Rough Linen If you want 'heritage' colours, a good trick is to use undercoat. They only use easily available pigments and the matte finish is easily distressed. It is a very particular look though!

trasgorshek My go to paint is Benjamin Moore's Regal Select and Advance. For years I used Behr from Home Depot simply because it was easy to get but after switching to Benjamin Moore a couple of years ago, simply because I was curious if there was a difference, I won't go to anything else. I like it mainly because of application. Pigment is richer and very smooth to go on. I hardly use painters tape anymore because it's so easy to cut in with a good brush. Love it. I also like Shermin Williams for the same reasons.

olldbobbi The newest Behr paint, Ultra Premium Plus, is def the best paint I've ever used, and I've painted everything! It has primer built in and does one coat coverage with ease.

Marcia Moore Design As an interior designer, the first thing I look for in paint is the perfect color, because the perfect color sets the stage for the rest of the room. i consistently find the best color selection from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. Part of the reason for the great color selection has to do with the quality of the paint. If I stick with either of these companies then I know that I am getting great colors and a superior quality of paint. I always recommend that my clients go with a no or low VOC paint, and Ben Moore and SW both have great choices. If you have never "gone green" with paint, you will be pleasantly surprised with the lack of lingering smell. It's a "once you've been to Mecca....." kind of thing.

matthewizzo.com Very nice use of color

auntieal IN THE FIRST PICTURE OF THE KITCHEN THERE IS A LIGHT FIXTURE I AM INTERESTED IN! COULD YOU SEND ME INO ON WHERE I COULD PURCHASE THIS FIXTURE! SHEILA CUMMING sheila.beth@comcast.net

patriciamertz painting hardwood floors

fscarlett I love Behr Ultra Premium Plus, but I also love(d) Ralph Lauren paint

astraea Every professional painter who's done my homes over 50+ years, has chosen Benjamin Moore paint .. flat, semi-gloss & high gloss. They certainly have a huge selection of colors, but I've been underwhelmed with how they stand up to even a single brush with a chair or something else that leaves a mark. I see commercials for "scrubbability", but don't believe it for a minute, considering my own experience! I can't understand why a gallon of paint can cost $60 today; is any paint worth that much?!

copilotconstructioncompany I've recently come across a new stain on the market "Brohme" it was easy to apply to a cedar fence and was a true clear stain which they claim with three coats will last up to seven years so I guess time will tell. At $500.00/5 gallons it was a good buy as we stained 1200 square feet of fence three full coats and had some left over its coverage was exceptional and I can supply photos if anyone wants to see what Brohme calls crystal clear! In addition it was low voc and cleaned up easily, went on with a milky oil we backed brushed and it dried clear and drip free. I noticed the comments on cost and for my customers, West Vancouver ETC the cost is relative to quality and for us the lack of issues applying not mention it's coverage, with the possibility of a long term life span was well worth the money.

lambobble Unfortunately for me, price has to be a factor. I'd love to be able to buy the most expensive, high quality paint, but it's just not realistic. The best I've found is Olympic One. It includes primer and goes on so rich and thick, plus a gallon starts at $25. Great bang for the buck.

mrsben My favourite has always been CIL for durability and for choice of colour palette. Do like Benjamin Moore products however never have success with their colours so have ended up adding additional colorants to the formula thus achieving a custom one. (Glad that they finally offer sample pots for some of their colours.)
With that said, to me the most important step is the prepping and IMO none the of the new water-based paints on the market today (no matter their cost) can measure up to the standards of any oil-base product period which I feel is still really the best for woodwork, doors and trim!

astraea @MrsBen - Boy, I remember oil-based paint when I was a kid, and how unpleasant it was for days, until the odor was totally gone! Is it really more durable; I don't think we've used oil-based paint since the late 1970s.

