Hey Laura! Volume IV
In this edition of Hey Laura! I answer questions about tranistioning from beige to gray, using Egret White to warm up a space, choosing a trim color to use with Repose Gray and much much more. For quick and easy navigation use the list of topics below!
- Pairing Snowbound with Pure White
- Using Egret White to warm up a space
- Trim Color to use with Repose Gray
- Best White for Kitchen Cabinets
- Transitioning from beige to gray
- Shutter color for a Mega Greige exterior
- Dark ceiling color to pair with Accessible Beige Walls
- Creating an exterior beige/tan scheme with Malabar
- Should I use Malabar when I have a yellow undertone in my flooring?
- Malabar on my walls but why do I see this green undertone!?!?
I am excited to bring you my answers to some of your comments found around Rugh Design! Please visit any of my Blog posts or color schemes pages from the Color Wheel and leave a comment to have chance to be featured in future Hey Laura! posts.
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. Or if you don’t have a need for a full blown consultation but would still like some help check out my Color Question Consultation.
Let’s get started!
Pairing Snowbound with Pure White
From the Snowbound color scheme page Kim asks:
Hey Laura!
I agree with you about Snowbound. It’s lovely. Just as the comment by CL, I am considering using Snowbound on all walls in home with SW Pure White as a trim color. Or Pure White on the walls in an eggshell finish with a Pure White gloss on Trim.
Any thoughts?
– Kim
Hi Kim,
I think Snowbound on the walls in an eggshell finish and semi-gloss trim in Pure White would look amazing! Just know that there won’t be much contrast, but that is okay if your goal is more of a white-on-white look.
Varying the sheen on the walls and the trim will help to add some interest and will end up being a contrast visually. With white walls and trim, you can have a ton of fun adding lots of color and textures in your art, accessories and furniture selections!
I would love to hear what you end up doing!
Please feel free to sign up for a Interior Color Consultation if you need further help!
Laura
Using Egret White to warm up a space
From the Egret White color scheme page Jennifer asks:
Hey Laura!
We’ve tried many neutrals to paint our main areas of our house and most of the greige family are either too dark or too earthy. We’ve selected Egret White, but my fear is that it will have little impact and be barely noticeable against our off-white trim. We are painting over white walls and want to make sure that warms up the rooms.
– Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
I love Egret White! It is a very soft neutral, but the inspiration pictures that I have seen still show some contrast against the trim. I do think that it will help to warm up your space if you currently have white walls.
To insure that Egret White will look best against your trim, paint up a sample and put it right next to your trim. You can even move the sample around the room to different areas to make sure that it works at different times of the day with the lighting. If you do find that your trim is too similar to Egret White, consider painting your trim (while you are already painting anyway!) a brighter white, such as Extra White, to pop against the wall color.
Keep me posted on your progress!
Please feel free to sign up for a Interior Color Consultation if you need further help!
Laura
Trim Color to use with Repose Gray
From the Top 5 Neutral Paint Colors post Meg asks:
Hey Laura!
I am looking to use Repose Gray in our master bath, however, I am not sure which white trim to go with. We have a beautiful white vanity that looks a bit creamy/yellow in some lights, so I am looking to downplay any yellow tones and blend it with all of our other white fixtures, toilet, shower, etc. Any input? Thanks so much!
– Meg
Hi Meg,
Thanks so much for reaching out! I love Repose Gray and it looks fabulous in master bathrooms to create a nice spa-feeling. I would look for a trim color that is right in between a bright white and an antique white: a creamy off-white that doesn’t have a strong yellow undertone to balance out your vanity.
Thankfully, Sherwin-Williams has several options that fit that description! One option in particular is Creamy. Test out some samples next to Repose Gray in your bathroom lighting to see which one looks best. Best wishes on your master bathroom refresh! Send me pictures when you are finished.
Please feel free to sign up for a Interior Color Consultation if you need further help!
Laura
Best White for Kitchen Cabinets
From the Anew Gray color scheme page Denise asks:
Hey Laura!
I just painted my kitchen Anew Gray and love the color. The leathered mystic gray countertops just got installed. Struggling with all the “white” paint colors out there for kitchen cabinets! Suggestions?
