sally wheat gives us her 'perfect grays'

She is as sweet as she is talented.

Houston, Texas designer Sally Wheat recently took a little time to pass on to "a perfect gray" readers some of her favorite grays. And folks, we are not alone here in trying to sort out our gray hues, "I think grays are really hard," says Sally. "I've had a gray work beautifully in one end of a space and turn out completely blue on the other end!"

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Here are a few of Sally's favorite grays, "I have had good luck with these," she says...

part of sally's famous kitchen

courtesy of cote de texas

Sally's well known kitchen cabinets, above, are Benjamin Moore Fieldstone #1558

Pavilion Gray by Farrow and Ball, above, is

"...a nice light gray for walls," Sally notes.

Downpipe by Farrow and Ball, above,

is Sally's pick for a darker shade of gray.

And three Martin Senor colors that Sally recommends are:

Martin Senour Cindersmoke, above, "a nice dove gray."

image from Sally's site

Martin Senour Baby Hippo, on shelves, above.

Sally notes, "I have used Baby Hippo on built-in shelving and doors, very pretty."

image courtesy of cote de texas

Sally used Martin Senour Column, on the kitchen cabinetry, above,  for "a nice taupey gray."

The kitchen island is painted Martin Senour Baby Hippo.

photo courtesy of cote de texas

Our thanks, Sally, for sharing your grays with us!

Be sure to check out Sally's beautiful website full of wonderful gray interiors...

chelsea gray in the kitchen

Tia Zoldan's awesome kitchen in

High Gloss

I am so doing this -  painting my kitchen door gray. Doesn't it just make this kitchen? try to imagine it white...just not the same.

I'll be getting a new french door in my kitchen soon. I'm thinking:

chelsea gray?

chelsea gray

Elle Decor

Benjamin Moore's Chelsea Gray (HC 168)

On a recent tour of homes, I fell in love with a beautiful foyer painted Chelsea Gray. If you are considering a deep gray, give it a try... 

I'm a legend in my own mind......

See this photo of Nate? Looks like he was looking right at me, doesn't it? Well, he was. Because I totally asked him for his Perfect Gray. And I did it all for you guys. His answer:

Light Grays: Benjamin Moore's Moon Shadow (#1516) and Silver Lake (#1598)

Dark Grays: from the Benjamin Moore Historical Collection (he didn't give a specific name)

And here is Nate doing a fist pump and saying, "Woohoo! Thanks for coming, Donna! I love your blog!"

Well, not really. But I did kinda get an inflated ego  - being invited to The Nate Show and the HGTV luncheon. It was awesome meeting so many wonderful bloggers. I tried to meet as many as I could, so I introduced myself to a couple of ladies while we were in the 'green room,' asking, 'Are you design bloggers, too?'

One replied, 'No, and I really don't know what a blog is. What is it....?"

Then I remembered I'm just a gal with a computer. Pushing up pretty pictures.

I'll be back with more of those on Monday.

 Have a great weekend.  

Emily Henderson of HGTV's Secrets From a Stylist used Benjamin Moore's Smoke Embers (No. 1466) in Ian Brennan's living room,

 Benjamin Moore's Gray Owl (2137-60) in the guest room,

 via HGTV and Emily's blog The Brass Petal

and a charcoal gray grasscloth in Ian's den/office.

Emily is funny, fresh, and terrific at putting together an 'undecorated' looking space.

But all that pales next to the fact that:

her loves some gray!

gimme your grays...

Albert Hadley

Nate Berkus

via Rebecca June

I often receive e-mail requests for gray paint color recommendations; but, I'm just a gal who's out here searching, too... 

Maybe we can help each other out a little here.

Have you found a gray that you love? 

Leave a comment telling us about your perfect gray.  

You might want to include:

 the paint brand and name (or number if you have it)

where you used the paint (living room walls? kitchen cabinets?)

qualities you like about the color (cool/ warm, light/dark)

Maybe we can put together a piece like Paige at Tracery Interiors did recently on blues. That was awesome!

This is such a subjective area. But you may really help someone to narrow down their search for 'a perfect gray.'

(And that someone could be me....)

nate meets a perfect gray....

...well, not literally. but I have always said that this image is 'me' translated into a room. Nate, are you out there? What is that 'perfect' gray you use on your walls....? love you, man. mean it.

katie lee joel's living room by nate

thanks, Moggit gals for setting up our Nate Day... 

Update! This gray is BM Pale Smoke (1584)

Thanks to Vanessa at Decor Happy for the tip off!