Benjamin Moore Archives - John Neill Painting

2016 Color Trends & Finding Your Signature Palette

2016 Color Trends: While we report on the Color Trends every year, they are just that – trends. When it comes to updating the colors in your home, incorporating current colors can be fun, but figuring out your signature style and using your favorite colors throughout your home is often a better way to go.
This year we shared the “2016 Color of the Year” from the top three companies in the painting industry. Pantone (the world leader in all things color) stepped out of the box by selecting not one, but two 2016 Colors of the Year – Rose Quartz and Serenity. If you’re not a fan of pastels, the lesson to be taken from this selection is that traditionally “warm” colors can be paired with “cool” colors and coordinate beautifully.

Sherwin Williams also took a different approach to 2016 color trends this year, opting to create “Color Stories” in place of choosing one particular color. Using the terms passionate, fresh, vintage, and indulgent as their starting point, they have created four color palettes that are sure to speak to both the bold and adventurous as well as more traditional homeowners.

Benjamin Moore also chose to go in yet a different direction, and while they did select a single 2016 Color of the Year – Simply White – some question whether this was truly a “color” selection at all. Whether or not you believe that white is a color, what they have done is sparked the idea of starting with a blank canvas. Freshening up any space with a base coat of this creamy white is almost like hitting the reset button in your home. With a clean backdrop, it is much easier to re-imagine what other colors you would like to incorporate into your home, and they have provided some beautiful accent colors in their full color report to assist with this as well.

Ultimately, the best place to start when considering a new color palette for your home is with an open mind. Look around when you’re out and about and take note of the colors that catch your eye. Or if you’ve been saying “I’ve always wanted to paint the [ fill in the blank]…” maybe now is the time to go for it. Believe it or not, of all the things that you could “change” in your home, the color on your walls is one of the easiest, but also most impactful. And when you’re ready, our color experts are always here to help you make your final choice with complete confidence.

Frank Gehry Fondation Louis Vuitton Paris Designboom 08

The Story Behind “Simply White” – Benjamin Moore’s 2016 Color of the Year

2016 Color of the Year Backstory: Last week we hosted a designer luncheon along with Benjamin Moore to discuss color (of course) and the current trends in the painting industry. While some may think that “Simply White” was not truly a “color”, after hearing the story of how Benjamin Moore’s research team arrived on this choice, we all walked away with a deeper knowledge of how the color trends emerge each year.
After traveling the world observing trends and looking for patterns, the new Louis Vuitton Foundation building in Paris left the biggest impression on the Benjamin Moore team. Being compared to a ship with billowing sails, the light and airy feel of the space led them to consider white for 2016, but with over 250 whites in the Benjamin Moore collection, deciding which white was the “right” white was still a difficult task. Staying in the mindset of the artistic world, and drawing from the Frank Gehry design, they imagined the life of various artists and set out to create the perfect backdrop for a traditional painter as well as a digital designer, and all of those who fall in between.

One of the keys to successfully using white to create a backdrop is to vary the tones and sheens of the paint. Pairing Simply White with Ballet White or Mascarpone creates subtle variations in color while leaving an overall freshness in any space. Using a high gloss finish on trim along with a matte finish on wall can also break up what could otherwise become too monotone when using one white throughout an entire space. Simply White also creates the perfect backdrop for more bold colors such as Black Ink, Patriot Blue, and Ravishing Red. The more we learned about white, the more we all realized that “white is not just white”, and the final conclusion of the Benjamin Moore color team was that white truly is an essential color in all decorating palettes. Whether your goal is to create a completely neutral backdrop or infuse a pop of color into a room in your home, choosing the right white to achieve your goal is just as important as choosing any other color. Here’s to white finally getting the credit it deserves as an integral color in home decorating.

Benjamin Moore – Color of the Year 2016

The Benjamin Moore Color of the Year for 2016 is Simply White. While white may seem a strange choice for “Color of the Year”, when paired with a pop of color, natural wood, or in a clean and modern space with bold furniture choices, it can set the perfect backdrop for your room to shine. See the full gallery here and be sure to check back soon for more “Color of the Year” updates.

