It’s been awhile since I have done a Color Spotlight and today I wanted to highlight and feature a fairly new color that I have been recommending to my clients lately that I think you guys will loves and it’s Benjamin Moore Collingwood.
Benjamin Moore Collingwood is balanced light to mid-toned greige with a transitional mix of warm and cool undertones tones (more warm than cool). Collingwood is also one of Benjamin Moore’s bestselling paint colors. Collingwood leans a tad warmer than the popular Sherwin Williams Repose Gray, which is the number one color that I recommend to my clients.
I saw Collingwood last year for the first time while touring homes during the SLC Parade of Homes, where it was used as a whole home color in a beautiful modern French country home built by Elevation Homes.
I instantly fell in love with the versatility of Collingwood as I walked around this home and saw how it looked slightly different (but stunning) in each room of the home. This is exactly what I look for when I look for the perfect whole home color for my clients. I always try to encourage people to use one fantastic color like Collingwood throughout their home because you will get variations of the color in the different rooms because each room will have different lighting.
For example… Here’s Collingwood in the main living room of this home:
This room did not have a lot of natural light but Collingwood appears light warm gray without any strange undertones jumping out. You can get a better feel for this color by looking where the wall color meets the crown molding at the ceiling.
In the bedroom, the builder created a gorgeous trellis pattern on the wall (it looks like wallpaper but it’s not) and Collingwood was carried through into the space as the main wall color. You’ll notice the color appears just a tad cooler in this space and because there is an abundance of natural light.
Even though Collingwood appears a tad cooler in this space, the color is still beautiful and dependable without any strange hues jumping out.
Here’s a closer look at Collingwood to give you a better feel for the color.
Again, as I show you this color throughout this home notice how this color changes room to room. Some people think if you use one color throughout a home, you won’t get contrast or differences. The rooms do look different room-to-room because of the changes in lighting.
In the master bathroom, Collingwood was also used and again, notice how different the color looks from the bedroom and living room.
Collingwood is also beautiful in this completely different bathroom lighting, which this space was south facing and getting an abundance of sun at the time I took the picture.
What really got my attention with this color is just how beautiful Collingwood was as I walked into the hallways of this home. One of the things I consider when I’m looking for whole home wall colors is what will the color do in hallways that trend to be darker with a little to no natural light and only artificial light.
Collingwood for sure gets an A+ when it comes to hallways!
Even in the hallway, Collingwood is again dependable without any strange hues jumping out! It’s a perfect light warm gray in this mixed light hallway.
The other spot that I look to observe a color is a closet. This is how I can tell how a color will look at night with only artificial lighting. Collingwood looks nice in the closet with the worst lighting possible. Again, no crazy hues jumping out. The color is just a little darker but still balanced and not too cool and not too warm.
Even in the basement of this home, which had the smallest amount of natural light, Collingwood is amazing!
Let me also point out that just because one main color is used throughout a home, it doesn’t mean that you couldn’t use pops of other complimentary colors strategically in small powder rooms, accent walls and cabinetry. In fact, this is one of my favorite benefits of using one color throughout because I think it’s more dramatic in this case when other contrasting colors are used.
The builder of this home did just that and contrasted strategically in key spots. In the small powder room, the builder went for drama and contrasted with Sherwin Williams Peppercorn! This color choice and mix is exactly the best way to contrast!
Below you can see how beautiful the contrast is with BM Collingwood and SW Peppercorn.
In the kitchen, the builder opted to use Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White and contrasted with a darker gray contrasting gray that I was not able to get the name. It’s very close to Sherwin Williams Dovetail.
As you can probably tell, I’m a huge fan of carrying through one color in a home. I hope I have showed you that it’s not boring at all and you still get contrast and variation within each room and lighting.
If you’re looking for a dependable whole home color, for sure put Benjamin Moore Collingwood on your list. Other light warm grays to consider are Sherwin Williams Repose Gray and Benjamin Moore Gray Owl.
On a side note, if you haven’t had the chance to see my 2019 Paint Color Forecast Recap, you should for sure check that out to see where the paint manufacturers think we are heading in color for 2019.
Thanks for stopping by today friends!
Cheers!
Cyndy
Vicky says
Which shade of white for trim goes well with Collingwood?
Cyndy says
I personally absolutely LOVE Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White with it! That’s what was used in the home I featured today. It’s a tad crisper than most whites but it’s not a blinding bright white. I also love Decorator’s White because it has no undertone at all! I hope that helps! 🙂
Melissa Wilson says
What is the color of the cabinets in the basement kitchen I believe? A dark grey brown color it looks like. So pretty?
Stephanie says
I recently discovered Collingwood myself when my painter was waiting on me for my paint color selection for our living room and the color sample I had put up of the BM Revere Pewter that I swore I was going with just wasn’t doing it for me. After numerous trips to the paint store and countless paint samples on the wall, I went with Collingwood, I think out of desperation, and couldn’t be happier!! Now I may carry it through my dining room, front entry and upstairs hallway!
Cyndy says
I love to hear happy endings like this with color! Yes! You nailed it and I’m thrilled to hear that you really love it. I was very surprised that I had never heard of Collingwood until last year as beautiful and dependable as it is. I’m so glad I know now and I’m glad you found it! Thanks for your note! 🙂
Nancy says
Love the pictures and the color .
Looked good with everything.
And really loved that powder room .
I can relate to those colors .
I keep hearing beige is back gray Is out .
But, I’m seeing gray mixed with beige more then just beige …
It’s a very interesting time in color .
And also Avery confusing time .
Design is all over the place ..
