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The Best Gray Paint Color: Rockport Gray

Yup, our formerly beige-on-beige master bathroom is officially rocking Rockport Gray. And we love it as much as we did when we saw it in this kitchen. Here she blows without the shower curtain hung back up yet (we snapped some pics with it up as well, which we’ll get to in a second):

Bathroom Painted2

But let’s back up. Before applying two coats of paint to our bathroom (we shared our little mood board for the room yesterday) first we had to remove that unused-shelf-and-towel-bar (read why we didn’t use them here)…

Bathroom Before3

…to make way for some art on the only wall that isn’t tiled nearly all the way to the ceiling. So we did (using an allen wrench kit like this).

Bathroom Before5

And then we hit some metal anchors that were ripping the drywall apart when we removed them (the bathroom is part of an addition from the seventies, so the walls are drywall instead of plaster, which would have crumbled even more probably).

Bathroom Before6

So after learning our lesson with one, we decided to do this instead:

Bathroom Before7

Yup, I banged them into the wall a bit with a hammer and just spackled right over them for a nice seamless look. Here’s what it looked like before I sanded it smooth (pardon the super blown out picture, I forgot to white balance).

Bathroom Before8

See how it’s sort of rough in the middle of this picture? After using a sanding block it was good to go (that’s my tip, since a sanding block stays nice and flat like the wall, instead of being floppy like a loose piece of sandpaper). The spackle we used was Dap Crackshot (with the blue lid), but we hear stores sell low-VOC spackle now so we’re itching to try that out soon.

Once the walls were spackled and sanded it was time for paint (note: priming after spackling isn’t a bad idea but we’ve skipped that step on a few occasions without any issue, so perhaps paint formulas are getting good enough to cover well on their own these days?). Anyway, on went Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore (we first saw it in person in Portland when we House Crashed this casa and totally fell in love). We only needed a quart of semi-gloss, and we bought Natura paint (since that’s BM’s no-VOC line). The room needed two coats since it’s semi-gloss paint in there (which is so slick that painting over it almost always results in a terrible looking first coat…

Bathroom Before10

… but then the second coat looks great.

Bathroom Painted5

So here’s the room all painted with the shower curtain back up. Of course I didn’t get to make the cream trim bright white before painting the walls, but I’ll do that soon enough (I’ve painted walls and then trim a bunch of times so it’s not too bad of an order for a painting fool like me):

Bathroom Curtain 1

Here’s a flashback “before shot” just to show the contrast and crispness that the less monochromatic color brings to the room.

Bathroom Before1

The gray in the tiles is so pretty next to the darker toned wall color. And the funny thing is that the gray in our little tree accent tiles looks nice with the new paint on the walls. We can picture the room looking even more like us with soft frosted gray glass subway tile as the accent someday, but it’s nice that the trees work better with the new wall color in the meantime.

Bathroom Painted1

This freshly painted wall is just begging for some art (scroll up see the “before” perspective from this POV). And the room actually feels more open, even though the wall color is darker because there aren’t shelves and bars that feel like they’re all up in your area when you walk to the john.

Bathroom Painted3

You can see how the slice of white in the curtain looks with the tan and gray tones. Can’t wait to make the trim in the room a true glossy white color along with the toilet and some other accents to tie that color in more consistently.

Bathroom Painted4

So now our bathroom to-do list looks a little something like this:

  • paint the cream trim white <– it looks white in the pics, but the bright white light switch next to the cream door trim makes it painfully obvious in person
  • paint the walls so they have some contrast
  • craigslist the toilet and replace it with a classic white one
  • replace the boob light
  • hang some bathroom-friendly art
  • do something to add privacy to the window
  • replace the border tile around the room (maybe in phase 2?)
  • replace the floor tile down the road (just to break things up since there’s so much of it)

The good news for anyone putting off painting a small bathroom is that it doesn’t actually take that long. Each coat probably took us less than an hour (I cut in and then John rolls, and then we repeat that process for coat two). John’s mom once painted her entire bathroom with a paint brush. I remember thinking how amazing that was (and still think about how amazing that is, actually). Must’ve taken forever, but it was only one thing to wash at the end of it all. Haha.

