
Erika Woelfel
Vice President,
Color & Creative Services
Behr Paint Company
September 19 – November 10, 2024
Thank you Design Students!
Thank you for your interest in the Behr 2024 Student Design Competition. Your hard work and innovative ideas truly made this competition a celebration of design excellence.
PIMENTO PPU18-01
Congratulations to our Grand, First, and Second Place winners for their exceptional creativity and design innovation. View their inspiring projects here!
Sign-up to learn about future design competitions and sweepstakes.
BOUNDLESS is a women’s work and play center that fuses work, childcare and social settings into one modern, multi-functional space. Taking thoughtful inspiration from Behr’s design theme, "No Clear Boundaries", the concept of BOUNDLESS was created to remove traditional confines of women’s lives, where they have to keep work, motherhood and a social life separated, instead allowing them to coexist in a space where working women and moms can be productive, supported and fulfilled. The word "boundless" is defined as unlimited or immense, and that is what this design was created for women to be. Read more... Answering the call to create something timeless and modern, the design was led with a mid-century modern influence, a style that has lasted the test of time and is ever more relevant today. Design elements that honor the style include floor to ceiling and clerestory windows, fluidity between indoors and outdoors, raw materials and color blocking. Distinguished by open floor plans and sight lines, this style implores BOUNDLESS to utilize color to define spaces where there are otherwise "no clear boundaries". Additionally, the openness in the structure brings the concept to fruition by achieving its goal to blur the boundaries of women's lives. Movement between the indoors and outdoors allows occupants to carry conversations and relationships, professional and personal, throughout the space, as well as offering mental clarity with direct access to nature. Also, the key is the open sight lines between the first floor and second floor. There are acoustic and visual boundaries built into the design so that both spaces may function optimally, but just enough visual space was left to give mothers peace of mind that their children are being cared for, so that they may be productive in work without feeling isolated from their children. With color paramount to the design, a palette was curated in timeless earth tones with bold saturation for a modern touch. Rumors MQ1-15 was prioritized in the workspace, for its mood and sophistication to create a feeling of intimacy for focused work, with Wild Berry P110-6 adding a pop of femininity and playfulness to this non-traditional office. Colorful Leaves M190-7, Flaming Torch PPU3-03 and Wild Ginger M270-7 create an ascending transition, while Boreal N420-5 and Fresh Artichoke M340-5 work in synergy with the outdoor courtyard. Audition MQ5-36 calms the interior of the nursing room, and Baronial Brown N170-7 and Leather Work S240-7 coat the post and beam ceiling, all together bringing BOUNDLESS to life. Read less...
With the forecasted "fashionable" colors of the BEHR 2025 Commercial Color Forecast, the Schiaparelli-inspired fashion pavilion in Rotterdam comes alive as the sun begins to set, with its program designed to transform in tandem with the fading light. As dusk approaches, the pavilion’s central structure, painted in Behr’s 2025 Color of the Year: Rumors MQ1-15, starts to glow, echoing the rich, muted hues of a Rotterdam sunset. Read more... This deep, alluring mauve becomes a living reflection of the sunset’s tones, paying homage to the natural beauty of the site and enhancing the pavilion’s presence. Rumors MQ1-15 is more than a color; it is the heart of the pavilion, acting as a beacon that draws visitors in, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere as the day transitions to night. The paint's deep allure intensifies under the shifting light, interacting with the reflective metallic surfaces and kinetic elements to create a dynamic, ever-changing interplay of color and shadow. This transformation mirrors the sense of rebirth and transformation inherent in both the fashion inspiration and the Rotterdam skyline. Surrounding the vertical circulation, Behr’s Wild Ginger M270-7 adds depth and a sense of richness, framing movement through the space with warm, earthy undertones that complement the central glow. As visitors move through the pavilion, the flooring in Behr’s Baronial Brown N170-7 serves as an anchoring foundation, grounding the design in a sense of stability and connection to the earth. This deep, robust tone contrasts beautifully with the surrounding hues, adding a layer of warmth and timelessness to the overall experience. Behr’s Even Better Beige DC-010, used on the pavilion’s supportive skin structure, provides a soft, neutral backdrop that allows the more vibrant colors to shine. It adds a sense of lightness and balance, enhancing the pavilion’s skeletal details while offering moments of calm within the dynamic environment. Finally, Behr’s Limo-scene N560-7, a sleek, modern tone, is introduced to highlight certain architectural elements, acting as an accent that adds a subtle coolness to the pavilion’s design. It complements the warmer hues, creating a visual rhythm that enhances the pavilion’s layered experience. Together, these colors transform the pavilion into a cohesive, living organism that shifts with the changing light, creating a vibrant and harmonious interplay that honors the themes of rebirth, transformation, and layered experiences. This carefully orchestrated palette elevates the pavilion from a mere structure to an evolving masterpiece that embodies the essence of fashion, architecture, and the Rotterdam landscape. Read less...
From Grapes to Glass: Urban Sipology redefines the wine tasting experience in the heart of Chicago, where the city’s industrial legacy merges seamlessly with a refined, contemporary aesthetic crafted for today’s vibrant, youthful audience. This innovative venue reimagines tradition, infusing the wine tasting atmosphere with Chicago’s dynamic energy while catering to diverse, modern tastes. A warm, sophisticated color palette features oxidized steel, earthy leather, and bronzed metals, accentuated by ambient lighting that creates an inviting, immersive, and educational environment. Embracing the fluidity of wine, the design subtly references the journey from grape to glass, incorporating elements inspired by the winemaking process- filtration, flow, and bottling- to evoke a sense of graceful movement. Read more... This approach shapes an engaging, kinetic environment, mirroring the elegance and progression intrinsic to the world of wine. Behr’s Rumors MQ1-15 provides a sultry and sophisticated energy, conveying warmth and is a powerful statement perfect for a wine venue. Urban Sipology offers a trendy, inclusive space for memorable wine tasting experiences, featuring an extensive wine display, a small retail area, a casual tasting bar, private nooks, and a seasonal patio- all set to soft background music. With a modern design tailored for younger audiences, it makes this the perfect place to gather with friends after work. The conceptual inspiration for Urban Sipology’s design draws from the elegant form of a wine glass. Just as the narrow stem of the glass supports the bowl full of rich wine, the layout of Urban Sipology begins with a focused, intimate retail corridor. This hallway acts as a preview, guiding guests through a subtle, narrowing space that hints at the lively atmosphere awaiting around the corner. As they emerge from the corridor, visitors are welcomed into an expansive, vibrant tasting area that mirrors the fullness and pleasure of savoring each sip of wine. This intentional progression invites patrons to explore and experience the space gradually, echoing the experience of wine tasting itself- starting with anticipation, building with discovery, and culminating in enjoyment. Read less...
Enter the 2024 BEHR® Student Design Competition for your chance to compete to win the following cash prizes:
All winners will receive a one 1-year MattoBoard Pro Subscription
Erika Woelfel
Vice President,
Color & Creative Services
Behr Paint Company
Kayla Kratz
Director, Color & Design
Behr Paint Company
Amber Jones
Director, Architect & Design Strategic Initiatives
Behr Paint Company
Guy Adam Ailion
Architect, Designer,
CEO & Co-Founder
MattoBoard
A dynamic palette of 50 colors that reflect the fluidity between the past and future, timeless and modern, and the digital and physical world to infuse into everyday spaces we live, work, play, learn and more.
EXPLORE COLLECTIONMake a statement with our 2025 Color of the Year, Rumors. This deep ruby red adds warmth and rich allure to hospitality, retail and other commercial spaces. Let this elevated color speak volumes, no matter the scale of your project.
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