Colors to Crave

New-to-Dallas paint guru reveals 5 colors you need in your home

Trends come and go, but timeless hues are always a good idea for your home. Timeless doesn’t have to mean boring, though, as evidenced by this year’s most popular colors. The single most important way to get your classic colors to pop is by making sure the paint job is excellent, and now that’s easier than ever.

Paintzen, an online service that does all the work of finding a painter, ordering the materials, and managing the project, recently expanded to Dallas. It will even help if you’re going the DIY route, delivering everything you need to get the job done.

Now that the hard part’s taken care of, you can focus on the fun part: the colors. Whether you’re looking to make your mark on a new space or refresh your current abode, here are five Benjamin Moore paint colors to consider for a space that’s on-trend, elegant, and comfortable.

Simply White
It’s currently the color of the year, but no matter the season, it’s always in style. It can easily be paired with both warm and cool shades, and can serve as either the primary color or as an accent to other tints. It's your best bet for starting fresh, or while prepping a home for sale.

Gray Owl
Gray is the new neutral, and one of the most popular choices in homes nationwide. Beautifully accented with the extremes — bright white and black — gray is a gorgeous backdrop. Gray Owl specifically is a soft and gentle shade which allows your home to appear bright and happy, which is sometimes a concern when using gray wall paint.

Kittery Point Green
For when you want a neutral that’s not really a neutral. Reminiscent of a previous “color of the year” called Guilford Green, Kittery Point Green can operate as a neutral, pairing with cool blues and purples or warm golds and maroons.

French Press
When you are looking for a dark yet warm accent, think dark brown. Brownies, espresso, pumpernickel bread — all share that yet warm and cozy feeling. Benjamin Moore’s French Press delivers that feeling into your home.

Hampshire Taupe
Taupes and beiges are always a favorite in the home, and this shade by Benjamin Moore, reminiscent of sand dunes, lends a soft and warm feeling to any room. Although it stands beautifully on its own, it also pairs well with a variety of other colors, making it great for renovations of any scale.

Kittery Point Green is the new "not-neutral" neutral.

Photo courtesy of Paintzen

Kittery Point Green is the new "not-neutral" neutral.

Renovation inspiration

HGTV stars and home design influencers descend upon Dallas for DIY CON

Photo courtesy of RX Global

The first ever HGTV DIY convention is coming to Fair Park’s Centennial Hall.

An event made for fans of home design, gardening, house hunting, and the Property Brothers is launching as a three-day mega exposition in Dallas next month: The inaugural DIY CON will run Friday, November 6-Sunday, November 8 at Fair Park’s Centennial Hall.

“Think of it like Comic-Con, but instead of superheroes and comic books, it is entirely themed around home improvement, furniture flipping, and hands-on creativity,” organizers say in a release.

In addition to headliners Drew and Jonathan Scott, the aforementioned Property Brothers, the convention packs substantial star power, with appearances from Ty Pennington, erstwhile host of Emmy-awarded Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (and numerous other shows), and Chelsea and Cole DeBoer, of Down Home Fab fame.

And because the influence of social media on home and garden trends cannot be denied, some of the nation’s biggest YouTube and Instagram creators will be there in real life. Folks behind some of the hottest home-design and renovation handles including Mr Kate and DadSocial will host live builds and hands-on workshops.

“We’ve been DIYing on the internet for the last 20 years are so excited to finally have an IRL convention for all of our DIY friends to be in one place,” Kate Albrecht, co-creator of Mr Kate, says in the release. “We can’t wait to bring the audience into the process behind some of our favorite makeovers and help other DIYers learn how to bring their own ideas to life with confidence and originality.”

The convention isn’t just for professionals or content creators. Whether it’s a millennial renter looking to upgrade an apartment, a first-time homeowner learning power-tool techniques and honing renovation skills, or a parent seeking a fun family project, attendees will find an interactive playground for creativity, organizers say.

“Attendees discover what they’re capable of through real, in-person experiences,” the release says. “The event empowers people to turn ‘I wish I could’ into ‘I actually did.’”

In addition to previously mentioned celebrities, the following also are on the roster:

Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt — a husband-and-wife real estate and custom home-building team best known for100 Day Dream Home. Pennington will facilitate a discussion about what it takes to design, build, renovate, and create dream homes while balancing family, business, budgets, and real-life challenges.
April Wilkerson — one of the best-known names in the maker and woodworking world, Wilkerson will lead workshops and demonstrations. “My goal is to help people leave with the confidence to tackle projects they’ve always wanted to try,” she says in the release.
Sarah Listi — founder of Tool Girls Garage, Listi will teach attendees how thoughtful planning and design can dramatically improve renovation outcomes. “Design is about creating spaces that work for the way you live,” she says. “I’ll be sharing practical design strategies that help homeowners make smarter decisions before they start a project.”

Additional social media influencers include:

Amanda and Jared Morgan of @ourhistoricalhouse on Instagram and YouTube are known for documenting the restoration of their century-old home while sharing practical renovation advice, expert carpentry techniques, and timeless design inspiration.
Jenasie Earl of @msviciousdesign on Instagram and YouTube has built a loyal following through colorful room transformations, creative thrifted finds, bold design choices, and budget-friendly DIY home décor projects.
Nickell Morgan of @simplyhandmade on Instagram and YouTube inspires homeowners with stylish, functional, and space-saving home projects ranging from renter-friendly upgrades to complete room makeovers. She is also the founder of DIY for a Cure.

DIY CON organizers say attendees should come ready to roll up their sleeves and start making or, if they prefer, to simply soak up three days of creativity, innovation, education, shopping, networking, and inspiration.

The event will run from 10 am-6 pm each day. Single-day adult tickets are $39. Ticket packages and more details are available on the DIY CON website.

home design property brothers hgtv events fair park