Benjamin Moore and LUXE Interiors + Design celebrate Faces of Design 2026. Benjamin Moore and LUXE Interiors + Design spotlight Faces of Design 2026. Benjamin Moore, a global leader in premium paints, colors and coatings, has partnered with LUXE Interiors + Design to celebrate the fifth annual Faces of Design program, highlighting five exceptional teams of interior designers and professional painters. The 2026 class showcases the powerful relationship between creative design vision and skilled technical execution, demonstrating how thoughtful color choices and expert craftsmanship can transform residential interiors. The Faces of Design program recognizes designer and professional painter collaborations that demonstrate the important role paint plays in shaping the character, atmosphere and functionality of a space. This year's selected teams represent projects across the United States and Canada, showcasing a wide range of design approaches, architectural styles and color palettes. Meet the 2026 Faces of Design. The five designer and professional painter teams recognized in the 2026 program are: * Mallory Robins, Elizabeth Bennett and Jonatan Correa - Kansas City, Missouri * Tina Ramchandani and Anthony Burns - New York, New York * Natalie Owens, Victoria Armour and Guillaume Tremblay - Halifax, Nova Scotia * Christina Kim and Bill Alpaugh - Manasquan, New Jersey * Jonathan Savage and Kevin Salyer - Nashville, Tennessee Together, these teams demonstrate how paint can do much more than simply cover walls. Through strategic color selection, variations in sheen and professional application techniques, the projects show how paint can establish a room's mood, emphasize architectural details and create visual connections throughout a home. Michelle Blair, Vice President and National Publisher of LUXE Interiors + Design, emphasized the importance of understanding the purpose of a space before selecting its colors. According to Blair, successful color decisions begin with understanding what a room needs to accomplish. The projects featured in Faces of Design 2026 illustrate this principle by using color to create atmosphere, enhance architecture and bring individual design concepts to life. They also demonstrate how professional painters contribute to the final result by translating a designer's vision into a finished interior. Creating impact through color. In Kansas City, Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett of KOBEL + CO collaborated with professional painter Jonatan Correa on a project known as Project Garden Party. The team created a vibrant interior using Benjamin Moore colors including Tapestry Gold 2153-30, New London Burgundy HC-61 and Saint Martin Sand 2164-50, along with a custom shade of blue. The project uses saturated colors and different sheens across cabinetry, millwork and walls. The combination creates depth and visual interest while demonstrating how carefully coordinated colors can give individual architectural elements a distinctive presence. In New York, designer Tina Ramchandani worked with professional painter Anthony Burns to introduce subtle definition to her apartment. The project features Stone Hearth 984 and Decorator's White OC-149, creating a sophisticated palette that balances warmth and simplicity. For Ramchandani, color plays a central role in the design process. Her approach demonstrates how carefully selected neutral shades can provide structure and character without overwhelming the architecture or furnishings. Using color to define a home. In Halifax, Natalie Owens and Victoria Armour of Stil James partnered with Guillaume Tremblay on a residential project that demonstrates the ability of paint to dramatically influence the atmosphere of a space. The team transitioned from Swiss Coffee OC-45 to Smokey Taupe 983 in the living room, introducing greater warmth and depth. In the dining room, Blue Gaspe 1435 was used to create a color-washed effect that gives the space a more immersive character. Owens noted that paint can shift a room from bright and casual to moody and warm, helping connect the design more closely with the way a family uses its home. In New Jersey, designer Christina Kim collaborated with painter Bill Alpaugh to create a cohesive color story throughout a residence. The team used Opulence OC-69 across walls, ceilings, trim, cabinetry and whitewashed pine, creating continuity across multiple surfaces. The home's office introduces Lush AF-475 for additional visual energy, while the front doors feature Narragansett Green HC-157. The varied palette demonstrates how color can help guide movement through a home while establishing different moods for individual spaces. Kim explained that paint can communicate the purpose and mood of a room, helping direct attention and establish a sense of place within an interior. Highlighting architectural character. In Nashville, designer Jonathan Savage and professional painter Kevin Salyer used Icicle OC-60 to soften a stately residence while emphasizing its architectural character. The restrained color approach demonstrates how a carefully selected neutral can enhance architectural features without competing with them. Across all five projects, the 2026 Faces of Design program highlights an important lesson: successful interior design depends not only on choosing the right color but also on applying it correctly. Professional painters bring technical expertise to the process, helping designers determine the appropriate preparation methods, products, finishes and application techniques. Their knowledge can influence how a color ultimately appears and how well the finished surface performs over time. The projects also demonstrate the importance of using color and sheen strategically. Extending one shade across walls, ceilings, cabinetry and trim can create cohesion, while contrasting colors or finishes can draw attention to architectural details and establish visual boundaries. Mindy Murphy, Vice President of Customer Segmentation Marketing at Benjamin Moore, said the painting contractor and designer communities remain central to the company's business. She highlighted the importance of collaboration across product selection, sheen, preparation and application. The Faces of Design 2026 program ultimately celebrates the relationship between creativity and craftsmanship. By bringing together talented designers and experienced professional painters, Benjamin Moore and LUXE Interiors + Design showcase how thoughtful color strategies and expert execution can create interiors that are visually compelling, functional and enduring.