mrsben @Astraea: Have to agree with you re the odour of oil based products however it doesn't dismiss their durability when comparing them to even the best acrylic products. Its been years too that I've used them as have switched over to Low Voc but am not impressed in the least and I do purchase top of the line.
P.S: As mentioned, I generally used oil base products on doors, wood work and trim and to cut down the odour always added a tsp. of vanilla extract to a gallon of paint which conquered the smell and another option was to place a small bowl of amonia in the enclosed room overnight which acted like a sponge and eliminated the odour by morning.
Footnote: Fast forward ..... YES I am still very much alive (at least I think I am) from once using oil-based products and don't suffer from any respiratory ailments. Ü

stacylevin I'm about to paint my interior walls in my new home. I'm completely confused on what paint to buy. I have a two year old so I need scrubility! But I want a paint that goes on smooth with not that many applications. Is this too much to ask? If price wasn't an issue, which it is:), what should I choose? Help! Thank u for any thoughts. :)

leftofyou I am a painting contractor with 50 years experience. I do not get the concept of a "built in primer." A primer is used to give you a seal for hold out of subsequent coats of pain and or providing a sandable surface on raw wood and or adhesion on some surfaces and or rust protection on metals. I have not ,in my experience, seen a one coat interior paint job that I would feel good about presenting a bill to my customers. Mr. Webster seems to agree.
|ˈprīmər|
noun
a substance used as a preparatory coat on previously unpainted wood, metal, or canvas, esp. to prevent the absorption of subsequent layers of paint or the development of rust.

dennis78 As a painter I've become fond of Valspar. However a rule of thumb I've found to hold consistent is to not purchase less expensive mediums. Buy cheap, buy twice is spot on when it comes to any brand of paint. Buying the designer name brands is the other extreme. I've not experienced any better quality above the top line paints except that you pay more to have some guru's name on a pretty can.

tariawilson here in california the paint is really poor since the environmental laws have changed. We
have had poor luck with many brands and long for the days of the montgomery wards or sears 'good stuff'. Is there any good paint sold in CA anymore?

Harmonique Home As a designer, as the low VOC paints in California have become required, I have been recommending both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams for interiors and Benjamin Moore and Dunn Edwards for exteriors. I did my own experiment with mixed to match colors from Ben Moore, Sherwin Williams and Kelly Moore (Kelly since so many painters have specified that paint for years as it is cheaper by the can). I painted a 3' x 4' board with stripes of the 3 paints side by side and covered 2" on one end with blue tape after the paints had dried, then left the board in the sun for 30 days to see if there was fading. When I removed the blue tape, the Ben and Sherwin stayed true, the Kelly faded. I'm not a chemist, but this seems to be an issue of the strength of the pigments and other ingredients. The paint itself is the least expensive part of a big paint job...the labor is the expensive part. If you are not supplying your own labor, good paint + good painter = cheaper in the long run! If you are truly budget conscious, buy the highest quality paint to insure the longest lasting finish. In the long run the color will last longer and you will not be calling back the painter (or sucking up your weekend) for an update as soon. As far as color goes, find the color you like from any paint source, then take the "chip" to your chosen supplier and have them match it. Good paint suppliers have the formulas for the well-known brands, or they can color-match or eye-match your sample.

monjav2 We have painted so many times, I've lost count. To date, our favorite paint is Valspar eggshell enamel from Lowes. It's thick, hardly drips at all, covers EVERYTHING smoothly and evenly (even w/o primer)...and with good prep, looks like a million bucks when finished and is easily cleanable.

We have tried many brands from low to high end. Behr's new line with built in primer didn't perform the way we had hoped at all, we actually needed 4 coats of a cream color to repaint a light aqua wall, so much for the "built in primer". Sherwin Williams has been good, and in our experience, Glidden has been the worst...quite chalky, dull and spotty. Hope that helps.

tariawilson thanks guys. I was told by one guy that they keep changing the laws often and that leads to unknown results in the new mixes. Sounds like SW or Ben Moore the way to go.

alibonelli We built 2 years ago now and about half the house was done with Sherwin Williams and the other half Benjamin Moore. I can honestly say like them both equally. The most important thing to me was using zero VOC. If you are going to spend the money why go low when you can get no? I think it made a huge difference.
I've used paint with 'built in primer' in the past and hated them. It's worth the extra step.

