Why This Benjamin Moore Colour is My Favourite

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Why This Benjamin Moore Colour is My Favourite

You know the saying “You wear 20% of your wardrobe 80% of the time?”  The reason why many of us do this is that we understand what works for our body types, with our skin tones and our preferred style sense. 

Believe it or not, the same can be true for choosing paint colours. This is part of the reason why I specify Benjamin Moore’s Pashmina so often.

Pashmina by Benjamin Moore

Pashmina, AF100 is from the Affinity Line by Benjamin Moore.  

I have created a Perfect Colour Palette for Pashmina. In it, you will find info on undertone(s), comparable colours, best whites and 10 gorgeous colours that look amazing with it.

Pashmina Benjamin Moore

It’s a muddy colour with a green undertone and has slightly more intensity & depth than the popular Revere Pewter.  

It’s one of those rare colours that often works well with both the beiges and the grays.

If you’re looking to update your home’s decor without necessarily changing out fixed elements such as floor tiles & countertops,  Pashmina may be the answer for you.

Monochromatic Dining Room With Duralee Fabrics Benjamin Moore Pashmina And Oval Chandelier

In my client’s elegant dining room design, our ‘jumping off point’ was this wallpaper (above) that I sourced for the accent wall behind the beautifully handcrafted custom wood buffet.  

I created a soft monochromatic, neutral palette for an understated yet very refined & elegant look in this space which also happens to be the first room you see as you enter the home.  

This meant that I wanted to set the tone of what guests can expect, design and style-wise, for the rest of the home’s décor.

Monochromatic Dining Room Pashmina By Benjamin Moore Paint Colour With Women Abstract Art And Hostess Chair

Pashmina provided a rich yet subtle tone that complemented all other aspects of the design.  

The Host and Hostess Chairs were custom made in this stunning large scale fabric from Duralee.  The artwork is an abstract canvas of a lady in a bodice and it again repeats all the neutral ‘greige’ tones that we used in the space.

Pinch pleated custom drapery with a cream backdrop works wonderfully with the Pashmina and we repeated this lighter tone in the lampshades as well as in the beautiful oval-shaped, drum chandelier which takes centre stage in this elegant dining room.

Monochromatic Dining Room With Wallpaper Custom Drapery Pashmina Benjamin Moore Wall Colour

Versatility at its Best!

The other thing that I absolutely love about Pashmina is that it rarely discriminates against any other colour.

I have used it with blues, reds and greens as you can see from my client’s lakeshore family room design in the photos below.

Sunken Living Room Claire Jefford
White Leather Chair And Matching Foot Rest

The granite counters in my client’s kitchen (below) had such variations of neutral tones within them.

Black Marble Slab Countertop With Green Beans In Kitchen

Not only did that allow me to introduce the colour Pashmina to work with this fixed element, but it also worked very well with the bold colours of their original heirloom area rug (shown above) and the accent pillows that I sourced to work with the colour scheme.  

My clients are thrilled with the paint colour and tell me that they are always receiving compliments on this space.  YAY!

I also used AF100 Pashmina in another clients Family Room design (below).  

This chameleon of a colour worked well with the design palette I created with the custom finishes & fabrics as well as with the countertops and backsplash in their adjacent kitchen (not shown).  

Always be guided by fixed elements in adjoined rooms to achieve successful flow within your design.

Two Blue Arm Chairs With Accent Pillows Ontario Interior Design
Pashmina with Blues
Grey Sectional Sofa Claire Jefford Interior Design
Pashmina with dark tones of the furniture and complementing beautifully with the area rug design
Living Room Custom Built Ins Cloud White Benjamin Moore
Custom Cabinetry design by Claire Jefford, cabinetry painted Ivory White by Benjamin Moore

It can be used with so many other colours which is why I just love it so much!  

Which colour do you think it looks the best with?

Pashmina with colours

I feel Pashmina will continue to be one of my favourite colours for a long time seeing as the grays are slowly being taken over by these ‘Greige’ tones.  

It’s a good thing I have this large painted board in my arsenal!  

Have you used Benjamin Moore’s Pashmina for the interior design of your home?

Photos by Stephani Buchman Photography.  Thanks for always making my designs look incredible!

Contact me here if you are curious about Interior Design services and live in Burlington, Oakville, Ancaster or surrounding areas of the GTA.

