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Feeling blue? You're right on trend according to Behr's color of the year

Mimi headsht
By Mimi OConnor  |
August 24, 2018 - 10:00AM
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Behr's color of the year is a denim-like blue that can be seen in its pop-up store windows in Soho.

Behr

It seems not so long ago that no one really thought about a "color of the year," but now, it's a thing—largely due to Pantone's annual fanfare about its choice for an of-the-moment hue. 

Behr paint had also joined the trend, and yesterday the company announced its second color of the year—a mid-toned blue called Blueprint (S470-5, if you want to be exact). The company made the announcement of its choice for 2019 with a new twist: A pop-up color shop in Soho, but you have got to get there quick. 

Located at 107 Grand Street, the temporary retail spot and showcase for Blueprint (and other complementary colors) will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Saturday. (It's also near the interactive exhibit, Color Factory, if you really want to make a day of it.) 

In addition to giving visitors the opportunity to experience Blueprint in various vignettes, the pop-up shop will feature products inspired by the paint created exclusively for the shop by local makers. Artisans include weaver Maryanne Moodie, painter Kristin Texeira, ceramicist Brooke T. Winfrey, and candle maker Johnathan Kroeger of Good Candle. The paint company has partnered with Home Depot (a major retail outlet for Behr paint) and the pop up showcases decor items available at the big box store such as furniture and textiles. 

Thinking of taking on an interior paint job soon? Color consultants will be on hand to help you determine the best shade for you, and you can even get hands-on experience with the paint if you'd like to see it in action. (Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr, says that only one coat of the paint is needed, so you could conceivably paint an entire bedroom in an hour.) And while supplies last, visitors can pick up a free gallon or eight-ounce sample of Blueprint. 

So, how do you pick a color of the year when you're talking about paint?

"We always look at many different places," says Woelfel, who looks at indicators like fashion and even the auto industry. Unlike the Pantone selection each year, which Woelfel sees as part of a broader forecast, the Behr color of the year is specific to paint and decor, which narrows the choice somewhat.

"We pick a color that has different applications, that's universally accessible, that can be used inside and out, and that's not regional," she says.

Of course, you can head downtown to see the paint in person (and in action) yourself, but for the record, Behr describes its spotlight color as "warmer than denim and softer than navy, this refined blue signifies authenticity, confidence and timelessness."

Mimi headsht

Mimi OConnor

Contributing Writer

Mimi O’Connor has written about New York City real estate for publications that include Brick Underground, Refinery29, and Thrillist. She is the recipient of two awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for interior design and service journalism. Her writing on New York City, parenting, events, and culture has also appeared in Parents, Red Tricycle, BizBash, and Time Out New York.

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

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