Christine For interiors, we've had excellent success with zero-VOC Yolo Colorhouse paints and Benjamin Moore's Aura line. We are drawn to Yolo's vivid and smartly-crafted color palettes.
I would also love to see a how-to article about painting old wood floors that have been painted before. What type of paint is best, how many coats, sealer, etc.

elannas I used to use Ralph Lauren paint from Home Depot and i loved it but they stopped carrying it. I don't like Behr although until I tried the RL I thought it was fine. The RL is so thick and easy to put on; now the closest place I can find RL is an hour away. I did some research and Benjamin Moore gets consistently good reviews so I'm going to try it with a repaint of kitchen and baths. I'm starting with the less expensive Regal because the Aura is SOOO expensive! I always use primer in the same color-I tried a gray primer once and I had to paint an extra top coat to cover it. I'm considering using oil-based paint for trim and doors so that the paint won't rub off with repeated scrubbing.

mouse25 I've had good luck using zero VOC Natura from Benjamin Moore recently. But for those who prize top of the line eco-friendly paint, take a look at YOLO Colorhouse. Water is the only thing that evaporates from their paint! It is really great. The big downside is that they have a limited color palette - I've evolved to color-matching with BM mainly because of this. On the other hand, I've lived with YOLO paint 5+ years and know how incredibly durable and cleanable it is. They are an amazing little company! You can even email them pictures of your space and have them recommend paint colors. I've had great results with Natura too, but I really hope more people can find out / fall in love with YOLO.

Dustin J Working as a faux painter and thus also having to paint walls solid colors, my favorite paint is actually Behr. It is a very thick and creamy 100% acrylic paint and covers very well and has great color retention. Benjamin Moore is very thin compared to Behr and often needs more coats than Behr would. According to this guide that thicker paint would be better as someone else said the Ben Moore ends up more fragile. Go buy a pint of each and compare to see what I mean. I don't attempt or suggest using the primer and paint as a one step process. I do wish the non primer paint Berh was lower VOCs. I use Ben Moore for faux finishes often because of the color options and its thin consistency doesn't matter so much because it doesn't need to be solid. However, I mostly end up tinting it myself to the perfect color. I do like SW a little better than BM when I use it. I paint most room's walls eggshell, kitchens and baths get a satin finish at least, semi-gloss for doors, trim, cabinets... I often just have them match and mix whatever color swatch of any company in Behr at Home Depot. Thumbs down to Glidden and you have to be careful with these designer pop-up brands like Martha and Ralph Lauren which I think was made by Glidden. Also Zinser 123 primer has been around 25 years maybe longer than Kilz and is much better even though Kilz sounds cool and effective.

olldbobbi Dustin, Behr! Yes! I noticed there are no comments about Kelly Moore, anyone have an opinion?

mrsben @DustinJ: YES couldn't agree with you more, Zinssers Bullseye 1-2-3 Primer is excellent and worth every penny. Re Behr paint however I find is almost too acrylic (plasticized) for my liking but I do like their colour palettes.

leftofyou The reason Benjamin Moore has a thinner consistency is the amount of the more expensive binding agents and titanium. A very thick consistency usually means a lot of less expensive opaque filler that does indeed cover well and is cheaper. Over all performance suffers. There is a reason Benny is more expensive. Silk, not cotton. I know multiple coats are a pain, but there are no short cuts to quality paint job.

leftofyou Yes Bobbi P. Kelly Moore is a "contractor grade" material, mostly available in Northern Ca.
Almost all new tract homes in N. Ca are painted with Kelly Moore or Dunn Edwards. It covers well and is low cost, thus in the competitive market of new house painting, where the cost of paint can be the difference in procuring a contract and not, it is favored by Painting contractors.

Unearthed Paints If you are looking for a fresh new eco-friendly paint, Unearthed Paints is a natural paint company that offers an exclusive selection of eco-friendly paints. Crafted with minimally processed natural ingredients such as clay, chalk, lime and Italian marble, the paints are biodegradable, vegan and 100% VOC-free. Tinted with natural earth and mineral pigments, shipped in a powder form, extending the life period of the paint and eliminating any chemical preservatives.

www.unearthedpaints.com

mrsben @Unearthedpaints: If 'tinted with natural earth and mineral pigments', then I believe what you claim that your paints are 100% VOC-free as from the reading research that I've done if a paint has had any synthetic colorants added to it then it is NOT. Reason why I suppose that many Paint companies claim their paints only to be low-VOC. Sounds like you have a great product what is truly environmental friendly.

olldbobbi leftofyou, thatnks! Are you in NorCal?

leftofyou No, Ranch Mirage in SOCAL

olldbobbi leftofyou, ok so if I'm standing in Nevada, you really are left of me!!!

patscats2 Even though BM's paint is through the roof on pricing, for me and my husband it is our only choice. We have walls painted in their cheapest eggshell and we can scrub it like an enamel. No paint comes off on the sponge/rag even using very strong cleaners. I have taken a SW color and brought it to BM to match. They don't always have the exact color but I'm not bashful in bringing them a chip from someone else and having them mix a custom color for me . Yep, BM is our one and only choice for durability and ease of applying..

janet4784 Thanks to all for your advice and experience! We built our home 12 years ago, and the painters insisted we use flat on the walls. I caved and have regretted it ever since. With animals it just doesn't stay clean. Now we want to repaint, and I want eggshell. People say upscale homes should always have flat paint, but I hope that's an old wives tale. Any thoughts?

