apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Photos in mags and catalogs are done in a manner to bring out the best of the room. I used to love this buttery yellow that I seemed to see everywhere for awhile, until I realized it was just white and the photogs lighting caused it to appear yellow. Maxwell's comment is the best advice. Also, if you can figure out what it is you like about the color you see, i.e., smoky, bold, cool, warm, etc., you can do as Maxwell suggested and try paint chips. I've learned this about chips, when you see the color chip in a store, it is usually on a strip with other variations of that color. No one stops to consider that they are separated by white. White acts as a frame in this case, as the accessories in a photo will cause the paint color to act as a backdrop. If you saw the actual color used in any given photo, you probably wouldn't even like it. If you fold the chip in a manner that covers the white, your eye will see the true color of the chip. And let's always remember that paint dries darker on the wall. Have fun. And try universal tinters. You can easily "tweek" a color.

I've also tried to contact catalogs to discern paint colors but was informed that the true color is never represented correctly in print due to lighting conditions and printing processes and that I wouldn't achieve the same results as pictured. Sound reasonable, but I was disappointed.

It's completely understandble that you've got eye-fatigue, too -- we've repainted our entire apartment and after painting 4 x 4 foot samples on the wall, looking at them in different light, etc. it took months to pick colors we could live with (read: agree on).

We didn't want to go thru that again the next time, so we decided to make our color choice from a much smaller selection than the Benjamin Moore paint chip pile. We went to Restoration Hardware and chose from their handful of colors. They were all quite lovely and it was a much simpler decision; there is definitely a limited selection but this was a plus rather than a minus for us. The quality of paint was excellent (I've heard rumors that it's Benjamin Moore, so there you go). My husband was thrilled that it only took two days for me to pick a color I liked, a minor miracle.

Good luck...

PB has a Benjamin Moore paintchip fan available in their store called something like "The colors of Pottery Barn." It contains all the colors from their catalogs and that go with their furnishings, rugs, etc. As for it when you visit the store (it was lying out on a coffee table for customers to peruse at my loca PB).

some paint stores have matching software, so they can make up a color from a piece of fabric or bit of a magazine.

that said, all the advice above is excellent.
it *is* the lighting that enhances photographs,
and folding over the paint chips to *see* the color is important
you can also get a small jar of the paint you're thinking of and paint a big piece of wall to check it out. I was looking at reds - strong difficult reds - and it was worth buy three quarts of paint to actually see it in the space. Some colors are available in pints for this purpose.

Benjamin Moore (not all colors tho) and
Farrow & Ball both sell pint samples.

I just googled. The new book "Pottery Barn Home" is packaged with the Benjamin Moore paint chip color fan I saw in the store. So I guess you have to buy the book, but all the colors are there in the included paint fan. It's a nice idea, actually.

Tons of great ideas. I had never heard to fold the card over! I've generally done the same thing as Guido and found a paint store that has matching software. Most paint store's have this but I'm not talking about Home Depot, something on the lines of Sherman Williams or Kelly Moore. In my experience you'll get better help from these stores as well as they have a more "professional" training.

Having painted several apts myself...i definitely would paint a patch of the potential colors on the wall. Buy a sample jar or quart and paint to see how the colors look throughout the day.
I have had the best luck with the Martha paint at Sherwin Williams. ( A nice grey/taupe color is Sharkey Grey-used a lot in homes of Martha's peeps. Color is actually named ater her decorating editor.) There are some other amazing colors.

I also think Restoration hardware paint comes in nice shades, but I have never actually worked with their paint.

beware home depot's paint return policy. my local hd changed theirs - i got stuck with three gallons that i tried to return...
i really like kilz paint, sold at walmart (i know, i know...) but it's great, thick stuff, not too drippy or rubbery, like i find behr paint to be.
i will try the martha idea too.

As I've mentioned here in the past, my brother works for RH. He said they have a great return policy. Once a customer returned a couple of EMPTY gallon paint cans and wanted a refund because the color just wasn't working for her. And RH returned her money!!!!! I don't recommend taking such an extreme advantage of a generous return policy but if you like the RH colors, maybe you should think about starting there. If you hate the color after giving it a try on the walls at least you can return the paint to them and get your money back.

those color matching computers are great if you're working from a fabric sample, competitor's paint chip, or some other solid color. My guy at the paint store told me that, sadly, he can't guarantee a match on 4-color process images, because the only colors really there are cmy and k. so what I did was get out my acrylic paints and make swatches until I had something that looked like the color in the magazine. it worked out pretty well. not exact but I liked the result.

I used Restoration Hardware paint in my living room. It seemed to fine, quality-wise, but if I had it to do again, I'd get the color matched with Benjamin Moore paint, because it's $10-$15 less a gallon.

Yes, Fiona, I did that in one room--the match was perfect.

Also--please, please, please don't try to duplicate a room in a catalogue. Just don't. Look at art, look at historic homes, look at fabric, but don't go by Pottery Bland.

Please send in your other fave colors for walls out there. Also would love info. on how to play around with the pigment. Is it possible for a DIYer to mix colors themselves, or is it too hard to get it right?

Thanks.