I’m goi g to call it creative time many people are
Beginning to design what they love instead of every trend .
Cause it’s pretty hard to keep up …
Thank you enjoy your blogs !
Cyndy says
Yes Nancy, we are all over the board right now! We are transitioning into warmer grays/greiges and seeing less of the cool leaning grays. We are working our way into very light tans/beige but it will be slow transition. I personally think consumers will stay longer than the paint manufacturers anticipate with transitional grays because they just work so well and consumers are very happy with them because they are so much safer. However, I do have a couple clients right now that do not want transitional grays and prefer warmer lighter beige/tan and warmer whites. You know that’s a challenge for me! LOL! Thanks for your sweet note! 🙂
Joanna says
I love this colour! I found grey too cold for my liking but this warm, griege looks perfect. I’m thinking of putting it in my guest room, which is mostly white & cream. I thought white walls might be too much. I’m also afraid of getting the undertones wrong or the room feeling stark. I wanted the room to feel ethereal. A serene, relaxing spot for all who visit. Do you think this colour would be a good one?
Cyndy says
Hi Joanna! Yes! This color is a serene and stunning wall color. It’s just the right balance of warmth, without going too creamy or yellow. You will love it! Just be sure and sample the color on poster board and tape to your wall in your guest room to make you really love it! Keep me posted! 🙂
Janet Stinchcomb says
I love your post and it’s just what I’m looking for as I am restoring my recently purchased little farmhouse. The floors in your pics are perfect with this paint. Do you happen to know what manufacturer and color they are?
Thank you! Janet
Cindy says
What do you like to use for the ceiling and the trim?
Cindy says
I loved the Collingwood on the paint sample, and had it put throughout much of my house, but with stained, wood trim instead of white trim, the color just looks white. Now I fell I need a darker color to paint the remaining walls because I wanted a warm, homey feel. Be careful with the Collingwood in homes with non-white trim!
Marlena says
Hi there…. can you share the color used for bathroom cabinetry?
Cyndy says
Absolutely Collingwood would be stunning on bathroom cabinetry! I would sample it because the only thing I worry about is that it could go too warm under artificial light in a bathroom space on cabinetry. If it does, I would suggest sampling Benjamin Moore Gray Owl, which is less finicky in a bathroom lighting situation with no natural light. Keep me posted and I hope this helps! 🙂
Jackie Quigg says
What finish do you recommend? I usually like semi gloss, but have used egg shell also. I have also noticed that for baseboards a gloss is sometimes used. I live in the country so lots of dust! Would love your recommendations.
Thank you
Jackie
Tamara says
Can you suggest a darker shade than Collingwood? I recently painted my kitchen, den and hallway Collingwood. I like it but the color appears really light. I have a wall of white built-ins in my den that I would like to paint above the fireplace and walls behind the built-in shelves a darker color but obviously matches with the Collingwood. And also I would like to paint the same darker color in my living room and dining room that I have white wainscoting throughout the rooms and those rooms get a lot of natural light. Thank you for your help. I have looked and looked and can not figure out a darker color that matches the Collingwood.
Tamara says
Does 1542 Himalayan Trek BM paint go with or be a good darker accent with Collingwood.??
Evelyn says
Love your home, can you share what color gray are on the cabinets with the amazing countertop?
Amy Bernd says
I’m loving the look of this color but ALL our trim (and there is a ton of high thick molding in our home) is SW Believable Buff. It’s got a lot of yellow undertones and is really hard to coordinate wall color with! Do you think this will work? I cringe at the thought of getting it up and all the trim looking gross cause we don’t want to repaint all the trim. Looking for a color for all the main areas. Do you think this would work?
Brenda says
Hi! What beige did you go with? I had a neighbor use this color on outside with French Linen which is a custom blend and it looks great!
Jan Rydeen says
Any idea what flooring they used? It goes beautifully with the paint. We are doing a whole house remodel.
Lee says
Hello,
Does Collingwood go well in a kitchen with dark wood cabinets?
Dana Lindsay says
Hi, My kitchen cabinets are BM Cloud White. Windows are east and south exposure. I was thinking of going with BM classic grey but love what you have shown in Collingwood. Would love your thoughts on my going with Collingwood in the kitchen and attached dining room rather than Classic Grey.
Thank you.
Elise says
Love this colour! I just started using it in our bedrooms and am wanting to keep going with it. It’s amazing. I am planning on doing an accent half wall in my bathroom and was wanting to use the sherwin Williams colour “Smokey blue” on it. My question for you is this, would Smokey blue match well With Collingwood?
Pranaya Bhandary says
I love this page and love how you explained the various shades in different light, I am finalising this color to use for my whole house , but I wish to do a dark contrasting wall in main dining and in master bedroom, could you pls suggest a color that will keep the richness of this look intact, I dont want to go very gray gray or very brown brown on that wall, kinda want to stay in the middle, tha ks in advance
Pranaya says
Hello Cindy, will Chantilly lace work for trim and baseboards with collingwood? Also Which sheen will go better for trim and baseboards, satin or eggshell? BTW, I would
Love to w where did you get those feather wall frames from, I really want to get those, thanks in advance.
Helena says
This is a beautiful color but the lrv is a bit low and this color would be too dark for my walls. Is there a lighter version of this ?
Sharon says
I love the occasional chair in the lounge. Can you tell me what fabric it is.
Maryann says
Hi Cyndy,
Any chance that you still remember the colour used on the bathroom cabinetry? I am contemplating going with that colour for the interior doors with Collingwood on the walls. Thank you!!!