White Dove OC-17

White Dove. If there were such a thing as a paint celebrity (ridiculous notion, I realize), this would be it.

Credit: Karyn R. Millet, House Beautiful, October 2007.

White Dove is a cool, modern white with a very faint taupe cast. Everyone totally loves it.

Here’s what Doty Horn, Benjamin Moore’s director of color and design, says about White Dove:

“The one color that people consistently pick for moldings and windows is White Dove. It has the softness of alabaster, with a little gray and a little yellow. For long-term livability, what helps is that yellow cast. Put it up against other colors and you’ll see how well it works. It’s practically universal.”

Credit: Pieter Estersohn, Elle Decor, July 2007.

In this bathroom designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber, above, the wainscoting is painted White Dove, the antique stool is from Mecox Gardens and the tiles are by Urban Archaeology.

Credit: Laura Resen, Elle Decor, May 2011.

Total kitchen porno, above. The cabinets are painted White Dove and the island is Arctic Shadows, also by Benjamin Moore. The ceramic backsplash tiles are by Exquisite Surfaces; the refrigerator is by Viking, and the barstools are from Design Within Reach.

Now, a little gem from Domino (I still mourn):

Credit: Annie Schlechter, Domino magazine.

The floors of this tiny apartment, above, are painted White Dove. Farrow & Ball “Five over Stripe” wallpaper. Scalloped table from Niermann Weeks. Chase pendant lamp from Robert Abbey. William table lamp by Christopher Spitzmiller.

Here’s another look at the living room, just because Domino is so effin’ fabulous:

Credit: Annie Schlechter, Domino magazine.

The Dino sofa above is from Classic Sofa in Manhattan and is covered in Calico Corners’s Slubby linen fabric in Flint. The Corinth convex mirror is from Distant Origin.

But back to White Dove:

Painted kitchen floors: Pratt & Lambert gray + white cabinets + green interiors

Credit: Don Freeman, House Beautiful.

Above, walls and cabinets are painted White Dove. The floors are Gunnel, by Pratt & Lambert. Ceiling lights from Urban Archaeology, cabinet hardware from Sun Valley Bronze. Elkay stainless-steel Farmhouse sink, Barber Wilsons polished nickel faucet, Sub-Zero refrigerator.

Classic white living room: Benjamin Moore neutral shades + soft fabrics + pelment

Credit: decorati.com.

In this living room, above, the inner wall molding is painted Spanish White (a yellow white), the outer wall molding is White Dove, the molding and crown trim is White Opulence (very similar to White Dove), and the ceiling is Sand Dollar (a pinkish white), all by Benjamin Moore.

Credit: William Waldron, Elle Decor, December 2009.

Above, designer Philip Gorrivan lacquered the ceiling of his Upper East Side apartment in White Dove. The vintage lamps are from Privet House; the Thetis sofa is by Andrew Martin International and upholstered in a linen that Gorrivan designed for Highland Court. The pillow fabric is by Donghia. Gorrivan designed the cocktail table, taking cues from Jean Royère.

Below, White Dove paired with sunny yellow — Showtime, also by Benjamin Moore.

Credit: House Beautiful.

Below, a mantle painted White Dove with Silver Fox on the walls:

Credit: Kflaim, Flickr.

Below, White Dove paired with Titanium:

Credit: fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com.

Below, designer T. Keller Donovan painted his hallway Summer Shower, by Benjamin Moore, with White Dove on the trim. The white box frames are from West Elm. The brackets are from John Rosselli. The Mandarin urns are from And Beige.

Credit: Michael Price, House Beautiful.

Below, mega-drama with black vinyl wallpaper (which looks like lacquer) and shield-back English hall chairs painted White Dove:

Credit: Victoria Pearson, House Beautiful.

A much more subdued entryway with White Dove on the trim:

Credit: Tria Giovan, elledecor.com.

Below, designer Meg Braff painted the walls and trim White Dove in an East Hampton house. The sofa is upholstered in Dunemere Texture in Pale Blue by Hinson; the chair cushion fabric is Linea from Pollack.

Credit: James Merrell, House Beautiful, October 2009.

And finally, a kitchen designed by Christopher Peacock with high-gloss White Dove cabinets. The range is by Wolf. The Country Kitchen sink and Amarilis Heritage faucet are both by American Standard.

Carrot valance, anyone?

Credit: Laura Moss, House Beautiful, March 2007.


Moroccan Red 1309

Moroccan Red. Credit: housebeautiful.com.