For your convenience

Check out my Pashmina Perfect Colour Palette.

I have also included Pashmina in my Benjamin Moore Whites & Neutrals Collection showcasing all 10 of my Benjamin Moore white and neutral Perfect Colour Palettes.

Collections Covers Benjamin Moore (9)

If you want to get all my Benjamin Moore colour guides in one place, look no further than my Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection.  All 20 of my guides in one handy collection.

Collections Covers Benjamin Moore (15)

Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!

Take my Colour Quiz to discover your Perfect Colour Palette.

Colour Quiz Graphics Blog 500x750 Resized 1
(45) Comments
  • Marnie
    | 30 March 2016

    Claire,
    Do you know the name of the stone used on the fireplace above? Your help is appreciated. Thank you.

    • ccadmin
      | 1 April 2016

      Hi Marnie. Thanks for your question. This is a ledge stone from erth coverings. I believe it was the Cream Quartzite colour – see link here to the product – http://www.erthcoverings.com/Natural-Stone/3D-Series.html – and as you look down the page at the various colours, you will see Cream Quartzite on the bottom right. I hope that helps you with your project!

  • Susan
    | 1 April 2016

    Hi Claire
    Love the look of Pashmina! What color trim would you suggest to compliment it? Thank you

    • ccadmin
      | 1 April 2016

      I like Cloud White best with Pashmina. In the kitchen/open concept space from the video, the cabinets are Cloud White. However, Ivory White looks beautiful with it too if you want to go a little more creamy in colour depending on the other tones within your home. Ivory White was used in the Living Room with the Custom Built ins. Thanks for your question!

  • Sarah
    | 17 April 2018

    How would Pashmina work on the exterior of a house, with red brick accents?

    • CCadmin
      | 17 April 2018

      Pashmina can look lovely on the exterior of a house. Remember though that when outdoors, colour appear brighter. Plus, as it has a green undertone, next to red, (it’s complimentary colour) it is going to appear more green. Always be sure to check the colour with any shingles, soffits, outdoor window shutters etc, to ensure it works well with those elements too.

  • Amy
    | 17 January 2019

    Hello,
    I am considering pashmina for our master bedroom and children’s bathroom. The hallway leading to both of the these rooms is Sherwin Williams Accessible beige. I’m not sure if you are familiar with this color. Do you feel these two colors would go nicely together? I definitely want a nice flow between the hallway and the rooms. We also have Balanced Beige in other areas of our home but not connecting to these two rooms. Thank you:)
    Amy

    • Claire Jefford
      | 2 March 2019

      Hi Amy. Accessible Beige and Pashmina are both Green grays, so they would compliment one another nicely.

  • Donna Roche
    | 8 March 2019

    Hello Amy,
    Would this pashmina work in our living room (southern facing – lots of sunshine), with our navy blue leather couch and chair. It’s only half the wall – the bottom half is beautiful white wood work?

    Thank you for your help.
    ~ Donna

    • Claire Jefford
      | 15 March 2019

      Hi Donna. It’s hard to say without seeing the entire space. Overall Pashmina and navy blue work well together. But it’s a very general question without seeing the space.

  • Julie Stein
    | 16 March 2019

    Would Pashmina complement Edgecomb Gray? Our living room, family room and kitchen are Edgecomb Gray. We would like to paint our two story foyer area Pashmina.

  • Stacey
    | 10 July 2019

    I have a green (sage) fire place and planter shelf. Would you leave the accent color or paint it all Pashmina? I’d be happy to send you a photo.

    • Claire Jefford
      | 11 August 2019

      Hi Stacey. When you are considering doing an accent wall, it’s important to remember that when we paint a wall a different colour, it’s because we want to ‘accent’ an element or elements in that area. Think carefully as to whether you want the wall and something on it to stand out or quietly play a supporting role within the room.

      • Sheila
        | 16 August 2019

        Would Pashmina work in a smaller space such as a 12’ x 12’ bedroom? Hopefully would not be too dark assuming enough light in the room.

  • James Governali
    | 17 July 2019

    Hello,
    I love this dining room. Can you give any information about the wall paper?
    Thanks!

    • Claire Jefford
      | 11 August 2019

      Hi James! I don’t have details of the wallpaper to hand unfortunately. Apologies and thanks for watching.

