I’m not a spokes person for Ben Moore (or any other paint company). As a matter of fact I’m only now realizing all my favorite soothing paint colors are from Benjamin Moore. Let’s start with Sea Foam. It’s just as the words my suggest (not always the case) as it’s a light milky creamy blue and feels a lot like the mix of sun and clouds on a warm spring day by the ocean. Tealight is a minty green and its intensity depends a lot on the amount of light the space its in receives. It works in both modern and classic rooms. Another soothing color is Marscarpone. It’s a versatile, creamy off white with a yellow undertone. Gentle is the word that comes to mind when I use this paint. Finally, my favorite for a spa bathroom, Wyeth Blue. It’s both rich, a bit bolder than the others to give a real sense of place but it doesn’t overwhelm the senses at all. It’s just beautiful and easy on the eyes.
My Favorite Greens and Why
Farrow & Ball’s Olive or Olive 13 is my favorite when a rich earthy green is needed. It’s best paired with wood and other natural fibers. Most impactful and lovely in rooms that don’t get a lot of natural light. Benjamin Moore’s Sweet Basil is part of their Classic Collection and that’s exactly what it is –a classic green. This works in so many spaces that if green is what you’re looking for it’s an easy go-to choice. Benjamin Moore’s Shade of Spring however is a favorite because it’s so unique in it’s yellow undertone. It’s feels light and healthy and just the way a color with the word ‘spring’ in it should.
My Favorite Blues and Why
Hale Navy reflects any light which is a hard characteristic to find in a dark blue paint. It’s probably the most versatile blue paint out there. I love it on a exterior doors and shutters as well as a bedroom. Hague Blue is magical. I read somewhere that if you place anything in front of a wall painted Hague Blue the that thing will look 10 times more expensive and I though, yes! That’s exactly right. It’s warm, rich with hint of green undertone. KEnsington Blue is the lightest of my favorite dark blues. It’s not a navy, but it’s rich and soothing. Great for bedrooms and studies, and a beautiful contrast to traditional rooms.
My Favorite Reds and Why
Hertiage Red by Benjamin Moore is a favorite of mine for an exterior front door. It’s good for bringing energy to a room without overpowering the space as well. It’s in Ben Moore’s Historical Color Collection. Farrow & Ball’s Incarnadine is rich, warm and soft for a red. It’s a great contrast to a traditional setting, but again, not overpowering. Finally, probably the most versatiale red of all, Caliente by Benjamin Moore can be used in small powder rooms as well as large open spaces. It handles a lot of sunlight really well so if you live in a sunny place and want a red room, Caliente is a good choice.
Greenery in Your Home Office
When it comes to having a home office you enjoy being in plants are great help. The greener the better!
How to Use your Area Rug
An area rug should always have the front legs of any chair around it
anchored to it. Too often people buy rugs that are too small. The rug is the
groundwork for a great design. It’s the center of gravity for all your other
furnishings.
TIP: Don’t get hung up on the color(s) in the rug matching exactly with other aspects of the room. It’s not necessary and matching exactly leads to a look that lacks character and warmth anyway.
Great paints to make a small room look bigger:
Some designers say a darker paint makes a room look bigger, some say a lighter paint does. I would argue that both are correct. While the idea that a darker paint in a small room may be counter intuitive to some a good dark paint blurs the corners and lines causing the room to feel larger. Contrasted with light furniture and you can really expand the feel of the room.
If you want a lighter color you won’t have the advantage of blurring the corners and lines, but with the right light color can add a lot of depth and frankly some people just prefer a light colored room. So, here’s what you do:
