Paint Picks From the Pros

Designer: Cassy Kicklighter Poole, Kaleidoscope Design
Go-To Neutral: Lead Gray, Benjamin Moore

“It’s that perfectly ambiguous color that lends itself to blacks, charcoals, and navy, and is a striking offset to fresh whites and even bold colors.”
Wild Card: Rectory Red No. 217, Farrow & Ball
“It’s reminiscent of all things classic—roses, fire engines, the iconic red doors of architecture and red lips of fashion—while also maintaining warmth and sophistication.”

Designer: Lauren Maggio, Lauren Maggio Design
Go-To Neutral: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
“This is my favorite neutral. It is a warm gray, balancing any colors in accessories and furnishings in a room. It reads somewhere between a gray and taupe and is perfection!”
Wild Card: Bull’s Eye Red, Benjamin Moore
“I was recently in New Orleans, and I came across a vibrant red door. I used Benjamin Moore’s Color Capture app to try to match it, and this color came up. Always buy samples to get the best match, but using an app is a great start!”

Designer:Nancy Boland, Boland Lord Design
Go-To Neutral: Down Pipe No. 26, Farrow & Ball
“I love colors that make me ask, ‘Is it blue, or black, or gray?’ This one is fantastic for a room in which you are looking to create drama and depth. I’d use it on a kitchen island with a butcher-block countertop.”
Wild Card: Vardo No. 288, Farrow & Ball
“I would use this color on an old cabinet or a custom secretary desk in a high-lacquer finish, or on the inside of a bookshelf.”

Designer: Nadia Watts, Nadia Watts Interior Design
Go-To Neutral: Pale Oak, Benjamin Moore
“It’s off-white and soft, but it has a little bit of depth to it so you can see the contrast against white trim.It would be lovely in a great room, kitchen, or living room.”
Wild Card: Sunflower, Benjamin Moore
“We used this color in a lower-level guest bedroom recently. It was spectacular and made us so happy.”

Designer: Tennille Wood, Beautiful Habitat Design & Decoration
Go-To Neutral: Anew, Sherwin-Williams
“This color is a blend of taupe and gray, so it has some warmth. Some taupes can get a purple or green
undertone, but this one has the warmth without a strong undertone—a true neutral.”
Wild Card: Lagoon, Sherwin-Williams
“It blends my favorite colors: turquoise and emerald. I love emerald green, but the yellow undertones make it hard to use in certain rooms. The addition of blue makes this a beautiful color regardless of the light in a room.”

Designer: Leah Civiok, HMH Architecture

Go-To Neutral: Purbeck Stone No. 275
“I’m about to paint my bedroom this color. It’s such a pretty, soft gray. I’m looking forward to the space feeling fresh and light-filled.”

Wild Card: Raucous Orange, Sherwin-Williams
“I love to do bold colors in powder rooms; I’m using this one for energetic splash of color in a small powder room in a modern cabin project. This pop of bright color is confined just to the water closet, where we painted every surface including the back of the door and ceiling, which makes for quite the surprise upon entering!”