Transforming Our Bathroom with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter: A Greige Journey

After days of being cooped up indoors due to incessant rain, we finally found the perfect opportunity to tackle a long-overdue project: painting our recently de-carpeted bathroom and closet. What started as a simple paint job evolved into a rewarding transformation, culminating in walls adorned with Benjamin Moore’s versatile Revere Pewter and a beautifully stenciled floor. Today, we’re excited to share the journey of bringing this popular greige hue to life in our home, detailing the challenges, decisions, and the stunning final look that has completely redefined these spaces.

Prepping the Canvas: The Importance of Crisp White Trim

Every great paint job begins with meticulous preparation, and our bathroom was no exception. Before introducing the star of the show, Revere Pewter, our first task was to paint the existing cream-colored trim a clean, bright white. For this, we consistently turn to Benjamin Moore Simply White in a semi-gloss finish, matching the trim throughout the rest of our home. This choice isn’t just aesthetic; Simply White offers a crisp contrast that truly allows wall colors to pop, creating a polished and intentional look that instantly elevates any room.

While a single “before and after” picture might make this step seem trivial, don’t be fooled by its apparent simplicity. Painting trim is a labor of love, requiring patience and precision. This stage involved one coat of primer—a crucial step for ensuring paint adhesion and uniform color, especially when transitioning from cream to white—followed by two full coats of Simply White. All applications were done by hand with brushes, allowing us to meticulously cover every inch of the copious doorways and the delicate areas of baseboard. Sherry and I worked as a team, with me handling the primer (as it’s not VOC-free) and then both of us meticulously applying the topcoats. This foundational work, while painstaking, is what truly sets the stage for a professional-looking finish and ensures the final wall color shines.

The Unexpected Challenge: Mastering the Angles of Wall Painting

After the trim was perfected, it was time for the main event: painting the walls. Typically, wall painting is “the fun part” for us, a relatively straightforward task compared to the intricate detail required for ceilings (which I admit to complaining about for days!). However, this project served as a humbling reminder of a fundamental DIY lesson: never underestimate a space, no matter how small. We approached our 80-square-foot bathroom and closet with an overconfident “this’ll be fast and easy” attitude, anticipating a quick hour or two of work. Oh, how wrong we were.

The “cutting in” phase, where walls meet trim or ceiling, turned out to be far more complex than anticipated. This tiny area, brimming with numerous angles and tight corners, made the trim work seem like child’s play in comparison. The sheer number of precise lines needed demanded extreme focus and a steady hand. What we expected to be a swift task stretched into several two-hour installments spread over a couple of days. It was a classic “womp-womp” moment, proving that even seasoned DIYers can fall victim to project optimism. Thankfully, with perseverance (and perhaps a silent prayer to the unpredictable DIY gods), it’s finally done!

Discovering the Perfect Greige: Why We Chose Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

The cornerstone of this bathroom transformation is the wall color itself: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (HC-172). This particular shade has garnered a cult following, often appearing on Pinterest as a top contender for those seeking the “best greige paint color” out there. Sherry, in her endearing way, constantly refers to it as “Reverie Pewter,” much to the amusement of paint desk associates. But regardless of its name, its reputation as a versatile, light-to-mid-toned greige is well-deserved, offering an ideal balance between warm beige and cool gray.

Our decision to choose Revere Pewter wasn’t made lightly. Following our initial “Percolating In Progress” post after moving in, we explored several options for our windowless bathroom and walk-in closet. We desired a color that was light enough to brighten these enclosed spaces but rich enough to avoid washing out elements like the crisp white trim, the mirror, and the closet’s shelving. Our initial considerations included Pismo Dunes and Gray Owl, both excellent choices in their own right. However, after comparing swatches, Revere Pewter emerged as the clear winner, striking a perfect balance between the two. It presents as a slightly darker, more saturated version of Edgecomb Gray, boasting less brown than Pismo Dunes and a richer, less stark gray than Gray Owl. This unique blend makes it incredibly adaptable, shifting its character beautifully under different lighting conditions.

Upon drying, Revere Pewter truly showcases its chameleon-like qualities. In some lights, it leans distinctly taupe-y, offering a warm, inviting feel. In others, it transitions to a softer gray, lending a sophisticated coolness. This dynamic interplay of tones throughout the day ensures the room always feels fresh and engaging. We particularly love how it harmonizes with the deep, faded blue-gray (Black Pepper) found in our adjacent bedroom, creating a cohesive flow between spaces. For those curious about a slightly lighter greige, we have a dedicated post detailing our love for Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray, a color that holds a special place in our home as well.