Harmonique Home Janet: Ben Moore's Aura Kitchen and Bath paint is intended for high humidity areas, but I find that it is great in high traffic areas where you might need to take out the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for doggies who rub on walls, etc. It takes about a week to "cure" so it is cleanable, but it's a beautiful matte finish paint. I, personally don't specify a gloss finish for interiors, but if you must, Ben Moore Aura has an eggshell finish that's not too shiny. You might try it out in a mud room or other high traffic area to see how you like the finish, then decide about the rest of your home. Also...what about a deeper color that is more forgiving...wouldn't have to be all the walls in the room...just the ones that get the high traffic/abuse.
Best

janet4784 Thanks, Harmonique! I really don't want darker colors, but will make note of your other suggestions.

Studio NOO Design Well, I always use Benjamin Moore and have been for 20 years !

ashik08 What color and type is common for kitchen ceilings? Also is semi-gloss out for walls?

RDP Inc I use SunColor Paints in Orlando, Florida. They are the guys that use to own Color Wheel and have started up again. It's made in Florida, for Florida. Good stuff.

lovemcm We have always liked Benjamin Moore, although for our new bathroom, the painting sub likes Sherwin Williams, so glad to see the good reviews. As for finish, we painted the living room ourselves in a BM eggshell. It is a lovely blue/green/gray color called Harbor Haze. Once it dried, we realized the slight sheen made the room feel like the inside of a swimming pool! NOT the look we were going for. We had to sand the entire room and repaint with the matte finish of the same color. Finish can make a huge difference in the look and feel of the same color, so be sure you know which one you want!

peverett Janet, After moving to a new home, I had my entire upstairs landing and hallway painted in BM eggshell for scubability, but soon noticed, as likely with most hallways, that it was dirty from fingerprints, scuffed by the vacuum cleaner, and dinged from moving furniture and whatever else seems to unknowingly befall a new paint job. The marks, unfortunately, didn't scrub off, and neither could I live with the hallway looking as it did, so upon my painter's suggestion, I ponied up for the more BM Aura, touted by the company for its "scrubbabiliity."
It was only months until the marks began to appear, and indeed, most of them did come off with SoftScrub or other gentle cleaners. But alas, when the light hit those spots, you could see every one of them glaringly, as the finish had changed and stuck out even worse than had I left the spots alone. I will never spend the extra money for Aura, when the light hits the scrubbed spots, it's by far more glaringly noticeable than having left the dirt on. I'm not sure what the answer is, as I've found the same holds true for BM's regular eggshell finish. The next time, I'm opting for a drop-dead gorgeous grasscloth, or a scrubbable faux grasscloth vinyl!

astraea @peverett - Our painting contractors always used Benjamin Moore paint, and when I bought my new house, I was underwhelmed too, at how easily it scuffed .. and I'm a single adult living there! I didn't get Aura, because I didn't like the color selection, but regular BM paint is expensive enough. I want to repaint my utility room a high gloss white that will stand up & be scrubbable; not sure what to get now!

lovemcm I am really sorry to hear that people are having trouble with the scrubbability of BM paint. We have BM Aura throughout, and get marks from all the usual suspects. We use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on them. The marks come right out, and, even though we have many windows and a lot of natural light, we have not noticed that the scrubbed areas are at all perceptible. I am a little OCD about that sort of thing, so I can only imagine how much it makes you nuts every time you see it!

maryelia I didn't see any mention of Farrow and Ball paint from England. It is the paint used in all National Trust Houses.

peverett Astrea: I think you're right on target with a super high gloss finish, perhaps an enamel. I've been to a few designer showhouses lately and seen walls, even a ceiling, done like that, and I can't imagine how it could not work for you.The results were stunning and dramatic...especially on the ceiling, where many lights were used for wonderful reflections. Perhaps it would have to be an oil-based paint, I'm not sure about that, but I think an expert at a good paint store could get you on target. Then, no need necessarily for white, unless you love it. Since it's a utility room, I think you could even go crazy and do something really bold. Good luck!

