What 14.61 tells you about Kendall Charcoal
The published LRV of Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal HC-166 is 14.61. It describes light reflectance; it does not specify an undertone or predict the brightness of your room. Kendall Charcoal is a deep gray that can provide a strong cabinet outline beside white stone.
The choice beside white counters and oak floorboards
The counter overhang creates a more demanding view than the showroom wall, so that position should inform the depth decision.
Draw the proposed dark area on a room photograph and compare it with a broad physical Kendall Charcoal sample in shadow. The LRV describes the starting depth, while the size and location of that area determine its role. Check whether adjacent dark furniture remains legible.
What the comparison can—and cannot—settle
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. Kendall Charcoal is a deep charcoal gray. The value measures reflectance, so it cannot by itself identify an undertone, a coating finish or the amount of illumination needed in the room. The daylight and evening-light checks covers that related choice.
Approve a sample below the worktop overhang; a showroom chip can understate the final shadow. Do not read LRV 14.61 as a percentage improvement in perceived room brightness. Make the decision with the board upright at the actual wall or cabinet position, including the least illuminated portion. 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.