Benjamin Moore Color of the Year





Introducing Shadow, [2117-30] a member of the aubergine family. This color is dramatic and bold, and it exudes self-confidence. Quite the contrast from last year’s choice of Simply White. It is one of 23 colors in the expansive Benjamin Moore 2017 palette.

Benjamin Moore Room pictures featuring Shadow

photos courtesy of benjamin moore

paint-callout

 

“It ebbs and flows with its surroundings, and light brings it to life. Rich, royal amethyst can fade into the soft lilac-grey of distant mountains or morph into lustrous coal. Indulge your mysterious side. Let Shadow set the mood.”

                                                   —Ellen O’Neill, Creative Director

 * * * *

 

Ms. O’Neill and her team took inspiration from their travels to Paris, Copenhagen, and Korea. They were also inspired by colors worn at this year’s Met Gala.

This color will intensify in certain light, going almost grey, and in other light, neutral and brown undertones come out. That means it is versatile and can be softened or saturated for intensity.

It may be best used as an accent wall but the room below breaks that mold and goes full boar. With white ceilings, trim, and furniture, it can serve as quite a sophisticated foil for very strong furniture. As ever, I recommend painting a corner or a patch new a window so you can see how daylight affects it. It will change throughout the day.

You can even mix traditional architecture and modern accents with this color. Mixing other colors with this color is tricky. In a softly lit room, the color becomes a softened backdrop. It is the proportions that will help dictate your use. If you were to use Shadow in the trim, you would want to go neutral in color around it. The opportunities are also terrific when using this color in furniture and accent fabrics.  This rug from Kush is a beautiful example of an abstract. It is called Aria Winter and is hand-knotted and hand-carved in India, with wool and silk.

Kush Handmade Rugs

photo courtesy of kush handmade rugs

 

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Moore

photo courtesy of benjamin moore

 

I think the tenor of the last year has played a part in the choice of drama here.  Either way, we have been enjoying lighter wall colors for a couple of years so why not create a cozy, dramatic room.  Shadow: allusive and enigmatic – a master of ambiance. People worry too much that dark colors make a room feel small, I think dark colors erase boundaries like the darkness of night. There are so many rich luxurious colors that are never experienced because someone in a paint store said “it will make the room smaller.” I guess that goes along with you can’t mix different periods of furniture, no one will ever run a sub 5-minute mile and the world is flat.

Enjoy pushing boundaries, isn’t that what design is all about?

Have fun.

 

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About the Author: Lauren55