Benjamin Moore and LUXE Interiors + Design Spotlight Faces of Design 2026
Benjamin Moore, a global leader in premium paints, colors and coatings, has partnered with LUXE Interiors + Design to celebrate the fifth annual Faces of Design program, highlighting five exceptional teams of interior designers and professional painters. The 2026 class showcases the powerful relationship between creative design vision and skilled technical execution, demonstrating how thoughtful color choices and expert craftsmanship can transform residential interiors.
The Faces of Design program recognizes designer and professional painter collaborations that demonstrate the important role paint plays in shaping the character, atmosphere and functionality of a space. This year’s selected teams represent projects across the United States and Canada, showcasing a wide range of design approaches, architectural styles and color palettes.
Meet the 2026 Faces of Design
The five designer and professional painter teams recognized in the 2026 program are:
- Mallory Robins, Elizabeth Bennett and Jonatan Correa — Kansas City, Missouri
- Tina Ramchandani and Anthony Burns — New York, New York
- Natalie Owens, Victoria Armour and Guillaume Tremblay — Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Christina Kim and Bill Alpaugh — Manasquan, New Jersey
- Jonathan Savage and Kevin Salyer — Nashville, Tennessee
Together, these teams demonstrate how paint can do much more than simply cover walls. Through strategic color selection, variations in sheen and professional application techniques, the projects show how paint can establish a room’s mood, emphasize architectural details and create visual connections throughout a home.
Michelle Blair, Vice President and National Publisher of LUXE Interiors + Design, emphasized the importance of understanding the purpose of a space before selecting its colors. According to Blair, successful color decisions begin with understanding what a room needs to accomplish.
The projects featured in Faces of Design 2026 illustrate this principle by using color to create atmosphere, enhance architecture and bring individual design concepts to life. They also demonstrate how professional painters contribute to the final result by translating a designer’s vision into a finished interior.
Creating Impact Through Color
In Kansas City, Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett of KOBEL + CO collaborated with professional painter Jonatan Correa on a project known as Project Garden Party. The team created a vibrant interior using Benjamin Moore colors including Tapestry Gold 2153-30, New London Burgundy HC-61 and Saint Martin Sand 2164-50, along with a custom shade of blue.
The project uses saturated colors and different sheens across cabinetry, millwork and walls. The combination creates depth and visual interest while demonstrating how carefully coordinated colors can give individual architectural elements a distinctive presence.
In New York, designer Tina Ramchandani worked with professional painter Anthony Burns to introduce subtle definition to her apartment. The project features Stone Hearth 984 and Decorator’s White OC-149, creating a sophisticated palette that balances warmth and simplicity.
For Ramchandani, color plays a central role in the design process. Her approach demonstrates how carefully selected neutral shades can provide structure and character without overwhelming the architecture or furnishings.
Using Color to Define a Home
In Halifax, Natalie Owens and Victoria Armour of Stil James partnered with Guillaume Tremblay on a residential project that demonstrates the ability of paint to dramatically influence the atmosphere of a space.
The team transitioned from Swiss Coffee OC-45 to Smokey Taupe 983 in the living room, introducing greater warmth and depth. In the dining room, Blue Gaspe 1435 was used to create a color-washed effect that gives the space a more immersive character.
Owens noted that paint can shift a room from bright and casual to moody and warm, helping connect the design more closely with the way a family uses its home.
In New Jersey, designer Christina Kim collaborated with painter Bill Alpaugh to create a cohesive color story throughout a residence. The team used Opulence OC-69 across walls, ceilings, trim, cabinetry and whitewashed pine, creating continuity across multiple surfaces.
The home’s office introduces Lush AF-475 for additional visual energy, while the front doors feature Narragansett Green HC-157. The varied palette demonstrates how color can help guide movement through a home while establishing different moods for individual spaces.
Kim explained that paint can communicate the purpose and mood of a room, helping direct attention and establish a sense of place within an interior.
Highlighting Architectural Character
In Nashville, designer Jonathan Savage and professional painter Kevin Salyer used Icicle OC-60 to soften a stately residence while emphasizing its architectural character. The restrained color approach demonstrates how a carefully selected neutral can enhance architectural features without competing with them.
Across all five projects, the 2026 Faces of Design program highlights an important lesson: successful interior design depends not only on choosing the right color but also on applying it correctly.
Professional painters bring technical expertise to the process, helping designers determine the appropriate preparation methods, products, finishes and application techniques. Their knowledge can influence how a color ultimately appears and how well the finished surface performs over time.
The projects also demonstrate the importance of using color and sheen strategically. Extending one shade across walls, ceilings, cabinetry and trim can create cohesion, while contrasting colors or finishes can draw attention to architectural details and establish visual boundaries.
Mindy Murphy, Vice President of Customer Segmentation Marketing at Benjamin Moore, said the painting contractor and designer communities remain central to the company’s business. She highlighted the importance of collaboration across product selection, sheen, preparation and application.
The Faces of Design 2026 program ultimately celebrates the relationship between creativity and craftsmanship. By bringing together talented designers and experienced professional painters, Benjamin Moore and LUXE Interiors + Design showcase how thoughtful color strategies and expert execution can create interiors that are visually compelling, functional and enduring.
