The Naturals by Barry Dixon: A Color Story Inspired by Life Outdoors

When Color Tells a Story

When you step inside one of Barry Dixon’s interiors, it feels like your entering a modern-day fairytale. In addition to the meticulously imagines furnishings, textures, and colors, every space seems to tell a story  -- one where nature is the narrator. In his designs, you can feel the whisper of leaves outside his Virginia farmhouse, feel the play of light across rolling fields, and sense the calm that comes from being surrounded by acres of untamed beauty, complete with gardens, flowers, and his beloved barnyard friends. It's this inspiration that allows him such a unique perspective.

For Barry, design is storytelling through color. Each color represents a moment, a mood, or a memory drawn from the natural world. The Naturals Collection, created exclusively for C2 Paint, brings that philosophy to life through 84 soulful hues that encourage you to look to nature to write your own story

“Color isn’t just something we see, it’s something we feel. These colors are drawn from the deepest wells of memory and materials—earth, air, fire, and water.” - Barry

Inspired by Life on the Land 

A Virginia-based designer, Barry draws endless inspiration from his farm in Fauquier County — a place teeming with rescue animals, centuries-old trees, and the shifting beauty of the seasons. Each morning’s mist, every shadow of a grazing horse, and every sunset glow becomes part of his creative vocabulary.

The result is a color collection that feels alive, layered, and profoundly connected to the natural world.

Layered, Lived-In, and Lasting

Featured color: Bittervine, BD-45

Barry’s interiors are much like his colors; they never feel rushed or contrived. They are layered with meaningful pieces, rich textures, and the patina that only time can create.

The Naturals Collection translates that philosophy into paint color. These shades are meant to bring the outside in, to adapt with shifting light, and to feel just as relevant decades from now as they do today. Think of them as forever colors that quietly anchor a home and grow more beautiful over time.

The Four Elements of Design

Rooted in the balance of the four elements—earth, air, fire, and water—The Naturals Collection celebrates nature’s rhythm and the beauty of contrast.

• Earth: Grounding, textural neutrals like Fieldstone BD14 and Rich Loam BD21 provide structure and warmth.
  

• Air: Ethereal hues such as Goat’s Milk BD1 and Cool Fog BD9 create calm, light-filled spaces.
  

• Water: Tranquil tones like Well Water BD18 and Pond Shimmer BD24 bring serenity and flow.
  

• Fire: Passionate colors such as Watermelon Rind BD79 infuse life and energy into any room.
  

Each element works seamlessly together, offering designers and homeowners a balanced palette that makes choosing color easy and approachable.

Designing with The Naturals

Featured color: Savoy Cabbage, BD-81

To live with The Naturals is to live in harmony with the world around you. Try these styling ideas: 

• Pair earth and air tones to balance warmth and light.

• Use water hues in bathrooms or bedrooms to create tranquility.

• Anchor large spaces with deeper shades 

• Introduce “fire” accents in art, trim, or a single feature wall.

• Layer natural textures (linen, wood, stone) to echo the palette’s organic spirit.

• Bring the outside in with natural light and organic materials like linen drapes, woven baskets, and handmade ceramics accentuate the palette’s organic feel.

More Than Paint; It’s a Philosophy of Living

Featured color: Pale Bone, BD-2

The Naturals Collection is about creating a connection to nature, to light, and to life itself. Each color carries a sense of history and home, a reminder that design grounded in nature never fades. From Barry's farm to your living room, this collection invites you to bring the outside in…to slow down, look closer, and rediscover beauty in the simple things.

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