The Best Paint For Your Bathroom

Whether you plan to do it yourself or hire a professional painter, here’s our tip on choosing the best paint for your bathroom. Go with a top of the line product designed specifically for bathrooms. While it may be a bit more expensive than the average gallon of paint, keep in mind that you’ll most likely only need one gallon, and choosing a paint that is designed to withstand moisture and humidity will actually save you money in the long run.
We recommend Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa. Available in all of their colors, this water-based, mildew resistant paint can be wiped down and will still look fresh over time. If you’re looking to create a calming effect in your bathroom, you may like Glacier Blue, or if you like to change out your accessories frequently, a neutral shade like Wickham Gray may be a better choice. Whatever color you choose, just remember that the right product and the right application will make all the difference.

One of our Favorite “Whites”

If you walk into your local paint store and tell them you want to paint your trim white, they’ll ask you what shade of white. And when they direct you to the wall with all of the color samples, you’ll be amazed to discover how many variations of white there are. Suddenly, what seemed like a simple task just turned into a major decision.
Our goal at John Neill Painting is to make your entire project as smooth and seamless as possible, which includes help from our color experts in choosing the right colors for your space. Over the years, we have developed our own color palette full of classic colors, and one of our favorite whites for trim is Benjamin Moore White Dove. On the more creamy side, White Dove adds the perfect finishing touch to both warm and cool wall colors and is also a great choice when refinishing kitchen cabinets. Want to know what other colors are popular at the moment? Visit our Color Trends page to learn more.

2015 Color Trends

Did you know that one of the top reasons homeowners put off painting is due to the fear of choosing the wrong color?
While Pantone is known worldwide as the leading expert on all things color, over the past few years Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have also begun to select and share color palettes with their customers to make choosing colors a less daunting task. Let’s take a look at the 2015 color trends.
While not all of the selections are right for everyone, having a basic idea of what’s popular can be helpful if you do not consider yourself a “color expert.”
Here are the top colors for 2015 from Pantone, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin William. And our color experts are always a call or a click away if you’re ready to change the look and feel of your home. Here’s to creating your perfect backdrop for 2015.
Pantone – Marsala 18-1438

“This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings and interiors.” – Leatrice Eisman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute
Add elegance to any room by incorporating this rich and welcoming hue in accent pieces, accessories and paint. Marsala’s plush characteristics are enhanced when the color is applied to textured surfaces, making it an ideal choice for rugs and upholstered living room furniture.
Benjamin Moore – Guilford Green HC-116

“A neutral that’s natural. A silvery green that works with, well, everything. No worries. No second thoughts. Just a brush, dipped in a can, whooshed on a wall, and a whole lot of happily ever after.” –Ellen O’Neill, Creative Director, Benjamin Moore
Ground Yourself in Green – the color that ties things together. This silvery shade of green is the centerpiece of Benjamin Moore’s color trend story for 2015, a palette of 23 shades of green, blue, blush and berry designed to mixed and matched.
Sherwin Williams – Coral Reef SW 6606

“Coral Reef embodies the cheerful approach to design that we’re seeing for the coming year. Its unexpected versatility brings life to a range of design aesthetics, whether traditional or contemporary. This carefree color will liven up a client’s space,” said Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing, Sherwin-Williams.
Perfectly suited to celebrate a mid-decade year that’s poised for revitalization, Coral Reef (SW 6606) is Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year 2015. The uplifting hue is the perfect blend of pink, orange and red that can be used to liven up any space.
Pulled from the Sherwin-Williams Buoyant palette, Coral Reef is influenced by our botanical fixation and optimistic outlook for the future.

The New Neutrals

Like a breath of fresh air, the new neutrals for 2013 are sure to lift your spirits while calming your senses. Light and airy Linen, Tidal Foam, with a gentle earthen feel, and the sleek and sophisticated Alloy all succeed at achieving a sense of calm in a chaotic world. Incorporating these colors into your wardrobe and interior design scheme will be a breeze.