Discussing Color Palettes With Sonu Mathew From Benjamin Moore

Last Friday, I ran the first in a three-part interview with the Senior Manager of Color & Design at Benjamin Moore, Sonu Mathew. We discussed the fine art of color forecasting, and the bold color palette they’re promoting for 2009.

Today, we’re talking about color palettes and the most popular color choices at Benjamin Moore. Here’s what Sonu had to say.

Color Palettes & Favorite Colors

Design Hole: Color palettes are a hot ticket these days. Creating them is the number one request I’m asked for in my Design Dilemmas, a regular feature on my blog. Do you have any thoughts on how this trend emerged?

Sonu Mathew: I can imagine how many people find your advice invaluable!  We’re all looking to make color our own and personalize it.  Anyone can have a red dining room, but when you pair it with an orange ceiling and copper accents, you’ve made it your own analogous scheme that will surprise your guests.  I think it has a lot to do with both self-expression and the fact that people see in fashion and auto design the power of color in context.  That same red dining room would feel entirely different if paired with pale blue table setting and camel colored upholstered chairs.  Our clients are having fun and looking to experiment to create the right “Mood” for their space.

Design Hole: What advice would you give a homeowner who wants to ensure their room colors work together? Is there a something you suggest they start with?

Sonu Mathew: Really, I always say, “Start with what you love.”  If there’s a painting, a vase, a quilt, a heritage piece such as a chest, look at the colors, textures, patterns, and finishes in that item for inspiration.  Draw from that as a starting point because at the end of the project, you have simply amplified something that you were passionate about to begin with!

Design Hole: My number one rule in decorating is to choose the paint last. If you had to create a rule, when it comes to choosing color, what would it be?

Sonu Mathew: When you select color, look at it against a primed surface (NOT against the existing color in the room) and in context with the other things that will go into that room & you’ll find the right color for you.

Design Hole: What are the best selling colors at Benjamin Moore?

Sonu Mathew: Actually our best sellers are many whites – we have 180 toned, tinted and off-whites – since so much white is used when you account for ceilings, trim and other architectural features:

The top five whites are:

Our perennial favorite collection is our 174 Historical Color Collection, which debuted in 1976 for the country’s bi-centennial and are an interpretation of the historic palettes found in historic houses under the auspices of the National Parks Service.

Our top colors start with:

A Final Question on Color Forecasting

Design Hole: Before we end today, I have a question about Color Pulse, your forecast directed to the trade. Specifically, it predicts colors 2 years into the future. What factors do you look at to create a long-term prediction?

Sonu Mathew: Color Pulse is a very special forecast that is directed exclusively to the industry because many professional projects and industry introductions require time to bring to market.  Our color and design selections in the publication revolve around year round research conducted by our North American Creative Design Team of Color & Design Professionals at Benjamin Moore.  We look at many of the factors I mentioned before in the US and abroad.

We literally attend fashion shows in France, design shows in Germany/England, or furniture shows in Italy, as well as paying attention to our own backyard and reading up on issues of the time. The influences are global and the result is local.  Our goal is to evaluate color and design introductions in global markets and anticipate what evolutions will come in the next two years.  We’ve enjoyed great success through Color Pulse over the last several years with designers coming back to purchase the upcoming forecasts.  Also, industry professionals- designers of interior design related products such as tile, carpet, laminates, etc. reference our forecast for their work.

Tomorrow Sonu and I discuss Aura РBenjamin Moore’s innovative new paint. Stay tuned!