Comments

  1. LaMadre says

    In the photos it looks like the tub is white. Did you luck out with a white tub? When I read you were changing the toilet to white, which is always my preference,I wondered about the tub. I never think about fixtures being different colors but if the tub really is white – what a savings! YAY to that!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We did luck out! It’s not pure white, but it’s sort of a lighter beige color than the tile, so it ties into the tile on the walls. Meanwhile the toilet is actually much darker beige, so replacing it with something white will hopefully connect with the white trim an shower curtain for a more clean look!

      xo,
      s

  2. Evan says

    How do you like BM Natura vs. your old go-to Olympic No VOC in coverage, texture, quality, etc.? (Erm, if your allowed to give candid thoughts now that you work with BM.) I’ve had two friends warn me against Natura because of a weird, lingering smell that it gives off (not chemically, since it’s no VOC, just bad). Have you noticed this?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Weird! John and I were saying it was oddly odorless since we’re used to the smell of the Olympic no-VOC stuff! That’s so funny. Maybe it has to do with how much colorant is added or something? We always noticed that Olympic had a signature smell (we could actually recognize that smell anywhere) but it wasn’t unpleasant. We thought the Natura paint had less of a smell and a bit better coverage, but both are great paints (we’ve actually tried Valspar, Mythic, True Value, Behr, Freshaire, Olympic and Ben Moore and didn’t think any of them are bad!).

      xo,
      s

  3. Ashley says

    Wow! This looks great! I think we have close to the same tile as you and I have been trying to decide on a wall color for almost 2 years! Our bathroom does not have any windows. Do you think this color would be too dark?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, believe it or not the door is too low to allow for one (we need to remove it and cut it down so it swings with more clearance for one). Definitely on the list!

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Ooh that could be charming! The only thing is the cost vs. frosting film (coming off of a pretty pricey kitchen reno we’re trying to do a cheap and easy bathroom update! Haha.

      xo,
      s

  6. Deb says

    so… did you do a little happy dance after it was all done? I do! well, actually I do my little happy dance when I know something is going to look good and then throughout the process and then when it’s finished!! My husband just laughs, he may have some eye rollin’ going on~but I have convinced myself it is just because he is laughing so hard!! The paint choice looks fabulous!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think I’m withholding my happy dance until we’re a bit further along. Haha. I keep worrying the painting I want to hang in there won’t work or we won’t be able to hunt down the blue glass light we like, so I’m saving my happy dance. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  8. Peggy says

    Very nice! I’m thinking that could be a good color for my bathroom; I’ve got very similar tile.
    I KNOW you don’t really need anything added to that to-do list, but don’t you think the trim below the window looks out of proportion to the rest of the trim above the sill?

    Reply

  9. Michelle says

    Looks great! I’m a grey lover, though, so it wouldn’t take much convincing.

    I’m hesitant to make a “suggestion”, but while looking over these before and after photos, I liked how the toilet sort of blended into the tile. Normally, I’d be all for crisp white, but it occurred to me in the photos that maybe you don’t really want to draw so much attention to that particular fixture. Just a thought.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, I’ve gone back and forth about that, but the weird thing about a beige toilet is that it never feels shiny and clean and bright and white. And as much as I don’t want to highlight the toilet, I think sitting on something that feels clean is a nice feeling. Haha. We don’t think it’ll call a ton of attention to the toilet if it’s white since it’s usually the default color and lots of rooms with tan tile have white toilets since it seems to be the norm! Here’s hoping!

      xo,
      s

  14. Amy says

    Love the gray! I think it might be my new favorite color.

    On a completely unrelated note, did you do a post about Clara’s 52 week photo book? I thought I remembered it, but I can’t find it ANYWHERE. If you could help me out, I’d be EVER so grateful! Thanks!

    Reply

  16. Elizabeth says

    Love it! Don’t you feel like more and more items require Allan keys these days? I probably have about 20 of them around the house, and they’re not just used for IKEA furniture anymore.

    I have to agree that painting a small bathroom is easy! I found it was easiest with just one person painting in there at a time, since bathrooms are usually tight spaces.

    Reply

  17. Tricia B says

    When I was 12 I painted our entire dining room with a paint brush. By myself. Next time I paint a room, I’m using a roller.

    I love the color you chose! It’ll look amazing with more crisp white accents. Rock on.

    Reply

  18. Kelly says

    I live in a house built in 1994, and the builders did not use ANY PRIMER. PLEASE USE PRIMER! It’s not just for coverage, but for sticky-ness. So now, the paint in our ceiling/wall joints are cracking (especially in moisture-prone rooms), and any mounting putty/sticker could pull the paint off a whole wall. It comes off in huge strips! I asked a guy at Lowe’s what to do, and he said the only real solution is to pull off ALL THE OLD paint, then prime and paint again. UM, NO! So we are dealing with the problem right now, trying to mitigate our losses.

