Benjamin Moore Showroom Visit
October and Autumn are here! Are you a fan of Autumn? Do you like Halloween? I won’t lie, I’m not keen but my children are and it’s the first year in a while where we are home for Halloween so they are very excited. They enjoy choosing a costume and their school always does a Halloween disco. One thing I do like about October is the colours. The warm oranges and browns are so comforting and I do like curling up on the sofa with a blanket when it’s cold outside but I have the fire on inside.
Speaking of colour, you may have seen on my social media that I was incredibly fortunate to attend a showroom visit workshop at Benjamin Moore in Chelsea last month. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much about the brand before the visit and I really feel I have been missing out for years! They have over 3,500 colours!!!!! 3,500!!!!!! You would think, how on Earth would I start choosing colours with that many on offer but they have so many colour tools to help you and of course, if you have an Interior Designer, we have the skills to help you choose the perfect hues for your home. Not only do they have a huge amount of variety in colour but they have so many products for different needs for a space. I have already decided that I need to paint my porch using Scuff-X which is engineered for high traffic areas and is durable and scuff resistant….perfect for all those footprints on the walls in my porch! Keep checking in as I am sure I will soon be updating you on what colour I select.
Benjamin Moore Showroom, Chelsea
The presenters, Jo and Nellie, were not only incredibly knowledgeable about their brand, but so passionate and it was hard not to embrace that passion. They started by explaining the history of Benjamin Moore and then explained all the products they have on offer. They have a choice of interior, exterior, and primer paints in a range of budgets to suit your needs. The paints have very low VOCs so they are safe to use in your home. My mind was whirring throughout, wondering if my husband would agree to any more decorating!
We were then given the opportunity to watch and then take part in the application of the paint, the paint itself applies so well! It wasn’t just demonstrated to us, we joined in and used the paint ourselves and it goes such a long way and dries really quickly (product dependent) and it is definitely a brand I will be recommending going forward.
At the end of the day we took part in a quiz on the brand and I’m pleased to say I won! My prize was the Benjamin Moore Catalogue which displays all 3,500 of their colours! I will certainly be able to find a colour for my porch now!
My prize!
Whilst there I got to thinking about different sheen levels. The shininess of a paint film is referred to as its sheen. It is a measure of how much light is reflected from the surface. The shinier the surface, the higher % reflectance. Do you have a go to paint finish? Matte? Eggshell? At Benjamin Moore, product dependent, you will have the option of flat, matte, eggshell, pearl, satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss. Would you know which one to select? High sheen paints such as gloss and semi gloss reflect more light to appear brighter and make spaces seem larger. Low sheen paints such as matte and flat absorb light, creating a softer look and are better at concealing imperfections. The intensity, type and direction of light in a room will further influence how a sheen level appears, with higher sheens becoming shinier in bright spaces and lower sheens remaining soft in dim conditions. Flat and matte finishes are the least reflective and they are the most durable for touch ups. Eggshell is low lustre and suitable for walls. Satin or pearl finishes are good for trim and kitchens. Higher sheen levels offer more moisture and stain resistance but will highlight surface flaws.
Sheen Options, Benjamin Moore
All this talk of paint has made me feel inspired to go and select a colour for my porch! I am going to make a cuppa and settle down with the Benjamin Moore catalogue. If you would like help selecting colours for your home, please get in contact so I can help you make your space a happy place. My website is www.sophielawsinteriors.co.uk and I’d love for you to get in contact!