The Mechanicsburg Master Bathroom Project That Almost Wasn’t

The Bathroom That Almost Wasn’t, After Pic with Wallpaper Accent!

Some projects go smoothly from start to finish. The color is picked, the paint is ordered, and our crew shows up ready to transform the space. And then there are projects like this one—the kind that test our creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills.

Recently, Just Add Paint had the privilege of repainting the walls in a master bathroom in Mechanicsburg, PA. What seemed like a straightforward repaint quickly became one of those memorable “save the day” projects. It all started with a color picked straight from Pinterest—a gorgeous but rare Farrow & Ball shade (De Nimes) that was impossible to get locally.

Little did we know this project would end up earning the nickname around our shop: “The Project That Almost Wasn’t.”

When Pinterest Meets Reality

If you’ve ever scrolled Pinterest late at night looking for the perfect color, you know how easy it is to fall in love with something just out of reach. That’s exactly what happened here.

Our customer had chosen a dreamy Farrow & Ball paint color. The problem? Farrow & Ball makes it intentionally difficult to source alternatives. Their fan decks are notoriously expensive, and that exclusivity nudges homeowners into buying directly from them. In central Pennsylvania, though, that’s easier said than done. No local manufacturers carried the shade, and the clock was ticking.

Rescheduling wasn’t an option—the crew was booked, the job was lined up, and the customer was eager to see progress. We needed a Plan B.

Enter Lexy: Our Color Whisperer

This is where Lexy, our in-house color designer, came to the rescue. She quickly put together a list of alternatives that might capture the same vibe while also blending with the home’s existing color scheme.

The challenge? None of these shades had the Pinterest glow our customer had been envisioning. Seeing a paint swatch in a fan deck or even on a sample card is one thing—visualizing it on four bathroom walls is another story entirely.

And that’s when our evening took an interesting turn.

After-Hours Creativity: Curtis + AI

Color Tool, Just Add Paint — Just Add Paint AI Color Visualizer: SW Aleutain

Mechanicsburg House Painters — Just Add Paint AI Color Visualizer: SW Aleutain

The color discussion stretched late into the evening. By dinner time, we still didn’t have a winner. That’s when Curtis pulled out a secret weapon: AI-generated renderings.

Using the bathroom photos, Curtis digitally created mockups of what the space would look like painted in each of Lexy’s suggested colors. These weren’t rough sketches—they were lifelike images that gave the customer a true feel for the finished room.

At 9:30 p.m.—long after most painting companies would have said, “Let’s pick this up tomorrow”—our customer texted back with a decision. The visualizations made all the difference. The winner was Sherwin-Williams “Distance.”

Why We Don’t Mind After-Hours Ideas

Now, some people might groan about answering client texts late in the evening. But at Just Add Paint, we see it differently. Curtis has always believed that some of the best ideas happen after hours. Creativity doesn’t punch a time clock. If inspiration (or a color dilemma) strikes at 9:00 p.m., sometimes that’s when the best solutions show up too.

And in this case, the late-night collaboration saved the project. No rescheduling. No compromises. Just a clear decision and a new plan ready for morning.

The Big Day: Painting With Sherwin-Williams “Distance”

Just Add Paint Interior Painting — AFTER Master Bathroom Repaint, Mechanicsburg: The Project That Almost Wasn’t

Bathroom Before Pic from Just Add Paint — AFTER Master Bathroom Repaint, Mechanicsburg: The Project That Almost Wasn’t

When we showed up the next morning, our nerves were buzzing a little. We’d made a last-minute pivot to a color that was a different direction from the original inspiration. Would it work? Would the customer love it as much in person as she did in the digital mockup?

The answer: yes, yes, and yes.

Sherwin-Williams “Distance” is part of their Designer Accent series, and it’s every bit as rich and moody as you’d hope. It has depth, elegance, and just the right amount of sophistication for a master bathroom. But here’s the key: with colors this saturated, you can’t cut corners on quality.

That’s why we chose Sherwin-Williams Emerald Designer Edition® Interior in Eggshell.

Why Emerald® Eggshell Was the Perfect Choice

Painting with deep hues like “Distance” is tricky. Lesser paints can streak, flash, or require endless coats. Not so with Emerald. Here’s why it’s worth the investment:

Superior Coverage: Even with dark and bold colors, Emerald levels beautifully and gives full coverage in fewer coats.
Washable Finish: Bathrooms need durability, and Emerald’s eggshell sheen provides exactly that. It resists water spots, cleans up easily, and still looks elegant—not shiny.
Color Richness: This paint is designed to bring out the depth and vibrancy of accent shades. “Distance” looked like velvet on the walls, not a flat imitation.
Durability: Over time, Emerald holds up. In a moisture-prone space like a master bathroom, that’s non-negotiable.

Yes, it’s more expensive than bargain paints from the local box store. But as this project proved, you really do get what you pay for.

From Stress to Success

By the time we wrapped up, the transformation was stunning. The new color tied in perfectly with the rest of the home while giving the master bath a personality all its own.

Our customer agreed. In fact, she left us a glowing 5-star Google review that read:

“Curtis and his team did an amazing job on our bathroom and hallway/stairwell! They communicated promptly, showed up on time, cleaned up and did great work. We highly recommend Just Add Paint!”

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Lessons From “The Project That Almost Wasn’t”

Every job teaches us something. This one reminded us of a few important truths:

Flexibility is everything. Plans change. Paints sell out. Inspiration shifts. A great painting company rolls with it.
Technology is a game-changer. AI isn’t just for sci-fi movies. Used creatively, it can help customers make confident choices they’ll love for years.
Quality counts. When you’re working with bold, deep colors, investing in premium paint is the difference between “meh” and “magnificent.”
Customer collaboration wins. From Lexy’s color guidance to Curtis’s after-hours renderings, this was a team effort with the customer right in the middle of the process.
Last but not least, the paint store informed us that they had most Farrow & Ball paints in their system. However, we must remember to double-check the specifics when it comes to Farrow & Ball in the future.

Wrapping Up

What started as a near-disaster turned into one of our proudest projects. “The Project That Almost Wasn’t” is now a reminder to our team that challenges often lead to our best work.

We’re thankful for customers who trust us enough to pivot when needed, for Lexy’s gift of color intuition, and for modern tools that help us visualize the possibilities before the first brush hits the wall.

And if you’re in Mechanicsburg or the surrounding areas and facing your own “Pinterest vs. reality” paint dilemma, you know who to call. At Just Add Paint, we’ve got the experience, the tools, and the creativity to bring your vision to life—even if it’s at 9:30 p.m. the night before.