Certified partners Benjamin Moore and Filtrete(TM) recognized in 2026 Green Builder Sustainable Products of the Year. The Asthma & Allergy Friendly(R) Certification Program is delighted to congratulate two of its Certified partners, Benjamin Moore and Filtrete(TM) Brand, on being named to Green Builder Media's 2026 Sustainable Products of the Year list. The annual roster celebrates products that demonstrate how environmentally responsible innovation can support healthier homes and healthier living, a mission that aligns closely with the goals of the Certification Program. Benjamin Moore Eco spec(r). Green Builder's recognition spotlights the next generation of Benjamin Moore's Eco Spec paint, which earned the Asthma & Allergy Friendly(R) Certification in September 2025. The newly Certified offering includes Eco Spec Interior Latex Paint in Flat, Eggshell and Semi-Gloss finishes, together with the Eco Spec WB Primer. Paint fumes and odors may irritate the eyes, skin, and airways of some individuals. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be released into the indoor environment as paint dries, may contribute to reduced indoor air quality and can be a concern for people living with asthma and allergies. To earn the Asthma & Allergy Friendly(R) Certification, the next generation of Eco Spec underwent comprehensive scientific testing and demonstrated that it: * Emits extremely low VOCs below certification limits at both 24 hours and 14 days after painting. * Meets or exceeds physical performance standards for drying time, scrubbability, cleanability, and adhesion. * Has a formulation where allergenic and sensitizing chemicals are as low as possible or not present. Paint Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly(R) is also compliant with LEED Low-Emitting Materials credit requirements, offering additional confidence for specifiers working on healthy and sustainable building projects. Benjamin Moore's participation in the Certification Program spans more than 10 years, reflecting a sustained commitment to consumer well-being and improved indoor air quality for the more than 106 million people in the United States affected by asthma and allergies. In 2025, the company was also presented with the Certification Program's Award for Innovation and Environmental Excellence, recognizing its leadership in developing products that contribute to healthier indoor environments in homes, schools, healthcare facilities, and other commercial spaces. Filtrete(TM) Refillable Air Filter Kit. Green Builder also recognized the new Filtrete(TM) Refillable Air Filter Kit, an innovative system that pairs a reusable frame, lasting up to 20 years, with collapsible filter refills that last up to 12 months. In May 2025, the Asthma & Allergy Friendly(R) Certification Program announced an expanded range of Certified Filtrete(TM) Air Filters, including the Refillable MPR 1000 (MERV 11) and Refillable MPR 1550 (MERV 12) models featured in the new kit. To earn the Certification mark, these filters were independently tested and demonstrated they: * Reduce certain tested airborne allergens from the air passing through the filter (including at least 85% of cat allergen, 92.5% of dust mite allergen, 95% of pollen allergen, and 40% of microparticles). * Meet applicable airflow and performance criteria under certification testing, including as particulate matter accumulates on the filter. * Include internal edge seals designed to help reduce air and particle bypass through the filter assembly. In October 2024, 3M was presented with the Certification Program's Excellence in Air Quality Solutions award, recognizing the company's ongoing commitment to developing air filtration products intended to support indoor air quality for people with asthma and allergies. The value of third-party certification. Recognitions like the Green Builder Sustainable Products of the Year list reward brands that can substantiate their sustainability and indoor air quality claims with rigorous, independent evidence. Many products on the market claim to be "low-VOC," "allergy friendly," or "better for indoor air," but not all meet the testing required to confirm those claims under real-world use conditions. The Asthma & Allergy Friendly(R) Certification Program, operated by Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) in partnership with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), evaluates products against strict, science-based standards developed specifically with the more than 106 million people in the U.S. living with asthma