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Century: A Familiar Small-Batch Paint Line from Benjamin Moore

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Century: A Familiar Small-Batch Paint Line from Benjamin Moore

May 22, 2018

A few weeks ago I stopped into a Janovic store in New York for a can of black paint when a poster caught my eye. It said something to the effect of “Century vs. Farrow & Ball” beneath two matte, deep purple paint swatches. Nearby was a display of pots: dusty grays, marigolds, and rich blues with names like “Delft,” “Thistle,” and “Purbeck Grey” (uncannily similar in name to Farrow & Ball’s “Purbeck Stone”). It prompted us to look deeper at this line of “small-batch,” pre-mixed paints launched last year by Benjamin Moore, who say they are designed and crafted by specially trained Benjamin Moore experts. Is this new line really comparable to the coveted Farrow & Ball (one of our all-time favorites)? You decide.

Photography via Century.

the line of 75 colors have a &#8\2\20;soft touch matte finish&#8\2\2\1; 17
Above: The line of 75 colors have a “soft touch matte finish” thanks to “a unique resin and coloring system” that, they say, adds depth and tactility to walls. The paints are designed, pre-mixed in small batches, and sealed in a Benjamin Moore workshop. Shown here: stony Mica.
a detail of the line&#8\2\17;s matte quality.  d: wild caraway. 18
Above: A detail of the line’s matte quality. Pictured: Wild Caraway.
 one caveat? unlike farrow & ball, the collection has no shades of whi 19
Above: One caveat? Unlike Farrow & Ball, the collection has no shades of white. (Shown here: Cendrée.)
one of the rich greens on offer: terre verte. 20
Above: One of the rich greens on offer: Terre Verte.
painterly cobalt. the company says century paints are not recommended for  21
Above: Painterly Cobalt. The company says Century paints are not recommended for high-traffic areas, or places prone to moisture like kitchens and bathrooms.
a true matte black: obsidian. century paints are \$\1\25 per gallon, slightly m 22
Above: A true matte black: Obsidian. Century paints are $125 per gallon, slightly more than Farrow & Ball (which is available for about $110 per gallon).
a blue grey, aptly named thistle. 23
Above: A blue-grey, aptly named Thistle.

See the full collection here.

And for much more on paint hues, see our Palettes & Paints guide, plus:

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