Our Review of Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore

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Shades of gray have been a trendy look for the past few years, and a fresh coat of paint in a deep, moody gray can instantly update your home exterior. That’s why we’ve decided to take a look at Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal. This popular shade is gracing home facades of all sizes and styles. Read on for our honest review of Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal paint.

Painting your home a dramatic new color can seem daunting. Don’t face this challenge alone. The virtual design experts at brick&batten can build a customized exterior design utilizing the perfect color palette, giving your home some serious curb appeal.

Greater Than Gray

Gray isn’t the ho-hum color it used to be. New variations on the shade can give deep, dramatic depth; warm, natural vibes; or a light and airy escape. Kendall Charcoal is no exception.

Kendall Charcoal is truly a shade of gray.  It is considered a versatile neutral; however, in more direct sunlight Kendall Charcoal has a deep warmth that appears more of a darker greige- with an emphasis on gra…… That said, in a dark space, Kendall Charcoal holds true to the name and reveals a darker charcoal base. Considered an earthy shade,  it that pairs well with organic materials, such as: wood, rock and stone.

Every gray has undertones in one form or another. In an area with more direct sunlight, Kendall Charcoal may give off a tinge of green and brown, but these undertones adds the color’s interest and beauty. Some grays tend to lean purple; however,  in our experience, you won’t see this with  Kendall Charcoal.

On the Light Reflectance Value scale, Kendall Charcoal is a 12.9, putting it on the  very edge of dark.  In a poorly lit space, Kendall Charcoal will  go deep but with more natural light this shade lightens tremendously.

What to Pair with Kendall Charcoal

Kendall Charcoal does a  great  job of working a variety of colors with warm and cool undertones. If the undertone of other fixed elements around your space are warm, then pair Kendall Charcoal with other warm paint colors. Kendall Charcoal works well with a variety of trim colors depending on the look  you’re trying to achieve. Because Kendall Charcoal is more of a muted shade, stay away from pairings to clean and bright or stark and cold.  Some trim colors worth testing with Kendall Charcoal: White Dove by Benjamin Moore and Alabaster by Sherwin Williams. If you’re looking to go a tad darker it also plays nicely with Revere Pewter and Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore.  Kendall Charcoal does have a very dramatic effect when applied to an entire house. If you’re nervous about making the dive, remember you can ask Benjamin Moore  to lighten the shade 25-50% This will keep the undertones but  just take off the edge a bit.

Kendall Charcoal: The Natural Choice

Benjamin Moore describes Kendall Charcoal as “rich, deep and luxurious, [it] pops beautifully when paired with crisp white room accents and trim.” Beyond contrasting whites, creams, taupes or light browns play into Kendall Charcoal’s natural base while still providing eye-catching contrast.

We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.

Benjamin Moore Nightfall: Hint of Blue

Just like the name suggests, Nightfall by Benjamin Moore has us swooning. The deep blue  undertone is hard to deny.

Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain: Go a Little Darker

If you aren’t ready to embrace the dark side, try on Iron Mountain. With an LRV  of 9.1  this bold color will certainly bring your space to life.

Iron Mountain

The Bottom Line on Kendall Charcoal Paint by Benjamin Moore

For a house that makes a statement, Kendall Charcoal says it all. This versatile shade can play up its brown and green base when set against natural landscaping. Lean into the drama with boldly contrasting white trim, or embrace a natural feeling with taupe and soft neutral accents. The design experts at brick&batten have found that Kendall Charcoal can spruce up just about any style of home, whether it’s modern, contemporary, craftsman, traditional or anything in between. Want to see Kendall Charcoal in action on your home? Reach out to our virtual exterior designers to get started.

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