Designer Alexa Hampton on Moroccan Red (I love that she invokes Pride and Prejudice):

“…Dining rooms are traditionally red, and this is the red of the riding jackets in British hunting prints, the red of the proverbial redcoats — the military men everyone went gaga for in Jane Austen’s books. In addition to making Kitty Bennet swoon, red conveys a sense of royalty.”

The Duke of Wellington by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1820.

Hubba.

Moving on:

Credit: Victoria Pearson, House Beautiful.

For the kitchen of a 1920s Los Angeles home, above, designer Peter Dunham painted American spindle chairs Moroccan Red and used French industrial metal pendants from Bourgeois Bohème to light the table and island. “The kitchen is very traditional,” he says. “I needed the color and patina to perk it up.”

Credit: Don Freeman, House Beautiful.

Credit: Don Freeman, House Beautiful.

In this Martha’s Vineyard cottage, above, designer Paula Perlini painted the high wainscot a cool white and the strip above Moroccan Red. The chairs are covered with Summer Hill’s Sardinia in Pacific Blue and the game table and chairs are from Walters Wicker.

Below, a blogger’s office painted Moroccan Red:

Credit: odietamo.blogspot.com.

About Moroccan Red:

Collection: Classic Colors.
Similar to: Chili Pepper, Ladybug Red, Currant Red, Tucson Red.
Suggested complements: Mother Earth, Swans Mill Cream, Clinton Brown, Vanilla Ice Cream.


Powell Buff HC-35

You people can’t get enough of this popular neutral. So I give you: Le Powell Buff.

A house built around 1800. Credit: oldhouseweb.com

Designer Michael Roberson on Powell Buff:

“This wonderful warm tan is almost the color of dried wheat. What makes it so pretty is the way it reacts to light. When the sun hits it, it glows, and on a rainy day it casts a nice kind of cozy warm shadow on the room. This isn’t a get-excited-about color, but it’s a terrific background. Very calming in a bedroom. Great in a sitting room with almond-colored suede or gray flannel and, if you need an accent, a plummy linen.”

More photos of Powell Buff:

Powell Buff

Credit: gillmorsmith, Flickr.

Credit: kellybernierdesigns.com

About Powell Buff:

Collection: Historical Colors.
Similar to: Pittsfield Buff, Monroe Bisque, Straw Hat, Lady Finger.
Benjamin Moore’s suggested complements: Carob, French Press, Shelburne Buff, Audubon Russet.

Benjamin Moore's suggested complements for Powell Buff.


Fashion-Inspired Paint Palette: Hot Lips and Scandinavian Blue

The palette inspiration, from Emilio Pucci:

Credit: Gilt.com.

Which made me think:

Benjamin Moore Hot Lips.

Benjamin Moore Scandinavian Blue.

I’d throw in some cool white and gray:

Benjamin Moore Patriotic White.

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal.

Parting shot — the Chicago restaurant Province, where an accent wall is painted Benjamin Moore’s Hot Lips:

Credit: Dan Goldberg, Metropolitan Home, May 2009.


Rockport Gray HC-105

A (fabulous) kids’ bedroom painted Rockport Gray and designed by Helen Marie Rutter and Yvonne McFadden for the 2010 Atlanta Symphony Decorator Showhouse.

Credit: Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.

Carpet and Runner are from Eve, Inc. Gwenwood wall lamps designed by Darryl Carter for the Urban Electric Company. Table and stool by Holland & Company. Coverlets and accessories from Scout for the Home. Window shade fabric by Knoll Textiles. Sheets from Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings. Art from Lumière Gallery.

Credit: William Abranowicz, House Beautiful, Sept. 2011.

Above, designer Betsy Brown paired bright white accents with Rockport Gray walls in an Alabama home. Italian Hotel Satin Stitch bedding from Restoration Hardware. Headboard covered in Flair in Nacre by Dedar. Brindle Mor ikat pillow by Madeline Weinrib. Cashmere crochet blanket from Suite Dreams. Curtain fabric from Holly Hunt. Antique Oushak rug from Paige Albright Orientals. Carpet is Pergola in Pearl by Design Materials.

Credit: restoredstyle.com.

Above, an Oregon kitchen painted Rockport Gray with White Dove cabinets. Countertop around sink is black granite. White subway tile backsplash. Island countertop is maple butcher block made by Dovetail Custom Woodworks.

About Rockport Gray

Collection: Historical Colors.
Similar to: River Reflections, Sandy Hook Gray, Herbal Escape, Indian River.
Suggested complements: Stormy Sky, Vale Mist, Mink, Alaskan Husky.

Left to right: Stormy Sky, Vale Mist, Rockport Gray, Mink, Alaskan Husky.


