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My New Favorite Paint: The Donald Kaufman Collection

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Fresh Eyes For Your Home

When faced with 150 shades of white at the paint store, finding the perfect one seems impossible.

Donald Kaufman, color guru to top designers and architects, has been helping clients navigate this sea of white for over 30 years. “The first mistake to avoid is getting caught up on the name of the color or holding the whites against other colors,” he says. “The eye naturally looks for contrast among hues or materials, and this is the perfect neutral to do the job.” Based on the light, sheen, and surrounding objects, the paint can have a variety of subtle nuances. “Often a second color is not even necessary,” Kaufman says.

And that's just the whites.  Can you imagine the grays?  What makes the Donald Kaufman paint line my absolute favorite?

Luminosity.   Kaufman's methods allow minuscule particles of pigment suspended in skeins of paint to exhibit a spectral subtlety - blues and purples peek out of reds and yellows.  The effect is one of color luminosity - of light coming from within.  Kaufman is devoted to providing a better quality of color in his paints, using proprietary pigment combinations.  He avoids the paint industry's standardized formulation practices and while it is an exacting balance to combine pigment, the right mix of pigment can enliven the light passing through them and make a significant difference in the nuance of color and how it performs with the light in a room.

Some have remarked that the colors he creates do not so much mimic the beautiful colors of nature but instead recreate their effect.  Kaufman looks at paint as an artist and for me, after using his paint line for my clients who can afford it (a gallon of paint can cost about $120!) other paint just looks dead.  The colors are extraordinary and they have more depth and more subtlety than any other paint line I have used.

 One of my favorite pallettes includes a grayish lavendar with soft taupes and whites, perfectly neutral with just enough pigment to look opalescent during the early morning hours.  What a great way to wake up, yes?

While finding the perfect color can be daunting to most, the Donald Kaufman paint collection has changed the way I look at color and has given me one more way to differentiate my Fresh Eyes!

 

 

 

Comments (36)

Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

That looks great.  You indeed have the eye!  Go for the best.

Oct 01, 2016 11:31 PM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

So proud to be in Kathy Streib 's lineup this week-thank you Kathy and thank you Debbie Gartner for stopping by!

Oct 01, 2016 11:42 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

You have a way of making us feel what you are saying...it's more than visual with you....it's all the senses. Well done!

Oct 01, 2016 11:53 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Joanna -- I agree with Sharon Tara,  a visit to this post is a delight to the senses.   

Oct 02, 2016 12:10 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Joanna Cohlan - I checked out the website and they retailers on the West Coast. Many discriminating customers want something that is different. So this is an option. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

Oct 02, 2016 12:38 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Joanna,

Thanks for this great tip.  I am going to check it out, and I have seen colors that are similar to what you are describing.  We knew a great mixologist of paints in Los Angeles that created this type of paint.  The results were outstanding.  A

Oct 02, 2016 12:38 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Joanna Cohlan any color with gray in it works well for me.... grayish lavender sounds wonderful.... 

Oct 02, 2016 12:42 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Joanna... never even heard of Donal Kaufman... so thanks for the "introduction." Although I have a feeling this paint might be very expensive.

Oct 02, 2016 04:40 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Joanna, my neighbor is planning to use this paint on her living room makeover, and I can't wait to see it.  We have a designer friend who has been singing the praises of Donald Kaufman for years.  

Oct 02, 2016 05:45 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Wow, thank you for telling me this Patricia Kennedy - I look forward to you reporting on the results.

Yes Nina Hollander - it is expensive at well over $120 a gallon, but you may never need another paint job!

Good evening Sharon Tara and Michael Jacobs you have both made my day-and I really appreciate what you said so thank you both.

Oct 02, 2016 09:46 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Good evening Sheri Sperry - MCNE and Barbara Todaro and Ron and Alexandra Seigel - mixing paint is in fact an art-and Donald Kaufman was in fact an artist earlier in his life and so the nuances of color on a canvas has definitely impacted his eye.

Oct 02, 2016 09:47 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Well then, Joanna... sign me up! Even at $120/gallon. (I just have to make sure I'm happy with a color forever!)

Oct 02, 2016 09:15 PM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Trust me, there are so many gorgeous whites and neutrals Nina Hollander that you will find something that you can live with for a long time!

Oct 02, 2016 10:46 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Joanna... I've lived with my current paint colors for over 10 years now, so I'm not all that "fickle." Of course, the paint and the paint finishes used then were quite expensive, so I knew I was in for the long haul.

Oct 02, 2016 11:36 PM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good morning Joanna Cohlan -

Just yesterday Debbie said something about painting our kitchen. I'll pass this one along to her. Thanks for sharing your new find.

Oct 04, 2016 11:21 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Ooh, I am going to investigate. I love your description - and it sounds like a true luxury, I want it. :) 

Oct 14, 2016 06:03 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I have never heard of this paint or where you can see it. Been a fan of restoration hardware colors but would love to check this out.

Oct 16, 2016 07:47 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Good morning Nina Hollander - if you do need to repaint, try this line-it is really a very special paint with a gorgeous finish to it!

Hey there John McCormack - these paint are just stunning but they are definitely at the highest price point that I've encountered for paint!

Do investigate Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD and if you choose to use a Donald Kaufman paint, let me know what you think!

This is a whole different ballgame Joe Pryor and please let me know if you find it near Oklahoma City!

Oct 23, 2016 04:55 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

So they found a way to charge consumers 4 times more for a gallon of paint? Wonders never cease. This seems crazy to me. Yet, if they had a color I fell in love with, I'd probably buy it because money is just a means to what you want and I seem to have developed a flagrant disregard for it myself, which is what my mother always said. But still . . . $120 for a gallon of paint?

Oct 31, 2016 10:58 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

This sounds spectacular to me - while $120 for a gallon of paint is a lot, it doesn't take 20 gallons to paint a room does it? (Suddenly I am doubting myself) - so if it makes a really beautiful room that is going to last for several years it seems like a good investment 

Sep 13, 2017 05:10 AM