Allusive and Enigmatic, Benjamin Moore's 2017 Colour of the Year is Shadow!

Benjamin Moore has announced its 2017 Colour of the Year — Shadow (2117-30).

"Shadow is the new black," says Monarch designer Janet Dawson. "It's a neutral basic backdrop that can anchor any colour scheme."

From Benjamin Moore's Creative Director, Ellen O'Neill:

"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."

Shadow 2117-30 is integral to Benjamin Moore's Colour Trends 2017, a palette of this year's most influential hues.

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To learn more about incorporating Shadow into your new kitchen or bath design, contact Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre at 905-686-2001.

All photos courtesy of benjaminmoore.com.

Sherwin-Williams 2017 Colour of the Year is Poised Taupe -- "The New Neutral"

Sherwin-Williams has chosen its 2017 Colour of the Year: Poised Taupe (SW 6039).

From Sherwin-Williams:
"Poised Taupe SW 6039 creates a cozy lifestyle and brings a sense of sanctuary into our homes. It diffuses the stresses of the world outside our doors — so much so that we feel restored and in balance when we walk across our threshold."

For most homeowners, the decision to renovate a kitchen or bathroom is a big one, and an excellent reason for relying on the expertise and guidance of a professional design firm such as Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre. 

Professional designers understand that the style and colours you select for your home play an instrumental role in ensuring you love your space for years to come.

"The trend to do home renovations that last the test of time is assuredly the reason Sherwin Williams chose Poised Taupe as their 2017 Colour of the Year," says Monarch designer Chantal Miller. "An exciting transitional balance of warmth, modern, cool and classic, Poised Taupe can be paired with almost any palette. Its gorgeous grey-brown tones paired with an intense depth of hue makes this a timeless, rich and incredibly elegant choice for your home."

Whether you prefer a woodsy, conservative, modern, or traditional look, Poised Taupe is sure to be an interior design favourite for many years to come.

Here are some of Chantal's colour pairing suggestions:

Any variation of blue, from light teal blue (like water) to bring the feeling of the outdoors inside, or a variation of navy blue for a truly classic sharp contrasted look.

Wine red would be a bold, modern, "old-is-new-again" compliment. (SW 6314)

 
 




Orange would be a fun, funky look anchored by the solid classic nature of this timeless neutral. (SW 6342)

A derivative of a rich, hearty plum would balance and enrich this gorgeous grey hue, bringing out its intensity and depth.

A soft rose colour would be well-suited in a soft and cozy space. (SW 0001, SW 6042, SW 6044)

A creamy white would be a timeless classic of light/dark contrast with an elegant twist. (SW 7008, SW 6042, SW 7004)

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To learn more about incorporating Poised Taupe into your new kitchen or bath design, contact Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre at 905-686-2001.

Cambria's Interactive Paint Match Tool Makes Finding the Right Colour for Your New Kitchen Easy!

Choosing the perfect paint colour to tie all of the elements of your new kitchen design together can be a difficult task.  Luckily, Cambria, a leader in quartz countertop design, has partnered with Benjamin Moore to simplify process.

The perfect tool for homeowners and designers alike, every Cambria design has been meticulously paired with four complementary Benjamin Moore colors.

By using the interactivepaint match tool on Cambria's website, you will instantly get a better sense of how each Benjamin Moore paint color plays against the shades, movement and colors inherent in your favorite Cambria designs.

Cambria's Paint Match Tool

From Benjamin Moore:

"Cambria and Benjamin Moore have joined forces to make designer color selection easy. Benjamin Moore's design experts have paired four wall covering shades to every Cambria design, allowing you to match your Cambria designs to paint colors that are as rich and beautiful as the countertops themselves.

Now with more than 100 designs to choose from, Cambria is the industry leader in quartz countertops. Cambria and Benjamin Moore share the same deep commitment to quality and color innovation, with a constant and consistent focus on future design trends."

Sherwin-Williams Colour of the Year for 2014: Exclusive Plum

Sherwin-Williams has chosen its 2014 Colour of the Year and Monarch designer Amanda Willson-Suppa couldn’t agree more. “Exclusive Plum is rich and sophisticated; it brings in a warmth while still being a cool colour. Pairing Exclusive Plumb with white gives a crisp and modern feel to any room, while pairing it with a deep gray gives us a room to relax and feel at home in. Exclusive Plumb is truly a versatile colour that can be used in a multitude of pallets.”

Image courtesy of sherwin-williams.com

From Sherwin-Williams:

Exclusive Plumb (SW 6263), a sophisticated violet, is Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year 2014. The hue, a balance of cool blue and feisty red with a splash of gray, pairs well with a variety of styles to create color schemes suitable for any room.

Exclusive Plum has an amazing quality and can be adapted for nearly any space, whether used as an accent or for an entire room. Here are some design ideas for Exclusive Plum:

• For a cozy, masculine look, we recommend pairing this color with accents of copper and well-worn leather.
• Exclusive Plum can also be layered with gold, gray and white for an elegant, dreamy space.
• It’s great highlighted against white subway tile and chrome fixtures for a statement space.
• Pops of magenta and chartreuse can liven up Exclusive Plum for a more energetic space and when paired with creamy whites or other neutrals, the mellow yet purposeful purple can turn any space into a refreshing retreat.

Sherwin-Williams suggests the following “inspiration pairings” for Exclusive Plum:

Image courtesy of sherwin-williams.com

Friday Fun: Benjamin Moore and Behr Weigh in on This Year's Hottest Paint Colours for Your Home

Earlier this year, Monarch designer Marion Cuddie spoke about her favourite 2013 design trend -- brighter and more energetic colours. 

