Paint Test

white like the sand and green/brown like the sea oats, just like your avatar

i assume you just mean the ouside, but you do some serious shell colors inside...

I wish I had some suggestions, Donna, but I don't have a good sense of color and envy people who do. All our walls in our home and in our cottages are painted some variation of white. But I wish the very best to the lucky person who suggests the best colors and gets such a nice dinner and wine!

We are in! Do we have a deadline? I'm heading over to the Benjamin Moore website now!

I suggest you tell us what colors the other houses around you are...we want you to be unique! I would also walk or drive around other neighborhoods and see what combos catch your eye.

TFT will now reveal her deepest, darkest secret, known only to those who ... well, ask a decorating question within her earshot.

She is a paint junkie.

Donna, I visit another online place where we go on and on about undertones of popular colors, lighting, pigmentation, etc. I'll try not to bore you, but I have in my possession five complete sets of paint chips for various paint lines, some of them obscure. I also have partial collections from other lines, and an assortment of other chips stuffed in random drawers. Sadly my Benjamin Moore paint fan (the decorator's bible) has been lent out. (My obsession sometimes proves useful to other people.)

I do however, have my C2 paint fan, and while that paint is not available in Florida (best not to ask me why I have it) it is available in California.

I like your color scheme idea, but I have to say my very very favorite accent color, especially for Grayton, is some variation of teal. In your case, dark teal for your french doors. They might even be that now but I can't tell from the pic. I just love anything that echoes the beauty of the emerald waters. So I would do not dark green (too staid) but something with more blue in it.

I like the seafoam green idea. I think anything light greenish looks really sharp with a darker blue green -- it's echoes of the sea but there's enough contrast to be interesting.

Two colors I'm looking at are C2's "Churchill" for the doors and "Cucumber" for the body color. (though on C2's website they don't look much like the actual color.) I like softer white trim. This would give you a classic yet fresh, fun and beachy look that would look like it belongs on Grayton. You want people to say oh, that's pretty, but I would never do it on my house. It's a vacation home. Be fun!

Just my opinion ... take it with several grains of sand. I'd be happy to PM you if you ever want to discuss more color combos. I have a pretty good eye overall as to what works with what, but of course everyone has their color preference so you want to go with what moves you first. Make any sense?

The last thing I would say is the peach/pinky color scheme sounds clever, but it likely would be washed out by the very strong light.

TooFarTampa, you are not alone. I too am another paint junkie. I have more paint in our house than you could shake a stick at. :lolabove: Case in point--how many colors do I have going on in the sitting room? Hmmm, red was the original color, yellow's the color that's in the landing, pale aqua is the color I'm fiddling with, and it's been like this since the fall. I haven't decided yet and there's a fourth paint can in the basement just waiting for its chance...

Donna, I most certainly WILL be offering suggestions for your house. :floor: I might have a lot of experience in the matter. :blink:

TooFarTampa, you are not alone. I too am another paint junkie. I have more paint in our house than you could shake a stick at. :lolabove: Case in point--how many colors do I have going on in the sitting room? Hmmm, red was the original color, yellow's the color that's in the landing, pale aqua is the color I'm fiddling with, and it's been like this since the fall. I haven't decided yet and there's a fourth paint can in the basement just waiting for its chance...

Donna, I most certainly WILL be offering suggestions for your house. :floor: I might have a lot of experience in the matter. :blink:

Oh, dear, we have to talk. This isn't even lounge material ... I'll PM you later. Toddler has just awoken and needs to be released from his crib. But I have to say that gold is beautiful with your lovely dark trim. What color is that, I have to ask! Then I will stop.

Sorry Donna. :oops:

Well, my "unprofessional" choice would be a white-washed, very pale lime or honeydew (& I mean very pale). Then trim in white. I think that the simpler, the better. Grayton has a "weathered" look.

The competition is heating up. This could be very competitive! People, wave your paintbrushes!!!

