Choosing the right grey..

Before we dive into this post, I'd just like to say that the absolute best way to choose

color for your space is to have a professional come in and help you.

Every space is different, and each one requires careful consideration to achieve the best finished result.

That said, since grey is poised to take over for beige as the most commonly requested color from clients,

I thought a post about grey was in order.

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First, I don't always recommend grey as a wall color.

If you have a north-facing space with little or no natural light,

 it would be better to bring grey in as an accent. 

You can read why at my post about how the natural light in your space faces affects color choices.

The best greys usually don't appear quite as appealing on a color chip.

People tend to go directly to the flat, cool greys, and there are many more subtle and suitable choices.

I will show you some of my favourite picks at the end of the post.

When choosing grey the two important considerations are the undertones that it contains

 and the lightness/darkness of the shade.

Grey contains one of three undertones - purple, green or blue.

Green based blues generally appear the most neutral, 

and I recommend them frequently because they are easy to live with

 and complement a wide range of wood tones and other colors.

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Blue based greys are the coolest, and most people go to these first.

To prevent the room from becoming too cold,

add warmth through natural woods, warm metals, additional (warm!) colors, etc..

Now, look at blue grey without the all the warm additions from above. 

It may not be for everyone, but the restful quality of cool grey is quite evident in this living room, isn't it?

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Cool grey, camel, warm white and black - this is my personal favourite.

It's the color palette in my family room, which is not quite photo ready but I will share when it is :)

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Purple based greys are the ones I use the least.

The majority of my clients are working with some existing furnishings and finishes.

Most woods contain orange or red tones, and they clash with the purple.

Note the backsplash - do you think it has the same undertone as the cabinetry?

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A dark purple-based grey coverlet is used here perfectly - 

framed by cool white walls and ebonized floors, 

warmed by a hit of yellow tones in the table and art.. 

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This is a medley of different greys - but it works because of that one silver stripe in the wall treatment.

The most common way to classify grey is by cool and warm.

Cool greys work best in a room that receives direct sunlight during the period you will be using it.

This kitchen is definitely receiving cool light, 

and will require a lot of those wood tones to soften the effect elsewhere in the room. 

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The orange tones provide great visual interest here, easily defining the bed as the focal point.

Dark, cool grey - without any warm tones to balance it.

It's dramatic - but could you live in this space?

Light cool greys are more forgiving.

This bathroom has an almost eretheal quality about it, grounded nicely by the dark ottoman.

Warm greys are quite liveable.

These are the paints that I often steer clients toward who are moving uncertainly

 from warm walls for the first time.

On the colour chips, these may not appear to be particularly attractive choices, 

but once you see them on the wall - magic!

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Moleskin. Almost brown, but still grey. A very warm and enveloping color.

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Would you have thought that grey could warm up white?

Warm grey and warm white effortlessly mixies with black -

 this space is unconventional, but oh so beautiful.

 *Three matching carpets side-by-side - what do you think of that as a flooring solution for large spaces?

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I have a few BM favourites..

Coastal Fog - a soft warm grey.

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Pearl Gray - a light cool blue grey.

Winds Breath - a lovely "griege"

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and for outdoors, Behr's paint and primer in one can't be beat.

I used Intellectual on my own railing and banisters, it's a beautiful dark warm grey.

The interior of my home was painted almost entirely in a dark steel grey when we moved here.

With dark, blue-based grey ceramic tile and ebonized hardwood floors, it was just too cold for me.

I have been moving through the house, repainting room-by-room.

Grey remains as an accent in our entry, family room and kitchen.

Have any of you embraced grey? Are you considering it?

I'd love to hear which greys you have used, and if you are enjoying them.

til next time..

color post: green and grey

A while back I did a grey and pink post, 

and asked which other combos you'd like to see,

and the most common response was green and grey.

This surprised me a little,

as I've yet to have a client request this combination in their home.

That said, the rejuvenating effects of green work perfectly to counter the sometimes dulling effects of grey,

making this a fabulous combination to both relax you and uplift your spirits.

I think the saturation of the green is the key to getting this mix right.

Pale greens will be better enhanced by warm neutrals,
which flatter by intensifying green and making them appear fuller.
Cool greys require more vivid greens that have enough strength for a rich and balanced palette.



Grey - softened:
here, the warmth of greyed down woods bridge the gap between sisal floors and grey walls.
The emerald green accents add a punch to the otherwise neutral space.

This is my favourite look, where a bit of warmth keeps things from being chilly.
An incredibly liveable space, right?

High Drama:
the coolest grey on the walls is a good choice to complement the white and black in the space,
but I'm curious to see if you would find this palette welcoming.