Seamless Design: Painting Ceilings and Modernizing Fixtures

Once the intricate cutting-in was complete, the rolling of the walls felt like a breeze by comparison. A key design decision we made for this small space was to paint the ceiling the exact same color as the walls. We’ve learned from past projects that in compact rooms, extending the wall color onto the ceiling (provided the chosen color isn’t too dark) can actually make the space feel larger and less fragmented. This technique blurs the hard lines where walls meet ceiling, making the room feel less “boxed in” and creating a seamless, enveloping effect. It’s a simple trick that effectively alleviates the angular and potentially cramped feeling of a small interior.

With all the paint dry, it was the perfect time for another small but impactful upgrade: replacing the old, yellowed cream light switches and outlets with crisp, clean white versions. This subtle change provides a fresh, modern finish and truly allows the new wall color to be the star. The photo below, taken with the power off for safety, beautifully illustrates how Revere Pewter adapts to different lighting situations, demonstrating its incredible versatility even in dimmer conditions. It truly acts like a chameleon, adjusting its hue to the surrounding light.

Even with the lights on, the sophisticated greige of Revere Pewter serves as an excellent backdrop, allowing elements like the mirror’s shape and the freshly painted white trim to truly stand out. The careful selection of this color not only brightens the room but also provides a refined foundation for other design elements to shine.

From Carpet to Color: A Stunning Transformation

It’s always incredibly satisfying to see how far a space has come. This side-by-side comparison captures the dramatic shift from our starting point (after the initial carpet removal) to the current state with freshly painted walls. The impact of a well-chosen paint color, combined with diligent preparation, is undeniable and truly transformative.

Looking Ahead: Stenciled Floors and Vanity Evolution

With the walls beautifully painted, our focus now eagerly shifts to the floor. This is the part we’re most excited about, as the subfloor is currently the most unattractive element in the room. Given that our sunroom grout situation is still looking a bit bleak (Mother Nature, please throw us a bone!), all signs point to getting this indoor floor done before we can complete the outdoor tile job. This ensures continuous progress on our home improvement journey.

You might recall our initial bathroom plans outlined in this post, where we discussed painting the subfloor, adding shelves to the vanity, and more. As often happens in DIY, plans evolve! After further “percolating,” we decided against staining the vanity a dark blue. We worried it might clash with our existing yellowish sinktop, and we realized we could inject far more excitement into the room by focusing on the floor rather than going with a single, uniform color. The beauty of DIY is the flexibility to adapt and refine your vision as the project unfolds.

Our updated vision involves a two-toned stencil on the floor, providing a striking focal point, paired with a more subdued color on the vanity. This approach will harmonize better with the sinktop’s tone without sacrificing visual interest. Instead of the vanity being the attention-grabber, the floor will now take center stage. This strategy mirrors how a darker-toned vanity in our downstairs half bathroom successfully neutralized a similar yellow-toned sink. With a more subtle vanity and an exciting floor, we can then layer in vibrant art and carefully chosen accessories to introduce pops of color and further balance the room, ensuring it makes perfect sense in real life (as photoshopped renderings don’t always capture every nuance).

Progress and Future Aspirations

We’re thrilled to report that our bathroom transformation is approximately halfway complete! We’ve successfully checked off several key items from our list:

• Carpet removal (the very first step to a cleaner slate!)
• Mirror painting & hanging (detailed steps can be found here)
• Painting the trim with Benjamin Moore Simply White
• Painting the walls with the beautiful Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
• Replacing all outdated outlets and light switches with modern white ones

Now, only the vanity and the floors remain (along with re-adding the light fixture above the sink) before we can declare this interim update “done-zo.” It consistently amazes us how a few days of dedicated work, some strategically chosen paint, and minor upgrades like a new mirror or carpet removal can utterly transform a space. We’re eagerly anticipating sharing the final “after” photos in just a few weeks. Sherry is even trying to convince me that adding more shelves and cubbies to the walk-in closet would be a great idea while we’re in the zone. You know what they say: if you give a house a cookie, who knows where one update might lead!

Our Favorite Paint Colors & Resources

If you’re embarking on your own painting journey and finding it challenging to select the perfect hue for your room, explore these detailed deep-dive posts about some of our absolute favorite paints. These resources offer insights, examples, and tips to guide your decision-making process:

• The 12 Best White Paint Colors – Essential guidance for selecting the perfect white.
• Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray – A detailed look at a beloved light greige.
• Benjamin Moore Simply White – Our go-to for crisp, clean trim and interiors.
• Sherwin-Williams Pure White – Another fantastic white option for various applications.
• Sherwin-Williams Extra White – A bright, versatile white perfect for a fresh look.