Paint Sleuthing

Traditional Kitchen by Decatur Kitchen & Bath Designers Renewal Design-Build

When Miss Marple  wasn't solving fictional crimes, she probably lowered her stress levels by dithering over paint. I can see her now, flipping through shelter magazines, pausing when she sees a lovely off-white room. "What is the color?" she asks herself.

Me, I enjoy researching paint. Even if I have no intention of using the color, if I like it, I want to know its name. My obsession began when I was a small girl; I became captivated by a magazine photo of an apple green bedroom--the walls were green, and the trim was about 4 shades darker. Pink accents completed the look. My mother drove me to the paint store, and after I showed the owner the photo, he mixed the paint without hesitation. It was perfect, just like the photo. My father painted the room, and my mom bought a pink bedspread and throw rugs at the Dollar Store.

Today, it's just not that easy to match a color to an inspiration photo. Many designers are tight-lipped about paints, and if you pester them, they'll say, "The color was mixed." End of story, right?
Well, maybe before the Internet gave paint sleuthing a voice and a community. Visit Gardenweb, Houzz, or Pinterest, and you will get a crash course in paint sleuthing.

Shall we take a little tour?

Exhibit 1
A light-filled, pale bluish room. Can you guess the color?

Traditional Living Room by Pawleys Island Photographers Julia Ryan

It's Tidewater by Sherwin Williams (SW 6477), a name that summons images of a blue Virginia sky.

Exhibit 2
A neutral bedroom--Hmmm, I know this color. Elephant  Tusk? Latte?

Traditional Bedroom by Greenville Interior Designers & Decorators Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home

No, no, no. It's Benjamin Moore Berkshire Beige AC-2 / Flat.

Exhibit 3
Green-painted planked walls. It appears as if the room doesn't receive direct sunlight (but who knows?).
 

Rustic Bedroom by Savannah Architects & Building Designers Gerald D. Cowart, AIA, LEED AP

The color is BM Celery from the Historic Colors


Exhibit 4
A modern nursery. Instead of traditional pink or blue walls, the room
has been painted a warm gray. Pink accents suggest that Parker is a little girl.

Transitional Nursery by Mill Valley Interior Designers & Decorators Jute Interior Design

The color is Winter Gates by Benjamin Moore.


Exhibit 5
A white kitchen with high ceilings, interesting trim, and ample light.

Beach Style Kitchen by Concord Interior Designers & Decorators lisa k. tharp - k. tharp design

The color was inspired by Benjamin Moore's Mayonnaise, and it was matched to
another brand of non-toxic paint.


Exhibit 6
A white room gets a splash of color with a coral-colored cabinet. That's a lot of words
starting with C, but I'll add one more: China. It may have gotten lost in a white cabinet.

Eclectic Dining Room by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Lucy Interior Design

The color is Dark Salmon by Benjamin Moore


Exhibit 7
A soothing aqua bedroom. White draperies, bedding, ceiling, floor, and furniture.
Would this color behave the same in a room with patterns and dark furniture? In a room with only one window?

Traditional Bedroom by Millbrook Architects & Building Designers Crisp Architects

The color is Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue.


Exhibit 8
Here's another color that you'll probably recognize.

Traditional Bedroom by Chicago Media & Bloggers Valerie McCaskill Dickman

The wall color is Silver Sage by Restoration Hardware, and the trim is BM's White Dove.


Exhibit 9
What a pretty space, evoking images of warm spring days, buttercups, and forget-me-nots.

Beach Style Dining Room by Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators Tom Stringer Design Partners

The wall color is Mushroom Cap by Benjamin Moore , and the ceiling/trim is BM White Dove.


Exhibit 10
We're looking at two photos, one color. Miss Marple herself might have been puzzled, as the shade seems to be deceptive.

In the first photo, we see a deep blue-green bathroom. A little research turned up the color:
Benjamin Moore Warm Spring #682.

Beach Style Bathroom by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Elizabeth Swartz Interiors

The cheery green in the back of the cabinet is the same color, according to notes on Houzz.

Traditional Kitchen by Decatur Kitchen & Bath Designers Renewal Design-Build

The green paint inside the cabinet is Warm Springs (BM). Could the difference (which is considerable) be due to the lighting? Error? Computer glitch? Or a true chameleon?

What's your opinion? 

Do you have a go-to color?

Shared at Metamorphosis Monday