How To Use Pantone's Colors Of the Year
Recognizing that no single shade can distill the current zeitgeist, trend forecaster Pantone chose Ultimate Gray and Illuminating as its Colors of the Year — “a marriage of strength and optimism” local designers are eager to put into practice.
TEXT BY SARAH STEBBINS
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEFF ROBERTS
FIRST STAR
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
CITRUS BURST
BENJAMIN MOORE
LEAD GRAY
BENJAMIN MOORE
“I’m attracted to the simplicity of neutral spaces, but one runs the risk of being boring without pops of color. A painting of colorful crosses by South Portland’s Joshua Ferry inspired the palette in my former Cape Elizabeth kitchen (pictured above), where I mixed a gray-yellow that is close to Citrus Burst for the pantry door. With a nice variety of grays, any accent color works!” — Bronwyn Huffard, Huffard House, South Portland
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CASTLE GRAY
FARROW & BALL
YELLOWCAKE
FARROW & BALL
“Yellow has traditionally been difficult to use in the home, but the combination with gray opens up many possibilities. I have chosen a bolder gray and slightly more subdued yellow than the Pantone colors to achieve better balance. Castle Gray should be dominant and Yellowcake an accent — on a single wall, a door, or kitchen cabinets. As long as the yellow does not overpower, I think the combination works very well.” — Marianne Lesko, Enclave Interiors, Portland
CLASSIC GRAY
BENJAMIN MOORE
INNER GLOW
BENJAMIN MOORE
“I love the idea of a lively color in a utilitarian space. This sunny shade would be a welcome surprise on laundry room cabinetry, tempered with Classic Gray on trim and modern toile wallpaper. The gray can be carried effortlessly into adjoining spaces, with hints of yellow reappearing in art and textiles.” — Sarah Fischer, Sarah & Sons Interiors, Yarmouth
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ZIRCON
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
BEE
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
“I have a client who loves bold yellow, so we will paint her pantry door something like Bee and use Sherwin-Williams’s Extra White on the kitchen walls. I might suggest Zircon for the island and Caesarstone’s Cloudburst Concrete for the countertops. A calm gray helps balance yellow’s strength, but too much can be depressing, so I suggest using it sparingly.” — Catherine Weiland, Balance Design Studio, Portland
CAPE MAY COBBLESTONE
BENJAMIN MOORE
LIMON
BENJAMIN MOORE
“One of my favorite ways to use Cape May Cobblestone is on a screened-porch floor for a clean, coastal cottage feel. I’d use Limon to illuminate the ceiling and bring a pop of happiness. On the exterior, painting your shingles or trim gray and door yellow is a bold statement that will cheer you up every time you come home!” — Pascale Plüss-Zehm, Knickerbocker Group, Boothbay
