Recent Comments from Rugh Design
In this edition of Hey Laura! I answer questions such as “Is Light French Gray the best gray for my cabinets and accents?” I will also discuss using Pussywillow with medium oak wood trim, I will look for a backsplash color to match Accessible Beige, compare Repose Gray vs Colonnade Gray for an exterior and finally take a look at how I classify High Reflective White and other whites that were not profiled in my Best White Paint Colors post.
I am excited to bring you my answers to some of your comments found around Rugh Design! One of the unexpected benefits of starting the Color Wheel have been all the comments that the color scheme pages continue to receive. If you can’t find the answer you are looking for I would love to be your Color Consultant! You can hire me for an Interior or Exterior Color Consultation as well as for an eDesign.
Let’s get started!
Gray without the undertones
Hey Laura!
Looking for a gray to paint walls in our two story. Light French Gray is a little light and blueish for the wife’s taste. We got a sample of Special Gray for couple shelving units to compliment the lighter gray. I put some of both on the wall. She seemed to like the Special Gray better than the Light French Gray. Then she mixed a little of both and put the others between them and that seemed to be her favorite.
I feel the Special Gray would be to dark to do entire house in. I would love your thoughts on a color combo that’s a bit darker & grayer than the Light French Gray for the walls and a darker gray that goes with it for the shelves & accent stuff? More of an actual gray and not with the bluish undertones as it doesn’t work with our lighting? Light French Gray, Gauntlet Gray, Dorian Gray, Westchester Gray etc etc. I’d rather not go down the rabbit hole with the samples if you can steer me in right direction. Lol.
Thanks so much in advance.
– Joe L
Hi Joe,
Great question! If you are looking for a medium toned gray without other undertones, I would consider Intellectual Gray. It won’t be too dark and is a good gray that won’t cast a blue, red or purple undertone (like some grays can do)! Go a few shades darker than Intellectual Gray for your shelving and I’d say you have a great combination right there.
Thanks for reaching out! I know grays can be tricky. Keep me posted on everything. Would love to see how it turns out!
Thank you,
Laura
Pussywillow with medium oak wood trim
Hey Laura!
Pussywillow has been recommended to me by a decorator for my living room. Unfortunately, the wood trim is a medium oak, so I have to work around that. We have tall ceilings and lots of windows, and a tall white brick fireplace. Do you think that would work?
– Lori W.
Hi Lori,
Yes, Pussywillow actually will work great! It has a hint of a blue undertone that will help to tone down your medium oak trim. I saw the same thing happen in my home. My floors are a medium oak with an orange undertone to them. I was not a huge fan, but once I painted my walls in Lattice (another gray-blue color), my floors seemed to fade into the background.
Blue and orange are complimentary colors, so by nature they compliment each other, while toning down the intensity of each other. I always suggest testing a sample in your own space first, but other than that, I say go with Pussywillow!
Thanks so much for reaching out,
Laura
Backsplash color to match Accessible Beige
Hey Laura!
My upstairs has an open living room, dining room and kitchen, with two bedrooms and a bathroom down the hall. My fireplace tile is porcelain marble but the kitchen backsplash are light tan tiles. I want to use Accessible Beige for living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom walls, with Tony Taupe for fireplace accent wall where the porcelain marble is.
I’m worried about the light tan tiles in the kitchen. Will all these colors go together? (Not sure yet what color we are going to paint the kitchen cabinets.)
Thank you.
– Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Thanks for reaching out! I do love Accessible Beige for a neutral. Honestly, it will depend on the undertone in your beige/tan tile. If the tiles are more yellow/golden, Accessible Beige might be too greige. However, if the tile has some gray or taupe tones mixed in with the beige, Accessible Beige would be perfect.
If you love Accessible Beige, it would be worth it to consider replacing your backsplash to something that coordinates with your updated look. I love white and off-white subway tile for a classic look and feel. You can’t go wrong with it!
Keep me posted on everything and let me know if I can help you with finding a backsplash and cabinet color too!
Thank you,
Laura
Repose Gray vs Colonnade Gray Exterior
Hey Laura!
I’m in the process of building my first home (exciting but so nerve racking too) it’s a craftsman/traditional style home. Most craftsman homes go on more of the creams greens brown look. We love light and bright (like farm house) our brick is a creamy white brick and the color we chose to go with it is my fav Repose Gray!
Unfortunately the HOA denied our color combo request but gave us the choice to use Colonnade Gray. Wanted to get your advice on using that warm color with our brick or if you have any photos of clients that have used it along side a light brick.
Thanks!
– Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Congrats on your new home! That is so exciting. Great question! Colonnade Gray is actually very similar to your favorite, Repose Gray. I love the creamy brick with a soft gray look. It’s a modern farmhouse twist on a Craftsman style, which it totally doable!
To answer your other question, yes, I have had clients who have used a softer palette for their exterior and it has turned out beautifully! Best of luck to you in your building process. 🙂
Laura
Is High Reflective White a true white?
Hey Laura!
I think High Reflective White is also a ‘true white.’ And would you categorize Marshmallow as a greige white? What about Pearly White and Toque White, are they lighter versions of Alabaster and Marshmallow?
– Arturo
Hi Arturo,
Thank you for reaching out! I didn’t categorize High Reflective White as a “true white” because it can have a very sligh blue-ish undertone at times. Extra White is my go-to baseline for a true white to categorize the other whites and off-whites. Marshmallow is closer to the warmer whites, more of a beige-white versus a greige-white, which is actually what Toque White is. Toque White is very close to Incredible White. Pearly White is actually close to Greek Villa, with a bit more saturation than Alabaster (and Greek Villa), but is still a warmer off-white.
I hope that all makes sense! Ha! Whites can be tricky, so let me know if you do need help finding the right one for your space.
Thanks again for reaching out,
Laura
Leave more Comments!
I hope to continue to post answers to questions on a regular basis. So feel free to leave your comments! Each color scheme page and each blog post has a dedicated place to leave comments.
If you are in need of color help I would love to be your Color Consultant! You can hire me for an Interior or Exterior Color Consultation as well as for an eDesign.
Follow me on social media for more color ideas and inspiration!
– Laura
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