Aura vs Ellen Kennon ICI paints

15 years ago

Has anyone used both Aura and Ellen Kennon's paints? How do they compare in paint quality/application/clean-up? What about durability/wash ability?

I've only ever used BM Regal paints before (but I could have sworn it was a latex back 10yrs ago), so I don't know how to compare them.

I'm attracted to both the Affinity and EK FS colors, but I want to know how the actual paint performs. I have kids with grubby hands and a German shepherd who tends to dirty up the walls, so I need to be able to wash down the walls once in a while. I also really want a flat paint because I live in a 125yr old house, which means the walls are definitely not perfect!

Always ;-)

Hunzi

Featured Answer

JDESIMONE1_NJ_RR_COM

15 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Ok, let me expand on tr65 said

First let me preface it with the fact that I own and operate a store that sells BM Aura and has a web presence, I know many of my customers on line have found us through this web site. So while my post here will certainly favor BM Aura, I will try to give a unbiased explanation of everything.

First of all, The Affinity Colors are special in 2 small ways. 1 They are designed(or selected) to harmonize with one another. You can pick any 3 colors and they blend together, its kind of like a "color selection for dummies system". Secondly, none of them require the use of the Aura Foundation Coat. The Foundation coat is a specialty product for use primarily with certain reds and yellows mainly from the Color Preview Collection. If you choose a color that requires it, use it! Otherwise you will not get two coat coverage. The foundation coat acts as a first coat, with the actual Aura providing the second coat, giving you the two coat coverage(You shouldn't need a coat of the foundation coat then 2 coats of finish paint).

Secondly, Aura can be mixed in ANY Benjamin Moore color, and almost any competitive color. One thing you will hear, that was even mentioned in another post is that some colors do not match well. Depending on how you look at things this can be seen as true. Aura gives you a greater depth of color. It is not a full spectrum paint like EK, but it does behave more like one that traditionally mixed paints. This is why some colors do not seem to match particularly well. When you move into the world of full spectrum paints, and paints that behave more like them(such as aura) you have an issue with color metamorism, colors changing in different lighting conditions. Since I ship Aura, I always check the mixes against a color swatch just to be sure. I have had one particular instance where a color did not seem to match particularly well(and I am pretty anal about this). I wasnt going to ship the gallon. I then took it under another light source, and it was a dead on match to the chip. So did it match or not? In one light I thought it was an "ok" match, it could have been a little better, but then under another light source it was perfect. I think this is why major paint companies have stayed out of the full spectrum ring, it is very difficult to depict these lively colors on a color chip which gets produced by a printing process.

Next...the colorants. If you get a gallon of Aura (or any other of Benjamin Moores new Waterborne Products, such as WB Eco-Spec, WB Ceiling Paint, or the forthcoming Natura) it will be mixed with the Aura Colorants(these are reffered to as the Genex Colorants). It doesn't matter if the color is an Affinity Color, another BM color, or a competitive color. Aura gets the "aura" colorants, not the universal(glycol) based ones. Also on this note, there was another post about people getting the Aura Colorants put into Regal Paint. I do not recommend this for a few reasons. First of all, there are no formulas to mix Regal Paints with 'Aura' colorants, so you would have to guess. While the colorants do tint in similar ways to each other, they do not tint exactly the same, so replacing the universal colorants with the aura ones is bound to cause some matching problems. Also, the universal colorant system is a 12 colorant system, aura is 13(though one of the yellows is only for the exterior line), not to mention there is no brown colorant in the aura system, where there is one in the universal system.

Also note that Aura is really a 2 part deal. Both the paint and the colorants are special. If you use the Aura colorants in the Regal Paint, you don't get the benefits of what BM Calls Color Lock(that's part of Aura, not the colorants). In my opinion, Aura has a lot of good marketing points(better leveling, better coverage, very low VOC, etc) but the ColorLock is the most important and impressive. The color just does not rub off!

