Follow the room through its ordinary day
Judge Kendall Charcoal under the light you actually use, rather than expecting one constant screen appearance. Its LRV is 14.61; the key concern is charcoal cabinetry with a clear countertop boundary . Kendall Charcoal is a deep gray that can provide a strong cabinet outline beside white stone.
Why the white counters and oak floorboards relationship matters
The counter overhang creates a more demanding view than the showroom wall, so that position should inform the depth decision.
Kendall Charcoal has an LRV of 14.61; Sherwin-Williams Gauntlet Gray SW-7019 is 17. The difference is 2.39 points, with Gauntlet Gray returning more light under the reference measurement.
Keep the surroundings in the test
For Kendall Charcoal, inspect the darkest painted position with the ordinary lamps alone. Then compare a better-lit part of the same board. Decide whether the low-light silhouette is desirable; buying stronger bulbs solely to reproduce a daylight photograph may change the whole atmosphere of the room.
A lighting result needs a practical decision
Approve a sample below the worktop overhang; a showroom chip can understate the final shadow. The undertones and neighboring colors covers that related choice. The physical-sample checklist covers that related choice.
Record the condition that made Kendall Charcoal least convincing as well as its best view. If only a short period of daylight works, change the color or the room plan rather than ignoring the hours when the space is occupied. The north-facing room assessment covers that related choice. Before ordering samples, compare room-planning features in the paint color visualizer roundup.
Sources & notes
Color specifications: Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal HC-166. The recorded LRV is 14.61. Named comparison values come from the respective manufacturers; material schemes are editorial suggestions.
This guide reviews published color information and proposes practical sample checks. It does not claim first-hand paint testing or customer-review scores. Benjamin Moore does not sponsor or endorse this site. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Confirm the color in a physical sample and select the coating for the actual surface and finish.