Essex Green Benjamin Moore New England House Trim

Essex Green Benjamin Moore

Time-Honored Tradition of Benjamin Moore Essex Green

There’s just something about Essex Green Benjamin Moore that feels like home—especially in New England.

This deep, rich shade has long been a favorite in the time-honored tradition of Benjamin Moore paints, known for their heritage of quality. From the white clapboard houses of Dorset, Vermont, to the charming streets of Essex, Connecticut, Essex Green trim adds that perfect pop of contrast—sophisticated yet subtle.

Here in coastal Maine, it’s a natural choice. Whether used to freshen up cedar shake siding or make a statement on crisp white trim, Essex Green’s great depth of color gives homes a fresh look without sacrificing history.

Regal and refined, it’s no wonder Benjamin Moore’s Essex Green remains a classic.

Exterior House Trim Details: Before

Our coastal Maine home has weathered many salty breezes and snowy seasons—and it shows! The trim on this house hadn’t seen a fresh coat of paint in nearly 30 years. Originally my parents’ beloved abode, the home has been full of stories, but also, let’s be honest… a bit of wear and tear.

When we inherited it, we knew it was time to give the cedar shake siding and tired trim the love they deserved. The once-blue trim had faded into a shade somewhere between soft denim and coastal ghost, and the cedar shakes had dulled from years of braving the elements.

We were ready to restore the home’s color vitality while honoring its New England charm—using just the right coats of paint to meet its precise paint needs. Enter Essex Green Benjamin Moore, a shade with richer hues and timeless character, perfect for coastal homes like ours.

Before

Here are a few “before” shots of the house, where you can really see how the trim had faded and the shakes had taken on that weathered patina (a polite way of saying “a bit rough around the edges”).

Front Door Before

This is the main entrance to our home, framed by two timeworn front doors that still hold their original charm. Hanging on either side are a vintage buoy and a nautical bell, nods to our home’s coastal roots. While the trim had clearly seen better days, the structure—and the soul—were still standing strong, just waiting for a little refresh

Cedar Shake Siding: Classic New England Charm

If you’ve spent any time in coastal New England, you’ve probably admired the weathered charm of cedar shake siding. It’s a time-honored favorite for good reason—rugged, rustic, and made to age gracefully with the sea air.

Cedar shakes are known for their durability and timeless good looks. They stand up to salty breezes, shifting seasons, and a wide variety of surfaces, developing that iconic silver-gray patina over time. That’s part of the beauty—it’s supposed to weather.

Pairing cedar shake siding with Essex Green Benjamin Moore trim, part of the historic color collection, creates a stunning contrast. The richer hues of the green bring depth and definition, making the shakes feel even more grounded in tradition. It’s a pairing that fits beautifully into any popular palette of classic coastal design.

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Learn how we restored this aged cedar shake siding, along with more photos of the Essex Green Benjamin Moore trim in this How We Restored Our Aged Cedar Shake Siding post.

Essex Green Trim: A Timeless Update with Benjamin Moore

When it came time to refresh the trim on our coastal Maine home, we chose one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular paint colors—Essex Green. It’s a timeless color with time-honored hues that feels right at home on a cedar shake house like ours.

We hired a local handyman to carefully paint each piece of trim and all of our storm window frames using Benjamin Moore Regal Select Paint, and the results speak for themselves.

Each storm window was painted while detached, then reinstalled in the fall—a seasonal tradition my dad made easy with ceiling beam hooks in the garage. Talk about Yankee ingenuity! Now every window pops with a richness and depth only Essex Green can provide.

Antique Accessories That Make Essex Green Shine

There’s something magical about how Essex Green pairs with vintage hardware and antique accessories. The trim color complements our old fisherman’s bell and weathered porch lighting fixture, both layered with years of patina.

These details feel meant to be—proof that time-honored hues can bring out the very best in historic coastal homes.

You may also enjoy this related post: White Petunias Antique Arrangement Ideas—a soft pairing to the deep greens of our new trim, full of even more vintage touches and floral inspiration.

A Perfect Introduction: Essex Green Front Doors

Our front doors now offer the perfect introduction to our coastal Maine home, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Essex Green—a most popular finish with beautiful hues that shift with the light.

After a rain shower, the deep green looks moody and rich against the cedar shake siding, while on sunny days, it brightens into a fresh, welcoming shade.

Paired with a white driftwood sailboat, this bold color adds just the right amount of charm and coastal personality.

Trim Color Pairings That Complement Essex Green

When it comes to choosing the right trim color to pair with Essex Green Benjamin Moore, it’s all about honoring your home’s architectural style and natural surroundings.

Whether you’re updating a historic home or leaning into contemporary spaces, testing a few swatches in different lighting is a must—especially if you’re working with the elegant colors of the Historical Collection.

Before you commit, stop by your local Benjamin Moore retailer and grab a few sample pots. Essex Green is versatile, but here are five classic trim pairings to help you get started:

Dorset Vermont Buildings with historical Essex Green Trim in every season

Essex Green in Every Season: A New England Classic

There’s just something about Essex Green Benjamin Moore paired with cedar shake siding and a dusting of snow that feels like pure New England charm. From sailboats in summer to snowshoes in winter, this rich, timeless color carries our home through every season with grace. One of my favorite views is the deep green trim framed by fresh snow—it’s cozy, crisp, and so classically coastal.

Even on less-than-perfect surfaces, this great product holds up beautifully, proving its place in the Historic Color Collection—and honestly, it could earn its spot as a future Color of the Year in my book!

And of course, we can’t forget Ella, our Bernese Mountain Dog, posing in front of the Essex Green front doors adorned with three festive wreaths—no snow needed for that picture-perfect moment.

Want to see more? I’ve linked a few favorite blog posts below to show how our home has evolved over the years since painting the trim. It’s been a transformation worth sharing.

Whether painting new trim or refreshing an older home, Essex Green by Benjamin Moore is a timeless choice that adds depth and elegance.

We used Benjamin Moore Aura paint for its rich coverage and easy-to-clean surface, and while every project varies, a rough estimate of two coats gave us beautiful, lasting results. Classic, durable, and full of character—Essex Green truly stands the test of time.

Oh, and I love how it matches our newest little gem, too; see more in this A Classic VW: Embracing the Vintage Vibe post.

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