Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal (HC-166): Undertones, LRV, & Where it Works Best
Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal is a dark, stormy gray paint color. It works well on kitchen cabinets, exterior surfaces, and accent walls.
Dark paint colors like Kendall Charcoal can look different in person than online due to differences in natural lighting, surrounding finishes, and personal perception.
However, if you’re looking for a wicked dark gray paint color, Kendall Charcoal should be at the top of your list.
But just because I rave about it doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your home. You have to sample it, compare it to similar samples, and make sure it jibes with the needs of your interior and exterior finishes. So, let’s find out what makes Kendall Charcoal so friggin’ gorgeous…
IS KENDALL CHARCOAL A WARM OR COOL GRAY?
Although Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal can look PRETTY DAMN GRAY, it does have a weeee tiny wink o’ warmth. That said, don’t expect to see it, as Kendall Charcoal looks like a pretty neutral, dark gray color most of the time.
If you have a south-facing light, you can expect Kendall Charcoal to lean into that warmth without going remotely greige...like at all. If you have a north-facing light, Kendall Charcoal will commit hardcore to its gray base without any warmth unless you partner it with a legit icy cold gray (which you probably wouldn’t anyway).
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
WHAT’S THE LRV OF KENDALL CHARCOAL?
Kendall Charcoal has a SKOOKUM dark LRV of 14.61, putting it close to the dark range while still holding onto some softer roots. With this LRV, Kendall Charcoal is a medium-dark.
If you have a bright room, Kendall Charcoal will definitely lighten up while creating a killer contrast with white trim. However, if you have a dark room due to not enough lights or small/no windows, you can expect it to look almost black—soft black but pretty darn heavy.
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
WHAT ARE KENDALL CHARCOAL’S UNDERTONES?
Every gray has undertones, either blue, green, or purple. While some grays can easily flex into any of those, Kendall Charcoal usually commits to green—it’s SUBTLE, but it tends not to go blue or purple.
Here’s your Peel & Stick paint sample of Kendall Charcoal…
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM FOR KENDALL CHARCOAL WALLS?
Kendall Charcoal is pretty friendly with a wide range of white paint colors. However, it doesn’t love super cool whites and is more inclined towards the likes of…
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace for a clean, contrasting look
- Benjamin Moore White Dove for a softer, more subtle (but still contrasting) look
- Benjamin Moore Oxford White, which is in the middle!
The 8 Best White Paint Colors from Benjamin Moore
WHERE DOES KENDALL CHARCOAL LOOK BEST?
Not all paint colors are meant for all surfaces. It’s important that the color you choose isn’t just one you love but also suits your interior and exterior finishes. Let’s take a look at a few hot topics…
KENDALL CHARCOAL AS AN EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR
HELLS YEAH, Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal can look amazing on exterior siding, stucco, trims, or doors! I can’t promise it’ll look good on YOUR home, but I can say that if your home (roof/stone/brick/surroundings) can handle dark charcoal gray with this super passive green undertone, it could look pretty badass.
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
BENJAMIN MOORE KENDALL CHARCOAL ON KITCHEN CABINETS
Kendall Charcoal is an awesome cabinet color. Whether you’re painting your kitchen cabinets, lower cabinets, island, or bathroom vanity, Kendall can do it all.
Kendall Charcoal is known for coordinating with a few granite countertops that were popular in the early 2000s.
The Best Paint Colors for Bathroom Vanities
KENDALL CHARCOAL WITH CREAM TRIM OR CABINETS?
Kendall Charcoal won’t always help cream cabinets or trim look updated. I wouldn’t say it’s a hard no (as it can be situational depending on your exact cream and other finishes). Still, there are usually better options with a bit more green undertone or a dark, greige look, which can be a nice combination.
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR?
Of course, you never want to choose your paint color without comparing it to several similar shades. However, finding the same color or a strong alternative in Sherwin Williams isn’t easy, as Kendall Charcoal is a bit more unique. Expect to see some interesting shifts in undertone and temperature. This said, you might find one of these even BETTER suited to your walls, cabinets, or exterior!
- Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray is a stunning green-gray
- Sherwin Williams Roycroft Pewter is a dark gray with an interesting, flexible blend of undertones – I painted the exterior of my home this color and LOVE it.
- Urbane Bronze, from Sherwin Williams, will shift you into a glorious greige shade.
- Oh, check out Sherwin Williams Peppercorn, too; it’s pretty badass.
Here’s Roycroft Pewter on the exterior of our home with K2 stone…
Here’s Peppercorn on a kitchen island with white quartz countertop and Sherwin William Egret White walls…
By the way, if you’re thinking of color matching between brands (e.g., getting BM to make an SW paint color), you might want to read THIS first.
WHAT COLORS GO WITH KENDALL CHARCOAL?
Now, this is where you get to have some fun. When creating a color palette with Kendall Charcoal, here are some shades you might consider…
- Many soft and deep shades of tan
- Light to medium-depth taupes can be beautiful and play off Kendall Charcoal’s mood.
