As anyone who is a little home design obsessed like me can understand, I didn't quite shake the mental obsession I have with painting the shore bedroom a deep blue color. So what is a girl to do with this on her mind? Swatches of course! (If you need a refresher, check out my
crazy about navy,
blue'd away,
what the shore bedroom looks like now and
how I heart my goldfish.)
I ran to the local hardware store and picked the four darkest blue shades they had in those little Benjamin Moore sample tubs. I painted them on poster boards (proof I haven't quite committed to the idea since I did not paint directly on the walls. Baby steps, people!) and photographed them with the shades open (top) and with the shades drawn (bottom) to get a sense of how they looked in different lights.
Thankfully the interwebs is giving me some added digital courage in the form of inspiration. Van
Deusen Blue and orange featured on Project Nursery,
Russet Street Reno's fabulous Art Room in Hale Navy,
My Interior Life's Powder Room in Mysterious and
a Flint and orange painted living room featured on The Happy Haven.
I have my favorite as does the Mr. but I'm not 100% sure yet.
Which color is your favorite?Edited to add a vote count as of 9:09 EST: Looks like Van Deusen and Hale Navy are tied. Mysterious pulling up the rear and flint dead last. ( 19 v. 19 v. 8 v. 4)
Mysterious! I'm thinking about doing a color like that in our dining room.
ReplyDeleteVan Heusen- it's a good nautical blue and with the shades drawn it's really the only one that still looks dark navy blue and not dark gray
ReplyDeleteI really like the Van Heusen, it still reads blue after the shades are drawn and it's a nice navy when the shades are open too. I hope you go through with it, because I'd love to see how it turns out in your bedroom!
ReplyDeleteI like the flint, but it's the least blue of the bunch. I'm a huge fan of that charcoal hue though.
ReplyDeletelove the hale navy! it seems the most blue while still having a great moody gray to it.
ReplyDeleteVan Heusen is a great color for the beach!!
ReplyDeleteYep, Van Heusen. The others look grey/black when you closed the curtains. Can't believe the difference with the lighting changes!
ReplyDeleteI like Mysterious in the light, but Van Heusen with the shades drawn. The others all look too much like anthracite in the dark. Can't wait to see what you end up using.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is mysterious!!!
ReplyDeleteVan heusen!
ReplyDelete!.Flint 2. Hale Navy.....xv
ReplyDeleteLike the Hale Navy. I'm not up to the boldness of Van Deusen and the others look too gray/black to me.
ReplyDeletehale navy!
ReplyDeleteWe had Hale Navy in our dining room: http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/furniture-feature-dining-table/ I loved the color until we brought our new table in, then it looked too dark. But, it's a really great navy blue and it looks good in any light.
ReplyDeleteI like the flint. I'm more a grey person however. I also like the hale navy..I think it's the prettiest non-traditional blue.
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for Van Heusen as it is the only one that still looks blue with the shades drawn (at least on my monitor anyways.)
ReplyDeleteI vote for Hale Navy - can't wait to see it!
ReplyDeleteI like the Hale Navy
ReplyDeleteMy favorites in the light are van heusen and hale navy but definitely prefer van heusen when the shades are pulled so my vote would be for van heusen.
ReplyDeleteI would stick with the Van Heusen if it's blue you want. They're all lovely colors but with the shades drawn, the Van Heusen is the only one that's still obviously a blue.
ReplyDeleteMy own preference is for Hale Navy or Mysterious; I think you'd be happiest with Van Heusen, since it retains the most blue in the low light.
ReplyDeletei am with you on this - i am OBSESSED with a color called Nantucket Blue - it's like a slate blue and close to the bottom left with a little more blue. good luck with your choice! :)
ReplyDeleteVan Heusen is my favorite!!
ReplyDeleteTorn between Van heusen and hale navy. The other two are pretty but not quite blue enough if you are wanting a navy blue.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Hale Navy but Van Heusen is really nice too. I think Hale Navy might have more of the moodiness (stormy?) that you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteI've used Mysterious on client's homes before, and I really like it. Be aware that the color can sometimes read purple as the sun sets and in twilight.
ReplyDeleteHale Navy is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI love the Hale Navy in the light, and the Van Heusen in the dark. I know, I'm no help.
ReplyDeleteHale Navy gets my vote, definitely!
ReplyDeleteI like the van heusen best. It stays a little bit blue whether the shades are up or down. Really I like them all! The hale navy is also almost calling my name.
ReplyDeleteI just painted my entire living room in Mysterious! It is a beautiful and dramatic color and everything pops against it.
ReplyDelete-Katie
I love mysterious and flint! Flint seems a bit safer if you are still unsure.
ReplyDeleteHALE NAVY all the way!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Van Heusen; it's the only one that's blue in both lights.
ReplyDeleteVan Heusen!
ReplyDeleteI also vote for Hale Navy. I think it's a great and sophisticated color for a shore house.
ReplyDeleteHale Navy! It's so moody!
ReplyDeletevan huesen! To me the others look blackish with the blinds down. Keep us posted on what you pick, Laura
ReplyDeleteHale Navy of course! I'm a huge fan of Sara's art room painted in that color. I love how it's a true navy in daylight & a moody stormy color in the shade.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the Van Deusen blue. I've had this in my home office the past three years, and I still LOVE it! It has been a versatile blue to work with, and I haven't found anything that hasn't really gone with it.
ReplyDeleteHale Navy no question it is unmistakably blue not grey or black without throwing you into a "we are going for beach theme" feel. I really like it.
