There’s an undeniable magic in the simple act of painting. It’s more than just applying color; it’s about transforming a space, injecting personality, and creating an atmosphere that resonates with your soul. For us, the allure of a fresh coat of paint, whether on a vast wall, intricate paneling, rustic brick, or even a quirky ceramic rooster, is irresistible. A crucial part of this transformative journey lies in selecting the perfect paint color – a delightful challenge that often feels like an art form in itself.
Our passion for color runs deep, and for years, Benjamin Moore has been our go-to brand, almost like a cherished tradition. Their extensive color catalog is a true treasure trove, offering an unparalleled spectrum of hues that perfectly blend sophistication with practical application. It’s no surprise that their tones grace nearly every room in our home, each chosen with care to create a specific mood and aesthetic. Our kitchen, for instance, glows with the subtle warmth of Sesame, a versatile neutral that provides a perfect backdrop for culinary adventures. The living and dining rooms flow seamlessly with the soft, ethereal quality of Moonshine, a color that adapts beautifully to changing light throughout the day, imparting a sense of calm and spaciousness. In Clara’s room, Proposal offers a tender and inviting shade, perfect for a child’s sanctuary, while the striking Dragonfly adds a touch of unexpected drama to the back of our dining room built-ins, highlighting their architectural charm.
Beyond our walls, we’ve extensively relied on Benjamin Moore’s specialized paints for various projects. Their Advance paint, in particular, became an indispensable ally when tackling the built-ins in our office and our kitchen cabinets. We had heard countless glowing reviews from contractors and fellow DIY enthusiasts alike, all enthusiastic Benjamin Moore fans, praising its exceptional durability and flawless finish. Our experience confirmed every commendation; it delivered a smooth, furniture-like finish that stands up to daily wear and tear, proving ideal for high-traffic areas. Furthermore, the brand’s versatility even extended to our various “secret book projects,” where their paints adorned not only walls but also a myriad of furniture pieces, helping us bring our creative visions to life behind the scenes.
So, considering our deep-seated admiration and extensive experience with their products, when Benjamin Moore extended an invitation for us to curate a collection of our absolute favorite colors, it wasn’t just an offer – it was an absolute dream come true. The sheer thrill of seeing our header proudly displayed on their esteemed website was an almost surreal moment, a testament to years of dedication to home design and color exploration. This partnership truly represents the pinnacle of our journey in the world of home aesthetics, solidifying our connection with a brand we’ve long respected and trusted.
Unveiling Our Curated Benjamin Moore Color Collection: Your Solution to Paint Paralysis
After many months of dedicated development, meticulous planning, and countless hours immersed in the world of color, we are beyond thrilled to finally share our exclusive Benjamin Moore color collection with you. Our primary mission with this endeavor was to combat the all-too-common phenomenon of “paint paralysis” – that daunting feeling of being overwhelmed by an endless sea of swatches, making the simple act of choosing a paint color feel like an insurmountable task. We understand this struggle firsthand; the vast array of choices can be paralyzing, leading to delays, indecision, and sometimes, simply giving up on a much-desired room refresh.
Our arduous but incredibly rewarding job was to meticulously sift through literally thousands of paint swatches, each one a tiny promise of potential. From this colossal array, we painstakingly plucked out 32 of our absolute favorites, crafting a cohesive and inspiring collection designed to simplify your decision-making process. Picture this: our entire sectional, much to poor Karl’s occasional dismay, completely blanketed in a vibrant mosaic of paint chips! We spent countless hours arranging and rearranging, creating diverse color combinations, experimenting with various palettes, and tirelessly switching hues in and out. This rigorous process continued until we had confidently landed on a collection that truly embodied our aesthetic, our design philosophy, and our vision for inspiring beautiful homes.
This unique partnership with Benjamin Moore isn’t just another project; it’s a labor of love that aligns perfectly with our other creative ventures. Much like writing our magazine column or our books, it’s a side gig that helps pay the bills, but with an exhilarating twist: we got to play with paint chips all day! The joy of transforming spaces with color, coupled with the opportunity to guide others through the often-intimidating world of paint selection, makes this collaboration incredibly special and deeply gratifying. We poured our hearts into ensuring that this collection offers not just beautiful colors, but also confidence and clarity for every homeowner.
Discovering Your Perfect Palette: Tried-and-True, Aspirational, and Transformative Hues
The 32 colors in our curated collection are a blend of shades we know and love, colors we’ve longed to use, and those that have proven their transformative power in our secret projects. Some hues are tried and true choices that already grace our own walls, their enduring appeal tested and cherished through years of daily living. These are the reliable, comforting colors that have stood the test of time and consistently deliver a sense of warmth, elegance, or serenity, depending on their tone. You’ll find that these foundational colors offer incredible versatility, serving as perfect backdrops for any decorating style.
Then there are the colors we’ve eyed forever – hues that have captured our imagination and waited patiently for their moment to shine. While they haven’t yet made it onto our own walls, rest assured, it’s only a matter of time before they do! These aspirational colors represent exciting future possibilities, offering fresh perspectives and modern appeal that we are eager to explore and share. They embody emerging trends while maintaining a timeless quality, ensuring longevity in your home’s design.
Finally, a significant portion of the collection features colors we extensively used for our upcoming book. These shades have graced both walls and furniture pieces within various design scenarios, showcasing their incredible range and impact. While those specific walls have since been repainted and the furniture carefully hidden away (all part of the secret until our book’s release this fall!), the experience of working with them provided invaluable insight into their performance and aesthetic capabilities. We’ve seen firsthand how these colors can dramatically alter a space, adding depth, vibrancy, or subtle sophistication.