These are all great suggestions! And we are completely open to suggestions at this point, one of the advantages of painting later in the year as opposed to ASAP. After Dennis, our many south-facing windows and doors looked like the rim of a salted margarita, so we're happy to wait out the summer this year. I am printing everything out and keeping in a file, so please keep your thoughts and suggestions coming in. Such a help. As incentive, I will occasionally post the possible menus for the dinner, along with specific wines that could be paired with each. That will feed my Martha Stewart gene (which is certainly not a dominant one, but I do well in the kitchen).

The interior of The Conch Out is sunny yellow with lots of white trim on the woodworking. When we first bought the house, I thought it would get old. Our CA house is all white walls, but also has a lot of river rock, redwood, and glass with views to outside as distraction. But I agree that a beach house, not your "real house," should be fun(n). Since then, I have come to really love waking up in that cheerful yellow-and-white world. Only one room differs, and it is painted a light lime green. We love that, too. Mermaid, I love your mix of colors, which really work in that space. It is so inviting and cheering.

Here we go with the first menu effort, folks. I want your minds working and your mouths watering!

To begin, S. Anderson Sparkling Wine, paired with a passed appetizer of salmon tartare with creme fraiche and fresh chives, on a benne seed wafer.

Next, a Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc, paired with an appetizer-sized portion of creamy grits with shrimp.

Followed by Far Niente Chardonnay, paired with a main course of Grouper stuffed with fresh crabmeat, grilled on a bed of limes. Accompanied by garlic roasted new potatoes and sauteed broccoli rabe. Selection of breads.

In the French manner, a Saintsbury Reserve Pinot Noir, paired with a salad of baby spinach, avacado, and Texas ruby red grapefruit sections tossed in a light vinaigrette.

Closely followed by a rare Forman Cabernet Sauvignon, paired with a cheese plate consisting of an herbed goat cheese, a white Wisconsin cheddar, a French sheep's milk cheese, a Spanish manchego with quince paste, and a Pt. Reyes, CA bleu from Cowboy Creamery, including mini slices of baguette, homegrown and cured Mission olives, whole almonds, pears and grapes.

Finally, Dolce Far Niente (nectar of the gods), paired with a fresh peach and cream tart topped with Chantilly cream.

Double espressos and selection of liqueurs.

(Complimentary designated driver to take you "home" afterwards.) 😀

These are all great suggestions! And we are completely open to suggestions at this point, one of the advantages of painting later in the year as opposed to ASAP. After Dennis, our many south-facing windows and doors looked like the rim of a salted margarita, so we're happy to wait out the summer this year. I am printing everything out and keeping in a file, so please keep your thoughts and suggestions coming in. Such a help. As incentive, I will occasionally post the possible menus for the dinner, along with specific wines that could be paired with each. That will feed my Martha Stewart gene (which is certainly not a dominant one, but I do well in the kitchen).

The interior of The Conch Out is sunny yellow with lots of white trim on the woodworking. When we first bought the house, I thought it would get old. Our CA house is all white walls, but also has a lot of river rock, redwood, and glass with views to outside as distraction. But I agree that a beach house, not your "real house," should be fun(n). Since then, I have come to really love waking up in that cheerful yellow-and-white world. Only one room differs, and it is painted a light lime green. We love that, too. Mermaid, I love your mix of colors, which really work in that space. It is so inviting and cheering.

Here we go with the first menu effort, folks. I want your minds working and your mouths watering!

To begin, S. Anderson Sparkling Wine, paired with a passed appetizer of salmon tartare with creme fraiche and fresh chives, on a benne seed wafer.

Next, a Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc, paired with an appetizer-sized portion of creamy grits with shrimp.

Followed by Far Niente Chardonnay, paired with a main course of Grouper stuffed with fresh crabmeat, grilled on a bed of limes. Accompanied by garlic roasted new potatoes and sauteed broccoli rabe. Selection of breads.

In the French manner, a Saintsbury Reserve Pinot Noir, paired with a salad of baby spinach, avacado, and Texas ruby red grapefruit sections tossed in a light vinaigrette.

Closely followed by a rare Forman Cabernet Sauvignon, paired with a cheese plate consisting of an herbed goat cheese, a white Wisconsin cheddar, a French sheep's milk cheese, a Spanish manchego with quince paste, and a Pt. Reyes, CA bleu from Cowboy Creamery, including mini slices of baguette, homegrown and cured Mission olives, whole almonds, pears and grapes.

Finally, Dolce Far Niente (nectar of the gods), paired with a fresh peach and cream tart topped with Chantilly cream.

Double espressos and selection of liqueurs.

(Complimentary designated driver to take you "home" afterwards.) 😀

I may not will the color selection contest, but perhaps you will need a test subject to ensure that the food and wine is not poisoned? :idontno:

I'm ready to come and paint your house for free after reading that menu!!!! Of course, the paint job might take a while and you will probably change your mind on the color before I finish years later!!!!

We could have a "Paint Donna's House Party." :idontno: However, Donna would have to be okay with us painting outside the lines. I never could do that correctly.

Off topic, but Donna, how many of those Far Niente wooden crates do you have at home for storage?

Bob, good question. I have stacks and stacks, but they're not empty...full of wines from both Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel, the sister winery. They are the best client I have ever had and I worked on the master plans for both wineries. The late Gil Nickel was a wonderful friend and the finest person I have ever worked with during a 30+ year career. We miss him a lot. Every year, the winery's London taxi pulls up on our road, and two velvet-clad holiday "elves" deliver one of those laser-etched cases of Far Niente wines for the holidays. But yes, they do make marvelous storage boxes and they are also good kindling for the fireplace.

If you have not tried the Nickel & Nickel wines, you are in for a real treat. They specialize in single vineyard varietals and are fabulous. Favorites are the N&N Sullenger Vineyards Cabernet and the N&N Dragonfly Vineyards Cabernet. The N&N Winery is directly across the road from Robert Mondavi Winery. We did a complete histroric restoration of the old farmstead and grounds, its re-use as the winery. Even the landscaping is representative of what a turn-of-the-century kitchen garden and color garden would have been. Their wines are great and the family even greater. Thanks for asking. :wub:

I'm ready to come and paint your house for free after reading that menu!!!! Of course, the paint job might take a while and you will probably change your mind on the color before I finish years later!!!!

And add SJ's comment too. I couldn't figue out how to quote both.

What about a big "paint the house " party in September? The only problem is scaffolds- we know that SJ is OK with heights, but I don't know about the rest of us!

What about a big "paint the house " party in September? The only problem is scaffolds- we know that SJ is OK with heights, but I don't know about the rest of us!

I don't know what you are talking about. I am terrified of heights. My legs start shaking when I get too high off the ground. For some reason, hanging out the door of an airplane at 13,000 ft or hang gliding at 3,000 ft is no problem, but get me on a 30ft ladder and I am scared. I will take the ground floor please.

I don't know what you are talking about. I am terrified of heights. My legs start shaking when I get too high off the ground. For some reason, hanging out the door of an airplane at 13,000 ft or hang gliding at 3,000 ft is no problem, but get me on a 30ft ladder and I am scared. I will take the ground floor please.

Let me get this straight. You will jump out of an airplane, but you won' stand on a scaffold, paint Conch Out, and get good wine and yummy food for a prize?? You are a ding dong!

Let me get this straight. You will jump out of an airplane, but you won' stand on a scaffold, paint Conch Out, and get good wine and yummy food for a prize?? You are a ding dong!

I am the one who suggested the idea. I don't mind a little painting on the ground floor. 😀 Why don't you take the scaffolding? :idontno: I did fall off the 7ft ladder while stringing lights in the trees at Steeleing1's wedding. Maybe that is why my ladder is still at the Pink house -- bad ladder memories.

... and if you don't want me to paint, perhaps I could make the Margaritas for the thirsy folks passing by.