trasgorshek BM Advanced Satin is the one that's completely cleanable with no problems. I have it on all our wainscoting because of fingerprints going up the stairs and also in my 5 year olds bathroom on his board and batten, absolutely no marks. Love it! Only takes a wet cloth to clean. Well worth the money.

sclawson I agree with the paint contractors who liked Valspar. We've had pretty good luck with it too. Don't like Sherwin Williams AT ALL. I want to put in a plug for having your house painted--inside OR out--by a professional. We are getting older and so did this for the first time ever this past summer with our new condo and the fall before with the house we were selling. What a GREAT experience! And the price was more reasonable than I thought possible. The prep work they do makes so much difference in how the paint goes on and adheres. I will never paint another wall myself. Call a contractor and get a bid before you think you can't afford it.

karen_clayton I've used Valspar, Glidden top of the line, Behr, Ralph Lauren Glazes, Valspar glazes and Aura Benjamin Moore. I also do faux painting. I think it depends somewhat on the colors and finishes you use as to the result. Valspar paints are adequate for faux painting because the base color is covered up withe glazes, so it looks great and when properly done it wears well even in a bathroom. Would I use it as a solid color paint, No, it is a cheap looking egg shell finish. Glidden paint in flat is beautiful, easy to match and high in pigment and takes two coats. Egg shell paint in Glidden is just OK...and yes Glidden makes Ralph Lauren paint and you are paying extra for the designer colors. Behr paint in my opinion has a chalky appearance and pigment is not as strong, my least favorite. By far my favorite paint, which I used in my own house in a medium gray and deep gray, was Ben Moore's Aura paint. It is beautiful and comes in any color you want. You have to use a 1/4 inch nap roller and do your cutting first and let it dry 45 minutes before rolling it on. You can get beautiful look in one coat by just touching up with the roller areas you see holidays, two coats are best. The deeper the color, the easier it is to do one coat and touch up. As the paint ages, you can touch it up with paint and get a perfect match. Two years later I have no color fade in Southern exposed rooms. Well worth the $55 price tag, beautiful color choices !

dreambee I love the shades of Ralph Lauren Paint!!

karen_clayton And Aura is scrub able , I have the matte finish in my kitchen. If for some reason those areas show, buy some matching paint and touch up, you won't see it at all. Aura paint can be mixed in any Benjamin Moore color and I have a huge Southern exposed room with lots of windows, two plus years later, zero paint color fade in my medium gray matte color. I love this paint, it's gorgeous.

Mona The problem with Behr Ultra Premium Plus is after a few months, we finally moved everything into the house and needed to go back and do touch up. The color is at least 1/8 shade darker, enough that it left patchy blotches everywhere. I have to repaint the entire hallway because of that, also the living room and dining room. I cannot use the leftover paint, I have to go and buy new paint. Therefore I will go back to Benjamin Moore.

dmhouse All of these comparisons of paint brands have little scientific validity unless you have done as Harmonic Home did -- use the same colors on the same surface with the same exposure. She was testing only for fading. To compare scrubability and abrasion resistence you also have to compare the same gloss levels -- flat finish has more pigment relative to the amount of binder and therefore is more subject to marking and wear. Some colors also require larger amounts of pigment, and therefore it is unfair to compare their durability with other colors. Also, higher hiding power often means more pigment, therefore, particularly at lower prices, one coat coverage can be at the price of durability. All of these things vary within any particular brand, so simply comparing one brand to another is not so simple.

astraea I still can't understand why a gallon of paint should cost $55 .. unless it's got flecks of gold in it! (LOL) I'm also a fan of professional painters, especially because I have cathedral ceilings in 4 rooms. My utility room has no windows, so the whole point in using a high gloss white, is to maximize the light there.

