PAINT TO YOUR PASSION Ten paint colors selected to help create the rooms of your dreams BY MICHAEL DEVAULT FARROW AND BALL Dead Salmon No. 28 A subtle shade whose name refers to the flat or ‘dead’ finish of an aged pink painted at Kedleston Hall in 1805. An exquisite color that’s perfect for candlelit dining rooms. For a taste of true design match this color with Gilded French mirrors, aged ebonized choosier furniture and a wall laden with European oil portraits.
FARROW AND BALL French Gray No. 18 French Gray is really much more green than grey, but characterfully flits between the two depending on the light and time of day. Taking inspiration from French design and wallpapers used in the 19th century, it creates the most relaxed of rooms. This soothing hue is perfect for exterior woodwork and a particular favorite for front doors or garden furniture where it sits seamlessly amongst the greenery.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS White Flour SW 7102 Sensual and sensible. This unctuous color can turn a drab room into a spectacular space and usually is a feature in most of my designed spaces. This color is remarkable paired with rich dark mahogany. Perfect for interior, exterior and all the spaces in between.
FARROW AND BALL Hague Blue No. 30 A deep dark blue. Hague Blue takes its name from the fantastically colored woodwork much used by the Dutch, and still works wonderfully to ground baseboards or as an accent color on the walls.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS Oyster Bay SW-6206 Exemplary color where nature and design are the same. Blue green in nature, this color reminds me of the cool, shallow marshes of the North Eastern seaboard. This color is ideal for bathroom walls and cabinets, kitchen cabinets, interior shelving, and furniture. I think this color really looks best used in a matte finish.
40 OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
FARROW AND BALL Mouse’s Back No. 40 This grey brown classic takes its characterful name from the fawny color of the British field mouse. Much like its namesake, the green based Mouse’s Back is quiet in nature and feels soft in rooms both large and small. It will read greener when used on the walls of under-lit rooms and is the perfect accent on furniture or floors.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS Malabar SW-9110 This brave beige is reminiscent of something larger, something more global. It reminds me of forgotten desert spice routes. The warmth of this color is what makes it a star of any room setting. Pair this with Aubergine, rich deep reds, bright blues and emerald greens for a look that is truly globally inspired.
FOR A WHILE, it seemed the world was a study of grays. Kitchen cabinets went from faux antiqued to battleship, and no bathroom was safe from the ubiquitous Light Gray. Entire sections of paint store swatch displays were devoted to shades of gray. That’s changing, though, according to interior designer Gregory Hudgins, who is excited about the end of the Gray Period. He’s seeing it in his own practice, and in fine homes and small bungalows alike, there’s a new trend.“The shift is away from ‘150 Shades of Grey’ to adding in more color,” Gregory says. He notes that the colors aren’t loud or even particularly bold. Instead, they’ve got a more classic feel. “The colors are soft but strong. The grey trend didn’t have staying power.” That’s because of one simple reason, Gregory thinks. Gray is, ultimately, gray.“Once everyone painted everything gray there was a realization that everything now looks exactly the same,” Gregory says. “I think having the neutrality of gray and adding color on top of that base is allowing people and designers to infuse individuality into homes and spaces.” Gregory helped BayouLife select some popular colors to help infuse your gray spaces with a pop of color. And these days, as Gregory’s top paints colors suggest, there is no standard in the palette. It’s up to you to decide the look you want. Here are his suggestions of great places to start.
BENJAMIN MOORE Wrought Iron 2124-10 A historic and strong warm color that is perfectly at home in a modern setting or traditional home. I love this color painted on low ceilings, window exteriors, and staircase railings and spindles. Have your painter spray this in an ultra-glossy finish on your front door for a unforgettable entranceway.
BENJAMIN MOORE Guilford Green HC 116 A classic color that is livable and easy to coordinate. This relaxing green has so much character that it would be hard not to paint everything this color. I love using this color and only changing the sheen levels in a room.