Date: April 13, 2019 | Photography: Courtesy of vendors | Producer: Tiffany Adams |
When it comes to picking a paint color, chances are you fall into one of two camps: those who see it as daunting or those who view it as exciting. Either way, a bit of professional advice never hurts. Here, 10 local designers share their go-to colors
“Kendall Charcoal is a dramatic dark gray. It can be a good choice for a kitchen island or a bathroom vanity.” — Jill Lawrence, J. Lawrence Design
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- “My favorite neutral is called Natural Choice. It looks amazing throughout an entire house. I love it because it provides the perfect backdrop for any kind of look. I don’t often use bright or bold color on walls, but I love Sanctuary. It is so rich, even though it is a pastel. It’s perfect for a powder bath or a bedroom. It can provide fresh color without overwhelming the room.” — Sha Davari, Art of Design
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- “Benjamin Moore’s Vapor is the perfect white. I love its versatility; it can be used in a classic or modern space. French Gray from Farrow & Ball is a wonderful green gray. I’ve used it in several different spaces, and the outcome is beautiful every time.” — Jeremy Carter, The Shade Above
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- “Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams is my go-to neutral. I love it for an entire house, including walls and trim. It is white without being stark. It’s clean and fresh, yet intimate. Blue is my favorite color, and picking the right one is not always easy. Languid Blue by Sherwin-Williams is beautiful and fun. It is the perfect blue gray!” — Leigh Lusk, Leigh Lusk Interiors
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- “Gray continues to be a favorite among clients, so we like Revere Pewter (by Benjamin Moore) as a neutral color. It doesn’t scream gray but it is very versatile. I also personally like Edgecomb Gray, which is even more subtle. It gives a tan neutral with no yellow tones.” — Scott Paterek, Massimo Interiors
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- “Blue and orange are two of my favorite colors. I recently renovated my laundry room and bar at home, and I painted the cabinets Benjamin Moore’s Normandy. It’s a beautiful deep blue that I chose to coordinate with the existing blue-and-orange hand-painted tiles in my kitchen. Another favorite, Persimmon by Benjamin Moore, is a lovely terra-cotta. I chose it for the walls of my dining room, carrying the palette throughout the house.” — Krista Lewis, K. Lewis Interior Design
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- “For neutrals, white is one of me all-time favorites. Sherwin-Williams’ Snowbound is the perfect backdrop for art, furniture, and any color—or lack thereof. When I want to do something bolder, green complements so many colors and brings a space to life. Chimichurri by Benjamin Moore is a favorite green for me. Plants are 100% a must in every JWD room because they go with everything. I look at this shade as just that.” — Jill White, Jill White Designs
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- “Sherwin-Williams’ Neutral Ground and Natural Choice are great overall neutrals when you have no idea what to paint your walls. They are off-whites with some depth. These two paints are my go-to exterior colors as well. Committing to an exterior color can be daunting but these are tried and true.” — Jill Lawrence, J. Lawrence Design
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- “I like a palette of soothing shades of green. A trio of Dried Thyme, Austere Gray, and Conservative Gray (all by Sherwin-Williams) can be used together in one room as wall, ceiling, and trim colors, or they can be used throughout the house to give each room its own identity.” — Lori Carpenter, The Grapevine Home
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- “White Dove has been my neutral go-to for years. It strikes a balance between creamy and crisp, and it makes any room look fresh and balanced. It’s also highly versatile, working equally well in both traditional and modern settings. One of my favorite rich colors to create intimacy in a space is Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green. It is both dramatic and understated, and its tone lends warmth to a space. I would use this color in a dining room, as it works well with lighting to create a serene glow and add to the room’s ambiance. To give your space more luster and depth, try it in a satin or semi-gloss finish.” — Kimberly Harper, Harper Howey Interiors
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- “White rooms are in. But whenever a client wants just a little color, I always recommend a rich neutral. Collingwood is a pale grey with warm undertones; it’s not too cool, not too beige. When paired with one of my go-to trim colors like Dove Wing, it strikes a pretty chord. I’m also in love with rich, saturated colors such as Benjamin Moore’s Midnight Oil, a deep shade of navy blue. Use this color in a powder bath or guest room to make a space feel larger and sophisticated.” — Joshua Plumlee, Ransom Interiors