      • Laura
        | 24 October 2019

        Thanks for this! What is the beautiful blue paint colour directly below the Pashmina? And what is the off white you have also highlighted in the palette wheel (to the left of the blue)?
        Thanks,
        Laura

        • Claire Jefford
          | 25 October 2019

          Hi Laura! I don’t have the exact colours to reference, but the blue looks like Blue Danube 2062-30 and the white could be Cloud White. Hope that helps!

  • Sheila
    | 16 August 2019

    Would Pashmina work in a smaller space such as a 12’ x 12’ bedroom? Hopefully would not be too dark assuming enough light in the room.

    • Claire Jefford
      | 18 August 2019

      Hi Sheila! In decorating, it’s a myth that a dark paint colour will make a room feel smaller. Everything depends on lighting and how you pull a space together. I could paint a room in a basement white, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be bright. Our living room is painted Flint by Benjamin Moore – a dark blue gray. While our sons room is painted the same colour, but also including the ceiling and all trim. They don’t feel dark unless it’s night time and the lights are out. Take a look here –> https://clairejefford.com/portfolio/gallery/my-house-2/

  • Donna T Tr
    | 24 August 2019

    I would love to know the wallpaper maker and pattern if you could share that.

    Thank you,
    Donna

  • shannon
    | 30 September 2019

    Can you provide a comparison of Pashmina to Sherwin Williams Tony Taupe?

    • Claire Jefford
      | 2 October 2019

      Hello Shannon. Although I have never used Tony Taupe before, I grabbed the paint chip from my SW kit and am looking at it with Pashmina. As I mention in the video, Pashmina is a Green Gray and when compared with the Tony Taupe you can really see the green in it. Tony taupe is a bit darker and definitely more brown. Hope that helps!

  • Michele
    | 10 November 2019

    I am in the middle of a kitchen remodel and am planning to paint the cabinets Pashmina, the walls Dove wing and the trim White dove.
    Do you think this will work? Color challenged!
    Floors are club white(wood like tile).
    Thanks

    • Claire Jefford
      | 23 December 2019

      Hi Michele. I haven’t looked at Dove Wing and White Dove together, but my first question would be, do you need to introduce 2 whites? Walls are generally painted matt or egg shell when trim is often semi gloss. When the finishes are different, you can use the same white paint, knowing that they will work, yet still look slightly different because of the sheens not being the same. I hope that makes sense. And of course, you need to make sure that white paint works with any fixed elements like your counter top and flooring.

  • Traci
    | 28 November 2019

    My living room has large ceiling. I was thinking of painting pashmina and then my stairs and foyer area I was going to pain and accent wall. Any recommendations on colors?

    • Claire Jefford
      | 9 December 2019

      Hi Traci. Check out my Essential Colour Guide on Pashmina. It will give you recommendations for other colours to pair with Pashmina. As always, with any colour you test, be sure to look at them at different times of the day with your fixed elements. –> https://clairejefford.com/product/pashmina-tear-sheet/

  • Barbara Brien
    | 2 January 2020

    Hi. I want to use pashmina in my family room. It was suggested to do an accent wall with Benjamin Moore gunmetal which is the color in my kitchen. My kitchen is open into my family room. The wall that would be the accent wall has a fireplace with a dark wood mantel with white stone that goes to the ceiling. I’m not sure if I’d rather do that or do pashmina in the whole room. What are your thoughts ? The idea is that the accent wall wound bring the two rooms together. I’ve been reading accent walls are going out of style so I’m hesitant.

    • Claire Jefford
      | 4 January 2020

      Hi Barbara. First, I think there will always be a place for accent walls. Although they can be overdone and many people forget that the point of an accent wall is to ‘accent’ something on the wall and draw ones’ attention to it. I haven’t pulled my fan deck, but it looks as though Pashmina and Gun Metal would work together. Don’t forget to look to the stone on the fireplace as well, to ensure that the tones of the stone would work with Gun Metal. If it was recommended by a professional whom you paid to get that advice, you need to ask yourself if you trust their recommendations. It’s hard for me to say without seeing the space. I’m sure whatever you do will be the right decision.

