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It takes a lot of moxie to paint your house black. But we’d expect nothing less from a gutsy designer like Emily Hunter, whose motto is “be bold and go for it.”
“We painted our house with Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty 2128-10 despite a few naysayers commenting that it wouldn’t look good. But I stuck to my gut and the color has enhanced the look of our home tremendously. The neighbors love it and a few have even done the same thing,” Emily says.
“A lot of people are nervous about doing something different or beyond their comfort zones, but my advice is to take the plunge and just do it!”
Being a second-generation interior designer, Emily comes by her keen eye for design and ability to interpret clients’ visions naturally.
“I grew up watching my mother design homes. Through that, I found that creating spaces reflecting the wants and needs of clients made everything worthwhile – to the point I wanted to do it as a career,” says Emily, who’s expanded her professional horizons through traveling as well as working as a designer for Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, a private firm, and now, Standard Paint.
“Even now, I spend countless hours on Zillow stalking every new home that hits the market in the Yakima area to see what project my husband and I might attack next.”
About my signature style: I have a strong love for California’s architecture and lifestyle and as a result, my designs are layered and timeless; a balance between modern and traditional. I mindfully incorporate my signature aesthetic in a way that honors the client’s lifestyle and the atmosphere of their home.
Currently on my color radar:Right now, I’m really into dark and moody tones like Benjamin Moore’s Cromwell Grey HC-103, but I also love working with Dove Wing OC-18; a staple neutral that pulls both cool and warm tones. In the future, I foresee using more warm, inviting colors – like orange earth tones.
The style icon I’d love to spend a day with: Amber Lewis, a California interior designer. She owns a boutique design shop and interior design business (Shoppe Amber Interiors) similar to what I dream of having some day.
Strangest design request: A customers asked me to find carpet to cover every inch of walls, floor, ceilings and seats of a “Scooby-Doo” van interior. I honestly thought I was being pranked!
Biggest design pet peeve: When people come in wanting exactly what they saw on HGTV – and want it done within a week. The shows are certainly helpful in terms of inspiration but they often give unrealistic expectations and timelines. Trust the process and the relationships and it can be done right.
You’ll find me shopping at…: Antique shops and trade shows. I’m big into finding treasures that aren’t your standard off-the-shelf accessory but a more thoughtful piece. Being able to find something that is one of a kind and has a story adds a customized element to the design process.
Every year, paint enthusiasts and interior designers eagerly await the announcement of Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year, a paint trend forecast that sparks excitement and debate. Whether people are quick to embrace the color or need time to warm up to it, the influence on paint and design trends is undeniable. For 2025, Benjamin Moore introduces Cinnamon Slate (2113-40), a color that’s set to redefine how we approach interior paint choices.