    All this to say, PLEASE use primer! The adhesion in the many years to come WILL be worth it!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw man, that stinks! Priming drywall before painting it is super important! Thankfully all of ours is primed already, so just repainting those walls with semi-gloss paint works like a charm.

      xo,
      s

  19. tammylee says

    I painted my master bathroom a color called Ocean Pearl by Behr. Everyone questioned why a grayish color when all our tile was a cream colored marble. but the marble actually has a gray vein running all through it. I think it brings that out nicely but everyone has their own idea of what looks good. Way to go on the gray/cream combo!

    Reply

  20. Jess! says

    Whoa. I JUST painted my bathroom the same colour – it was a dingey cream colour, with white subway tile and a black accent band of tile at about the same height as yours. Now, with the grey, it looks fantastic, and I’m also painting the trim stark while, since the tub and toilet are white, and the towel racks are black.

    The only major difference in our colour scheme is that the linens and the shower curtain are BRIGHT RED, and very cheery.

    Enjoy the bathroom reno!

    Reply

  23. Jennifer Fankhauser says

    Such a big improvement!

    My husband and I painted our entire exterior just using paintbrushes last summer. The wood siding is so textured, we couldn’t smoothly cover all the nooks and crannies with a roller and we didn’t have a sprayer, so we spent a ridiculous number of weekends painting the house by hand with brushes. Sounds crazy but we finally got ‘er done. I am SO glad that is not on our to-do list this summer!

    Reply

  24. Miki says

    Are we going to see a post about what to expect tomorrow over at your collection at Joss and Main? I’m excited to see what you have picked out for this go around!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, we thought replacing the tree tile with soft gray frosted glass subway tile could be cool down the line. Love your family’s modern architecture firm by the way! Amazing designs!

      xo,
      s

  26. Elizabeth @wakeandgather says

    Okay, you guys are going to think i’m nuts but I have to tell you about this dream I had last night because both of you were in it!

    I came to your house to visit for some reason (although it wasn’t your house, it looked different and we were outside…) and Sherry was showing me her new Roomba vacuum that John surprised her with and it was specially made blue-green so that it would match the decor of the house. And then, because I guess he thought it was a good idea?, John laid on top of it like it was… a surf board? but way too small and he started rolling backwards and then propelling himself forward on it thinking it was the coolest thing ever. And then you, Sherry, took me inside to a room where you had three pictures of different houses tacked up on the wall. These were houses y’a’ll were thinking about buying. And I was really surprised because you’ve only lived at the house you’re in for 1.5 years… Anyway. Then you had some meeting and I excused myself because I all of the sudden felt really awkward being there.

    And that’s it. I know. It’s in-saaane. I promise I’m not a weirdo.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Painting a ceiling can be great in every room. It’s always something we love doing in small rooms that might look chopped up otherwise (like bathrooms) but we painted the ceiling of our bedroom a soft color (and also did it in Clara’s first nursery) and loved how it looked- especially with crown molding to set off the subtly different colors.

      xo,
      s

  29. Brenda says

    That color is gorgeous. It has a soft, dreamy quality. Even though I’ve seen tons of before and after pics, I’m still amazed how much of a change a little bit of paint can make.

    Reply

  30. Pamela says

    Does the addition part of your house also have attic space above? If so, then relocating your light fixture to center on the window should be a piece of cake. After watching the pros in your kitchen you’re probably ready to DIY.

    Reply

  31. Cara says

    Sorry – totally off topic question! What is the stuff you’ve put on your painted surfaces to block the smell/seal it? it’s low VOC right? Thanks very much!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      The poly/seal that we prefer on painted/stained furniture is SafeCoat Acrylacq, which is a non-toxic and low-VOC sealer (many poly products are high VOC).

      xo,
      s

  32. A Wife and her Carpenter says

    So LOVE the color and I love how it looks with the ceiling. I am contemplating this idea with our bathroom now that you have mentioned the idea…hmm. :)

    Also, you guys should totally just dremel out those tiles. My husband (a carpenter) did it in my parent’s bathroom and it turned out great–relatively easy too!

    Reply

  34. Karen F says

    ooh, you have another Joss and Main collection coming?? yay!

    Love that gray in the bathroom. I have the same toilet and I don’t like it either! I have this awful green tile (which we inherited), but it’s amazing what a cheery shower curtain and accessories can do. Sometimes it’s fun to work with constraints!

    Reply

  36. ktmade says

    I agreed with some other folks that it didn’t look so bad to me before, but I really like the contrast gray now that I see it. It works so well with the tiles.

    On a different note – the walls in the rest of your house are plaster? Do you guys have any issues hanging regular ol’ paintings? Do you use those “ook” hangers? We just moved into a place (renting) with plaster walls, and I’m petrified every time I hang something.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We have heard that Ook hangers are amazing but haven’t tried them yet. For the most part we use small nails to hang light things and anchors/screws to hang heavy ones. Worked in our last house (also with plaster walls) too!

      xo,
      s

  37. Kristen says

    What grit sandpaper block do you used on the spackle? The previous owners filled screw holes all over the house then painted over them, but they never sanded them, so you can see every last one when the light hits it or from the right angle. Its annoying to know where every shelf or picture they ever had was! I’d like to go through and sand them all down before repainting,. but don’t know what kind of sanding block to get…

    Reply

  38. Amy @ The Button Casa says

    I’m surprised how good the grey looks with the tile. I hadn’t even noticed that there was grey in the tree tile until the after pictures. It all looks fabulous even though the tile isn’t really your style.

    Reply

  39. Kate S, says

    I actually do all of my painting (and there’s a lot of it) with just a paintbrush. I don’t like the spray you can get from rollers, the excess clean-up, or the wasted paint and I find there are far fewer touch-ups when you’re using a brush. As an added bonus, even if you repaint a dozen times, you never end up adding that icky “paint roller” texture to your walls.

    I actually just painted my entire stairwell and second floor landing and hall (the landing is bigger than some bedrooms) with a paint brush. It definitely takes longer than rolling, but, at least in my opinion, the effect is totally worth it.

    Reply

  40. Caitlin says

    Can we all agree that “Crackshot” is kind of a hilarious name for a product? It makes me think it must have a picture of a plumber’s rear end on the front.

    Reply

  43. carriegel says

    This is so funny. We are in the middle of a bathroom remodel. We put carrera (hex) on the floor and used carrera on the vanity top and thresholds. The walls are basic white subway tile. I painted my walls with BM’s Grant Beige to contrast with all of the gray going on in the room.

    Good luck with the rest of your room. I’m looking forward to seeing the changes.

    Reply

  44. Erin N. says

    Looking good! I’ve been a spackling queen this last week, and am L.O.V.I.N.G. the stuff that changes colors when it dries (from pink to white), especially for the really big holes that require mesh and an extra go-over.

    Reply

  45. Kelly says

    The grey looks fantastic!

    You are probably already onto this, but have you guys subscribed to Fab.com? There are so many fun things there and I can totally see you loving some of them. Today they have a coupon for 20×200!

    Reply

  46. Angela @ Cottage Magpie says

    Love the new color! I’m surprised at what a difference it makes. It really makes the tile look nice, too. The way it picks up the grey in the accent tiles is fantastic.

    Meanwhile — this is off topic, but I just wanted to thank you for all you do to give back to the blogging community. With all of your enthusiasm and “how we did it” stories and posts — it’s just so inspiring for a small blogger like myself. Thank you!!!

    ~Angela~

    Reply

  47. Liz says

    Looking good already! I’ll be very interested to see how this turns out as the layout of your master bedroom, master bath, and closet is the EXACT same as mine…down to the boob light! Which thanks a lot never bothered me before, but now it’s all I can see :-/

    Reply

  48. Katie says

    Love Rockport Gray!! I have it throughout my entire familyroom/dining room/ kitchen. Its looks amazeballs with white trim and moldings. Our kitchen has white cabinets and the living room at 13 ft ceilings with floor to ceiling white drapes. Such a good neutral and goes with so many accent colors. Great pick!!

    Reply

  49. Jen says

    Ohhh, I love that you painted the ceiling and the difference it all made in the space already! Such a big bang for the buck! The color is so pretty and I can’t wait to see it all pull together with the light and art!

    Reply

  50. Erin C says

    It looks so much better! Amazing what contrast can do. I’m getting inspired to start working on my bathroom which basically needs to be gutted. It’s a one person bathroom (aka: teeny tiny). The paint is old and cracking and everything is dingy and dirty. Ugh, I need a new house.

    Reply

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