I've been a fan of colorist Donald Kaufman since my college days.  His artistic approach to color has always insprired me and his ability to recreate atmospheric feelings inside architectural spaces is incredible.

His approach to color is based on over three decades of studying color, light and space and together with his wife and partner, Taffy Dahl, Donald Kaufman has created colors for many residential and commercial interiors.  His approach to color is always well thought out and executed perfectly.  Looking at rooms that Donald and Taffy have worked on always leave me in awe.

Interior Painted Atmospheres

The vision of these two colorist is to create the luminosity and expansiveness you find outdoors within interior spaces.  The color becomes part of the space, the mood, the enviroment rather than a stand alone element.  The Donald Kaufman Paint Colors are formulated to allow designers and homeowners to bring the ambiance of the natural environment into their own spaces.

The paints offer more depth and luminosity than standard paints and differs from commercial paint in three ways: they have as many as 14 pigments, in each color, the pigments are more transparent than most commercial paints, and they never include oxides which diminishes paints ability to reflect light.

I aspire to the vision and ability Donald brings to blending paint for an interior as do many colorist I know.  Luckily until we reach that point we can always order colors from his line of full spectrum paints.  The line offers a range of color atmospheres from whites to warms to neutrals to colors. Explore 18 close value whites and 66 colors at the Donald Kaufman Color site.

Paint sample pots (16 oz. each) are available for all colors.  These samples will cover about an 8' x 8' wall with a double coat.  Sample cards are also available for purchase.  The color cards, including the neutral and warm atmospheres, are 4" x 8".  The 18 close value white cards are 9" x 9".  The box can expand to include new colors the company may create.

Design Inspiration

These books either written by the the creators or about the Donald Kaufman line, may help to inspire you.

• Color: Natural Palettes for Painted Rooms by Donald Kaufman and Taffy Dahl

• Color & Light: Luminous Atmospheres for Painted Rooms by Donald Kaufman and Taffy Dahl

• Color Palettes: Atmospheric Interiors Using the David Kaufman Color Collection by Suzanne Butterfield

Donald Kaufman colors are produced through Pratt and Lambert