Thursday, January 21, 2010

My Favorite Paint & Opinions Needed

I can already tell this is going to be a random post...I get asked a lot about paint colors and I plan on doing a "favorite colors" post with several of my favorites. However, there is one color that I recommend over and over (and I try not to). It is Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage. Sometimes it is blue, sometimes it is green, sometimes gray. I have it in my office but that is such a disaster area right now I can't show a picture.
Anyhoo, the reason I am mentioning this is because when I would recommend it to clients I would tell them to go to the store to look at on the walls, you could see it in all different lights. Then one day recently a fabulous client called me and said, "Have you seen the wall color in RH?!?!?!?" Since she knows me so well she knew I would be as obsessed as she was. She was correct...I believe it is from the Slate collection, but I will confirm.... It is so pretty.
I know you are surprised that a gray shade isn't my #1 favorite paint color. So moving right along, I do not have my new logo yet and I am sure things will change when I do get it but for now I need some opinions. Do you like the gray background better....
or do you prefer white? And what about grid lines like below? Too much? Helpful to the eye?
I think there is something to be said for both, I would love to hear what you think.
Thanks Laurie for the paint tip!!!!

47 comments:

Ellen M. Hill said...

Thanks for the comment! I vote grey!

I absolutly love RH, and I actually painted my bedroom a color I discovered there. People complement it all the time.

I'm a design student at Samford, and I'm excited to find another B'ham blogger!

Mary Catherine Sears said...

Love the gray with the grid lines. And, I can't wait to check out RH to see their new paint choice! Great blog!

Carrie said...

I like Gray with gridlines :)

Meredith said...

I have specified RH paint many times!! People go into the store and they want it at home!!! Funny!!!

Jennifer said...

I like the white sans grid lines. but whatever floats your boat!

Staley Mc said...

I like the gray but I also kind of like the white with the grid lines too! I can't wait to see your new logo!

littleshop said...

I like the white with the grid or without. Eddie Ross has already claimed the gray background...so maybe don't go there (or if you do, don't go as dark as his). Just my two cents :). I'm working on my layout and design as well, isn't it so distressing?!

Doug Davis said...

white, white, white...I think it feels so much cleaner and makes the images look better. and I love the new look inside RH, very updated (although I agree Silver Sage is a great paint color)

Brooke @ Blueprint Bliss said...

LOVE the paint color at RH. It's so pretty.

I like the gray- without gridlines.

xx- Brooke

PS- I want to update my blog--- but am scared to after your fiasco!

Sarah's Fab Day said...

I adore the slate at RH but I'm partial to white on the blog.

Sarah said...

I like the white, but on the otherhand, your gray sets you apart from the rest of us :)

Lauren said...

oh too funny they repainted bc i always tell ppl to check it out too!! ----on a side note we need to meet sometime bc so much of what you say i think 'ditto!'

hmm on the white vs gray... i think it will depend upon your new logo.. can't wait to see it!!
xoxoxoxo

Connie in Hartwood said...

Not only is Silver Sage a dream of a green, the paint is SO easy to work with.
... Connie

Vær våken said...

I like the white! And the grid lines! But of course do what you find out is best :)

Susie @ Maddie G Designs said...

Funny about the walls at RH. I have never tried their paint. I always default to Benjamin Moore or C2. I am going to check out your favorite color.

I think I am partial to the gray...and I like the order of gridlines. I am a total blogging newbie having just launched my site and blog last week...never realized how hard all of these decisions could be. Cannot wait to see your new look as I really love reading your blog.

LindsB said...

hmm, thats a hard choice- I think I would go with the Gray one

Elaine said...

Well, in my humble opinion I like the Gray with the gridlines. I think that it stand out and makes the pictures pop!

Mrs. Limestone said...

I totally biased because a) I have a gray background on my own blog and b) i heart gray everything - but I dig the gray.

hana said...

text is so much easier to read on white and with grid lines. im sure your new header will be adorable.

paula said...

I like both, depends on the day really. I am fickle I know. Love the RH line.

Anonymous said...

In the last RH catalog, it looked like they are changing their paints--something about being low voc, or non-toxic or something. They had all new color names. Wonder if you can still get the old ones? I have RH Latte throughtout most of my house.

Stephanie Sabbe said...

I like white beeecaaaassse, sometimes you write in colors (yellow) that look really good on your gray background in your blog, but I read your blog in reader and those colors don't show up very in google reader:)

alison giese Interiors said...