Now, as for Afinity colors in Regal Paint. BM provides formulas for some of the Afinity colors to be mixed in Regal but not all. My experience in doing this has not been good. I tried to mix Wenge in Regal. First I scanned the chip with our color computer and mixed the formula it gave me. It came out AWEFUL; not even close. I then called BM and had them scan it for me and mixed that formula(paint companies have better equipment than you will find in any retail store for computerized color matching). It was equally bad. I also tried to mix Dinner Party in Moorglo exterior. I had the same results. After about 10 attempts to try to get that can right (including having to scoop some paint out of the can to make room for more tint), I got it close. Retailers who do not have Aura will tell you its ok, out of both lack of experience, and not wanting to miss a sale. If you do decide to try this, please.....try a quart first!!!! Personally I wont do it without explaining to the customer the results I am expecting, and saying outright, that if i do it, the can of paint is theirs, I am not promising accuracy. And frankly, it has nothing to do with preferring they buy Aura, or making a few extra dollars on a sale. We are a family owned business operating under one family for 55 years, "upselling" someone on a gallon or two of paint isn't a good long term idea for customer relations.

As for a 125 year old house...One thing that I will recommend is BM's new Waterborne ceiling paint. It is in the 25-30 dollar per gallon range. I recommend it because it is a DEAD FLAT, and because of this, it hides surface imperfections like nothing else. I just used it myself and was very impressed, and its cheaper than Regal Flat (and it uses the Aura colorants, so its a Low VOC paint that stays Low VOC, even when tinted).

Hope I didn't put you to sleep and gave you some good information for making your decision.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

Michael
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
100% Acrylic Latex paints are best for any indoor use.

If it's Ellen's colors you want, then order her custom blended paint. The ICI finishes are top quality and high performance.

If Aura has a color pleasing to you. Choose it. It's unlike any other paint. It covers well, levels well, dries *fast*, and comes in a multitude of colors.

The ICI paint custom blended to Ellen's color will be pricey. That doesn't mean you're getting the "best" quality paint.

In my opinion and experience, Aura quality and performance exceeds the ICI line of wall paint products.

