Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Mixing Your Own Paint Colors

Excuse the mess around here.  Hubby is off for a week and being very spontaneous, he starts peeling the wallpaper off of one of the bathrooms.  I am given the challenge of redecorating this bathroom with mostly the supplies we have on hand because, being an unplanned remodel we will buy only what has to be replaced.  We discovered if you buy a new vanity cabinet they are at least 4 inches taller than what we already have.  Well right away that means a plumber to redo the plumbing and that won't do, so we are going to paint the vanity cabinet.

That means starting with the paint I already have.  The color scheme for the house is set.  We have paint for the walls and trim, so, we are good there.  But, the vanity, that should be an accent color, something different.  I start with the paint I already have.  This is Benjamin Moore's Georgian Green.  I saw it on Kim's blog Savvy Southern Style.  Not being at a Benjamin Moore paint dealer the day I purchased this, they matched it on the computer and mixed it at the Pittsburgh Paint counter.

Here is a trick I saw on Pintrest.  Isn't that smart.  You don't get such a messy paint can when you wipe your paint brush on this.

So , my sample of Georgian Green matches the swatch I painted really well.  I just sanded my oak cabinets lightly and went to painting.  This color was just too yellow. 

So, using what I have on hand I pull out some cans and bottles.  To the left is a standard Valspar Hunter Green they stock on the shelves.  The Georgian Green, center.  I am still not done with it.  And, on the right a bottle of Gesso.   Rosemary at Villabarnes introduced me to using Gesso beyond the canvas.  Visit her and learn all kinds of uses with Gesso.

So, finally, I am mixing paint.  The one on the left is hunter green with gesso.  Gesso has a chalky texture and it mixes and looks beautiful with any paint.  The next is the Georgian green.  Then I mixed the first color (in this sample board)  with the second, this is the third color.  The last color is the third mixed with a yellowish white (Brandied Pear by Pittsburgh Paint) that will be on the wall.  *Note: The first sample on left is very blue based by mixing it with the very yellow Georgian Green we get more warm tones in the sea green I am creating that will work well with the golden hues that will be on the wall and the trim.

So, since hubby threw this project on me I have done everything backwards. Ha.  Now that I have a color I like on the left here (it was the third sample above), I have found an inspiration picture to take me in the direction of how I would like to see the colors turn out.  I have a mocha Valspar glaze and a dark wood paste wax to finish the cabinets.  It should look pretty similar to the cabinet in this picture.  I'll let you be the judge.  The bathroom will look nothing like this picture, I am just using the color inspiration.  Stay tuned to see more of the spontaneous bathroom remodel.  You should get a really good laugh out of the before pictures, remember I have raised three boys!
Sherry
I will link this to:
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

21 comments:

Debra@CommonGround said...

You guys sound like me! LOL. love the color AND the inspiration photo!!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Sherry, I love the finish on that inspiration photo. Good luck and can't wait to see the reveal.

Sonny G said...

thanks for sharing that gesso tip.. I think thats gonna be just what I need to add to paint my headboard..
I cant wait to see your finished room.

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

I like your color choice. I'll be back for the big reveal. I can totally relate to bathrooms and boys.lol

Brenda Pruitt said...

I so admire you gals that are good with paint. I am a total klutz. Isn't it amazing that the best answers are often the simplest (like with the paintbrush tip.)
Brenda

Rebecca said...

Love the color you ended up with!
and the photo is great
Blessings
Rebecca

The French Hutch said...

Sherry your a creative my kind of gal, just wing it! Love the color, and its custom too. Can't wait to see the after. Have fun you two........

~Emily
The French Hutch

Anonymous said...

I have always wanted to try doing this. You are inspiring, Sherry! Love it!

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Sherry, I was hanging on every word! I am going to paint bathroom cabinets in 3 bathrooms. I am a little nervous to start! Thank you so much for the lesson on mixing colors! I have so many paint colors I could use! I can't wait to see the reveal.
xo Yvonne

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Can't wait to see how it turns out, Sherry! I love your paint color! I usually wind up buying a bunch of quarts to find one I lik,. Now maybe I'm thinking I'll pour them all together and see what I get! lol Come on over! I'm having a giveaway...8 place settings of Pfaltzgraff's Lido Beach dinnerware! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Green Door Girl said...

I love the color you mixed - can't wait to see the finished result!

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

I'm so not a painter but I can't wait to see the bathroom reveal. Love the color!

Sunny Simple Life said...

Ooo I can tell this is going to turn out so great. Love the colors.

Unknown said...

I like the one you chose. I will be shooting over to Villabarnes to check out the gesso. I also mixed paint this weekend and my green looks very similar to your. Two great minds at work.
Traci

Betty said...

Can't wait to see what you have done. I have just finished one room and to start another soon. Next room white and than the LR a very very light green. I commend you on making your own colors. I would be a mess if I had too.

Amy Chalmers said...

this was interesting to read. mixing gesso with paint. i just was googling gesso about an hour ago because i want to paint a canvas....so anyway, i am sure it is going to look amazing!

reFresh reStyle said...

I want so gesso! Your colors are beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I buy oops paint all the time and mix my own colors- I hadn't heard of the gesso trick though!

Lisa Sall - Sall's Country Life said...

Paint,paint,paint that's all I've been doing lately (only for other people)! I would love to tear into some of my own rooms. Love your tips and can't wait to see what you come up with in your bathroom! Love your blog, I'm your newest follower!

Unknown said...

I was wondering if you've had any issues with the paint peeling when you distress it?

The Charm of Home said...

Yes, Stephanie,
It did peel when distressed. Had to be careful to distress where it was really wanted. I have this problem with regular paint as well as this I mixed. I also did not wait long enough between coats. Did not give it time to cure.
Sherry