Guests Constantly Ask About This Hotel's Blue Paint—We ID'd the Exact Hue

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OK but can we talk about how we're ALL trying to make our homes feel like a really nice hotel? Every time I stay somewhere new, I can't help but ask the staff about the thread count of the sheets or what candle they've got burning in the lobby. But for guests at the Lake House on Canandaigua, a 124-room retreat in New York's Finger Lakes region that opened in 2020, it's not products they're obsessing over—it's paint. Chris Pulito, the hotel's general manager, estimates he gets asked "What's the paint color in the library?" around 50 times each month. "More than once per day, on average," Pulito clarifies.

Here's the thing about the Library Bar—it's a total departure from the rest of the Lake House's light, bright, airy vibe, and that's exactly why people can't stop talking about it. "We wanted to create tucked-away spaces that guests could retreat to for a change in atmosphere and experience," shares Lyndsay Caleo Karol, the creative director of the Brooklyn Home Company, which designed the hotel in collaboration with Post Company. When you turn the corner from the main entry, you're hit with a sea of blue. The walls, ceiling, shelves, and even the fireplace mantel are drenched in a rich shade that's not quite royal but not quite navy. So what is it? Benjamin Moore's Gentleman's Gray. I'm honestly obsessed.

OK, for a room that is so clearly blue, it's honestly hilarious that the name of the hue isn't at all. But the designers weren't out to pick a shade with a catchy label—they were all about referencing the surrounding landscape. "We were able to play with this idea throughout the various spaces—shades of blue—as a reflection of the changing light on the lake," says Karol. By going with a high-gloss finish, they amplified the glow from the big fireplace plus those gorgeous concave pendant lamps and sconces scattered around. "It's an amazing color that allows natural light during the day to brighten up the room," says Pulito. Trust me, it works.

Polo Blue, Benjamin Moore

Vanderberg Blue, Benjamin Moore

And here's the best part—Gentleman's Gray isn't the only cool-blue paint color worth stealing from the Lake House. The hotel's Rose Tavern features Polo Blue, and the cozy Willow Room nearby is dressed in Vanderberg Blue. In the restaurant space, the shade was picked to anchor the soaring white ceiling, while in the adjacent cozy lounge-slash-dining area, it reads almost black. And get this—ensuring the surfaces stay scuff-free, the hotel has a dedicated painter on the property who works 40 hours a week touching up any imperfections. If only we could steal him for our own homes, right?

Lydia Geisel has been on the editorial team at Domino since 2017. Today, she writes and edits home and renovation stories, including house tours, before and afters, and DIYs, and leads our design news coverage. She lives in New York City.

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