What's In a Name?

Congratulations,

You have searched and compared many off-white paint colors for your walls, ceiling or trim.  Of the 150+ off-whites to choose from you have narrowed it down to Navajo White, or maybe antique white.  But who's Navajo White?

  

Navajo White chips in Sherwin Williams, Pittsburgh Paint and Benjamin Moore

The same color name does not mean the paint color will be the same!

You may have stopped into a couple of stores to get paint chips, but your painter has told you about the benefits of the specialty paints and / or you always use a particular paint, like Benjamin Moore products.   Based on the color you chose, it could be another company's color that you want mixed in your preferred paint.  For example you stopped into Lowe's and picked up an off-white paint chip that just really works in your room compared to the other off-white chips.  There's just something about the color you like it best.  From your research you know you want to buy paint from your local Benjamin Moore owner instead of using the products offered at a big box or commercial store.

You know you want to use Pittsburgh's Antique White in a Benjamin Moore Matte (washable flat) paint, but did you relay the details to the painter or to the store employee taking your order?  While it should be a question poised, "Benjamin Moore's or someone else's?" from someone some where along the order process, it doesn't always happen. 

I strongly recommend to have the paint chip with the person placing the paint order and to clarify the details as to the brand and sheen of paint being used on the space.  Ideally you want to get a paint color made by the company you are getting the paint mixed in, but it isn't a perfect world and sometimes you just really like a certain color for a certain reason.  All is good.  If you go with the cross over of color and product, just have the store open the can and make sure the color is close.  If it is a non-company color it will never be 'exact', but it shouldn't be noticeably different either.

Happy Painting! 

Exterior Colors Gone Wrong

This was an incredibly long, cold, wet spring  in lower Michigan that delayed exterior paint projects.  With anticipation of helping clients find new or different or updated exterior colors for their existing, remodeled or new construction home I used the uncooperative weather to 'window' shop and see how local homes were trending.

We have many inland lakes in the area, so on some drives I found quite a few different home styles with color combinations that really work.

 

Commerce MI

West Bloomfield, MI

     

In the North / Mid East there are some colors that do not belong aesthetically on a home's exterior.   Some colors do not work for technical reasons: drastic light reflective value (LRV) changes; for example very light siding color to two or three shades darker.  Some colorants, therefore some paint colors, do not handle UV rays even though the exterior paint bases are significantly improved to handle fading and nature's elements.   Home Owners Association Rules are often scoffed at, but they really do prevent hideous colors from popping up in a neighborhood.

    

Some stores have home items.  Homes are not stores and can look eye catching without bright and saturated hues.

IKEA

This subdivision purposely painted repeated colors.  Some are deep tones, but none are saturated and overly bright.  

Canton, MI

Please keep in mind that you cannot close a door to an exterior like you can to the bedroom, den or basement that you gave creative colors.  Your exterior doesn't have to be 'builder beige' but its color should represent the neighborhood well.

If you are really stuck, color consultants, such as myself, can help you navigate the barrage of color choices and color placement.