Grizzle Gray Paint for the Bathroom

We are making so much progress on the bathroom, it’s been really exciting. Since when you get to the point of painting a room, it’s practically done right? {Tell that to the vanity, toilet, shower and floor that still need to be installed} After we did a total gut of our basement power room, we’ve been making slow but sure progress on repairing the foundation and cement floor, putting up walls and a sub floor in. This past weekend was time for things to really look like a real room, when we painted!

After finishing all the drywall and sanding, I primed everything with Kilz Clean Start zero VOC primer.  I love working with zero VOC paint, since is is extremely low odor, if it has any at all, and in a small space like this, that is muy importante, for me and for the environment. VOCs are volatile organic compounds and are basically what give any items you purchase its “new” smell. Technically this is off gassing, aka it’s the product releasing gas into the environment. You know that new car or carpet smell you get? Yea, it’s gas. Apparently paint can off-gas into your home for up to three years, so I try to stick with the Eco-friendly stuff and go no VOC when possible. Here was the window area all primed.

Originally I thought we would use some left over paint we had on hand from the kitchen. We’re hoping to make this a budget friendly project, so leftover paint was a good option, but it didn’t work out. The paint {even though it was only 3 years old} was moldy, so I wasn’t about to use it. Of course there is a silver lining in this story since it allowed me to pick out a new color. And picking out paint for a DIY blogger is like being a kid in a candy store, so I was excited about the paint possibilities of my future bathroom.

After a trip to Philly last week for work I was inspired buy the beautiful neutrals in West Elm. We don’t have one where I live, so anytime I travel I make it a point to find one nearby and try not to get kicked out since I practically move into the living room section and the associates are about to close the store 🙂 I love it that much. I picked up a shower curtain for the bathroom too, which was perfect timing since we need one for there soon.

They actually have a fall paint color palette with Sherwin Williams, so I headed over to SW to  see some of the colors in person. This was the first time I have used Sherwin Williams paint and after the bathroom came out so well {as I’m getting to, I promise}, I’m definitely  fan. While I didn’t pick one of the West Elm colors exactly, I ended up with a color that goes with both the curtain and my inspiration for the space. Welcome Grizzle Gray.

This was the first time in a decorating project that I matched the paint to an item I already had for the room, that being the shower curtain. How many times do you pick out a paint color and then try to match everything else to it? When paint is pretty much the least expensive item to change, and there are so many options, it makes sense to pick paint after, right?

I was looking for a medium charcoal gray, since we have plans for a white plank wall and already have a medium slate-colored floor. And I’m clearly addicted to gray. We thought this would fit with the modern rustic look we were going for. Antlers in the bathroom? Just wait and see!

Opening the can was like those reveal moments on Trading Spaces, remember those?! When the neighbors would freak out by the color they were about to put on the walls {and floors and furniture}. But I was not freaking out, I was excited! This is one of the darkest and most saturated colors I’ve used to date. I should mention this is the Sherwin Williams Harmony line of paint, which is also zero VOC.

The real test comes when you get it on the wall. My first brush stroke of this paint had me hooked. It went on smooth like butter. I use great quality Purdy brushes, so that makes a huge difference when you paint. Don’t settle for the cheap ones, you will thank me.

Going on, the color had a hint of mushroom brown, but it doesn’t dry that way. Soon enough, and the addition of a bandana for me compliments of Dan, I was rolling it on to the ceiling. I planned to paint all surfaces, including the ceiling since the space is so small, and the ceiling is lower than usual, I feel it makes the room look pulled together more. If there was a white ceiling, it could have looked kind of choppy with a white {soon to be plank} wall, a white ceiling, a different floor and then the tile in the shower. I wanted things to come together visually and I love the look of a painted ceiling, as evident by our master closet makeover.

I was trying to save my manicure, hence the plastic gloves. I don’t usually wear them when I paint. But that was a big fail, especially since I went right from this to stenciling the hallway upstairs. What?! Yes a stencil project is up soon!

I know these pics are not the best, but we don’t get a ton of light in that room, since it is in the basement, and it was pretty cloudy on Saturday. Here is how things are looking now. Grizzle Gray is all done. And the best part? It only took ONE coat! I was pleasantly surprised by this since ALL my paint projects have needed two coats. Apparently I’ve been using the wrong paint. And this was a pretty dark grey over white primer, so I was very happy. I did a few roller touch ups, but we barely used 1/4 gallon for this space. You know what that means…. accent wall! {Maybe I’ve been plotting and scheming all along?}

Here is the one wall, where you can see the white will be the planks.

And here is the other side of that same wall by the window. I’m really happy with the color and the paint. Although it did end up costing more, we now have leftover paint for my dreams of an accent wall somewhere in the house, and I think we are much better off with this darker shade than the lighter gray I had planned on. In our lives, the drama goes on the walls.

Painting of the bathroom is done! Next up, installing the lights and plank wall.

Now, where oh where can I paint that accent wall? Living room? Foyer?

What do you think?

Here is the latest bathroom renovation to do list:

• Gut the whole space More on that here
• Fix the foundation wall More on that here
• Level the floor More on that here
• Install the subfloor More on that here
• Select paint and prime and paint the room
• Install lights
• Get plank wood, cut it, paint it, and install it
• Install the floor
• Figure out how to create a floor for the shower and install it
• Move plumbing in shower
• Tile the shower
• Install baseboards
• Install toilet
• Install vanity, sink and faucet
• Find and hang lights, mirror, art?
• Install the wall shelves
• Accessorize and decorate

P.S. This is NOT a sponsored post by any of the above-mentioned brands. I just feel it is helpful for people to know what products I use in my home.