Stonington Gray

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Stonington Gray HC-170 is one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular neutral paint colors. this gray paint color is elegant and refined. It’s a soft gray paint color that brings elegance to any room it is in.

Welcome, welcome friends!! Today is a good day.

Why, you ask?

Because we are going to be chatting about another super fabulous paint color.

The other day, while I was rummaging through the paint samples in my garage, I came across one color that I somewhat forgot about. Not because it’s a bad color or anything of that sort, but because there are so many paint colors out there. I’m bound to forget about some here and there.

Anyway, when I saw the sample, I immediately pulled it and set it aside because I knew I had to talk about it. It’s too good not to.

Without further ado, may I introduce to you the one, the only…..

BENJAMIN MOORE STONINGTON GRAY HC-170

STATS

Let’s start with the technical stuff.

According to Encycolorpedia.com

The hexadecimal color code #cbccc6 is a light shade of yellow-green. In the RGB color model #cbccc6 is comprised of 79.61% red, 80% green and 77.65% blue. In the HSL color space #cbccc6 has a hue of 70° (degrees), 6% saturation and 79% lightness. This color has an approximate wavelength of 568.13 nm.

Encycolorpedia.com

Stonington Gray has an LRV of 59.75.

I know what you are thinking: what the heck is LRV? Here’s a quick rundown of what LRV is if you are unfamiliar with it.

LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, is a measurement commonly used by design professionals that measures the amount of light reflected from or absorbed into a surface. LRVs range from 0-100, with 100 being pure white and 0 being pure black.

Basically, the higher the LRV of a paint color, the more light it will reflect. So, with an LRV of 59.75, Stonington Gray sits a little above the middle of the scale.

Finally, Stonington is a part of the Benjamin Moore Historic Color Collection, which is Benjamin Moore’s most popular color collection. It’s also a part of the Southwest Color Palette.

WHAT COLOR IS BENJAMIN MOORE STONINGTON GRAY?

If you haven’t already guessed, Stonington Gray is gray.

But wait! There’s more!

To further elaborate, Stonington Gray is a cool-toned medium gray. It’s not an icy cool gray, rather it’s soft and refined.

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SHOP MUST HAVE PAINTING TOOLS

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IS STONINGTON GRAY A WARM OR COOL COLOR?

Stonington Gray is a cool-toned paint color. Generally, cool-toned paint colors will have undertones that are blue, purple, and green. Whereas, warm-toned paint colors have undertones of red, orange, and yellow.

WHAT UNDERTONES DOES STONINGTON GRAY HAVE?

We know Stonington Gray is a cool-toned color. So that means it has blue, purple, and green undertones. Now. the main undertone that stands out is blue. For the most part, SG will look like a gray, however, in the perfect conditions that blue undertone will show.

What do I mean by perfect conditions?

That refers to what is happening in the room, lighting (natural and artificial), decor, fixed elements, etc.

STONINGTON AND LIGHTING

We know that lighting is one of the main factors contributing to how a paint color will look. It can virtually change the appearance of any color. That’s a big deal when you are trying to choose the right paint color. So, it’s best you are familiar with the lighting situation of the room you are finding a paint color for.

• North-facing rooms – North-facing rooms tend to have light that comes off cooler and even somewhat blueish in tone. Paint colors that are on the lighter side will appear a bit muted whereas bolder dark colors will pop and embrace that cooler light.

•  South-facing rooms– In South-facing rooms, there tends to be a consistent warm light throughout the day. Warm and cool tones work nicely with south-facing light. This light intensifies colors, so darker colors will seem brighter while, softer colors will look like they are gleaming. BM Stonington looks great in South-facing light.

• West-facing rooms-  Light is cooler in the morning and warmer or brighter in the afternoon/ early evening. Early evening is when West-facing rooms have the best light. Warmer tones might seem overwhelming because of the red-orange the light gives off. However, if the main use for the room is in the mornings, the colors won’t appear as intense because of that cooler light. Stonington Gray in a west-facing room will look cooler-toned in the mornings.