Nancy Isenburg Sometime, you can save money with high quality paint. I chose a Donald Kaufman paint for our living and dining rooms. Far more expensive than average, however, it covered an ugly ochre color in 1 coat! The chosen color is light and luminous. Qualifies as a "Best Buy"!

karelina I will soon be painting both the interior and exterior of my new-to-me 1900 house. I've been reading reviews and checked Consumer Reports. The first thing that surprised me was that they thought how well the paint worked depended on the quality of the primer. Then their top-rated brand was something I never heard of: Clark + Kensington Satin Enamel (Ace). Their best buy is: Glidden Premium Satin (Home Depot). That was just for satin & eggshell interior paints. They also tested flat and semi-glass. Their article is worth a peek. Their testing includes what dmhouse says is needed for scrub-ability, fading, and application. www.consumerreports.org

Kimberly Hoyt We used both Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint while living in the U.S. and liked both of them. Since moving to Argentina, we've become diehard SW fans! Friends took us to a generic paint store when we first moved here, and we were so disappointed by the quality (more like whitewash than paint), so when we saw a Sherwin Williams store, we were SO excited! Sherwin Williams has served us well in every way.

Besides renovating a falling down casita, we're also repainting a 50 year old home that my husband's parents built. Those taking care of his parents' house had the house repainted about four years ago, just after we moved here. The painter was not a professional and didn't do a good job AT ALL, and the paint he used was poor quality, so from the beginning the streaky walls really bothered me -- and the color (a murky goldish yellow) was depressing. So last year we finally bought SW paint and I'm slowly working my way through the house, painting it room-by-room. We don't get out there very often so it has taken a year to get about half the interior done. I was THRILLED to find the pale aqua I chose covers the murky goldish yellow in ONE COAT.

The walls of the casita are so wonky that we went with an eggshell white that covers a multitude of imperfections :) It is taking two coats, since it's going over raw cement (well, I did put two coats of sealer on before painting), but two coats is totally sufficient. It has brightened up the small space considerably!

I can't say enough good things about Sherwin Williams!

georgiagmagpie Benjamin Moore Aura paint is wonderful for wood doors and trim in my kitchen, very durable, no primer needed. I had my woodwork painted in the eggshell finish 5+ years ago. My painter was skeptic, but I went with the paint store advice and research on the product. Lovely finish, no brush marks, no chips, easily cleaned. It is without a doubt the only paint I will ever use for trim ever again unless someone can top it.

Inis Lovely We used Valspar when we first moved into our house (six years ago). Hubs bought it because it was cheap. It looks cheap, too - very plastic sheen and texture.

This time around, at my insistence, we're using Benjamin Moore. What a difference! One coat coverage and the color is deep -- if that makes sense. In the long run, we'll use less paint, so the cost is about the same.

Paint is one of those products where you get what you pay for.

lalmstedt I am in the process of choosing paint because of kitchen remodel that will effect the entire down stairs and the stair well. Have been thinking about going with Benjamin Moore until I saw the recent Consumer Reports rating of Clark-Kensington from Ace Hardware. Has anyone used the Clark-Kensington? The price difference is half!

I too long for the old oil based paints. When we moved into this home 36 years ago we had it professionally painted with SW in oil base. We did not paint the main rooms for close to 30 years. Yes it need to be painted but it looked better, and cleaned better, than the new paint did after 2 years. (And, I raised 4 kids in this house.) We used Behr from Home Depot, and the same professional painter, the second time and I have hated it almost from the beginning.

karen_clayton I've used Clark Kensington from Ace in flat. I thought it had a thin, almost shiny appearance. It reminded me of WalMart paint. It's just average with the final result. If price is more important, it's paint, it will cover your walls. Will it look great or just OK? That's up to your liking.

Brenda Greer My dad worked for Pittsburgh Paints in Canada for 40years. He always said cheap paint was just that, cheap and not to buy it. Weak tend our whole house with it two years ago, down here in Fl. It works perfectly. The lavender in the master bedroom/ bath sold our house yesterday!

karen_clayton If you are painting a kitchen and stairwell yourself, and your talking high gloss enamel for wood, I'd go with the best paint you can afford, it will level without drips or brush marks. I like Benjamin Moore, but you could ask your professional at a good interior decorator paint supplier with your gloss preference.

dennajones I live in a rental in London. The owner painted it with the cheapest contractor paint available and it looks it. It was a tough call for me to spend my money to buy a top quality paint and re-do the walls and woodwork (plus putting in the elbow grease to thoroughly prep all surfaces which had suffered from 15 years of neglect & abuse from previous tenants), but I'm glad I did. The transformation is remarkable. I bought Little Greene paint in three shades of "Portland Stone" (walls, ceiling, woodwork.) I've learned high quality paint is forgiving. I paint as accurately as I can, but LG "covers" any errors. The finish is gorgeous. I am sold on the value of high quality paint. The photo is my bathroom cupboard (LG Portland Stone EH77 Intelligent Eggshell). I switched out the cheap (and chipped) porcelain landlord knobs for these over-sized cat "knobs" I got on sale at Laura Ashley.

sooze98148 The boyfriend used to paint his rental houses. Everything in white. All cheap paint. His secret to painting with cheap paint was to add a couple tablespoons of Spackle to the paint. The Spackle (white) thickened the paint and made the cheap paint look not quite so cheap.

