color of the week

COLOR OF THE WEEK - URBAN SOPHISTICATE

(design by crystal sinclair designs | photograph by tim lenz)

the color i get asked about the most - 'what is this gorgeous color?!' - is urban sophisticate by benjamin moore!

it's a soft tan color with subtle green undertones. the green undertone becomes more evident when a larger room is painted in this warm color. almost an olive green, if you will. this benjamin moore color reads more tan in a color deck (small sample), but don't be fooled - it's more saturated when on a large surface. urban sophisticate is a welcoming color. it creates a cozy environment - which most of us love!

a little lesson on greens, warm olive greens in particular - warm green combines the calming properties of green with the inviting, cozy, and energetic feelings of warm tones, fostering comfort. it's a color that is associated with nature and the outdoors. it is a muted shade of green. this part of the color wheel is often used to create welcoming environments and provide a feel of comfort, safety, and have a great positive energy in general. olive greens are calming and soothing and can help reduce stress and anxiety.

urban sophisticate works best in a room that sees some natural light.. but not too much. it could work in a room that doesn't see natural light, but would be better with at least a little. as you can see from above and below, in this brooklyn brownstone, the color works really well with the limited natural lighting. lighting that is common in brownstones.

urban sophisticate works great with mid to darker warm tones! think walnut wood or caramel color leather. in the brownstone here, we paired the color with ochres, soft reds, and vibrant blues! the blue really shines against this color - it's a great contrast. in regards to metals, i think a warm aged brass is best.. but i could see it working well with a polished nickel as well!

see how urban sophisticate creates the perfect vibe in this brooklyn brownstone below:

(design by crystal sinclair designs | photograph by tim lenz)

(design by crystal sinclair designs | photograph by tim lenz)

urban sophisticate (CSP-160) by benjamin moore

as always, i highly recommend sampling your paint colors before applying them to the entire room. i order peel and stick samples from samplize. samples range $6.95 - $9.95 depending on the brand of paint and size of the sample. this may seem high, but it beats purchasing actual cans of paint and a paint brush. samples are usually delivered the following day. this business concept was such a brilliant idea - it's a life saver when you want to sample a lot of colors!!

i hope you enjoyed this weeks warm yet soft color!

cs