- Subtle, muted off-whites offer a beautiful contrast.
- Medium-depth and moody purple grays can be beautiful accents for Kendall Charcoal, as can rusty hues.
- A wide range of warm whites and some creamy whites as well.
READ MORE
The Best Sherwin Williams Dark Gray Paint Colors
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray
The 4 Best Paint Colors for Your Kitchen Island
Need help?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2025
Hi Kylie, thanks for your post on Kendall Charcoal. We are painting our south facing home exterior siding this color with warm rock details and trim in a light grey/creamy color. Just wondering what color garage door we could do that’s darker than Kendall, but not too dark?
thanks for any advise you have!
angela
Hi Angela! Well, Kendall Charcoal is already pretty darn dark on its own, so not TOO dark is a relative term ;). I might look at SW Iron Ore????
Hi Kylie, I tested this on my walls and LOVE it. If I want to do Kendall Charcoal for a focal wall, what light neutral would you pair it with? Like the nursery image in this post? Love your work! Thank you.
Hi Samantha, Kendall Charcoal is pretty darn flexible, so it depends on what suits your flooring/exposure! Off the top, I would check out Benjamin Moore Classic Gray and Edgecomb Gray 🙂
Ohh I love Kendall Charcoal on my shiplap fireplace focal wall! I’ve gone through a couple colours on the other walls however and none look right. Southern exposure with white oak floors.
Any suggestions? I’ve heard southern should have a cooler paint colour but I’m hesitant to choose another colour!
Cheers!
Have you tried Edgecomb Gray? It usually looks amazing with Kendall Charcoal!
Hi ,
Our South facingTudor inspired exterior will be mainly an off white greigy brick (Riverway by ACME Brick) … Am considering Rockport Gray for some siding blocks and Kendall Charcoal for the trim. Do you think this would work?
Thank You,
Marisol
Hello! I am painting a small open concept condo Wind’s Breath with SW Pure White trim/doors/cabinets. The only windows are West facing. I would like to paint the inside of the front door a dark color and for various reasons am strongly considering Kendall Charcoal. I’m curious if WB and KC play well together. Love your blog and in hindsight should have hired you initially rather than waiting until I’m in a pinch. I’m an agonizer and have been driving myself crazy!!
Heck yes, I see NO problem with this at all!
I’m loving the Kendall Charcoal for our home’s exterior. I am wanting a dark, moody look. Would this color pair well with a black roof, garage doors and windows?
Oh it sure could – I love SW Tricorn Black!
How will Kendall charcoal look in east and west facing spaces? Would it pair nicely with Ballet White?
Kendall Charcoal can look great with Ballet White. As for the exposures, it depends on how MUCH light you get.
We are painting our exterior Kendal charcoal. It is a stucco house. What color would you suggest for the parging? Thank you.
Hi, we are painting our exterior brick White Dove and I am trying to decide on a contrasting color for the gutters and downspouts. I am leaning towards Kendall Charcoal but also considering Gauntlet Gray. Our roof is charcoal and we do don’t have shutters. Also any suggestions on front door color? Thanks
Thanks! I’m planning to build my kitchen idea board around the Kendall Charcoal for our island, chantilly lace for the walls, and my existing cherry shaker style cupboards. And then work in/pick out the tile and countertops accordingly.
Hi Kylie,
We are painting our new build exterior Kendall Charcoal. We will have a dark roof and black windows. We have a lot of cedar siding and wood accents and looking for a stain color recommendation. Thanks!
LOVE your site , I spend hours reading and looking at your paint color suggestions. My living room faces east and doesn’t get much light. It has a chair rail ( 60s ranch) and I have painted Kendall Charcoal on the bottom. The top is currently BM Swiss coffee but I find the room a tad boring. Can you suggest a color for the top? Something to warm it up?
Oooo, i LOVE to hear this, thank you! So, it’s tough without seeing the room. And to be honest, my FIRST thought is that Kendall Charcoal bottom with a white top makes sense as CONTRAST adds interest! Is there any way to jazz up your artwork to add interest?
If not, with a darker room it will be tough as it will naturally want a lighter brighter shade. Sure, if your room were well-lit, we might check out some soft taupes to play with the green in Kendall Charcoal, but these same colors will fall FLAT on you. I hate to say it, but white might be the best shade for where you’re at!
I’m a big fan of your wonderful paint color reviews! I’m looking at painting Kendall Charcoal in my small powder bathroom. My floors are already black tile, which I’m keeping. What color would you recommend for my small sink/vanity? Thank you!
Hi Kylie,
Thank you for your review of Kendall Charcoal. I have a Tudor house East south with orange/brown brick on the ground floor. I consider to paint half-trimbering Kendall charcoal with balboa mist for stucco on second floor. But I was wondering if I should go darker with Nightfall?
Many thanks
Nathalie