We just bought a house together...and will be using Benjamin Moore. Back in the '70s, I used Benjamin Moore for a house exterior and Dutch Boy for the trim. Big lesson on the difference between cheap and good.

astraea @lalmstedt – I remember the days of oil based house paint! We’d have professionals do the house, and it probably took at least a week. And the whole time we’d have a headache from the smell, because it starts off worse, and takes longer to dry. Maybe that’s also why they didn’t have to paint as often!

Amanda W. I have been loving Pittsburgh Paints products. We re-stained our house's exterior this summer with it, and I loved it. It was the best quality stain we've ever applied, by far the richest color & best to work with. It was nice & liquid-smooth, rather than goopy-slimy-gunky like past stains. Yet, for such a thin stain, it covered MUCH better, beautifully. I used a semi-transparent on our log siding, a solid stain on all of our decking, and I have used the paint on our home's interior as well. I currently have two cans waiting to revamp our living room.
I have not seen any mention of flat enamel paint.. I have been told it's THE finish to use on your walls. Flat finish, for good looks & concealing of flaws, but it is scrub-able!
Any experts or experienced, with flat enamel feedback?

lauraoffice Benjamin Moore for me - many reasons!
1- Color Palette
2- Low VOC (we have parrots, no toxic paint fumes)
3 - Semi-gloss, gloss, easy to scrub walls (see reason 2)
3- Ease of application, cheap paint means extra coats, Ben Moore paint one coat is fine
4- Husband uses it also, for painting lines on tennis courts.
Great paint, it is expensive, but you get what you pay for. If you are going to take all the time to clean, prep and then paint, don't waste your time with cheap paint!

lovemcm Lauraoffice, we have parrots, too, so yes must be so careful about their delicate respiratory systems.

mccutcheon1 Someone asked about Farrow and Ball. I tried a couple of their sample cans. It was like painting with whipped butter or stiff whipped cream--just luscious! It took two coats to cover on unprimed walls. It makes Benjamin Moore seem cheap, but I go long periods between paintings and DIY it, so it might make sense in the right color.

I have used Benjamin Moore successfully in different types: Aqua Pearl, Aura bathroom & kitchen, and their standard paint in satin. Natura seemed watery to me.

I have also used Pratt & Lambert. I love their colors.

lordub My house was painted by a sort of specialty art and house painter about 14 years ago. I believe he used Dulux on all of the trim, which is sort of a low gloss, with no brush marks...so I think he used an extender (Japaning?) or something like "Flotrol"... whatever is appropriate for the Dulux. Everything wipes off it with a bit of Orange cleaner (an acidy cleaner) as long as I don't ever walk away from it, or leave it on there for any length of time. I dread the day when I have to repaint it, because it is a spectacular paint job! All of my kitchen cabinets are painted likewise.

LinOne I've used nearly everything - new and old - including all forms of BM, SW, Duron, Behr, Behr Ultra, Olympic, Valspar, etc,, even Mythic, which has a lower VOC than all of them. Sorry to everyone who liked any of these, but the more superior paint is and has always been Farrow and Ball.

lordub Honestly, I don't think VOC's were even considered an issue in painting my home. It was not occupied at the time, and then only seasonally........ The painter guarded his recipies very closely. He is about 85 or more years old now. It is a 4000 sq' house, and the story I got was that the interior painting was $200,000.00. I got a HUGE bargain! Several rooms are overpainted in several colors, but it is so subtle, that you can't tell unless you get mere inches from it.

lordub Where are all of the paint chemists on here??? :-)

lordub and... after reading much of this thread... my understanding is that any (good) paint company can mix ANY color. They create palettes seasonally for the market, but all of them should be able to analyze any chip and reproduce any color. I know SW can because they made the paint for several excursion railroads, one of which I participated in restoring... Durango to Silverton is the most obvious example that I can think of. They may have named that golden color by now, but.... my old friend created it with SW.