Looking for the Perfect Gray Paint (Again)
(Hey, Donna, are you reading? 
)
I haven’t been talking much about the dining room (other than finding a light) and the reason is that it has had me stumped. You may remember we got dining room furniture from my parents when they downsized. As much as I am embracing more traditional than ever before, it’s still just too traditional for me.
I knew that if I painted some of the pieces to break up all the dark wood, it would make a huge difference but the guilt of painting antiques (and just the thought of broaching the topic with my mom) kept me from doing it.
So I tried modernizing the space in other ways but it just wasn’t getting there. Well, when I was talking to my mom yesterday, I finally just came out with it and guess what? she is fine with me painting! She’s not elated or anything but she’s perfectly okay with it.
So I will be painting this sideboard:
and I’ll probably also paint the chairs but we’ll talk about that another day.
(The swatches above are some of the colors I’m considering.) I’ll be making the rounds today for paint swatches and samples and who knows, if things go well, maybe the cabinet will even get painted this weekend.
Have a good one, all!
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Yea Mom…baby steps…..I hope you can narrow down the grays……:)
sherry hart’s last post…My room at Nicholas House
oh, yes, I’m here and in this struggle right alongside you! keep us posted…donna
a perfect gray’s last post…perfect grays
Woohoo! Happy Mother’s Day, ha!
I think you should consider a few more grays–that’s kinda a narrow selection.
Looking forward to seeing the new modernized dining room.
angela | the painted house’s last post…Making a Spectacle of Myself
You should try a mixture of liberon pickle wav and black wax to tone down ( antique the gold) left to dry it can be buffed with a rag and stunning. and removable later… also Ben Moore Hc-166 is a nice color with gloss varnish over it.. Good luck
Thanks for all tips! I’ll look into it pronto.
oh its so tough with grey. Have you checked out Fired Earth’s greys?
We have used Alabaster (pale creamy grey)
and Antimony..gorgeous deep grey…not too dark though. Not charcoal.
Or if you like a true greige/beige grey… malm (paler) or Oak apple.
Don’t go by the lookbook though in real life they look SOOOOO different!
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I haven’t checked those out but I definitely will. And yes, it’s crucial to see colors in person (I went through this same thing last year when I painted the room ….. ) Thanks!
Even just the Liberon white wax tones gold to a silver light value. love the stuff!
Use the Black Wax a bit at a time.. it is strong..
What a beautiful sideboard…can’t wait to see it gray!!
designchic’s last post…Silver- Sort Of
That will look amazing in gray-when you find the perfect color let me know! I am always looking
Kate @ Travelmoon’s last post…Guest Post & Wisteria Before and After
ooh, that is going to look SO GOOD painted grey! are you thinking something closer to charcoal, or maybe a smidge lighter? i love pratt & lambert paint for the color saturation. you can only get it from one place here, but it’s worth taking a look if you’re in the area! ace hardware on lavista & cheshire bridge (clearly i’m assuming you didn’t already know that, sorry!).
Dayka @ life + style’s last post…TGIF
Thanks for the suggestion, D. I actually stumbled on a paint shop that has BM and P&L (on Chattahoochee) so I’m going there today.
Check out the site for Miss Mustard Seed. She paints traditonal furniture and has a source for great paint colors…and she does an excellent job painting furniture.
It is going to look amazing! So many great choices – I’m sure you will pick the perfect one!
Vanessa@Decor Happy’s last post…Something Blue Giveaway
You need to look at Pratt & Lambert’s Half Tone or Ever Classic. Half Tone is slightly cooler and Ever Classic has a touch more yellow in it. Both are perfect grays.
Oh dear Grey… what a vast color range.
This might not help, as you are trying to narrow down the choice, but can I suggest Farrow and Ball? Their color range is small but perfectly formed and they have some beautiful greys that play very well with the light.
Looking forward to the after pictures.
Another (very labour intensive) solution is to strip the wood and wax it with a white or grey wax..
Hmmm ….. that’s an interesting idea – although I must admit the words “very labour intensive” scare me a little.
What if you decided not to paint it yet? What if you waited until all of the elements were together before deciding. I would look at changing the color of the chairs rather than the sideboard which will rest next to a painted wall. It’s a beautiful sideboard, if you paint it, it might disappear in the room. What about upholstered chairs? What if you wait until the light is up, the walls are painted and the rug is in place before deciding–that way if you can’t envision it in your mind–and the design just isn’t working–you can sell the traditional antique set for what it is worth and buy what you really want…..I’m having the same design dilemmas as you Ally. I’m writing to you, but I’m really talking to myself! Have a great weekend!
Thanks for your thoughts – we have a similar thought process
but I actually have all those pieces are in place so this is the final step!
The sideboard is gorgeous! Glad Mom is okay with you painting it–it’s going to bring it to life!
Hi my friend,
I know the thought process you are going through. (I went through a similar exercise with my blue chest, if you remember. And I have NOT regretted having it painted!).
Hard to see, but many of the grays have a lot of blue in them. Mt. Rainier looks pretty good to me. Or Masonry gray. But you have a better eye than I do!
Happy weekend to you, dear.
Mon
P.S I have not forgotten you. I am just insanely busy. Will leave for Sweden on the 17th. Let me know if you need some more refills!
Splendid Willow’s last post…2 Cents On Antiques Via Fab Blog Friends
Riiight, now I understand why this is so complicated! When I first saw your post I was sitting at my laptop in the garden aka natural light. Tonight, under little light at my Mac desktop I don’t see the same thing at all. Well, just so you know, I had originally had a huge “duh” kind of impact on “Misty Gray” but tonight am thinking “First Snawfall”. That said, being a relative newbie to your blog, I don’t know the room well enough and should just keep my mouth shut!
Heather’s last post…Happy Mothers Day!
This is going to be very interesting! Since gray is my nemesis at the moment (last paint color to pick out), I’m at a loss! We’ve been hovering around BM’s Edgecomb Gray lately, half strength, but it’s for a wall, not furniture. I know you’ll pick the perfect one…and I can’t wait to see it!
Best of luck…
xo J~