy it is to clean. We have flat paint everywhere except the bathrooms, and I'm sure the cheap painter that the builder hired used the absolute cheapest builder grade paint and it cleans up nicely. It depends on how much shine you want on your walls - I like flat paint on walls and satin on trim, others don't mind higher sheen.

Cashmere lo lustre is one of my favorite flavors of paint. I like the look and 'hand' of the final finish.

Sheen is how shiny it looks straight on in front of you.

Gloss is how shiny it looks from an angle, like you're standing at the door and looking down the hall before you step out - the shine hits your eyeballs different from an angle.

Gloss and sheen levels are like LRV in that you can't compare those data values brand to brand.

It's also not consistent color to color. More colorant for saturated/dark colors usually means greater shine.

And gloss/sheen does dissipate a smidge as the film cures; especially noticeable exterior i.e. midtone to dark color in satin.

So, yeah, I agree the only way to know what it looks like is to buy a quart in the color, grade and sheen you want to use.

No quarts? Then it is worth getting the gallon to test because if it is a lower sheen they can strategically work it in on a wall somewhere as a first coat, second coat covers it with the sheen you want.