Elmira White HC-84

Credit: westelm.com.

Design by Shari Misturak. Bernhardt Kingston wing chair. Horchow brass coffee table. Credit: decorpad.com.

Credit: decorpad.com.

Design by Bruce Wentworth. Credit: Erik Johnson, Elle Decor, May 2005.

Designer Brad Ford on Elmira White:

“The nice thing about it is that it’s still a warm neutral, but it does have a brightness to it. It’s really reflective and adds the warmth I like, but doesn’t feel dark at all… It’s a perfect blend of beige and gray and will complement literally any color palette you choose to introduce in the room. You can’t wrong with this one.”

Collection: Historical Colors.
Similar to: Edgecomb Gray, White Sand, Jute, Nature’s Essentials.
Suggested complements: Byzantine Gold, Stardust, Rosemary Sprig, Spanish Red.

Left to right: Byzantine Gold, Stardust, Elmira White, Rosemary Sprig, Spanish Red.


Swiss Coffee OC-45

A very pale grayish off-white; one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular colors.

Calm gray + blue bedroom: 'Swiss Coffee' by Benjamin Moore

Click the photo for more details about this room. Credit: Roger Davies, House Beautiful, June 2010.

Kristen Bell, plus dogs, in her kitchen. Walls are painted Swiss Coffee; cabinets are Simply White. Credit: calfinder.com

On this vintage dresser, designer Robert Willson accented the handles and the frame with Swiss Coffee and painted the drawers Winter White, also by Benjamin Moore. He used flat paint topped with three coats of semigloss clear coat to control the sheen. Credit: housebeautiful.com.

Designer Schuyler Samperton on Swiss Coffee:

“I did (Swiss Coffee) in a guesthouse where the previous owner had put in nasty fake terra-cotta tile. You know that icky pale pink color? It drove me nuts! I painted it white and did driftwood-colored wicker furniture with blue-and-white fabric. It completely transformed the space.

About Swiss Coffee

Collection: Off-White Colors.
Similar to: Steam, Icicle, Vanilla Milkshake, Dune White.
Suggested complements: Nightfall, Mt. Rainier Gray, Nickel, Senora Gray.

Left to right: Nightfall, Mt. Rainier Gray, Swiss Coffee, Nickel, Senora Gray.


Iron Mountain 2134-30

Ideas for small spaces: Custom bookshelves + dark walls: 'Iron Mountain' by Benjamin Moore

Credit: Peter Murdock, Metropolitan Home, March 2008.

Architect Jeffery Povero maximized space in his 860-square-foot New York apartment with architectural custom shelving in the bedroom, which provides neatly efficient storage. He also used opposing paint colors to make the space seem larger: Benjamin Moore’s Iron Mountain (on walls) and white (in recesses) help the dark color dematerialize at the edges. Signoria bedspread from ABC Carpet and Home (no longer available; for a similar look, try Crate & Barrel’s Avery bedspread or this coverlet from Garnet Hill).

Credit: Peter Murdock, Metropolitan Home, March 2008.

Credit: Peter Murdock, Metropolitan Home, March 2008.

About Iron Mountain

Collection: Color Preview.
Similar to: Gray, Silhouette, Dragon’s Breath, Ashwood Moss.
Suggested complements: Spring Valley, Vanilla Ice Cream, Fairway Oaks, Creme Brulee.

Left to right: Benjamin Moore Spring Valley, Vanilla Ice Cream, Iron Mountain, Fairway Oaks, Creme Brulee.

Parting shot — an 18th-century Pennsylvania farmhouse designed by Robert Goodwin:

High contrast in the foyer: 'Iron Mountain' by Benjamin Moore

Credit: Gridley + Graves, House Beautiful, Oct. 2007.


Pittsfield Buff HC-24

French + feminine in New Orleans bedroom: Benjamin Moore 'Pittsfield Buff'

Credit: Kerri McCaffety, House Beautiful, Jan. 2008.

Collection: Historical Colors.
Suggested complements: Sorrel Brown, Classic Brown, Navajo White, November Rain.
Similar to: Powell Buff, Straw Hat, Dunmore Cream, Monroe Bisque.


Moonlight White OC-125 and 2143-60

White bedroom + four poster bed: 'Moonlight White' by Benjamin Moore

Credit: Eric Piasecki, House Beautiful, March 2008.

A cool off-white.

Collection: Off White and Color Preview.
Suggested complements: Westcott Navy, Feather Gray, Silver Spring, Gray Horse.
Similar to: Icicle, Cloud White, Paper Mache, Swiss Coffee.


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