I suspect this grey is almost solely comprised of black and white, with very, very little undertone.
If you removed the green curtains and chair,
 it would almost appear to be a black and white photo, wouldn't it?

Grey Love:
When you are ready to make a commitment to grey, but are trying on green.

The question is, how much green do you want?
Grey furnishings, white walls and green accents -
or grey furnishings, green walls and white accents?

A flexible look for the no-house-is-ever-truly-finished-decorator:

grey walls, white furniture, and green accents.

With grey as popular as it is, the walls will last you a few years of palette changes,

and the green accents are simple to change when you tire of them, say, next year :)

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Some of you asked if I could list grey paints for you to try,
and I was going to begin including my favourites in my posts,
but the truth is, the paints I like may not work for you.
It would be awful for you to paint your home a certain color because someone said how beautiful it was,
and then end up really unhappy with the finished results.
The light and existing finishes in your home, and your personal preferences,
mean that every home is unique, and every home should have it's own personalized color palette.

Colors that YOU love, not colors I love!
(you may not know it but I do on-line consults now, they've become quite popular,
and if you'd like a hand choosing paint for your home just drop me aline and we'll get started)

So, after all that :) ...


what do you think about green and grey together?
Is it a combination you would try out?

greyed wood + pastels = scandi beach house perfection

Cottage and wood panelling are practically synonymous here.

For some reason everyone feels the need to line their weekend retreats with copious amounts

 of sometimes-garish pine and cedar planks.

So how to keep the rustic vibe but bring the panelling up to 2011?

Grey it down by applying a "wash" to the wood.

If the wood has a pre-existing finish, it has to be sanded first,

and calling in the professionals may be your best bet.

Simply apply watered down pale grey latex onto the bare planks, 

rubbing into the boards (with the grain) as you go, 

almost like a stain.

Saw it first in this stunner

and I'm loving it here...

The floors were actually stripped and left completely unfinished, to weather naturally.

That jaw-dropping wall of tile, which was already here, 

was originally orange and so was given the same treatment as the walls. 

Love, love, love the artisan feel.

The owners of this beach house are the founders of Ochre...

look at this office they've set up -

oh, to work with the sound of crashing waves in the background!!

With all the greyed down tones in the wood, 

clean, pale tints are the perfect accent colors - 

pastels are BACK.

It's a bit like driftwood and sea glass, translated into an interior, isn't it?

The outdoor space remains as equally low-key...

a modern table tucked under a homemade roof of bamboo poles lashed together - so totally clever...

sigh. so lovely.

How was your weekend?

I made it to Kempenfest,

our local arts and crafts extravaganza down by the lake.

Picked up an adorable baby gift for a friend (you're going to want one, and she is on Etsy - yay!)

and discovered a very cool sculptor / furniture designer that works with unique upcycled bits, 

will show you the pics later this week.

Have a great monday!

color post: which pinks love grey

For so many years beige, or some form of warm neutral,

was the go-to backdrop for every space.

Now, with grey at the forefront of design,

many of us are trying to make the switch from warm neutrals to cool ones...

Concerned about creating a space that feels "cold", 

my clients usually want to incorporate some colorful accents when using grey on the walls.

 A question I am constantly asked is what colors work with grey.

If you read my post on clean color,

you'll know that almost any hue works with grey, 

what's important is that it is a pure hue that has been mixed only with white, black, or grey.

but one of my favourite combinations is grey mixed up with pink and it's cohorts...

and when I saw this living room, I swooned, because the color mix is exactly right.

 grey wall and sofa + with fresh garden hues - how about that lush emerald?

(and note how the pillow on the right, sconce art and side table 

pick up the the warm tones found in the wood floor and allow for a harmonious mix.)

Black adds glam to the combo, 

and although I may have chosen a slightly cooler tone for the walls,

those chairs are showstoppers, aren't they?

Turquoise plays well with fuchsia against a serene dove grey backdrop, 

because they are equal in saturation.

Just as the palest of pinks pairs perfectly with the palest of greys to create this tranquil space.

The pink is fairly dominant in these living/dining rooms at first glance,

 but it's actually only the sofa and flowers that are pink.

So much impact from one piece of furniture!

Look how differently the paint and sofa color appear in the different photos.

This is why you should never choose a paint color based solely on a photo!!!

(hmm... I smell a future post :)

and some pretty bits of high contrast...

so want that painting, top left.

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What do you think?

Would you ever use this combination?

Since they are so popular right now,

I think I'll do a few posts exploring grey based color schemes...

any particular one you'd like to see explored next?