Beyond the Walls: Creative Applications for Every Shade
While many of the colors in our collection are undeniably stunning on walls, we intentionally structured our selection to highlight their versatility across various applications. To further assist you in breaking free from paint paralysis and confidently experimenting with color, we’ve split our collection into suggested uses. This guidance helps you envision how each shade can be employed, whether for broad wall coverage, elegant trim and doors, or as striking accent points. Exploring these diverse applications can unlock creative possibilities you might not have considered, proving that a little paint can go a long way in refreshing your home’s aesthetic.
We are particularly passionate about the transformative power of using bolder accent colors to infuse energy and personality into a room. Here are some of our favorite ideas for waking up any space with a touch of color:
- Revitalize Furniture: Imagine painting an old media cabinet, dresser, bed frame, desk, or even a simple chair. A fresh coat of a vibrant accent color can completely transform a tired piece into a modern focal point, giving it a new lease on life without the expense of buying new furniture. This DIY approach allows for incredible personalization and can reflect your unique style.
- Create Homemade Art: Don’t limit art to expensive gallery pieces. Make your own statement art by painting a large canvas with a bold color or a creative design. This can fill an entire wall, adding dramatic visual interest and a deeply personal touch that speaks volumes about your taste.
- Unify and Elevate Frames: Gather a collection of disparate picture frames and paint them all in a single accent color. This simple trick unifies them into a cohesive display, adding drama and a contemporary feel to a gallery wall or a single mantelpiece.
- Accessorize with Color: Even small touches can make a big impact. Add a splash of color to a lamp base, a woven basket, or a tabletop accessory. These subtle additions can tie a room together, introduce an unexpected pop of color, or highlight specific design elements without committing to a large painted surface.
- Enhance Built-ins and Bookcases: Paint the back wall of a bookcase or built-in unit with a contrasting or complementary accent color. This simple yet effective technique creates added interest and depth, making your displayed items truly pop and turning a functional piece into a decorative statement.
These suggestions are designed to empower you to approach color with confidence, starting with smaller, manageable projects that yield significant visual returns. Don’t be afraid to experiment; paint is one of the most forgiving and impactful tools in home design.
Accessing and Exploring Your New Favorite Colors
Ready to dive into our hand-picked collection? We’ve made it incredibly easy to explore and find your perfect shades. You can read a little intro to the collection and understand our vision here. To view all 32 of our carefully chosen colors in their full glory, head over here. For practical guidance on how to best utilize each shade, you can see them thoughtfully split by suggested application here, offering inspiration for walls, trim, furniture, and accents. Additionally, for an even deeper dive into our thought process and the inspiration behind each selection, you can read more behind the collection’s genesis and development on the Benjamin Moore site. If someone had told us five years ago that we’d one day be featured on the prestigious Benjamin Moore website, we would have laughed for at least ten solid minutes in disbelief! Such recognition from an industry leader is truly humbling and incredibly exciting. For ongoing access to our collection whenever you feel the urge to explore, simply keep an eye out for our special sidebar button, providing a quick link to all the color inspiration you need.
A Moment of Unfiltered Joy: Sharing the Spotlight
Beyond the immense satisfaction of curating this collection, there are moments of pure, unadulterated joy that truly underscore the significance of this partnership. Can we just take a moment to talk about how absolutely insane it feels to see our mugs prominently displayed right under design icon Candice Olson’s on the Benjamin Moore website? For those unfamiliar, Candice Olson is a household name in interior design, celebrated for her elegant and sophisticated aesthetic, gracing countless homes through her television shows and design work. To be featured alongside such a revered figure in the industry is an honor beyond words. There might have been a series of ten to fifteen high-pitched shrieks that inadvertently startled our beloved dog and, much to our delight, absolutely thrilled our toddler, who gleefully joined in on the last five to ten rounds of celebratory squeals. It was a moment of genuine, shared excitement that perfectly encapsulated the dream-come-true nature of this entire experience, reminding us that hard work and passion truly do pay off in the most unexpected and wonderful ways.
Your Journey to Confident Color Choices Begins Now
So, there you have it – our latest “secret project” proudly revealed! We couldn’t wait to share this with all of you, our incredible community of home design enthusiasts. We sincerely hope that anyone out there who has ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated, or utterly paralyzed by a giant wall full of paint swatches will find immense comfort and clarity in our smaller, carefully curated collection of favorites. Our goal is to transform the daunting task of color selection into an enjoyable and inspiring journey, helping you to confidently peruse these hand-picked hues and envision them beautifully integrated into your own home.
This collection is designed to be a trusted resource, simplifying your choices and guiding you toward colors that will truly enhance your living spaces. We believe that everyone deserves to live in a home that reflects their unique style and brings them joy, and the right paint color is often the first, most impactful step in achieving that. We invite you to explore the collection, envision the possibilities, and embark on your next painting adventure with renewed confidence. And since we’re on the delightful subject of color, we’d love to hear from you: Do you have an absolute, all-time favorite paint color? Is it that perfect, elusive neutral that blends seamlessly with everything? A bold, bright hue that injects vibrant energy into a room? Or perhaps a specific color that holds sentimental value, reminding you of a special place, a cherished memory, or a significant time in your life? Share your stories and inspirations with us; we’re always eager to connect with fellow color lovers!