ReplyDeleteI like Mysterious during the day but Van Heusen at night. So I guess Hale Navy is a good compromise?
ReplyDeleteI like how the van heusen has a wee bit of cobalt to it.
ReplyDeleteHale Navy, for sure!
ReplyDeleteVan Heuson
ReplyDeleteI think that the Van Deusen looks best in the second picture, but I have a soft spot for Hale Navy since it's my exterior trim colour
ReplyDeleteHm. Not in love with Van Heusen in light, but in shade it's the only one that looks blue. I LOVE the hale navy, and it's actually very close to the color in my dining room. I've been very pleased with it.
ReplyDeleteI -adore- that Hale Navy. It's so pretty, and it has a nice variance in different lighting situations!
ReplyDeleteHale Navy, deep and moody, not too bright or too grey like the others.
ReplyDeleteMysterious!
ReplyDeleteI am becoming obsessed with the dark navy as well. I might have to paint my living room.
I love Mysterious, but I think if you're really thinking blue you'll be happiest with Van Heusen. That room would just look rich and inviting!
ReplyDeleteI love Mysterious!
ReplyDeleteHale Navy! We just painted and were trying to decide between Hale Navy and Kensington Blue, we went with Kensington but I wanted the Navy - it is a nice richer blue but still dark (hubby won out!) - but not so dark that you feel like you are in a dungeon
ReplyDeleteI totally thought flint was grey, not blue! And mysterious is cool but too purply. So I think that narrows it to hale or van heusen. Which are probably the two you each like, and this was no help whatsoever. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea- I would not have thought of photographing the samples with the shades down.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your choice?
I vote Hale Navy or Flint. I like the more gray/blue colors than the truer blues.
ReplyDeleteHale Navy. My fave! What's yours?
ReplyDeleteOMG, I must be dreaming to get a shout out on your fabulous blog! Well, I totally vote for Hale Navy, of course. I got the paint in an ultra-flat finish, and it is SO velvety and gorgeous. Please choose Hale!! You won't be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Van Heusen. I actually like Hale Navy better when the shades are open, but really dislike it when they're not, so Van Heusen edges it out.
ReplyDeleteHome trends are quiet famous. Don't forget to check out home trends dinnerware and save huge using great discounts online.
ReplyDeletePlease try BM Montpelier it looks great in the day and evening. I used the Aura line and coverage was fantastic.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jjburke/5772113701/in/set-72157622077392277/
I painted my son's desk Van Deusen. It's a pretty vibrant blue.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjburke/4581967861/in/set-72157622077392277
And the exterior of our house in painted in Flint. It's very gray.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjburke/4555021631/in/set-72157622077392277
The Montepelier has just the right amount of blue. The Van Deusen is much brighter in the day. The Flint is pretty flat. Not much depth. Perfect for the exterior.
Hope this helps!
Jen
Van Heusen all the way.
ReplyDeleteVan Heusen, for sure.
ReplyDeleteHale Navy
ReplyDeleteVan Heusen.
ReplyDeletehale navy
ReplyDeleteVan heusen I think as even though at first I thought hale navy it looks almost grey when shades are pulled.
ReplyDeleteI love the Hale Navy!
ReplyDeleteFLINT! I love the grayish tone it has to it.
ReplyDeleteVan Deusen blue looks fresh and gorgeous in person-that would be my vote. I've seen the flint done also and it is a great color but more charcoal than blue.
ReplyDeleteThe living room I grew up in was Van Heusen blue and it was beautiful.....dark blue against white woodwork with sandy carpeting. I've tried to recreate it a few times but have never found the exact shade until. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteVan Heusen Its really,,,,,,,,pint blue I like it,,,,and you are also sure about this biut you want some different then try the combinations of Hale Navy
ReplyDeleteGeneric Levitra
I'm actually torn between Van Deusen and Flint. I thought I would hate Flint but I love the way it looked in the living room (over at the Happy Haven)!! Tough call.
ReplyDeleteIn case you're still tallying, I vote for Hale Navy. After noticing tons of navy popping up on the interweb, I took the plunge and painted our bedroom Hale Navy and love it (I went 3/4 up the wall Hale Navy and then a molding and the remaining 1/4 and ceiling as Stonington Gray). It makes the room feel cozy but modern at the same time. Do it, it'll look great!!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Danielle. I recently painted an accent wall in my bedroom Hale Navy after deliberating forever and absolutely love it. I also wanted to paint our kitchen cabinets navy and went with Soot from Benjamin Moore for that. It's a really deep dark coal color that has hints of navy which also looks great. I was also considering Mysterious which seemed too dark, almost black. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI vote for Hale Navy - I like Van with the shades drawn, but it doesn't seem deep enough with them open.
ReplyDeleteI just ran across this post while checking my Google Analytics. Thanks for using my powder bath as inspiration for a Mysterious room. I must say, I love my powder room because of the mood this color sets. Now, obviously, there is no natural light in there so it's probably different in a room with windows. I think it is such a hard color to describe - sometimes I think it's gray, other times I'm sure it's blue. Mysterious indeed. Have you painted that room yet? Can't wait to see!
ReplyDeleteI actually used both Van deusen and Hale navy in my house. I painted my kitchen cabinets van deusen and distressed and antiqued them. I really love the color. My exterior doors and shutters are painted hale navy. I get more compliments on both. I do love all the colors you picked but those two are my fav's...
ReplyDeleteAnother blue is SHORE from restoration hardware. It's very pretty in a bedroom. Check it out....
ReplyDelete