Last weekend, I had the opportunity to travel to Colonial Williamsburg to learn more about its collaboration with Benjamin Moore for their Williamsburg paint collection. One of my favorite things we did was to see the historical home where the photos for the collection were styled and shot. It was all done in the Robert Carter House , and I love how they used an authentic location instead of a professional studio to show the paint colors. It makes perfect sense, since the theme is “trend meets tradition.”
It was fun to see the photos and then compare them to the spaces where we were standing. It always blows my mind how some beautiful styling and the right lighting can make an ordinary corner come to life. It’s like magic.
Bracken Cream + Williamsburg Wythe
Ewing Blue + Market Square Sheil
Spotswood Teal + Everard Blue + Damask Yellow
Bone Black + Lampblack on trim
Cochineal Red
(Oh, how I would love to be a stylist for these kind of shoots one day!)
We also got to visit the lab where the (teeniest) paint remnants from these historic homes are analyzed layer by layer so that they can be brought back to life in their original colors. This is a way more scientific process than I ever thought about. (And, the reason why I just play with paint instead of creating it! )
I took so many photos on my trip that I was afraid putting them all in one post might be a little overwhelming. But, I have lots of great things to show you. Another post coming soon. . .
Love your blog, and I love historic homes, so this post is right up my alley. But posts like these are one of the reasons choosing paint colors is so intimidating. I mean, the staged photos are so, so beautiful, but like you said, the right lighting makes all the difference. How can I choose paint colors from staged photos with perfect lighting when the colors look so totally different in “real life?”
Well, I should’ve prefaced this post by saying my photos were not the best quality taken by my phone, so the professional shots are probably a lot more accurate depiction of how the actual color would look in full light. But, that being said, I don’t think there’s any way to choose the “right” color besides painting an actual sample on your own wall and living with it for several days so that you can see it in all kinds of lighting, during different times of the day. :)
I can’t wait to see the rest of your photos because I went to Williamsburg this past weekend too! I LOVED the brilliant color in the governor’s house but did not visit the Robert Carter house as several buildings were closed on Sunday when we were there.
How fun! We probably passed in the streets!
Welcome to my neck-of-the-woods as we live here! My husband and I moved here five years ago and love it. Going to C.W. (what the locals say referring to Colonial Williamsburg area) is part of the ambiance and pleasure of calling this our home—-it’s our “Downtown”. Glad you had a wonderful time! (Love your blog—thanks for “staying open”, unlike the changing blog world is starting to do it appears.) God speed…..Karen L.
What an amazing place to live! I just loved it and hope to visit again. Fall seems like the perfect time to be there, but I’m curious about Christmas. I bet it’s fantastic. Working on another post with more pics from my trip now :)
How fun! Thanks for sharing about your trip with us. It is amazing what a big difference light and styling can make.
Love the Ben Moore Historic Collection! I have used Marble Head Gold & other colors in the collection in my current home & others. Ben Moore Simple White is my favorite white, but this new white looks really interesting to me too. I am going to Williamsburg the first week in December and hope to get into the Carter house, as I have a BIG project in a historic house coming up and would love to see these colors in action!
Thanks for the info Emily ~ wonderful photos!
I LOVE this. A have a place in my heart for Williamsburg. My dad had to work alot growing up but when I was in 5th grade we took a family trip to Washington DC and Williamsburg which was a big deal and one of our only big family vacations. Seeing this brought back to many memories and seeing two things I love -my love of modern design combined with Williamsburg is SO cool! Thanks so much for sharing.
Love this post – such gorgeous rooms! Do you know the third color in the first photo (the wall next to the bookshelf). It looks like a putty greenish-gray?
Thank you!
Melissa, I believe it’s Gunsmith Gray (CW-65).
I love this post, Emily! I am seriously considering painting our new house all in Williamsburg colors. :)
Wonderful post, Emily! Wasn’t this trip the most amazing trip? I loved getting to know you a little bit.
The white table in entry foyer. Ewing blue room
Please let me know source!
How about the exterior color. Is this also gunsmith gray?