Hey Laura! Volume VII
In this edition of Hey Laura! I answer questions about the best warm gray for an open space, an accent color to bring out the warm tones of an exterior, a great color for a beachy accent wall and much more. For quick and easy navigation use the list of topics below!
- What accent color should I use to bring out the warmer tones of my exterior?
- Which is the best warm gray for an open space?
- Will Quietude flow well with the Accessible Beige?
- A kitchen cabinet color to pair with Agreeable Gray walls?
- The best color to transition my home from Tuscan to a more modern style
- Is Creamy a good kitchen cabinet color?
- A beautiful soft cool but comfy gray with blue tones
- A great color for a beachy accent wall
- Drift of Mist vs Gossamer Veil
- What color should I paint my brick fireplace?
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 a 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!
What accent color should I use to bring out the warmer tones of my exterior?
From the Anew Gray Color Review post Amanda asks:
Hey Laura!
I’m in the process of choosing paint for the exterior of my house and Anew Gray is at the top of my list. I have a charcoal roof and I’m curious what color I should use to accent and to bring out the warmer tones?
– Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for reaching out! I love your choice of Anew Gray for your exterior. One way to bring out the warmer tones is to select a trim color that is a bit more creamy vs. a brighter white. Creamy SW 7012 is a favorite of mine to do just that! It has enough warmth to not be super stark, but doesn’t have a strong yellow undertone either.
Another way to add some warmth is to add a rustic stained wood front door instead of a painted one. The texture and warmth of the wood tones will help to warm up the exterior and add some character as well.
I hope this helps as you tackle your exterior! Let me know what you end up deciding.
– Laura
Which is the best warm gray for an open space?
From the Colonnade Gray Color Review post Sharon asks:
Hey Laura!
I am trying to pick a warm gray paint color for an open concept area of the kitchen, dining room, and living area/sunroom. I have a lot of beige and taupes in my house. My kitchen countertops are brown and black granite and backsplash is tan/beige tiles. Cabinets are white. Light/medium hardwood floors. I am looking at Worldly Gray, Colonnade Gray, and Revere Pewter. Which of these would you suggest using or would you suggest another color?
– Sharon
Hi Sharon,
It sounds like you have warmer selections in your home (taupe, beige, brown), so I would steer towards some warm greige colors that will coordinate a bit better. I know warm grays are very trendy, but without changing some of your tan and beige tiles and such, the gray will feel out of place. Warmer greiges or taupes like Accessible Beige can help to transition beige selections to a more updated look.
Canvas Tan with warm selections from The Wander Blogger
Canvas Tan is one more color that I love to pair with warmer tiles and accents. If you are really wanting to add Repose Gray or another warmer gray to your interior, try it in your bedroom where there are fewer selections to compete with. Check your flooring, but it is possible to do a warmer gray in the bedroom instead.
I would love to hear what color you end up going with and how it turns out!
– Laura
Will Quietude flow well with the Accessible Beige?
From the Quietude Color Review post Cathy asks:
Hey Laura!
I love Quietude, we actually have it in a bedroom in our current house. I would love it in our new house also. Right now everything is Accessible Beige with white trim. Will Quietude flow well with the Accessible Beige which would be in the adjacent rooms?
– Cathy
Hi Cathy,
Great question! Yes, Accessible Beige and Quietude complement each other nicely. In fact, I often pair AB and Quietude together when thinking through a color scheme for an entire home. Accessible Beige has a warm taupe undertone and it works well with the blue-green undertone in Quietude. I am actually considering Quietude for my own bedroom! It is such a soothing color that transforms a bedroom into an instant retreat.
I just completed and added a video to the Quietude Color Review if you would like to view it! Keep me posted and send me some pictures when you are finished!
– Laura
A kitchen cabinet color to pair with Agreeable Gray walls?
From the Agreeable Gray color scheme page Jill asks:
Hey Laura!
The walls in our home are painted Agreeable Gray and we are painting our kitchen cabinets now. All of the trim in the house is white. I am afraid of picking something that will clash with Agreeable Gray so I am looking for some advice on the color for kitchen cabinets! We really want to paint them gray. Our marble countertops are staying and they are a whitish-gray color. Thank you!
– Jill
Hi Jill,
Great question! I have Agreeable Gray walls in my home too. Our trim is white and our cabinets are white, but if you are looking for a gray color to complement the AG walls, I have a few suggestions. If you are looking to go with more of a gray with a slightly cooler undertone, I like Dorian Gray SW 7017. It will give you some contrast against the walls and looks gorgeous on cabinetry.
If you would like an undertone that is slightly warmer, Mega Greige SW 7031 is a good option. Mega Greige is actually two shades darker than Agreeable Gray, so it’s a perfect complement!
Either gray color will work well with Agreeable Gray and your countertops. Let me know what you end up deciding!
– Laura
The best color to transition my home from Tuscan to a more modern style
From the Agreeable Gray color scheme page Julie asks:
Hey Laura!
I love your website and I’m learning a lot! We have a high-end home that is French Country/Tuscan in style. Expansive oak floors which are a little reddish (we are going to refinish in a darker brown and try to get rid of some of the red/orange). We have very expensive light fixtures throughout the house that were custom made in Spain–hand-cut alabaster with forged bronze/brass. We don’t feel it makes sense to replace these with cheaper brushed silver type fixtures so popular now.
We are going to put our house on the market this summer and we are struggling with paint colors. Our house is very bright, with lots of windows and beautiful views of the Rocky Mountain front range (especially great views of Pike’s Peak). We have a two-story stone fireplace with shades of yellowish tones, grays, and light rosy color. Thinking of painting the house some sort of grayish tone because that’s what realtors say to do, but I’m reluctant because I feel this is such a warm house. Current trim and cabinets are the old “pickled” white look on oak. We will be painting all trim, doors, and cabinets also.