– Denise
Hi Denise,
I’m so glad you love Anew Gray in your kitchen! I totally understand how daunting it can be to find the right white for cabinets. My kitchen is Agreeable Gray, which is one shade lighter than Anew Gray. We also have gray countertops that are paired with bright white cabinets.
My White Kitchen Cabinets with Gray Countertops
I love the contrast that it gives against the wall color, so I would suggest looking for a similar bright white for your kitchen cabinets. You might find that Extra White or Pure White will give your kitchen just what it needs. White is so classic for cabinets and is my favorite look for kitchens: clean and crisp. Keep me posted on what you end up deciding!
Please feel free to sign up for a Interior Color Consultation if you need further help!
Laura
Transitioning from beige to gray
From the Balanced Beige Review post Alicia asks:
Hey Laura!
I have a living room that has a grey/beige brick fireplace. So I am looking for a color that will go with the fireplace but also go well with my Relaxed Khaki dining room and entry way area. Right now I have Requisite Gray and since it’s a North facing wall the color turned very blue. So I need a beige/grey color that will work with the tan wall and my gray fireplace/couch. I was thinking about Balanced Beige.
– Alicia
Hi Alicia,
You are right on track! Balanced Beige is a warm greige that is the perfect in between color for transitioning from a beige to a gray. I have several clients who are in the same boat: trying to move towards a more gray palette, but since they still have some beige selections, need an in between color.
Test out a sample of Balanced Beige in your space to make sure it works next to your fireplace and with your Relaxed Khaki wall. I might consider repainting the Relaxed Khaki walls if it isn’t working. It would help to keep your spaces cohesive and freshen up your home with a new paint color.
Please feel free to sign up for a Interior Color Consultation if you need further help!
Laura
Shutter color for a Mega Greige exterior
From the Mega Greige color scheme page Margaret asks:
Hey Laura!
We just painted our stucco home Mega Greige with Keystone Gray trim. I am looking for a shutter color that gives a more subtle tone on tone look, but I do not want brown shutters. Any suggestions? The current shutter color is Retreat (nice color combo, but too much of a contrast for me).
– Margaret
Hi Margaret,
I would consider looking for a gray/greige color that is a few shades darker than Mega Greige. A good example would be Agreeable Gray which is a light gray that will coordinate with Mega Greige and Keystone Gray, but not have as much of the brown undertone that you would like to avoid.
Agreeable Gray will also give you the tone-on-tone look that you are after! Test out some samples on your exterior and see which colors work best. Keep me posted and please feel free to sign up for a Interior Color Consultation if you need further help!
Laura
Dark ceiling color to pair with Accessible Beige Walls
From the Tony Taupe color scheme page Chris asks:
Hey Laura!
I am looking for a dark ceiling color to go with the Accessible Beige on my walls. The color will need to blend with the rustic stone fireplace, shellaced floors, and natural pine in the kitchen in my crazy old house. There’s excellent west and eastern light on higher ceilings. I’m torn between Tony Taupe or Balanced Beige. Am I crazy?
– Chris
Hi Chris,
You aren’t crazy! There are spaces where a darker ceiling paint color works well. Keep in mind that a darker ceiling paint will cozy up your space, but it sounds like you have high ceilings and good lighting. Tony Taupe will create a bit more contrast and could potentially get too dark, so test out a sample to see how it looks.
If you would like less contrast and a softer ceiling color, Balanced Beige might be better. When I suggest lighter ceiling colors, I usually go one shade lighter than the wall color, so going the other direction works too!
I would love to hear what you end up deciding! Thanks so much for reaching out
Please feel free to sign up for a Interior Color Consultation if you need further help!
Laura
Creating an exterior beige/tan scheme with Malabar
From the Accessible Beige color scheme page Michelle asks:
Hey Laura!
I am looking for a light warm neutral beige/tan color for the exterior body of my home. My door is a Mojave tan color that I would say looks like a reddish brown. I was considering Kilim Beige but am afraid I may see pink undertones. I also was considering Accessible Beige or Malabar but would love help choosing the right soft white trim color. Many thanks for your input!
– Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Thanks so much for reaching out! Exteriors can be tricky because the colors automatically get lighter in natural daylight. Accessible Beige is a lovely exterior color, but it is a bit more taupe. Test out a sample and see how it looks next to your front door and your other fixed elements. You may need more of a beige/tan and Malabar fits that description!
If Malabar gets too light, you can go one shade darker. Look for an off-white that has a slight beige undertone (Shoji White or Aesthetic White). On your exterior, it will come out looking like a soft white. Let me know how it’s going as you test colors. I would love to hear how everything turns out!
Please feel free to sign up for a Interior Color Consultation if you need further help!
Laura
Should I use Malabar when I have a yellow undertone in my flooring?
From the Malabar color scheme page Stephanie asks:
Hey Laura!
The paint consultant suggests Malabar for open floor plan kitchen and living area. Accent color Latte. White cabinets in kitchen and warm beige colors in countertop and back splash. Tile flooring is yellowish. I thought I was getting a warm neutral but looks more like grey. Latte accent wall in dining room is fine. What do you think? Is this a disaster?
– Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
Malabar is categorized under the “yellows” in the SW paint deck, however, if it is not turning out as a good match when tested in your space, you may need a different color that has even more of a yellow undertone to coordinate better with your flooring. There are so many golden/beiges to choose from, but one similar to Softer Tan sounds like it would work well.
You could also try going a few shades lighter than Latte with Kilim Beige to see how it looks since the accent wall works in your lighting. Let me know how it goes as you test a few other colors!
Please feel free to sign up for a Interior Color Consultation if you need further help!
Laura
Malabar on my walls but why do I see this green undertone!?!?
From the Malabar color scheme page Holly asks:
Hey Laura!
Hello from a near future client! Does Malabar have a green undertone? Or am I just seeing things? Same question for Antler Velvet. We painted sample boards of both, and I keep seeing a bit of green. The open floor plan has plenty of southern light, and even more western light (some east too, just a little bit). The floors are a light shiny tile in the yellow/orange family. The kitchen cabs are cream color and they read yellow. So that can’t be the reason for the green I MIGHT be seeing… can it? I almost went with Amazing Gray, but it too is GREEN.
– Holly
Hi Holly,
Thank you for your comment! Also, I look forward to working with you on your Color Consultation. To answer your question about Malabar, it sounds like your lighting was causing it to look greenish. In comparison to colors like Relaxed Khaki, Malabar doesn’t typically have a green undertone, so that is why I say that is might be your lighting.
I am thinking that a warm neutral (like Macadamia) that has more of the golden undertones that coordinate with your flooring will work better in your space. Thanks for reaching out and I look forward to hearing from you about a Color Consultation!
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. Or if you don’t have a need for a full blown consultation but would still like some help check out my Color Question Consultation.
Follow me on social media for more color ideas and inspiration!
– Laura
Hi! I am working on painting by basement and already have my accent wall painted dovetail and love it, but am having trouble with the main color. There is quite a bit of natural light in the living room, but the hallway gets darker obviously. I have sampled agreeable gray and think it’s a bit too light. I am stuck between anew or mindful? Thoughts on which would be better? My carpet has brown/beige undertones as well as the furniture. My husband is a hunter and this is his space which has wildlife everywhere. We are also going to accent one wall with barn wood from his childhood barn. Its gorgeous and wonderfully rustic with grays, browns and red. Any help would be appreciated!
Hi Jamie,
Good question! If Agreeable Gray is looking too light, I would go up one notch and try Anew Gray. You can also have Anew Gray lightened a bit if it’s too dark for a color that is right in between AG and AG. I went with Anew Gray over Mindful Gray because it’s a warmer gray to go with the warmer undertones that you currently have in your basement (carpet, barnwood, etc.)
Let me know how Anew Gray turns out! I love your design idea of adding a barnwood wall that is meaningful to your family.
Thank you for reaching out, Laura
Hello, is there any chance you could recommend a nice creamy yellow that would work between a room painted Collonade Gray and one painted Pan For Gold?
Thank you, Annie