Greige is the Rage
Summer Reno. Riding the Wave.
Painting my deck and DIY projects notwithstanding, this summer, I got to live my passion vicariously through BFFs who were having their homes turned upside down with massive renovations. And though tough for them, it’s been delightful for me. I imagine grandparenthood is similar in the level of love and commitment, without the domestic upheaval in one’s own home. My friend Andrea took on a kitchen and master bath transformation that involved heavy duty demo and reconstruction, and I was with her just about every step of the way. Every step, except for the displacement, of course. I was always invited to pop in here and there for some key judgement calls, including floorplans, cabinet, counter top and tile selections—and for this, I’m eternally grateful.
At the same time, my Shoperone was up to her neck in sawdust on her own reno. After more than a decade of raising kids in the same beautiful home, this year, Laura decided it was time for the next phase—a ‘refresh,’ including new mouldings, built-ins and a project that consumed just about every room of their already lovely house, simultaneously. What was intended to be a wave of transformation wound up being more of a tsunami—sadly one that also drowned all hope of Shoperone daytime spritzers. And though we were each very much consumed with our own summer stuff, we texted of course, and we did wind up getting together for the occasional face-to-face. Luckily, home reno is my middle name, and while they were weathering the storms, I got the chance to splash around a bit, from a safe distance.
After the heavy lifting was finished, and the places more or less started looking like homes again, both Laura and Andrea were faced with the significant challenge of the final and possibly most resonant touch: the paint job. Paint color choice can be harder than all of it combined. In each case I got texts from the ladies. Andrea wrote, “have to pick paint colors ASAP, ack!” Laura was more reserved and calculated, which is what total focus looks like on her. She explained the gravity of the consideration set: whatever color she picked was going to be there, like it or not, for the next decade. With a 40-foot entry hall, she is required to use union laborers for the work—it’s a job that comes with a steep price tag and a good amount of pre-planning.
Texting my two cents.
Laura was further along in the color process by the time we spoke again, already two weeks’ into looking at tens of swatches on many walls. Just about everything can affect the way one sees a color in the home—the time of day, ambient lighting, adjacent room colors and of course, the furnishings. Clearly, this was not something to enter into lightly, and even though contractors try to rush the process by the time the paint is needed, there’s no way to really make the choice before you see a more finished reno. But when Laura announced, “Greige is the rage!” and sent me some pics of her swatched-up wall, I realized she’d zeroed in, exquisitely, on the solution. The tide was finally ebbing.
Oh greige, you can be tricky.
Getting to Know Greige
But what is this greige? We’ve never seen it on a color wheel, have we? For those eager to know more, here’s a bit of a breakdown of greige as a design trend.
In the beginning (okay, the ‘90s), there was beige, the dated hallmark of the remodel revolution. Soon came grey, determined to streamline aughts interiors everywhere. But for those seeking design inspo today, both colors can feel staid, even pedestrian. Thankfully, there’s a new neutral palette in the design arsenal. ‘Greige’ harmonizes the clean modernism of grey and the warmth and adaptability of beige into an inviting, yet crisp, contemporary personality all its own.
A tad grey, a wee bit beige. Greige represents a spectrum of hues and undertones of a mysteriously interesting palette that shows differently depending on the light and the elements in a room. Such chameleon sensibility makes greige hip and versatile among both cool and warm color schemes. Shades, such as Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Mist and Revere Pewter or Sherwin Williams’ Fawn Brindle reveal the palette’s dimensionality, offering visual interest without overwhelming a space. Greige is relaxed in the background, while still commanding a unique presence.
In today’s trendy, ‘anything goes’ market where jet-black ceilings and gilded fireplaces are quite deliberate, the new greige palette levels a dose of sanity at our otherwise bacchanalian design era. A trend in itself, greige is somehow a respite from trendiness—a choice that’s as easy and comfortable as it is fresh and exciting. It’s a rich backdrop with staying power that can accommodate, even accentuate, the sensuous whims of today’s mad design scientists. Greige is breezy with your peacock velvet couch, and will also spice up to your mahogany coffee table. Ever a humble, yet glamorous supporting character, greige will likely stand the test of time.
In the end, both Laura and Andrea picked greige tones. Ironically, both independently settled on the same Revere Pewter. Their homes couldn’t be more different in style, scale or design, yet the choice suits both spaces perfectly. They appear totally different but support their tastes as precisely as a custom color would. I wondered why I’d quite automatically championed this ‘greige’ when discussing color with each of them, so I went to the garage to check the paint cans used for my own house when we moved in six years ago. I was actually surprised to find I’d chosen Balboa Mist in the living and dining rooms. I’d been living with greige all along, during which time I’d switched out the rugs, the furniture, even the art, greige has looked amazing, no matter what. But it did get me thinking, maybe it’s time for a splash of something new…
(Disclaimer: The Shoperones have not received sponsorship in any way to review brands or branded colors in this piece. In fact, we’ve probably collectively spent thousands to use their products in our own homes. Is it possible we’re missing the point of blogging altogether?)