Anyway, thinking of Accessible Beige or Agreeable Gray for walls and something like Extra White for cabinets and trim and doors. Our kitchen counters are black granite with streaks of white/rose and our bathroom floors, shower, tub surround, counters are a black marble tile with whitish veining.
Would Accessible beige and/or Agreeable Gray work with our brass/bronze light fixtures (some are larger, very heavy sconces made of the alabaster and brass)? Our brass isn’t the very glossy, yellow that you see in cheaper fixtures. Thanks!
– Julie
Hi Julie!
I love how much detail you put into describing your home! It sounds beautiful. I have a feeling you won’t have a problem selling! As far as the overall main wall color goes, it sounds like, with some of your warmer selections, Accessible Beige is the way to go. Interiors with a Tuscan feel transition very well into a more updated look with Accessible Beige. It is one of the top colors that I recommend to bridge the gap between styles.
I’m afraid Agreeable Gray will be too gray AND the trend is going towards warmer paint colors, so you will be moving in the right direction with Accessible Beige!
I would love to hear how everything goes! Best of luck as you sell your home and move to new endeavors.
– Laura
Is Creamy a good kitchen cabinet color?
From the Creamy Color Review post Sharon asks:
Hey Laura!
Can you clarify your thoughts about using Creamy on kitchen cabinets? To do or not to do? I really really love your posts, inspirations, and insights. Thanks so much.
– Sharon
Hi Sharon,
Thanks so much! I think Creamy is SO pretty on kitchen cabinets. The decision to use it is really on a case by case basis, however. Creamy does have a warmer undertone, so if you have more warmth going on with your countertops, tile and other selections, Creamy could be the right way to go.
If you have cooler undertones in your selections, Creamy could end up looking too warm. I like brighter whites and greige-whites paired with cooler selections (grays, blues, etc.).
All that to say, check your flooring, backsplash, countertops and wall color first before you make your final decision! If you are not sure, test out a Peel & Stick Paint Sample so you can get a good feel for how the color looks right next to your selections.
-Laura
A beautiful soft cool but comfy gray with blue tones
From the Upward color scheme page Julianne asks:
Hey Laura!
I am looking for a beautiful soft cool but comfy gray with blue tones NOT beige or green at all.
I am painting my entire house this color. So far I have sampled Repose Gray and Gray Screen. I tried Silverpointe first but way too light and bright.
What do you suggest?
– Julianne
Hi Julianne,
You have sampled some good colors so far! My suggestion is to try Samovar Silver SW 6233. It has more depth than Silverpointe with definite blue undertones. I like that it does have some gray undertones to keep it comfy and not too bright! I have seen pictures of beautiful interiors painted in this color.
If Samovar Silver turns out to be too dark, Misty is one shade lighter and is also a good option.
Let me know how everything turns out! If you need a good way to sample, grab a few of my Peel & Stick Paint Samples to test out colors.
– Laura
A great color for a beachy accent wall
From the Crushed Ice color scheme page Ruth asks:
Hey Laura!
We are moving to Florida soon. The base color of the home is Crushed Ice. I would like to paint a few accent walls with “beach colors” do you have any suggestions?
– Ruth
Hi Ruth,
Thank you for reaching out! Crushed Ice has been one of my favorites lately. I have recommended it to several clients! For a beachy accent wall or two, I recommend Comfort Gray SW 6205. Comfort Gray is a blue-green/gray that is a perfect accent to Crushed Ice and creates a mood like serene waves from the beach.
You may even want to use Sea Salt (one shade lighter than Comfort Gray) in a bathroom or bedroom to continue the beach vibe! Enjoy and keep me posted on your color transformation!
– Laura
Drift of Mist vs Gossamer Veil
From the Drift of Mist color scheme page Rana asks:
Hey Laura!
I am vacillating between Drift of Mist and Gossamer Veil. I would like a light and bright but still warm color. Thoughts?
– Rana
Hi Rana,
Drift of Mist and Gossamer Veil are both so lovely and would be light and bright. However, Gossamer Veil has a bit more depth to it and will appear warmer and less stark than Drift of Mist. For something even warmer than Gossamer Veil, Aesthetic White is very pretty.
Comparing Drift of Mist, Gossamer Veil and Aesthetic White
Aesthetic White has more of a taupe undertone and Gossamer Veil has a greige undertone. It’s up to you and what you like best! Both are great neutral colors!
– Laura
What color should I paint my brick fireplace?
From the Alabaster color scheme page Terri asks:
Hey Laura!
I have Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray on my walls and SW Pure White for my baseboard & crown molding trim. I am considering using SW Alabaster or Greek Villa to paint my brick fireplace. This brick fireplace is against the wall. Do you think Alabaster or Greek Villa would work well next to Wordly Gray walls & Pure White trim? (The room is south facing with good natural light) Thanks for your thoughts.
– Terri
Hi Terri,
I love Worldly Gray! Great choice on a wall color. I also love the painted brick look. To answer your question, I would go with Alabaster for your brick fireplace vs. Greek Villa. Both whites are very pretty, but Alabaster is a bit of a closer match to your Pure White trim.
Comparing Worldly Gray, Alabaster and Pure White
Alabaster is a soft white that has some warmth to it and will work next to the Worldly Gray walls and still coordinate with the Pure White trim. I would really love to see pictures when you finish painting! It is so fun to see the different paint can make.
– 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
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