The Designer Edit

Sep 25

3 min read

Moodboard with soft textures, an African sculpture, and rich materials. Text reads "A Visual Ode to Transition." Calm vibe.

For Ring’s End We Design CT Class of 2026, four Connecticut designers were invited to create a collective palette of eight Benjamin Moore colors, with each designer selecting two.

The finished palette was featured on a postcard included in more than 200 gift bags for Designing Greenwich, alongside the designers’ bios and studio information.

For me, choosing my two colors was an opportunity to think about Connecticut through my own design lens, and what this place feels like to me.

The We Design CT Class of 2026 palette created for Designing Greenwich 2026.

My Two Picks

Vintage Vogue

I knew I wanted Vintage Vogue almost immediately.

I’m naturally drawn to moody colors with depth, and this rich, smoky green had that quality I love. It has presence without feeling harsh, and I could immediately imagine it paired with warm woods, antique pieces, layered textiles, and collected objects.

It felt very much like me!

Small sailboats on a rocky shore at sunset, with calm water, pink-orange sky, and green bushes in the foreground.

Northern Air

This color pushed me a little outside of my usual comfort zone, which was exactly why I wanted it.

When I think about Connecticut, I think about contrast. There are lush landscapes, gardens, and tree lined streets, but there’s also the shoreline and the blue waters of Long Island Sound.

Northern Air made me think about that softer, coastal side of Connecticut. It feels fresh, airy, and a little unexpected. Sometimes the colors that challenge you a little are the ones that end up being the most interesting.

Four Designers. Eight Colors.

What I loved most was seeing all eight colors together.

Each designer brought a distinct aesthetic, clientele, and point of view to the project, yet the colors worked beautifully as a collection. Different perspectives, one sense of place.

There isn’t one way to interpret the place we call home.

A Little Connecticut, in Color

Good design should always feel connected to the people and places behind it.

For this palette, that meant thinking about the Connecticut I know: historic, coastal, green, sometimes moody, sometimes light.

Bring the Palette Home

Paint is only one layer of a room. The real magic happens when color is layered with furniture, textiles, lighting, art, antiques, and the objects that make a space feel personal.

I’ve started curating some of the pieces I’m loving right now over on ShopMy, from decorative objects and textiles to furniture and lighting.

Stylish decor still life with flowers, candles, glass vases, tray, and fluffy beige pillow; text reads shop my and SHOP MY FINDS →

A special thank you to Ring’s End and Benjamin Moore for inviting me to be part of We Design CT 2026, and to the other designers who made this such a fun collaboration.

Meet the We Design CT Class of 2026 →

anpil lanmou (lots of love),

Naïka

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Smiling woman with curly hair, wearing a gray sweater and ripped jeans, sits against a patterned arch background with a cheerful mood.

Naïka J. Andre

Naïka Andre is an interior designer and home expert based in Stamford, Connecticut. As the founder of NJA Interiors, she creates soulful, vibrant spaces that optimize how people live in their homes. Known for her bold use of color, layered textures, and global influences, Naïka brings a fresh and fearless approach to design.

Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, HGTV, Good Housekeeping, Domino, Business of Home, and more. When she’s not designing, Naïka loves traveling and getting lost in an antique store.