Blah, blah, blah ... I'm sure you are all tired of my excuses for being a poor blogger.  Well, I just returned from Las Vegas (it was work, seriously!) and my boys are currently at Camp Grammy ... so look forward to some new posts over the next couple of weeks!  Here goes ...

Let me start by saying that I generally love Benjamin Moore paint.  Benjamin Moore seems to be the paint of choice for many designers, especially in this area - probably because Frank Harrelson, the owner of Eastway Paint, is a color genius.  I'm always amazed by the breadth and depth of his knowledge about the Benjamin Moore color systems.  If you ever need a second opinion on a color, ask Frank.  Seriously, using him as a resource is reason enough to use Benjamin Moore.  Of course, Benjamin Moore has some great colors so that helps matters!  

The one thing that bothers me about all paint, however, is its washability.  I just do not believe that paint is washable, at least not in the flat finish that I prefer.  Although I might be able to get the actual scuff marks, crayon scribbles, etc. off the walls, you can be sure that I'm taking some paint with them and/or leaving a shadow.  Sorry, Ben, but I don't care what you say.  Your Regal Matte Finish washable interior flat latex paint may be many things, but washable is not one of them.  Don't believe me?  Feel free to take a close look at my twins' playroom!   

Well, when Benjamin Moore debuted the Aura paint, the hype was tremendous.  Basically, Benjamin Moore promised that Aura was the best paint on the market - low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and great coverage (only one coat required over almost any other preexisting color), coupled with amazing washability/durability.  Of course, all of these features come at a price - about $55 per gallon, which is roughly one and a half times the cost of a "regular" gallon of Benjamin Moore paint.  Now I was really curious - if Aura lived up to its billing, $55 per gallon would definitely be worth it ... but I couldn't recommend that added cost to my clients without some assurance that it would actually perform as promised.  So I had several rooms in my house repainted using the Aura paint ... and here's my 2 cents and tips!  

  • The professional painter had a hard time locating enough Aura paint in the correct base.  It seems that most of the Benjamin Moore dealers stock limited quantities of the Aura paint, due to its expense and the fact that it isn't a quick seller.  So plan ahead - you might not be able to buy today and paint tomorrow.   
  • The previous wall color had been a light cream, and I was repainting with a darker, but still relatively light cream/khaki.  In terms of coverage, I would say we needed one to one and a half coats.  One coat was enough in most places, but a few spots required a bit of additional touch-up.  Obviously, your results would vary if you had to paint over a darker color or if you chose a darker color to repaint.  I would anticipate, however, that you will realize some cost savings from needing fewer paint coats to cover the existing paint. 
  • The Aura paint is virtually odorless, and I loved knowing that I was being kinder to the environment by using low VOC paint.  Plus, it didn't bother me to breathe paint fumes ... because there really weren't any. 
  • So far, the Aura paint has held up extremely well.  After three or four months, I am pleased to report that I have virtually no scuff marks or other dings on my walls.  Some time ago, I noticed some splatter on the wall in the breakfast area ... presumably caused by some sticky toddler hands.   I used a wet microfiber cloth and the splatter came off easily, without leaving any shadows in the paint.  Specifically for the purpose of writing this review, I went around the rooms inspecting the walls very carefully.  I did notice a few very light marks that I had previously not seen.   Many of those marks wiped off with a wet microfiber cloth.  For those that did not wipe off, I did not bother trying to clean them - reasoning that they are virtually unnoticeable and I'd rather let that be than potentially create shadows by using a Magic Eraser or the like.   

The verdict?  I think it's great!  I am so pleased with how well the Aura has held up in our newly painted rooms.  Is it worth the additional cost?  Well, that's a tougher decision.  I can't remember the exact numbers, but for my several rooms, I believe it cost about $200-$300 extra to use the Aura paint over a "regular" Benjamin Moore paint and about $500 extra to use the Aura paint over a "regular" Sherwin-Williams paint.  (More blog posts to come on the competition between Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams!)  That was a doable premium for a few rooms, but it might be a different story if you are painting an entire house.  That being said, I will certainly use the Aura paint again, especially in high traffic areas like my hallways and stairwell. 

Happy painting!  I'd love to hear from you about your experiences with particular brands of paint ...