and allergies in mind. Certified products are independently tested for both performance and ingredient composition, providing consumers, specifiers, and editors with a credible, evidence-based mark of trust. For manufacturers, this kind of independent verification translates into real commercial value: greater visibility with editors, specifiers, and consumers, added credibility for indoor air quality and wellness claims, and a strong track record of placement on the awards lists, buying guides, and editorial roundups that shape the sustainable home market. It is no coincidence that Certified products feature so consistently in recognitions like Green Builder's annual list. Congratulations once again to Benjamin Moore and Filtrete(TM) Brand on this well-deserved recognition. Asthmaandallergyfriendly look forward to continuing to work with both teams as they develop products that make a meaningful difference for people living with asthma and allergies. August 28th, 2026

Rundoo runs into $48 million funding. REDWOOD CITY - Rundoo has raised $30 million in Series B financing led by Battery Ventures, with participation from existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and CRV, bringing the company's total funding to $48 million. Rundoo provides an AI-first system of record for independent supply stores, supporting the operations of vital small businesses that serve communities across the U.S. and Canada. Discover more Technology News Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Device Drivers The company, founded in 2021, will use the new funding to grow its engineering team in Redwood City and its go-to-market team in Chicago. Rundoo serves over 500 stores in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, and plans to use the funds to invest in additional technology for its clients. Rundoo's technology platform helps independent supply stores better serve customers and compete with corporate big-box stores. Specifically, it provides independent businesses with a unified, AI-first set of tools to operate their business: a point-of-sale system, e-commerce technology, customer relationship management, loyalty programs, general ledger, and more. These tools help owners grow sales, reduce costs, and increase margins. Take a garden center heading into summer. The store's owner can ask Dooey, Rundoo's AI agent, to build a purchase order based on historical sales data, upcoming weather, and known landscaper bids in the area. Dooey can also suggest and market time-bounded promotions for the garden store that it predicts will drive sales - say, 20% off garden hoses through the Fourth of July. This type of analysis and customer outreach, common at larger, nationwide stores, has historically been difficult for smaller retailers to execute. "Our clients supply the materials that allow our communities to build and care for the world around us, and our technology helps them do that better and more efficiently," said Nick Hershey, Rundoo's co-founder and CEO. "With continuing competition from big-box stores, macroeconomic challenges like tariffs and oil shocks, and ever-changing consumer expectations, owning an independent supply store is a challenging endeavor. Our platform gives independent store owners the same operational power that much larger corporations use to grow revenue and expand." Hershey, a former Stanford University math major, started Rundoo with his college roommate Andrew Beckman, who worked as a Silicon Valley software engineer for several years before teaming up with Hershey to start the new company. Hershey worked as a hedge fund trader after college before deciding to focus his efforts on the real economy. To achieve their mission of empowering supply stores with the best technology, Rundoo partners with large distributors and manufacturers, such as Benjamin Moore, a global leader in paint, color and coatings. Rundoo connects directly to Benjamin Moore's tint software so that Benjamin Moore's independent dealers can reliably tint the right color and keep that information on hand for their customers. Discover more Venture Capital Flash Drives & Memory Cards Company News Hardware stores like Berry's Hardware in Dumas, Arkansas, are using Rundoo as an always-on analyst. Every evening, Dooey hands owner Brandon Berry a plain-language recap of the day's activity: top sellers, new customers, unusual returns, and any item that sold below the margin he set. It is the kind of analysis a big chain pays a team to run. "Dooey has become my most trusted partner in the business," says Berry.