Thanks for all of your help; the folding the color card definitely helped. Used Bejamin Moore downstairs and Ralph Lauren upstairs in my bedroom, I am happy with the end results. My bedroom has a lot of windows covered by wood blinds; I actually brought a slat with me to help pick out a color.

Thanks Again

Re: DIYers mixing their own colors - I've done tons of this, but I'm a painter. Here's the basics as I know them: Universal tinters at any hardware store. One little drop at a time (too much and the paint won't adhere) into white or if you have a specific color in mind, say blue, but want to alter the hue (tone), then you need to know what color combo made up that blue (ask where you bought it-its usually on the can top if you had it mixed). You need to understand the color wheel. Some reds will turn a paint brown, and some reds will turn a wimpy peach into a glorious ruby color. Basic color knowledge - Blue & red = lavendar but use the wrong red and your in trouble. So do some homework if you're interested and experiment with Super White - its THE brilliant white (has a tint of blue which makes it cool and crisp). It's like baking without a receipe, write down what you do because if you like the results, you'll need to know how to do it again. If you paint a wall and "sort of" like it but its not perfect and you don't want to paint again, you can pull a milky glaze over it and soften it. Lots of tricks. Oh, and, PRIMER makes a world of difference, especially with dark pigments. Otherwise you spend a fortune in paint. Happy DIYing...better off buying a can premade...but not as much fun. My choice for the best paint: Benjamin Moore or Pratt & Lambert. And never shop Home Depot. Especially in West Hollywood. Go across the street to OSH. In NYC, I don't know (even though I'm in NY) but never Home Depot for paint. Nasty. Although Behr is great for exterior. I'll shut up now.

The white framing of the paper is a good point. And this, "the true color is never represented correctly in print due to lighting conditions and printing processes and that I wouldn't achieve the same results as pictured," was exactly what I came here to post. So, I third that.

From experience I know it is hard to force something into the ideal I have in my mind or in a picture. Expanding on what RCL said, I think it is better to trust your own process. Use these things as inspiration, not absolutes.

In NYC, I like Janovic Plaza -- they're a paint store, so they have all sorts of brushes and several lines of good paint, including Pratt+Lambert and Benjamin Moore. They're open at 7am, just in case you're a really early riser.

Killz is a great primer -- I think it's the only thing I've ever used that covers Sharpie marks on the wall in a coat and a half. It's also completely toxic, and I wouldn't use it in a small apartment unless you have something you can't cover otherwise. If you have to stay there that night, don't use it. I don't think they sell it in New York -- I haven't seen it lately, so I've been using BIN primer on the tough spots in my house instead...

Pottery Barn and most catalogs colors that you see are probably not the true color that actually shows up in print. With light, camera tweaking, as well as a little photoshop here and there the color is probably not the same so its practically impossible to match. I ALWAYS find at least 2-3 samples of paint for my cleints and paint them in 3' x 3' squares on the wall. Paint the darkest and the lightest areas of the room. Examine the samples at night and during the day. I also suggest that if you love a color but it needs to be a little lighter or darker, you can ask the store to darken it by 10% give or take.
Painting walls - if your doing it yourself takes some time and you want to know that you picked the right color so take your time.
Good luck!

Excellent question! I wanted a taupe I saw in a PB catalog but never found a paint chip anywhere close to it. I'm enjoying this threat to this site I discovered 5 minutes ago & I'm addicted already. So similar question: where can I find a fabulous taupe? Taupe isn't beige in my book. It has purple in it?

RCL--
As you note, inspiration can come from anywhere. But just because somebody sees a color they like in a store or catalog doesn't mean they are hell-bent on recreating the whole look lock, stock (crate) and barrel. So yes, get color inspiration from museuems and th etheatre and movies and fashion shows. But, yes, also get it from a catalog, if that's what moves you and/or it's what you have access to.

So just chill. And please, people could do (AND DO) a lot worse than "Pottery Bland."

I am sooooo over Pottery Barn (or C&B) snobbery.

I have a pic of my couch , want to paint my walls with something that will match well , how do I get the pic to you ?

I bought the Pottery Barn book and received the Benjamin Moore
favorites paint deck.
I love it.
I just finished painting 3 rooms all with Benjamin Moore paint and
think it is the best paint I have ever used.
The selection of colors is great. Look for a good decorating store
that sells BM paint and they are very helpful.
I find inspiration from Pottery Barn , but I have to say I usually use my fabrics when selecting paint colors.
Passion Vine is a very pretty green. And also Scenic Drive , another muted turqoise color I just painted my bathroom.
Becky

Pottery barn now publishes the colors in their catalogs as they have a program with Benjamin Moore

Check out C2 paint, the color swatches at the store are the actual paint color...unlike other manufacturers where they use an inkjet printer.
www.c2color.com

I can certainly relate to everyone here is trying to match catalogue paints or color chips to real living spaces at home. None of these methods works. I have found a way that is cost effective and will give you an excellent idea of how that color will look in your space. I did this is the Washington DC area on a house I renovated.

I do this by painting large poster sheets (as many as you like) and stringing them across the room. That way, u see the color at different times of the day, can easily put it in other walls or rooms. Then after living with it for a week you can make a decision. It certainly beats painting the entire room.

See my article at Millennial Living in http://www.millennialliving.com/Activities/Renovation/Paint/choosingpaintcolor.htm