If you’ve ever looked at a painted wall and wondered if it’s pink, green or grey, you’re not alone. In fact, those mysterious colours are a sign of a quality paint, notes Chris Irvine, owner of Irvine Carpet One Floor and Home – Barrie’s Benjamin Moore experts.
With high-quality paints, you get multi-tonal colours that are carefully blended using pigments that can shift their appearance under varying light, offering a complex and evolving wall colour experience.
Benjamin Moore achieves this using a proprietary colour technology called Gennex, which blends anywhere from three to seven pigments for vibrant yet nuanced colours that will change subtly in each light.
If you’re looking for a low-investment, high-reward way to update your home, Chris says, a fresh coat of paint is the answer. “Colour has a dramatic effect on our mood and our perception of a space. It’s incredibly powerful.”
If you want your home to be a calming retreat, neutrals like slate, clay, sand and ochre are always reliable and levelheaded. They also transition beautifully with shifting light, making them a good choice for rooms used throughout the day.
For master bedrooms or dining rooms where you want to infuse drama and luxury, violet, onyx, sapphire and ruby create a rich backdrop and depth for your lighting and furniture to shine.
Unmatched coloursBenjamin Moore’s 2025 Colour of the Year is Cinnamon Slate – a warm brown that contains a delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown.
“Cinnamon Slate is warm and comforting – yet muted, making it soft,” says Chris. “You can colour-drench the room for a dramatic look, or pair it with the other colours in the brand’s carefully curated palette to infuse your home with a designer-inspired look that feels warm and of-the-moment.”
While Cinnamon Slate has everyone dreaming of velvety warm walls, Chris says calming neutrals will always be in vogue. Benjamin Moore selects a full palette of colours that can be paired with the colour of the year, letting you choose a combination that pairs well with your flooring, cabinetry and personal style. Every colour is also available for exterior as well as interior paints.
Future use of the home also matters. If you are painting for resale, choose a neutral tone that will appeal to potential buyers, rather than bold colours that may reflect your personality and lifestyle.
“Antique Pewter and Collingwood are two of our best sellers,” says Chris. “These warm greys have a touch of beige, making them timeless and versatile enough to match any home style.”
Quality coverageAt Irvine Carpet One, their dedicated paint experts know how hard it is to decide on the right colour and sheen, let alone calculate how many gallons to get a flawless finish. Benjamin Moore is only sold through locally owned stores, allowing local experts to support their community with the best selection of products, personalized recommendations, and knowledgeable advice.
Chris says it’s important to consider where a paint will be used. If you’re painting a high-traffic area, frequently touched by little fingers or pets, an eggshell in the Aura line offers superior durability.
With the Aura line, that depth of colour is locked in with their exclusive Colour Lock technology. This technology provides the performance for rich, full colour and unprecedented durability, regardless of how many dirty fingerprints need to be wiped from the walls.
If you’re painting a low-traffic space like an office, dining room or guest suite, a matte finish will offer a luxurious, velvety appearance that is still washable as needed.
Once you select the right paint line and finish, you can focus on colour. “Bring pictures, pillows, bedding, or anything from the room you’re working on, and we’ll help you find a colour to match. I’ve had people bring in dining room chairs, couch cushions, tile samples and deck boards.”
If you’re still not feeling confident, Chris suggests taking a sample pot home to see it in your home’s natural light. “Your home’s light and fixed finishes will pull out tones that may not be visible in-store,” he says.
Expert adviceFor over 65 years, the family-owned store has supported their neighbours in Barrie and the surrounding region, offering materials and guidance for all their home improvements, from colour consultations to prep work and material estimates.
While the sample pots give you a true view of how your paint will look at home, Chris understands that design decisions aren’t easy. That’s why their team offers in-home consultations. “If you have no idea where to start, or are starting a large-scale project, we’re here to help you navigate these important design decisions.”
For $150, a design expert will come out to your home, help you decide on the right prep work, paint type and materials, and put together a colour story for you.
“Whether you prefer an in-home consultation or in-store expertise, our colour specialists will guide you.”
TEXT SHELANNE AUGUSTINE
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
