apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


NY Good Questions: Recommendations for a Charcoal Gray Paint?

5.16paint.jpgDear AT,

I am looking for a dark charcoal gray/grey (I'll never figure that spelling out...) for my office!

I'm going to do mostly white furniture to pop off of it (see pic), but I'm nervous to get something too black or brown.

Can anyone recommend a great dark charcoal gray?

Thanks! Amanda

 
 
(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
newyork(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
Link To All Good Questions

Tags

paints, stains & finishes, Good Questions

Related Links

Share

Comments (16)

Farrow & Ball's Off-Black: http://www.farrow-ball.com/productdetails.aspx?pid=0057OB&cid=PC&language=en-GB

Or Farrow & Ball's Railings: http://www.farrow-ball.com/productdetails.aspx?pid=0031RG&cid=PC&language=en-GB

posted by readingglasses on May 16th 2008 at 5:49am
view readingglasses's profile

Valspar (Lowe's brand) Ocean Storm
I used in my bathroom (really small) and I love it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/degerkas/

posted by Signe on May 16th 2008 at 5:54am
view Signe's profile

or maybe downpipe...

http://www.farrow-ball.com/productdetails.aspx?pid=0026DP&cid=PC&language=en-GB

posted by mschatelaine on May 16th 2008 at 5:56am
view mschatelaine's profile

I had the same fear for my dream charcoal office (inspired by Nov 2005 Domino spread:
http://m-a-belle.blogspot.com/2007/10/currently-my-favorite-home.html )
I ended up picking a deep, dark navy. (Valspar Royal Navy Satin Finish) It reads as grey-ish in some light, but the blues make it rich and give more depth:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erskine_cure/2343608992/in/photostream/

posted by moni-ka in ky on May 16th 2008 at 5:58am
view moni-ka in ky's profile

I used RL Garden Spigot and it looks pretty sweet

posted by greeps on May 16th 2008 at 5:58am
view greeps's profile

thanks for the pics and navy idea! I'm having nautical fears though of navy and white.
Keep the suggestions coming!

posted by amandadom on May 16th 2008 at 6:03am
view amandadom's profile

I did my guest room in Benjamin Moore 2108-50, Silver Fox. The next darker is 2108-40, called Stardust. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I have black and deep red accents in chairs, lamps, artwork and pillows. I think it looks very elegant.

posted by Peggasus on May 16th 2008 at 6:20am
view Peggasus's profile

I was heading down the same path, when I discovered "Phillipsburg Blue" from Benjamin Moore! It is a very dark blue/gray almost steel blue. It looks more interesting than just gray and will compliment white furniture very nicely.

Just my opinion!

posted by jpriley75 on May 16th 2008 at 6:57am
view jpriley75's profile

I was originally going to go with more of a slate gray, but then I became smitten with Evening Dove (2128-30) from Benjamin Moore's Aura line. A dark, dusky gray with rich, moody undertones of blue. I was pleasantly surprised how fabulous it looks against my lighter shades and how it's created a more interesting palette for my media room, especially when a little light is cast on it. Confession: I saw the color on some exterior window trim against the blonde brick of my neighborhood French-inspired coffee house and found the paint chip that matched it. (You should see it against the ivory, butter yellow, tan, walnut and skinny turquoise stripe awnings. Wow.)

posted by 5iveVincent on May 16th 2008 at 7:31am
view 5iveVincent's profile

I second "downpipe"

posted by Lesley - London on May 16th 2008 at 7:40am
view Lesley - London's profile

i did ralph lauren - artists grey - delicious color!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2497630604_62c8796eb8_o.jpg

posted by Dre in Bklyn on May 16th 2008 at 8:29am
view Dre in Bklyn's profile

ralph lauren urban loft colors has some nice greys -- I quite like Hudson:

http://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/rlhome/products/paint/items.asp?haid=120#

posted by mschatelaine on May 16th 2008 at 8:30am
view mschatelaine's profile

Thanks so much everyone! Drew in Bklyn, your room is fantastic and reaffirms my color choice! Great job!

I went to Benjamin Moore and ended up with Anchor Gray. I'll post pics when it's done.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
Amanda

posted by amandadom on May 16th 2008 at 8:45am
view amandadom's profile

I like Benjamin Moore's Evening Dove. It's more of a slate blue than gray but then again, all of Benjamin Moore's colors are a bit on the blue-gray side. I did my dining room in this color and love it. I have turquoise and red accents and it looks very close to the color in the photo above.

posted by Miriam on May 16th 2008 at 6:10pm
view Miriam's profile

I love Pratt & Lambert's Rubidoux, a deep charcoal that's a brown gray rather than a green or blue gray so it's got lots of warmth. Did my office in it and it looks great with white. Art looks amazing against this color. Plan to do my bedroom in Feather Gray, the lighter tint in the same family.

posted by shashinyc on May 19th 2008 at 5:15am
view shashinyc's profile

I used Timber Wolf by Benjamin Moore and it's a perfect, not too dark, charcoal grey.

posted by Shannon in SF on May 20th 2008 at 3:10pm
view Shannon in SF's profile

Feeds

RSS icon New York

+ City Feeds