Elisa wrote to ask if I could put together a list of “go-to” paint colors for her Dad, who is in a painting state of mind. Happy for a chance to take a trip down memory lane, here’s my personal “go-to” color collection. My color memory is filed in my mind by street address, followed by the room the color went up in. Here for your “go-to” pleasure, are the best of the best, all from Benjamin Moore.
Ox Pasture, East Hampton, New York; big house on lots of land
Monticello PEACH 018
Monticello Peach 018
A lovely, not exactly Florida peachy coral. Glorious with gray, and we did it with mellowed white glaze in a very fancy sun room.
Fifth Avenue, New York, New York; 46th floor. Quite a view!
APRICOT Chiffon 136
Apricot Chiffon 136
DREAMY. A very fancy ladylike color, surrounded by mirrored furnishing, luxe Frette bedding, white Stark carpet. OMG-what a glorious room.
Blue Point, New York; my own little carriage house
Eye of the Tiger 188
Eye of the Tiger-188
Just about the best gold there is, although August morning, 2156-40, which is a bit more orange, is a close second. This entire drop down to 188, beginning with 183, a soft not too girlie, very yummy yellow, are all very safe, happy, and lovely colors.
Cove Neck, New York; right on the water
Delaware PUTTY 240
Delaware Putty-240
Another pretty color, but very neutral, with just a speck of green. Very clean, and very safe. This is a go anywhere neutral, nice with brown, wood tones, red, violets, on trim. I can’t promise it will “move” as much as it once did.
Center Island, New York; a house right smack dab in the center of the island
Squish-Squash YELLOW 311
Squish-Squash Yellow-311
For a time, I glazed so many tone on tone yellow stripes I was beginning to think it would be the only glaze I’d ever need. This is “the” yellow, which I left behind nearly everywhere Eddie and I went, for many many years.
Georgica Pond, East Hampton, New York
Henderson Buff HC-15
Henderson Buff HC-15
The pond view in this part of East Hampton is somewhere between the beach and a Savannaha. This ambiguous green, and it’s equally reliable paler sister, Adams Gold,HC-18, is practically a requirement. Look great with hot pinks, red. Creamy whites, and each and every crazy green you choose to pair it with.
Stowe, Vermont; A very lovely spot
Camouflage 2143-40
Camouflage 2143-40
I love this color, I love the people who own this lovely home, and I love this part of the color preview fan deck. My own deck has been inexplicably torn apart in this spot-the color above camouflage is even better, but I can’t recall it’s name (Bev, are you out there?). These are modern and super clear greens, starting from 2148-70, straight through to Savannah green, 2150-30, which is however, a little brighter and less “Savannah”, than HC-18. Choose these greens if your in a shady spot in the mountains.
Alpine, New York; a golfers dream room
Woodland GREEN 459
Woodland Green-459
Other than moonlight white, I can’t think of a more reliable, can’t miss, can’t botch it up, looks good with everything. An easy, easy, color which men always like ( I can’t say why…) I trust this color completely. It is fabulous with brown. I’d keep it away from the girlie apricots, but then again, even that seems plausible… An equally extraordinary updated version, Silver Marlin 2139-50 is #1 on my list of the best colors of them all.
Oyster Bay, New York; a nasty piece of work
Taffeta GREEN 843
Taffeta Green-843
If you like any of the colors in the Classic color system beginning with 575 and moving straight through to 658, send me an email and we’ll talk. This is very tricky territory, but I’ve produced no less than 50 representative samples of “toothpaste”, because…..hummm, Architects love it. Call it what you will, if you’ve gotta have it, skip on over to 843, unfortunately named, taffeta green. Sure, half it with 850,, and you’ll get closer to 618, robins nest, which is toothpaste too, but not exactly pepsodent, or so I’ve been told……
The whites of East Hampton, Amagansett, Water Mill, “Bridge” and THE village.
WHITE
Here goes a brief list of great white, beginning with the most ubiquitous white in the Hamptons, Paradise Beach, 911. 925 is cleaner, 956 is snowy, 928 is the brightest, Linen White is the safest, and White Dove is the always always always white for ceilings. Lately there’s a run on an old favorite, Antique White, which is a little peachy beige. When in doubt, I pick Acadia, AC-41.
Acadia White AC-41
Beige along the Gold Coast
BEIGE
This is a big stretch of real estate, and a lengthy list culled from the shores of the Long Island sound. Let’s walk the beach from Kings Point, to Cove Neck, shall we?
Here’s the single best, get out of jail free color, HC-80, Bleeker Beige. Super color.
Bleeker Beige HC-80
If you like brown paper bag here are 3; Capilano Bridge 1076, Decatur Buff HC-38, a little warmer, or Squire Hill Buff 1068.
Capilano Bridge 1076
Squire Hill Buff 1068
Decatur Buff HC-38
The Dakota, New York, New York; wrapping up after dark
Million Dollar RED 2003-10
Million Dollar Red 2003-10
BROWN Horse 2108-30
Brown Horse 2108-30
Amherst GRAY HC-167
Amherst Gray HC-167
BLUEberry 2063-30
Blueberry 2063-30
Blair GOLD HC-22.
Blair Gold HC-22
That ought to keep you all busy for a week or so. 😉 Go paint!
some of my favorite Benjamin Moore colors from past design projects
- Bleeker Beige HC-80
- Acadia White AC-41
- Taffeta Green-843
- Capilano Bridge 1076
- Woodland Green-459
- Camouflage 2143-40
- Blueberry 2063-30
- Million Dollar Red 2003-10
- Delaware Putty 240
- Blair Gold HC-22
- Squire Hill Buff 1068
- Eye of the Tiger 188
- Brown Horse 2108-30
- Amherst Gray HC-167
- Montcello Peach 018
- Blair Gold HC-22
- Squish-Squash Yellow 311
- Apricot Chiffon 136
- Decatur Buff HC-38
- Henderson Buff HC-15
WOW!!! Lu – THANK YOU so much for this amazing, detailed collection of colors. This is beyond what I was looking for and just awesome. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!
My pleasure Elisa-it was great fun. I could go on and on all day about fabulous colors-let me know if your Dad needs some more!!!
I’m pretty sure 3 of those colours are used in my house! Must find a way to incorporate “brown horse”:)
Melissa, your house must be beautiful! Brown horse is nearly a straight match to a good old well worn Circle Y saddle. It’s a great color for a door you wish were wood, the inside of a cabinet or furniture in less than great shape. No doubt we can both always find a place, for a little Brown horse:)