• East-facing rooms–  Light is warmer or brighter in the mornings and cooler in the afternoon/evenings. An East facing room’s bright morning light is more yellow-orange toned. Going with a warm palette will help balance the lack of natural light in the evening. Benjamin Moore SG will look will show cooler in the evening of an east-facing room.

Let’s not forget about our light bulbs! They also have an influence on how your paint color will look.

As much as lighting plays a major part in how a paint color can look at times, there are other factors you should not forget about.

For example, decor furniture, fixtures, cabinetry, and floors. These are all elements that can affect the way a paint color will look in your room.

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WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO SAMPLE BENJAMIN MOORE STONINGTON GRAY?

If you have read some of my paint color reviews, you know that the one thing I ALWAYS mention is to sample your paint colors. Sampling your paint colors is the only way you will see how that particular color, or in this case, Stonington, will look in your space.

Yes, I know, you saw your favorite Influencer post a picture of her beautiful gray walls, and it’s the color you want. But her home is not the same as your home. You may have more light than she does. She may have shades of blue throughout her room, whereas you have different shades of red. These are all things that matter when choosing a paint color.

So, what’s the best way to sample paint colors?

Samplize Peel & Stick Paint samples!

WHERE TO USE STONINGTON GRAY

I say use Stonington Gray anywhere your heart desires. There are no rules here! SG is such a beautiful soft gray that it looks good in so many different applications.

• Kitchen
• Bathroom
• Exterior
• Living Room
• Basement
• Cabinets
• Trim
• Ceilings

IN THE LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN CABINETS

Why is Stonington Gray an absolutely amazing paint color for kitchen cabinets? Well, because it is not too light and not too dark. It’s a color that won’t weigh down your cabinets, and at the same time, it won’t be so light that you can’t tell it’s a gray.

READ MORE: HOW TO PAINT KITCHEN CABINETS

USE STONINGTON IN THE BATHROOM

Cool-tone colors are great options to use in the bathroom. They give off a sense of calmness and relaxation. And they are perfect to use when you want to create a spa-like environment.

Using a soft and elegant paint color like Stonington Gray will help you capture the spa vibes you want in your bathroom. Complete your bathroom look with luxurious crisp white bath towels.

USE SG ON THE EXTERIOR

READ MORE: THE BEST BENJAMIN MOORE EXTERIOR COLORS

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WAIT! Before you start painting make sure you have the best painting tools to make your job easier. It will take hours off your painting time!

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BEST TRIM COLOR FOR STONINGTON

I have to say Stonington looks absolutely stunning with a crisp white trim. Try a white like Chantilly Lace or White Heron. If you want a bit more of a monotone look, try using a dark gray like Coventry Gray. Finally, if you are feeling bold, try a black paint color like Tricorn Black.

It’s also important to say that it’s a wonderful paint color to go with dark wood tones.

READ MORE: THE 8 BEST WHITE PAINT COLORS FOR TRIM & BASEBOARDS

COLORS SIMILAR TO STONINGTON GRAY

There is no denying that many colors are similar to one another. I mean, there are so many different paint colors out there. How could there not be?

But what about the comparable colors to Stonington Gray?

I looked through a bunch of Benjamin Moore colors, and these are the few that I found to have a slight resemblance.

• Silver Chain 1472
• Cliffside Gray HC-180
• Nimbus 1465

STONINGTON GRAY SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLOR EQUIVALENT

There is no true Sherwin Williams equivalent to Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray. There are various colors that are considerably similar but surely not identical. The 2 Sherwin Williams paint colors that are somewhat close matches are:

• Sherwin Williams Passive
• Sherwin Williams Tinsmith

Both colors are similar in tone as well as undertones. As I said not identical but related.