  • Nannette
    | 16 January 2020

    Hi Claire I am painting my center hallway pashmina. need color for north/south living room that’s a Hundred year old house with lots of mounding. Oak floors, dark ceiling wood beams. Also cognac leather couch. Navy and red accents. Thanks!

    • Claire Jefford
      | 17 January 2020

      Hello Nannette, I love Pashmina! In my recently released Essential Colour Guides, you will find 10 coordinating paint colours to pair with Pashmina. Here is a link to learn more about these guides and to purchase –> https://clairejefford.com/claire-jefford-shop/

  • Kathy Britt
    | 27 March 2020

    During our kitchen remodel, we opened up the wall between kitchen and living area. We painted kitchen walls with Pashmina (very little actual wall space and plenty natural light), and cabinets and trim are stained with English Chestnut (Mission style). Was wondering what color to paint living area to complement kitchen. When we eventually finish that area it also will have small amounts of wall space. Shooting off to the north of the kitchen is the dining/little more formal living area painted in revere pewter. Is it best to stick with pashmina or revere pewter? If we wanted to add more color as contrast, what would you suggest? Kitchen countertop will be black soapstone, kitchen tile color was called walnut and includes some cream/beige/gray. Living area that we need to paint has beige carpet which may or may not stay, and furniture will be replaced. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you!

  • Elizabeth Glaser
    | 12 May 2020

    What hardware finish would you suggest for kitchen cabinets painted Pashmina?

    • Claire Jefford
      | 12 May 2020

      Hey Elizabeth. Any finish could work with this colour, so look at your preferences for finishes and make sure you are choosing a style that suits the overall look you are trying to achieve.

  • Christine
    | 24 May 2020

    Great video! We just painted our kitchen cabinets BM China White, the counters are Venetian Gold and we have traditional reddish oak floors thought out the main floor with the exception of some “greige” carpet. We are considering Pashmina or Thunder. The kitchen has ton of natural light. However, the dining room faces north and I am afraid either color might look muddy. Do you think either color would be ok in a room that doesn’t get a lot of natural light? Which color do you prefer if we still have the warmer tones in our counters. Thank you!

    • Claire Jefford
      | 27 May 2020

      Hey Christine. Please buy sample pots of each colour, paint a large board and move it around the rooms at various times of the day to see if you like how they look. Here is a Free download to getting your paint colours right the first time that will help. –> https://clairejefford.com/ccd-freebies/

  • Arpita
    | 7 June 2020

    Love the pictures in this blog! What do you think about Pashmina for exterior color on cedar siding for a south-facing house? Any recommendation on trim and front door color that would go with Pashmina?

    • Claire Jefford
      | 8 June 2020

      Hello Arpita. I’m not sure how Pashmina will look on cedar siding and whether it will change in colour because of where it’s being applied. So unfortunately, I cannot speak to that. However, if you are looking for co-ordinating colours to use with Pashmina, I have 10 options for colour combinations in my new Essential Colour guides. I will add a link here and be sure to always check any potential colours on large painted sample boards with your fixed elements -so your stone, shutters, etc. -> https://clairejefford.com/product/pashmina/

  • Christy
    | 30 October 2020

    Hello! My walls are already PASHMINA and I love them! I am trying to update my kitchen from when multiple finishes were popular. The majority of my kitchen cabinets are a lovely brown stained maple, but I want to cover up the accent finishes/colors (red, black & light brown) with a creamy white that blends nicely with the PASHMINA and my brown stained cabinets. Any suggestions for a color to start my search?

    • Claire Jefford
      | 1 November 2020

      Hi Christy! I would suggest starting with my Essential Colour Guide for Pashmina. It’s here and provides 10 coordinating colours to work with this beautiful tone. It’s a great starting point to give you some ideas for your own space. https://clairejefford.com/product/pashmina/

  • sue
    | 16 May 2021

    do you know where you found the beautiful chandelier?

    • Claire Jefford
      | 16 July 2021

      Hi Sue. That is something we sourced for our clients and out of respect for our clients, for this particular item we would not disclose that info. Thanks.

  • Brenda
    | 13 October 2021

    The fabric on chairs you stated were by Duralee what is name of fabric that is paisley

    • Claire Jefford
      | 14 October 2021

      It’s 42436 in Platinum. Not sure if it’s still available, this project was from quite a few years ago.

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