Michael
trk65
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Remember too that you do not have to use just the 144 "Afinity" colors (the ones designed for Aura) to use the Aura paint base.
A BM dealer can mix ANY BM color in Aura paint and also can usually match other brands' colors. I have used Aura with the following-
BM Affinity Pallette
Other BM colors
SW colors matched by the BM dealer in Aura
All with great results.
I've considered the EK colors but the actual Aura paint is so good I am having a hard time switching. In my area the per gallon cost is pretty much exactly the same.
Related Discussions
Have you used Ellen Kennon paint?
Q
Comments (42)
Most of my house is painted with EK paints. The colors are gorgeous... 1/2 Mustard Seed in downstairs guestroom/bath; Cognac in LR/Den/Upstairs Public Rooms; Rust in DR; Honeysuckle in Kit; most of my ceilings are Dusk. No matter how lovely the colors are, I could never "see" the full spectrum magic that everyone talks about. I desperately wanted to, but can't really see it. I mean, the colors do have a tremendous depth to them. I thought maybe that was it, but that's not such a big deal. Then, my bf and her husband were visiting, and he saw it! He was just staring in disbelief at the walls, asking how I found paint that had so many colors in it. Then he went off on a long description about the colors of light at different times of day, and that he plants all white flowering plants, so he can enjoy the gorgeous color shift of light. He thought I was getting it, but I just said "oh yeah... I've heard of people like you. So, you can really see the colors?" Yes, he can see them. Nice, but it still doesn't make it worth the big price tag when you factor in the lousy quality of the ICI paint. It's garbage, if you ask me. Now, that I realize it's Glidden, no wonder... that's junk too. When I painted the Rust in the Dining Room, it was so bad with streaking and burnishing, yes, even after tinted primer and 3 coats, that I called them to complain. The folks at EK graciously gave me a free gallon of the next sheen up to paint over the Velvet, Eggshell, I think. That did the trick! Honeysuckle in Kit is the eggshell. No problems at all. The rest of my LR and Den is Cognac/Velvet. It is a disaster! I am disgusted with how ugly it looks. Cannot clean it, even with a very soft cloth with clear water. Cannot be touched up at all. I am going to contact them, since I am going to have to repaint the entire area. Will take 3 to 4 gallons, of one coat. I doubt they will do anything about it, but otherwise, they may have lost me. We are just 2 adults, 2 cats, and one little boy. We are not tough on walls. What a lovely, expensive mess!
...See More
Have you used Ellen Kennon paint?
Q
Comments (2)
I've used two of her colors. Basically, you are purchasing ICI Dulux paint, which is very good quality, with her color formulations. Ellen will handle color requests personally and is lovely to work with and will find an ICI paint store nearby (locations also can be checked on the websites). She is a particular favorite bordering on cult figure over on Home Dec. Her formulations don't use black, whereas most brand paint formulas do. Users talk about color shift with her colors though I haven't found that either of the colors I used change at all -- except when I change lightbulbs (which will do that to any paint). However, both of my colors were very difficult to get -- one (Seaglass) is a blue that couldn't be too green or too red. It's perfect. The other is one of my favorite colors in the house, a soft yellow called Luminaire. Normally, I use Farrow & Ball which is a premium paint with a great deal of color shift and a special texture. I have Ellen's paint in rooms adjacent to the F&B and it looks super and equally good on walls with F&B eggshell on the trim. Nothing but good things to say from this user.
...See More
Ellen Kennon paint users
Q
Comments (20)
In my old condo I had several EK colors and had tested about a dozen others from sample pots. They all went on very easily with the one exception of a Ruby sample pot. So I agree that the pigment may be the problem. Also, how do you like the Dusk on your ceiling? Now that my life will be settling down a bit (my third move in less than a year will be coming up next month but I hope to be there for a while) I was looking at paint chips again and was strongly considering Dusk for the walls in my bedroom. I fell in love with the paint chip but as we all know a paint chip doesn't necessarily give a good idea of what it will look like on a wall... Thanks, Jay
...See More
Anyone using Ellen Kennon full spectrum paint?
Q
Comments (31)
I thought I would post an update to this thread. Ellen mentioned this thread in her blog, this thread was linked. My daughter did use her paint to paint several rooms. She talked to Ellen on the phone and really enjoyed their conversation. She said Ellen was very helpful. She painted her bedroom Gustavian Gray. She gave Ellen the room size and Ellen told her to buy 3 gallons but 2 was plenty. She never even opened the 3d gallon but of course was unable to return it. That kind of hurts when it's $50.00 a gallon. I don't know why the amount was so off, perhaps my daughter gave incorrect dimensions. Anyway, my daughter is very pleased with this color. It's very unusual. It's not really gray but it is. It also looks kind of blue and kind of green. I personally don't like it very much but I guess that doesn't matter since my daughter does. She painted an office Olive. This color took two plus coats to cover since it is darker. I like it and so does my daughter. She painted her family room and kitchen buttercream. I really like this color. Again, it looks different depending on the light. Sometimes it looks like a soft yellow, sometimes more beige. I like it better in the family room then the kitchen, however. My daughter's cabinets are maple and have a yellow tone. I think the wall color is too close to the cabinet colors. It looks okay but I would prefer more contrast. But again, my daughter is happy with it. It is a pretty pleasant color. Ellen told her to buy 2 gallons but it took 3. I'm not sure why the amount was off, but it wasn't a problem to buy another gallon. As for whether I can tell a difference between this paint and regular paint...honestly I can't. It's nice paint. It went on well. It looks very nice but I can't really say it looks better then the paint in my house that is Sherwin Williams and Behers. Maybe it's me because so many people seem to think it looks different but I don't really see it. One thing my daughter said she liked was that there was enough choice of colors but not too many choices. I understand what she means. When you go to Sherwin Williams there are dozens of beiges for example. It's easier to pick colors when there are fewer colors to pick from. Two many colors can be overwelming but Ellen has enough but not too much.
...See More
hunzi
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ok, thanks y'all!

I need you to hold my hand a little more and walk me through this....I think my problem is I want EK colors, but I really want Aura paint!

I don't think I can get a match to EK colors, can I?