If you were thinking of color-matching Stonington Gray in Sherwin Williams paint, I strongly recommend you purchase a sample of the mixed Sherwin Williams formula before purchasing a full gallon.

Sometimes, when you color match between paint manufacturers, the colors don’t come out exactly the same. This is because each brand uses different formulas to create its paint colors.

READ MORE: THE BEST SHERWIN WILLIAMS GRAYS

STONINGTON GRAY COORDINATING COLORS

Neutral paint colors like Stonington work well with a lot of other colors. But what colors coordinate best with this gray beauty?

As you can see in the example picture above, Stonington is complemented by BM Horizon and BM Boothbay Gray. These 2 colors are also cool-toned and on the lighter side. Beach Glass is also a great complement to SG. It’s a beautiful blue-green that has a good amount of depth to it.

For a darker color to pair with Stonington Gray, try:

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STONINGTON COLOR SCHEME

COLOR COMPARISONS

Everyone loves a good comparison (with paint colors, of course). As I’ve mentioned before, comparing paint colors is a fantastic way to help you see undertones and whether it’s a warm or cool color.

Let’s see how some popular paint colors compare to Stonington Gray.

STONINGTON GRAY VS GRAY OWL

• Gray Owl is a bit lighter than Stonington Gray,
• Stonington has an LRV of 59.75, and Gray Owl has an LRV of 65.77
• Gray Owl’s predominant undertone is green.
• Stonington Gray is a bit cooler than Gray Owl

STONINGTON GRAY VS COVENTRY GRAY

• Coventry Gray is a shade darker than SG.
• Coventry Gray has an LRV of 46.35 which is lower than SG’s LRV of 59.75
• Both paint colors are cool paint colors and are similar in tone.
• Both Coventry and Stonington are softer grays.

READ MORE: FULL PAINT COLOR REVIEW OF BM COVENTRY GRAY

STONINGTON GRAY VS REVERE PEWTER

• Revere Pewter and SG are both medium-toned paint colors.
• Stonington Gray has an LRV of 59.75, which is slightly higher than Revere at 55.51.
• Revere Pewter is a warm gray or greige paint color.
• Stonington is a cool gray paint color.
• In certain lighting, Revere Pewter can show hints of green in its undertone, whereas with SG you may see undertones of blue.

STONINGTON GRAY VS REPOSE GRAY

• Stonington has an LRV of 59.75, which is a hair lighter than Repose Gray at 58.
• Repose Gray has more warmth in it and can also be considered a greige.
• Stonington is more cool-toned than Repose Gray.
• Repose Gray can sometimes flash or show a purple undertone, whereas SG has blue undertones that may show through.

If you are interested, check out my full color review on Repose Gray. I provide you with all the facts, and I give you my thoughts on the color.

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COLOR RECAP

Let’s go over what we have learned about SG.

• It’s part of the Benjamin Moore Historical Collection.
• It’s one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular gray paint colors.
• Has an LRV of 59.75
• 100% a cool-toned paint color.
• Has undertones that are blue.
• Look great just about anywhere, especially kitchen cabinets.
• Works well with many different paint colors, Including Hale Nay and Horizon.
• It’s a soft, mid-toned gray.
• North-facing rooms will enhance the cool tones.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Refined, timeless, and classic. That’s what Stonington Gray is. The beauty of this cool-toned gray paint color is that it’s reasonably versatile, which makes it suitable for many different places.

What more is there to say?

This is one of those paint colors that will never go out of style. It is truly timeless. It’s so soft and beautiful and will make a space feel elegant.

The subtle blue undertone is not overbearing at all but it is there. If you are ok with a chance of blue showing up then you will absolutely love Stonington Gray. However, if you aren’t a fan of any blue undertones, you may want to try a warm gray paint color like Edgecomb Gray, Thunder. or SW Agreeable Gray.

Overall, I think SG is a winner and I highly recommend it.

TRY A SAMPLE

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