Blue is back, but not the bright kind. Pittsburgh Paints Artifact is the brand’s 2027 Color of the Year, a grayed, smoky blue that feels calm instead of loud. For Charlotte-area homeowners thinking about a kitchen refresh, a cozier bedroom or new siding color, here’s what Artifact looks like, what goes with it and how we’d paint it.
SouthEnd Painting is not affiliated with, certified by or endorsed by Pittsburgh Paints or PPG. Our crews use Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr, Valspar and PPG, and we’re happy to help you choose and apply whichever color you like.
Wait, Isn’t That PPG?
Yes. The brand many painters know as PPG Paints is going back to its original name, Pittsburgh Paints. The company says labels will change over the next few years, so you may see both names on the shelf for a while. Color names and PPG numbers stay the same, so Artifact PPG10-16 is the code to ask for either way.
What Artifact Looks Like
Artifact sits in the middle of the light scale, with a light reflectance value (LRV) of about 21, where 0 is black and 100 is white. In our words: think of a stormy lake or worn denim. It has enough gray to feel grown-up and enough warmth that it doesn’t turn icy in a north-facing room. The brand announced it on Sept. 14, 2026, and said it was inspired by water and meant for both homes and businesses.
Because it’s a mid-depth color, Artifact changes a lot with light. In a sunny Charlotte kitchen it reads soft blue-gray; in a dim hallway it can look close to slate. Always test a sample on your own wall before committing.
Where Artifact Works Best
- Kitchen cabinets: Painted lower cabinets or an island in Artifact, with lighter uppers or walls, is a timeless two-tone look. Brass or black hardware both suit it.
- Bedrooms and home offices: A full room in Artifact feels quiet and enclosed in a good way. Pair it with white trim and ceilings so it doesn’t close in.
- Built-ins and accent walls: Bookcases, a fireplace wall or the back of a mudroom bench are low-risk places to try a deeper color.
- Front doors and shutters: Outside, Artifact makes a calm door color on white, cream or gray siding, and it sits nicely next to red brick.
- Whole-house siding: On fiber cement or wood siding, it gives a coastal feel that fits from Lake Norman down to Charleston.
Colors That Pair With Artifact
These all come from the same 2027 palette Pittsburgh Paints built around Artifact. The descriptions and pairing ideas are ours.
- Commercial White PPG1025-1: a clean, soft white (LRV about 83) for trim, ceilings and cabinet uppers.
- Wheat Sheaf PPG14-21: a warm cream (LRV about 65) that softens Artifact on cabinets or walls next to it.
- Synchronicity PPG1021-2: a light greige (LRV about 57) for open living areas that flow into an Artifact kitchen or den.
- Smoky Slate PPG1028-4: a pale gray-green (LRV about 34) for a hallway or neighboring room.
- Thyme Green PPG1128-6: a muted herb green (LRV about 19) for a moody study or a second accent.
- Dusty Trail PPG1097-4: a sandy tan (LRV about 50), an easy siding color with an Artifact door and shutters.
- Caravel Brown PPG1079-6 and Carob Chip PPG1047-7: a mid brown (LRV about 17) and a deep chocolate (LRV about 8) for front doors, stained-look accents or a dramatic bar area.
Two easy schemes
- Two-tone kitchen: Artifact lowers and island, Commercial White uppers and trim, Wheat Sheaf walls.
- Exterior refresh: Dusty Trail siding, Commercial White trim, Artifact shutters and a Carob Chip front door.
How We’d Paint It
- Cabinets need real prep. Cabinet boxes and doors should be cleaned, degreased, sanded and primed before any color goes on, so the finish grips and holds up to daily use. Our finish carpentry crew can also handle trim and built-ins in the same project.
- Coats matter with blues. We apply 2 to 3 coats on every job, and when a surface is in rough shape we start with a primer plus two topcoats. That gives a mid-tone like Artifact even, rich color without thin spots.
- Be careful with darker colors on vinyl. We repaint faded vinyl siding with paint that has a PVC additive, but mid-to-deep shades absorb more heat. On vinyl we usually save Artifact for doors and shutters. Our vinyl siding painting guide explains why.
- Fix the wood first. Outside, we replace rotted trim, caulk gaps and pressure wash before painting.
- Check with your HOA. Many Charlotte-area neighborhoods need approval for exterior color changes.
Let SouthEnd Paint Your Artifact Project
SouthEnd Painting & Roofing Contractors paints interiors, exteriors, cabinets, trim and built-ins across Charlotte and a 65-mile radius, including Ballantyne, Waxhaw, Indian Trail, Mooresville, Huntersville, Cornelius, Gastonia, Belmont, Fort Mill, Rock Hill and Indian Land, plus Myrtle Beach and the Charleston area. Repaints are most of what we do. See our interior painting and exterior house painting pages, then call (704) 522-0000 or request a free estimate.
Sources: Pittsburgh Paints, Artifact 2027 Color of the Year announcement (Sept. 14, 2026); Pittsburgh Paints, 2027 Color of the Year page; Pittsburgh Paints, Introducing Pittsburgh Paints; Pittsburgh Paints color pages for Artifact PPG10-16, Commercial White PPG1025-1, Wheat Sheaf PPG14-21, Synchronicity PPG1021-2, Smoky Slate PPG1028-4, Thyme Green PPG1128-6, Dusty Trail PPG1097-4, Caravel Brown PPG1079-6 and Carob Chip PPG1047-7 (checked Oct. 22, 2026). Color names, numbers and LRVs are as listed by Pittsburgh Paints; the color descriptions are our own. Photo: Laura Meinhardt on Pexels, Pexels License, cropped (source); the kitchen is for illustration and isn’t painted in a Pittsburgh Paints color.