In these videos, Behr and Benjamin Moore colour experts transform several rooms with just a few of their new colour combinations for 2013.

Brighter and More Energetic Colours -- Marion Cuddie's Favourite 2013 Design Trend

Canadian Mint, from the 2013 Simon Chang
Oh Canada! Trend Colour Collection
(photo courtesy of beautitone.ca)

There's nothing like a fresh coat of paint to add new life to an outdated space!

"I'm always excited to see the colour forecasts for the coming year as it encourages our team to explore new cabinetry, counter and accessory combinations in our renovations," says Monarch designer Marion Cuddie. "This year we are seeing a celebration of brighter and more enthusiastic shades for those who like to layer on colour, and neturals that have less muddy tones for the more subdued types."

Last fall, the Beauti-Tone paint division of Home Hardware Stores Ltd. launched its 2013 Simon Chang Oh Canada! Trend Colour Collection and its a colourful tribute to Canada.

The paint collection, which was developed in coordination with designer Simon Chang, includes all the hot colour trends for 2013: corals, teals, raspberries, yellows and browns. The six Oh Canada! colour palettes have charming, easy-to-remember names -- Northern Reflection, Savoir Flair, Beauti and the East, Wheat Till You Try It, Culture Club and Pacific Overture -- and each features two of the hottest trend colours paired with five additional shades that work well together.

Lemon Sorbet: Benjamin Moore's 2013 Colour of the Year
(photo courtesy of benjaminmoore.com)

Benjamin Moore's colour experts have declared Lemon Sorbet their Colour of the Year. The tangy, fresh yellow evokes a mood of optimism for the year ahead. Their carefully curated collection mixes softer hues such as pale blue Sweet Innocence and minty Antiquan Sky with punchier brighter colours like Pink Raspberry, Blue Ice and Dakota Woods Green.

From Sico's 2013 Switching Off colour collection
(photo courtesy of sico.ca)

AkzoNobel (Sico Paint), has named three frontrunners in their 2013 colour themes: Collective Passion, Switching Off and Visual Solace. Their 2013 colour palette balances bright and joyful colours combined with more peaceful, subdued tones. Collective Passion, for example, has a more spontaneous feel and showcases the use of colour on colour, such as Fresco Beige orange with Blackcurrant Tea pink or Effluvium royal blue with Emerald Necklace green. Switching Off, on the other hand, reflects our occasional desire to slow down, clear our minds and create space for new thoughts: it is highlighted by Singing the Blues, Satie White and Arctic Seal. Visual Solace is inspired by gardens in bloom and is infused with floral pink, mauve, dusky violet, bronze and delicate neutrals such as Restrained Brown, A Simpler Time and Rice Flour. 

Looking for the perfect colour palette for your new kitchen or bath design? Feel free to explore your colour options with your Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre designer.

Benjamin Moore and Cambria Join Forces to Take the Guesswork Out of Paint Selection

Your kitchen or bath renovation is complete, your appliances have been delivered and you're ready for the final step: choosing the perfect paint colour to tie all of the elements of your new space together. If you're finding it a difficult task, you're not alone. 

Cambria, a leader in quartz countertop design, has partnered with Benjamin Moore to simplify the final stage of the kitchen or bath design process.

The perfect tool for homeowners and designers alike, every Cambria design has been meticulously paired with four complementary Benjamin Moore colors.

By using the interactive paint match tool on Cambria's website, you will instantly get a better sense of how each Benjamin Moore paint color plays against the shades, movement and colors inherent in your favorite Cambria designs.

Image courtesy of benjaminmoore.com

From Benjamin Moore:

"Cambria and Benjamin Moore have joined forces to make designer color selection easy. Benjamin Moore's design experts have paired four wall covering shades to every Cambria design, allowing you to match your Cambria designs to paint colors that are as rich and beautiful as the countertops themselves.

Now with more than 100 designs to choose from, Cambria is the industry leader in quartz countertops. Cambria and Benjamin Moore share the same deep commitment to quality and color innovation, with a constant and consistent focus on future design trends."

Bold Pops of Colour: Amanda's Favourite 2012 Design Trend

"In 2012, I expect people to get even more adventurous with the colours they chose to accent their kitchens with," says Monarch designer Amanda Willson-Suppa.

"Trends in kitchens move slower than they do in the fashion world, but that isn’t to say fashion doesn’t have an impact on kitchens and how we design.

"Bold purples, shocking greens, vibrant reds, beautiful blues—even bright pinks!—are making their way into our kitchen accessories and our wall colours, and are making quite the statement," adds Amanda. "I love the impact these colours have on a kitchen— they can change the entire look and feel of a  space.

"Take a classic white kitchen and add some bright pink and purple accessories and voila—you have modernized a classic! Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with colour!"

What is Sarah Overholt's Favourite Design Trend for 2011?

White and Grey are Back

"Although white and grey are not defined as colours, they are the new staple finishes of 2011," says Monarch designer Sarah Overholt. "Whether you're looking to do a modern, traditional or transitional kitchen design, these tones are a beautiful way to give dark colours life with white or light tints to accent...or conversely, punch up lightly tinted expanses with darker accents.

www.benjaminmoore.com

"The combination of these tones--or used separately as creative accents--gives the look of luxurious elegance that is soft and clean," explains Sarah. "Miralis, one of our manufacturing facilities, specializes in custom paint colours and has collaborated with Benjamin Moore so our clients can get the exact white or grey of their choosing.

"Be open to combine the white and grey tones with earth tones or bold colour. When working with a designer, they will help you determine what colour combinations work best together and in your new kitchen design."