If not, then help me understand the whole Aura/Affinity thing. Are the Affinity colors just a color palatte of "new" colors for Aura? If I get a color match/custom blend of another BM color from the other paint palettes, do they use the same colorants that are used in the Affinity paints or the old universal tints? There is a difference isn't there?

Sigh. Think EK would create a new color palette for Aura? ;-) I'd really like Aura FS paints! ;-)

So who wants to help me pick out colors for my LR, DR, entry, and PR? The only one I already know for sure is the Library - Caliente, baby! And then there's the whole paint the trim white vs leave it stained thing....oh and ceilings...white, cream or colored?

I think I'll just go bang my head against the wall for a while....

Always ;-)
Hunzi
trk65
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You have it right. "Affinity" is the pallette of 144 colors that were introduced when Aura (the PAINT) was released. The premise is that any of the Affinity colors can be used with any other Affinity colors and they complement one another.
Because Aura (The PAINT) is a different formulation than other BM paint bases, it requires different colorants. A BM dealer who wants to offer AURA (the PAINT) has to buy a new tinting machine that holds the new colorants.
If you want to use a BM color that is NOT an "Affinity" color, but you want to use Aura (the PAINT) the color will be mixed using the Aura colorants. The same would happen if you wanted to match a Sherwin-Williams color in Aura. There is no way to mix an "Affinity" color using non-Aura colorants, but Aura colorants can be used to make non-"Affinity" colors in the Aura PAINT.
EK paints are mixed using the same colorants that an ICI dealer uses to make their own colors, but the formulas are proprietary to Ellen Kennon. When you order paint (directly from her company) she faxes your order to your local ICI dealer, who mixes the color according to her faxed instructions. The key to Ellen's colors is that she does not use ANY Black colorant. Her formulas are usually pretty complex (many different colorants are used) and ICI dealers who are not familiar with Ellen or her product sometimes scratch their heads over her instructions.
I like many of the Aura colors, but so far have only used one (Pomegranate). We have sampled others and will probably use others at some point (we are painting the entire interior of a good size home), but where I find the Affinity pallette lacking is in the color families we are working with on the first floor.
The Affinity Reds, Darker Tans/Browns, and Blues are all wonderful colors. The greens are just "different", and all of the greens that lean toward the sage we wanted are just too brown for our application. We also sampled EK Edgewood Green, thinking it would be our top pick, but again it leaned too brown. The Affinity neutrals simply don't offer us enough contrast with out trim, and the lavenders/grays don't suit our taste or decorating style.
Being able to mix any BM or SW color in Aura is the best of all worlds, IMO. I can play with fandecks until I am dizzy, and still get the performance and durability of Aura paint.
hoyamom
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
trk65 - how is BM gray wisp in the Aura paint? It is supposed to be the same as RH Silver Sage - do you think mixing it up in Aura will change the color? I am very tempted just to order the regular old paint rather than the Aura.

I am a BIG fan of EK full spectrum. I really really tried to find a silver sage that I liked in her paint but they were either too blue or too green. My entire house is painted in EK colors with the exception of the bedroom that will be painted on Monday and my other DD's room in which she chose BM Bali.
I have used: Mustard Seed, Lavendar Mist, Berry Red, Ashen Green, Wheat, Cognac, and Parchment. I love them all with the exception of Wheat which is unfortunately in the common areas of the house. It is a lovely color but it is too yellow (sunshiny) for my taste. I will probably repaint in a few years after my DH gets over the amount of money I spent to have it painted! LOL
People have commented on my EK paint so I think you really can tell a difference.
trk65
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I haven't used Gray Wisp, but I just finished a kitchen in Aganthus Green (BM 472) and the Aura match was perfect. I have two very good BM dealers locally, both of which are very good at mixing Aura colors. They have gotten me perfect matches on some tricky BM and SW shades. I wouldn't hesitate to try Gray Wisp in Aura at all-it might be a good way of trying out the Aura paint. I would NEVER use RH paint again-I did a powder room 2 houses ago and it was just awful. Thin, poor coverage, didn't clean up easily, you name it. The RH colors are excellent, and many of them have a BM substitution. You can find the conversion list either here or on the HGTV "colors" forum-there are a couple of color gurus that post here and over there as well.
decorativewalls
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Use the BM line. Either the Regal or Aura bases. They are 100% acrylic.
Faron79
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Good stuff there JohnThePaintGuy!
(We're a C2 store to tell ya the truth!)
I thought Aura had more than 12 colorants...
>>> Color-matching...ain't it "fun"?!?!?
...arrgh...
It IS fun matching colors with C2's 16 colorants (universal) though...
Is your scanner(s) a Datacolor 110?

