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The first time Sarah Sherman Samuel bought a can of Color Atelier’s limewash paint, it wasn’t for a wall in her house—it was for a canvas. “I first used it on my art,” says Samuel, who, in case you didn’t know, is supercrafty and even sells her pieces through her shop. She loved the brand’s pigments so much that she decided to use them all over the second floor of a Spanish-style house (the goal was to mimic the look of the authentic plaster walls downstairs). Her crew raved about the product, so she kept calling it in for other renos, and eventually Color Atelier reached out and offered Samuel the chance to create her very first paint collection.
The collaboration—out today—spans seven limewash hues, most of which are inspired by the many places Samuel has called home. “Summer Sky is literally like the Michigan summer sky,” says the designer. “While Desert Red is more obviously inspired by our Palm Springs days.” Olive You, a grounding olive green, is meant to embody the moment she sees the sun dip below the forest in her backyard, “when it’s that really glowy yellow reflecting off the trees.”
Her top tip for applying the pigments: Don’t overthink it. It actually looks better when you’re not trying to make perfect X’s with your brush. “I do feel like it’s super-DIY-friendly, because you almost can’t mess it up,” says Samuel. Having recently tested out all of her new colors in a house in Michigan (pictured above), we asked Samuel where she recommends using some of her favorites.
In the Bedroom
Summer Sky Lime Paint, Color Atelier ($37 per quart)
“This one feels like it has just enough lilac tones; it’s ethereal and dreamy. I feel like it works really well in a bedroom because it is so calming.”
On the Ceiling
Sweet Berry Lime Paint, Color Atelier ($37 per quart)
“I’m going to put this one on the ceiling of a bedroom, and then the walls will be White Sands. If you have tall ceilings, putting a dark color up there makes the room feel cozier and moodier.”
Absolutely Everywhere
Desert Red Lime Paint, Color Atelier ($37 per quart)
“We used Desert Red in an office–slash–guest room. The walls, the ceiling, the trim—everything’s in that color. It’s energizing.”
In the Kids’ Space
Buttercup Yellow Lime Paint, Color Atelier ($37 per quart)
“The butter yellow bathroom in this new house was part of the inspiration behind this color. It still has the original yellow tile! I’d love to use Buttercup in a playroom, too.”
Around a Fireplace
Warm Night Lime Paint, Color Atelier ($37 per quart)
“One time I was working on a mid-century house that had a brick fireplace that was quite ugly and not worth leaving as natural. We used a black limewash on it, and it transformed the space. That is what’s so different about limewash that I love: It actually goes into the brick and becomes a part of it.”