While paint photography is often focused on luxury accommodations, a good color combination can turn a smaller home into just as much of a show piece.

In this 1920s home in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, Lewis Johnson of Coast to Coast Painting applied swatches to the outside of the house so the homeowners could live with it and choose their favorite of the four. After looking at these colorful squares they went with Boca Raton Blue on the body of the house with custom colors on the doors and trim.

The difference is astounding. “It was very drab and previously coated in flat paint,” said Johnson. “We added longevity and life into this little charmer. The clients were blown away.”

The Coast to Coast crew applied the following Benjamin Moore products:

• Main Body: Regal Select High Build Low Luster
• Trim: Regal Select Soft Gloss
• Doors: Aura Semi-Gloss

Originally from Philadelphia, Lewis travelled back and forth to Seattle for a while, so when he started up his company in 2003, Coast to Coast seemed the perfect name. He’s had 18 steady years to wrestle down the challenges of painting in western Washington’s wet salty clime. “Here in the Northwest, we deal with moisture, and we’re close to the salt water on the Puget Sound, so we recommend Benjamin Moore Regal select high build low luster finish,” he said. “We use it in a lot of our exteriors with the harsh elements of the Pacific Northwest. It does have a sheen to it, but it gives the whole house more depth and overall, it lasts longer. That’s been our number one go-to product for exterior siding.”

On the heels of the salt and the water comes the summer heat, all of which combined can take a toll on a coating that’s not worth its … uh … salt. “The south and west facing exposures take a major beating and standard flat paints will fade out,” said Johnson. “They just don’t give the house any luster.”

Johnson and crew made sure to give the paint a sound surface. “Some of the challenges we deal with are previous paint jobs that weren’t prepped properly, or the processes weren’t as efficient as ours,” he said. “We go above and beyond by sealing wood knots with wood glue. We use a bonding primer on top of that, and then two coats of the low luster high build. We want to do prep work that most companies don’t.”

By using a top-quality product, and with the help and advice of Benjamin Moore supplier Mallory Paint Store in Seattle, he makes sure to provide a long-lasting finish. “We can go back to projects that we’ve done 10 years ago and they’re still looking great,” he said.