To the OP-
As long as you're using those very good paint-lines, you'll have good performance.

Faron
hunzi
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks everyone, especially John!

Ok, I think I'm going with Aura! I still have the EK samples up though. I love the EK colors more, but need washibility of the new Aura paint. Now I just need to pick a color. Uhg!

A technical question: We're painting my LR, which is old plaster plus a few patches of drywall. DH is going over the walls and repairing all the cracks right now (sticky mesh tape and drywall compound, we'll also use paintable caulk under the worst ones if needed) and he's planning to completely skim coat the ceiling smooth (because he didn't listen to me 15yrs ago when I begged him to not put a texture on the ceiling!).
So the question: should we prime the whole room?
With what primer? Assume we'll use Aura Matte probably "Soleil".

And the ceiling I'd like to do in a light cream (something like EK's Classic Cream - a warm white/cream). I like the idea of a dead flat on the ceiling, how far off dead flat is Matte?

Any other tips from the pros for a 1st time Aura user? We're moderately skilled DIYers, although I do wish DH would either cut in perfectly or be willing to use tape! The lines tend to be a little uneven at the ceiling.

One more question for the pros: I'm installing 2 sets of pocket doors. I know I need to stain/finish them before they go in, anything special I need to know? Suggested stains/finishes?

Anyone want to play "Paint Hunzi's House"?

Y'all wanna have some fun? Let's pick the colors! Don't feel locked into suggesting Affinity colors!

My major challenge is low light levels in the house. Trees and wrap around porches tend to limit the direct light into the house on the 1st floor. Rooms aren't open, but have views into others. I have a large number of doors and windows!

Right now, we're picking a color for the LR, but the DR is next up. I'm pretty sure the Library, given it's very limited exposed wall once we build in floor to ceiling bookcases, will get Caliente! Fun and dramatic, but not so much red as to look dark and scary in low lighting. After the DR, the PR and Hall will be up for grabs.

This is a very slow DIY type project. Dh is partly disabled from 20yrs in the military, he has carpel tunnel and knee and hip problems that make it hard to work for any period of time, so unlike when we were in our 20's and would work for 6-8 hrs after work, he now tends to work for like an hour and he's done. We also work on a pay as we go budget.

Lots of wall plastering needs doing.

Ceilings will all get skim coated smooth and painted a light cream.

Woodwork needs to be milled and replaced. We'll probably keep the trim stained, but I'm open to suggestions as to whether to keep it the current color (easiest) and match the new trim to it (not quite as easy because we have no clue what the current color is nor what species of wood the old trim is, or how to match it with new clear pine!), or strip it and stain it darker (serious PITA, but could be worth it!) and then stain the new trim to match (also no fun!)

Colors I like: Warm colors! - creams, golds, yellows, reds, and oranges, maybe brown.
Colors off the table: Anything pink, purple, green, gray, blue, or putty/beige/taupe.

Here are photos of the house (warning super cluttered/junky!) I feel soooo exposed! You never realize how bad stuff looks until you see it in a photo!

Be gentle!

To top it all off, my DH is under the delusion that we'll have this all done in time to put up a Christmas tree! I'm just humoring him, and at some point we'll just stop, clean up, and put the furniture and a tree in there for Christmas, and then really finish afterwards.

