The Perfect Pain...t

Are you a renovation idiot who watches those crazy home shows and wonders what the heck color of paint it is that’s so damn popular it’s seen literally everywhere? Yeah, so am I. And since it was driving me nuts, and since I’m going to renovate in the spring (if it ever comes), and since I’m a research junkie, I kept at it until I found it. Well, I found the right ballpark, anyway. And even better, I’m willing to share.

Are you sitting down?

The darkest is Tobacco Road. One shade lighter than that is Plantation Beige. Two shades lighter than that is Sandy Lane. And they all can be found at your friendly neighborhood Sherwin Williams store. (Those colors apparently used to be available at Duron, but SW can make them for you.)

I know, I know — I’m fabulous.

Though they are colors, they’re considered warm neutrals, so with white ceilings, white trim and white doors, the above paints, in combinations or not, they'll look gorgeous in any home and go with any decor. Cool, no? I’m going to use the Sandy Lane to lighten the darker areas as well as in both bathrooms, the Plantation Beige pretty much everywhere else, and the Tobacco Road for accent walls.

Yep, baby, it’s gonna look great!

Oh yes. And are you also looking for the perfect little kitchen plant? Something that will look adorable on your counter or island when small (they can grow to 24” but take a long while to do it)? Something super easy to take care of and doesn’t need to be near a window to live? Something even a person like me — someone who’s so bad with plants that my family says I kill the plastic variety — won’t kill? Something inexpensive but looks like a million bucks and is disease and bug resistant? Then get yourself a Peace Lily. You can purchase them pretty cheap at your local grocery/florist store (I got mine at Safeway) or be taken for a boat ride at a fancy flouriest shop. Just water the livin’ hell out of it whenever the pot feels light, place it where there isn’t direct sunlight but enough that you could read a paperback book if you were sitting where it is sitting without additional light, and viola! Trust me, you’ll love it.

Now, if Spring would only come...