Like the gray better, and tend to think w/out the grid lines, but I'd have to see that particular mock-up.

Katie (Refresh Design Studio) said...

I think I prefer the white with grid lines. I like gray, but for some reason I just think white works best for blog images!

Katie @ Noodle and Boof said...

LOVE this color! Like the gray better...

Anonymous said...

I liked the grey but I think i love the white. It makes all images just pop! The gridlines are a nice way to break things up but I am also a big fan of the look right now. Either way..can't go wrong!

Sarah said...

Love, love, love all of Restoration Hardware's colors.
(And love, love, love your blog!!)

I like the white with grid lines!! But, I'm sure whatever you pick will be lovely!!
~Sarah

Sarah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I like the gray because it looks different from everyone else. And since you love gray so much.. !! But whatever you choose I'll still read every day and shop with you any day of the week! xoRH

Basha said...

I love the RH paint color. Which finish do you prefer, the velvet or low gloss?

deliciously organized said...

Thanks for the tip on paint. I would have to see your new header to decide on white vs the gray! I'm sure whatever you pick will be perfect!

Fran Lacy said...

I love the gray that you had! It sets you apart, and is very warm feeling, like a haven!

Bailey @ peppermintbliss said...

I like the white and the grid lines, but I am also super anal so maybe don't listen to me. Can't wait to see the new layout/logo! Knowing you it will be perfect!

gte253f said...

I like the Gray. Either way though, I don't think you can go wrong!

jennifer Hawkins said...

I used the silver sage in our bedroom, with the Marsden espresso sleighbed set. Alabaster (sherwin williams) trim and ceiling color. We have 2 east-facing windows, and this color makes our mornings bright (despite the wisconsin cold) and warm, and makes our evenings relaxed and calm.

Can wait to ehar what you decide!

Make sure you do two coats...

Bonnie said...

I like the gray.

Have been lurking as they call it for months now and enjoy your blog.

Just curious- How many magazines subscriptions do you receive>

Acanthus and Acorn said...

I like the gray.... or any soothing shade. And for some of the blogs, white is the best choice. But, I think it is so nice when the blogger's creativity and personality comes thru on the screen. If everyone goes to white, I personally don't think it will be as fun!

lizziefitz said...

My parents just redid their home on the west coast in FL. I asked my dad what his favorite thing was.. new kitchen, pool,etc ? "silver sage RH paint in master bathroom."LOL
PS Gray :)

JJ said...

I like white and I think it makes the images show up better!

Molly said...

i prefer white backgrounds, only because some images have tiny white frames, etc, & white backgrounds clean that up so no cropping is necessary

Anonymous said...

I like the white background with still keeping gray in your logo - it's so classic and clean. Good luck! :)
-Lisa

Living It At Home said...

Hi! Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog! I used Silver Sage in my bedroom when we lived in CA. I thought it was to dark at first, but came to love it. Great color. I love anything in the gray family. I like the dark background for your blog, gives it depth.

~jamilyn

Laurie said...

OH Marianne! I don't take credit because if it wasn't for you sending me to get the Silver Sage paint, I would have never seen it! Just in the right place at the right time! Can't wait to see the new color up though! I will think of you everytime I go in there! You know I adore the Silver Sage and all your other recommendations! But I have a feeling we are going to heart the Slate!!
I love the gray background because it is so you, BUT I think it would depend on your new header. I know it will look fabulous because everything you touch does! Call me ASAP when that sample comes in!

Dayka Robinson said...

I always wondered about the RH paint--if it was a good quality. They had a lot on clearance here a few weeks ago, so I might have to go back tot check it out.

Anonymous said...

gray!

Rachel said...

Restoration Hardware spawned a monster with Silver Sage! I love it!

Back in 1998 when I was a senior in college, after the Restoration Hardware opened up in Dallas, I fell in love with the color and painted my bedroom in it. Since then, I've used it in pretty much every place I've lived. Right now, our bedroom is in a "knock-off" color because I couldn't make it to Restoration Hardware, got impatient to paint, so I went to Home Depot. While pretty, it just doesn't have the depth that the Silver Sage does.

The only downside is that now you see that color everywhere.... But I still love it.

And I vote gray background!!

Kari said...

i love your gray background and your green/white/gray color scheme....I'm in such a blog background funk too so look forward to seeing what you create!