The floor finish is the reference
Judge Acier against your actual wood finish, not a generic wood species label. The starting material direction here is cream walls and stainless steel. Acier is deeper than Dorian Gray and lighter than Felted Wool, giving a practical intermediate gray-depth comparison.
Stainless steel is reflective and changes with the surroundings; a medium-gray cabinet needs to work with it rather than imitate it.
Test the dominant wood color, not one grain line
Use Acier and Dorian Gray to clarify the wood-floor choice against cream walls and stainless steel. Keep the sample edges touching the fixed material, and cover one color before judging the other. Near-neutrals can look noticeably different side by side; the final choice still needs to work on its own. Record the specific relationship you prefer, such as a clearer trim outline or a quieter connection to the floor.
Acier has an LRV of 32; Sherwin-Williams Dorian Gray SW-7017 is 39. The difference is 7 points, with Dorian Gray returning more light under the reference measurement.
The condition for keeping Acier
Review the cabinet face under its actual light so medium gray does not become an unexpectedly dark mass. The undertones and neighboring colors covers that related choice.
Keep the Acier board vertical at the floor edge. A match to one pale grain line can misrepresent the dominant color across the installed floor. Judge the broad timber background from standing height. If the floor will be refinished, repeat the comparison with the approved new stain sample before ordering the wall paint. The coordinating color options covers that related choice. Before ordering samples, compare room-planning features in the paint color visualizer roundup.
Sources & notes
Color specifications: Sherwin-Williams Acier SW-9170. The recorded LRV is 32. Named comparison values come from the respective manufacturers; material schemes are editorial suggestions.
This guide reviews published color information and proposes practical sample checks. It does not claim first-hand paint testing or customer-review scores. Sherwin-Williams does not sponsor or endorse this site. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Confirm the color in a physical sample and select the coating for the actual surface and finish.