Always ;-)
Hunzi

Here is a link that might be useful: Paint Hunzi's House
trk65
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hunzi-
I'll try to help with a couple of your questions.
I have used Aura Matte on ceilings. I like the look. It's not quite flat but I don't look at it and think "that doesn't look like ceiling paint". I had it mixed in a match for SW 7008 "Alabaster" to match my trim. I just can't get comfortable with a ceiling color that doesn't match either the trim or the wall color, but that's just me.
As far as a wall color-I have sampled Soleil and like it, but I have a regular BM color that is my go-to for open plans wanting a creamy yellow. It's called "Featherbed"-BM 928. Don't be fooled by the chip-sample it. The Aura reds are all wonderful-we used Pomegranate because it's a little more muted than the others.
PRO
Lori A. Sawaya
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ok, I think I'm going with Aura! I still have the EK samples up though. I love the EK colors more, but need washibility of the new Aura paint. Now I just need to pick a color. Uhg!

Well, hopefully by now you've gotten things worked out and are well on your way to being finished and thrilled with your new colors.

One thing I do want to clear up is that ICI's LifeMaster is indeed 100% Acrylic... just like many, many other brands on the market. If that is the criteria you are basing the ideal of washability on, then let me say that I spec, paint with, and live with both Aura matte and LifeMaster egg. LifeMaster holds up every bit as well as Aura. I adore both and truly you could not have made a bad choice either way.

If you wanted EK colors, it's unfortunate you weren't clear on direct and accurate comparisons. As with all brands, there are going to be trade-offs. Keeping your options open in order to find the best fit for you is a good way to go about it. Of course, some are luckier than others in that they have options nearby to choose from. For others, color and paint options are limited.
hunzi
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
funcolors,

Ok, now I'm confused! I thought the big deal with Aura was supposed to be unique that it was an acrylic paint with some cool waterbourne tints that bonded to it? Are you saying LifeMaster does the same thing?

The features I want are as flat as possible (dead flat/velvety would be ideal), a tough paint that is easy to wash/no burnishing (because I"ll probably have to wash them moderately frequently due to one grubby handed kid and one frequently muddy dog), good coverage, and great color.

Am I getting that with Aura? Are you saying I can get it with LifeMaster? If so, what is it that everyone says is so great about Aura?

This stuff is the reason I lived with primer on my walls for mumble mumble years!* I'm going color/paint crazed...

*On a lighter note, I have narrowed down a good candidate for an Aura color - I painted up a poster board with Soleil and I still like it (Jimaca didn't survive this test)! Looks good in the low natural light situations we have and doesn't disappear or get too strong with added lighting, and looks good with the current trim color.

Always ;-)
Hunzi
PRO
Lori A. Sawaya
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Aura is all that you thought and if you've found a good candidate for color in Aura, then go with it.

My point is with either brand, and frankly most of the upper grades from the better brands of paint, the color isn't going to rub off or fall off the wall any way. I've never seen a wall where the homeowner invested in better paint to paint it "wear off". Some grades do have issues with burnishing, i.e. ICI's Velvet Sheen can be touchy and I have seen a red or two from SW Color Accents literally rub off the wall. So you do have to be careful and can't assume great things just because of a brand name. Being very specific to your first inquiry about Aura and EK, I wanted to be clear on what actual comparisons are and what your specific options would be from ICI. Info from someone who has used and lived with both of the products you were inquiring about.

I've been down the I want EK color but not the paint route. If EK color is really what you're after, it can be hard to find a second choice that will be satisfying and if that's what you really wanted, then I thought you needed to know that it would be just fine to pursue that option with the expectation that it washes up really well too.

Aura matte is more flat than LifeMaster in eggshell. Definitely another one of its high points and perhaps a good feature for you in determining that Aura is indeed a better choice for what you're after.

Like you said before, in an absolutely perfect world we could get full spectrum color in Aura matte. But we can't so there are pro's and con's to weigh.

Aura vs Ellen Kennon ICI paints

JDESIMONE1_NJ_RR_COM

Comments (14)

Michael

trk65

Related Discussions

hunzi
Original Author

trk65

hoyamom

trk65

decorativewalls

Faron79

hunzi
Original Author

trk65

Lori A. Sawaya

hunzi
Original Author

Lori A. Sawaya

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Aura vs Ellen Kennon ICI paints

Comments (14)

Related Discussions

hunziOriginal Author

hunziOriginal Author

hunziOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

hunzi
Original Author

hunzi
Original Author

hunzi
Original Author