50 Shades of Gray Paint

I think I've figured it out...

I'm pretty sure I now know how I end up knee-deep 

in so many projects at one time.

Really.

My sense of 'how long' a project is going to take 

is always, always, always...

way....too short.

I underestimate how long I'm going to really need

and before you know it...

I've half-way started on the next project....

For instance,

I planned to repaint the foyer... and then the paint was too gray.  

I know, right? How can the paint be too gray?  But it was.

Instead of a good gray, it reminded me of the color of unpainted drywall...

Much too gray...and even though I checked with Pinterest a million times, 

...it wasn't the 'perfect' gray for our lighting and in our particular room....

So you know what that means... 

Back to the hardware store... more samples and more paint chips...

Like finding the 'right' house, or the 'right' Mr. Right...or Mrs. Right... 

You just know it when you see it...

And like life, sometimes it takes more than a few trips to the proverbial hardware store and sometimes you get home only to find out you bought the wrong stuff... in the wrong style...

... but, eventually you get it right...

And when you do... the results can be amazing...

Here is the color it's been for about 10-ish years.  Harmonic Tan.  It turned out to be far more green than I anticipated...alas, it was before the days of Pinterest... and my budget was less forgiving back then...so it's been this color for a little while... 

...it's ok.   

...but I knew I could do better.

Finally, It was time to update the foyer.  

When we first moved to our home 10 years ago...

....the front hallway and almost every room was covered in wallpaper.

Not fun.  

Removing the wallpaper took what seemed like f-o-r-e-v-e-r....

...especially when you are so anxious to get moving forward with a fresh coat of paint... 

Which brings us to today, and since I just couldn't love the color we chose anymore...

We decided to give the foyer an update.

For the update, we ended up choosing Sandy Hook Gray from Benjamin Moore.  I loved the paint and the color.  I really loved that my sample can of paint was deducted from my final purchase.  What a great bonus.  Be sure to hold on to your receipt, if you get a small sample can, they will take that off the purchase price of one gallon.
(Check your local Ace Store for details and participation)

Originally, I had planned not to repaint the ceiling because it still looked great...

But, once my paintbrush nicked the ceiling edge...and the gray paint left a mark...that no matter how I tried...

...it just wouldn't budge...

I was then, all-in on the ceiling... 

Luckily, I already had ceiling paint from another project that is waiting in the wings... 

(see what I mean... such a poor estimator of time... I already had planned to be onto the next big thing...or, on a more positive note, perhaps I'm more of an overachiever in the painting department...you'll have to be the judge)

So... off I went painting the ceiling...

Then...like any good DIY-er...I decided the trim needed to be done.

***

Here are a few of my painting tips...from a non-expert, DIY painter:

Be brave...it's only paint.  
If you don't love the way something looks...
try a little paint...it can transform a space into something you love.  

Pinterest is a great tool for selecting colors...Try not to be swayed by reading titles such as: "Best Gray Paint Ever" or the "Perfect Greige" ...you have to be the best judge of your space, light and color needs in the end.  

Using paint chips, type in the color and brand in the Pinterest search box.(example: Sandy Hook Gray Benjamin Moore) and with any luck, a number of different spaces will pop up.  It's great to see an entire room painted with the color you are considering. 

 I was able to eliminate some colors once I saw them in similar lighting situations as our foyer

...it truly gave me a better look at the paint color in "real-life" 

--painted on someone elses' walls...  

I liked using Pinterest far better than the look-books at the a paint store.  

The colors were real...without professional photos and lighting.

...and when I saw Sandy Hook Gray... I was smitten.

I love baby wipes... 

I have them at the ready ...

perfect for wiping up little drips of paint.  

They stay moist, the resealable bag is wonderful --making clean-up a snap.

I love, the plastic liners for the paint trays...makes clean-up so very easy.

My favorite paint brush --in the whole world is a Purdy 1-inch trim brush.

I always hold the bush at the base, that way I have more control...I almost never use the handle.

Do great prep-work.  Fill any holes or irregular spots on the wall with a light Spackle and then lightly sand the wall once it dries.  The final project will look fabulous, by putting in the time up front to get smooth walls.

I love Perma-White trim paint in semi-gloss from Lowe's.  I use it on all our trim for the entire house.  It dries a hard, scrub-able, glossy white...which I love.  I also love that anytime the trim needs to be touched up, I know exactly the paint to get.  I keep a small container of Perma-White trim paint under my kitchen sink, so it's handy for anytime I spy a needed repair.

 If you have a gallery wall with photos, be sure to take good pictures before you get started...So you'll know right where they go when the project is complete.  I always think I will remember exactly where things went...turns out,  I can never remember...so now I take pictures.  Plus, the before and after photos are fun to look at.

Give yourself more time than you think you'll need, in case of unforeseen obstacles...like snow-days, wrong purchases, ceiling painting...you know... anything that might suddenly come up....  

***

So... I'm off to start painting the kitchen... I figured since I already have all my painting gear gathered..I should probably get started.  It's a much bigger project...I have my work cut out for me....

So, I'm thinking I'll be done in about two or three hours...

 ...maybe four hours --tops....

Sharing at these Parties:
Inspiration Monday via I Should be Mopping the Floor

Savvy Southern Style, Wow Us Wednesday

The Scoop via Stone Gable