The Rugh Design Color Wheel
To recap, we have been working on adding ALL of the Sherwin-Williams paint colors to the Rugh Design Color Wheel. We plan to have all 1700 colors up by the end of 2018 and each week we will release 25 new colors with my hand picked color schemes. In addition to the new 25 colors a week I will hightlight 1 color from Sherwin-Williams that I personally love or stands out.
Recently we have highlighted Alabaster (perfect slight off-white) and Light French Gray (muted gray with slight blue undertone), Snowbound (cooler off-white) and Creamy (warm creamy white).
Going forward you can find all of our Color Wheel Update posts here.
Featured Color: Mindful Gray SW 7016
Well, this week I’m profiling another gray, Mindful Gray. But really y’all, this paint color is one of my best friends right now…let me explain. I had a major design dilemma for one of my Interior Color Consultations. The couple had a beautiful home full of natural maple and pine wood for the trim, cabinets, and furniture. Probably my favorite thing about the home was the unique architectural feature of the natural pine planks on the soaring ceilings in their open concept living and dining area.
Open layout with natural maple and pine wood tones.
So, back to the design dilemma. They wanted to tone down all of the warm undertones (yellow, orange and sometimes reddish) that were coming from all of the natural wood in their home. They had been considering using a taupe color for the walls. I didn’t totally rule it out, but I felt like there was an alternative option that would help down play all of the warm tones. Guess what? It was Mindful Gray!
My main goal was to give them some color (they had cream on their walls for too long!) and to tone down all of the warm wood undertones. Well, the best way to tone down warm colors, is to use the opposite: cool colors. Mindful Gray is technically considered a warmer gray, but it comes out looking cooler once it is up on the walls. It also has a slight blue undertone, so it was a perfect option. Once they saw the color palette, they couldn’t wait to get started painting!
Just for some background and reference, Mindful Gray is one shade darker than Repose Gray. I featured Repose Gray as one of my go-to neutrals to transition from the “Tuscan” trend to the fresh, gray trend. For my clients that had the warm natural wood tones, I went with Mindful Gray since they had super high ceilings and tons of natural light. I was worried that a lighter color (like Repose Gray) would get too washed out.
If Mindful Gray SW 7016 sounds intriguing and you want see what other colors and schemes could coordinate with it then check out the color schemes I believe will coordinate nicely with it.
Now that you have a basis for Mindful Gray, check out my Pinterest gallery for some inspiration. See below and let me know which one you like the most. If you have your own pictures, send them to me and I will post them!
Where to use Mindful Gray SW 7016
As I’ve mentioned, I love Mindful Gray as an overall main wall color, especially to tone down warmer oak/maple trim. Since Mindful Gray is just a tiny bit darker than Repose Gray, it will work in spaces that have a good amount of natural light or in rooms where a bit more of a saturated color is desired (bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.).
What is so great about Mindful Gray is that it is cooler than a lot of the grieges out there, but it is still warm enough to not have a cold “concrete” feel. This makes it a perfect color to to use for those wanting a gray that isn’t going to get too “chilly.” I love the bedroom below painted in Mindful Gray with the pops of brighter blue that bring out the blue tones in Mindful Gray even more!
Speaking of the blue undertone, keep that in mind as you are planning your interiors and be sure it works with your selections. Mindful Gray goes really well with white trim to create contrast and looks gorgeous with darker floors as pictured below.
Mindful Gray not only looks terrific on walls, it also stands out as a cabinet color. If you thinking of painting your cabinets gray, but are worried about going too dark, Mindful Gray fits the bill. I love how it looks paired with white quartz countertops and a white marble backsplash for a fresh and clean look. Once again, it comes out looking like a warmer gray even more so on cabinetry than on the walls. The built-ins pictured below are a perfect example of this!
Not only does Mindful Gray work for interiors, it also translates over to the exterior. It definitely goes lighter on an exterior, so I like it as a main body color paired with a darker gray or even a darker gray-blue for the trim. Of course it also pops against white trim for some gorgeous contrast! You can play around with Mindful Gray and even use it for a front door color if the main body color is white.
If you are considering Mindful Gray, the best way to find out if it is right for your space, is to grab a Peel & Stick Paint Sample and test it out.
Our paint samples are handed painted with 2 coats of the real Sherwin-Williams color and are perfect for sampling color before you take the dive into gallons of paint. The Peel and Stick Paint Samples make it easy to have confidence in your paint color choice and will save you time, effort and money while testing colors in your space. Get started now with Mindful Gray!
If you are still having trouble deciding, contact me for a Color Consult to nail down the best color for your interior or exterior. I have a passion for color and love being able to help clients find the right color to make their home beautiful!
Leave me a comment if you have Mindful Gray in your home or would like to try it. I would love to hear from you! Also, stay tuned for the next featured color from the Color Wheel…
The Best of the Rest
Mindful Gray had the spotlight, but I also wanted to highlight a color from the Color Wheel update, Quicksilver SW 6245. This color is categorized as an off-white in the Sherwin-Williams deck. It has a blue undertone and is a perfect color to use in spaces for a soothing spa-like feel. I love how soft Quicksilver is for a barely there look. The picture below is a spot on example of how Quicksilver produces a lovely beachy vibe.
Check out the colors we updated on the Color Wheel this week below. Click on the swatch to see my color scheme picks!
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If you are need of some color help check out my Interior and Exterior Color Consultation packages. I also have many different eDesign packages for all your interior needs. And yes, I did write a book.
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– Laura
Me too, I need to see a photo! I also have a similar set up, but not as much entering. Would love to see!
Well, I did Mindful Gray, all over except one bedroom. I have a lot of wood and ‘yellow’ hardwood floors. The family room with a wood ceiling similar to that pictured adjoins the kitchen with wood cabinets. all golden/yellow shades. I have some wood light coves on each wall in the family room, the wood never ends. It is perfect…my home is also fairly dark.. the Mindful Gray actually even looks white sometimes, not too dark at all. I already had painted the dining room Mindful Gray about 4 months ago. I believe the shade changed a bit after being on the wall for a time, but only for the better. It became a shade lighter or something. Same with the Dorian Gray I painted the bedroom. I hated it, but couldn’t decide what to do, As I have grown used to it, and I swear it ‘cured’ or something, I love it, too!
Hi Valerie,
Thank you for chiming in! I agree with you. Mindful Gray works perfectly with yellow wood undertones. I have a client with those same wood tones and MIndful Gray turned out gorgeous in her home! As always, I recommend testing a sample first in your lighting, but it sounds like it turned out well for you too!
Thanks again for your comment, Laura