ColorTherapy: Claret

Name: Claret
Brand: Ralph Lauren
Number: TH54

This is one of my favorite colors in the history of interior painting, and I admit I've used it more than once, but with dramatically different effect each time...

Here, we contrasted the dark/warm wall color with a light/cool trim color (Ben Moore Pale Smoke, 1584), which in turn contrasts the warm wood of the doors. This full-bodied color creates a very sensual space, but is not for the faint of heart.

NB: these dark and red-based colors are transparent and can require up to five coats; plan accordingly.

- Mark Chamberlain, interior and decorative painter

(RePublished from 2006-06-20 - MGR)

Comments (7)

Jackie,
Absolute Paint Company said yes to tinted primer.

I like the combination of colors.

I think that the finish choice depends on the condition of your walls. Flat paint is great for hiding things.

Mike and I are about to repaint our bedroom in a very similar color, Farrow & Ball's Brinjal. The best part is that the paint covers so well, even in this dense, red range. Two coats will nearly always do it with F&B.

Along with a tinted primer, using a good paint base will shorten the number of significantly. Although they may have an amazing set of color swatches to choose from, I've found that the Ralph Lauren paints to do a very poor job in this department.

I think the white trim makes the room too busy overall, pick a color close to the tone of the woodif not a touch darker!!( like the tone of the chair)

No a primer will not help. I used a similar RL paint in my dining room. 6 coats later and it still could have used another coat or even 2! I used 3 gallons of paint on a relatively small room! Color match it using a different brand, I think RL paint (for dark colors) sucks.