Kemp Kelly is the most flexible accent family in residential paint — works as both a whole-room neutral when desaturated and a confident statement when saturated. At LRV 16 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Skip it only if your fixed finishes (flooring, stone, tile) already lean hard warm or cool enough to clash — otherwise it's one of the most forgiving families.
Ref. #437B48 · DET526
Kemp Kelly
16%LRV Value
Kemp Kelly Technical Profile
What color is Dunn-Edwards Kemp Kelly (DET526)? It's a deep cool green — hex #437B48, LRV 16. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Kemp Kelly is Hirshfield's Melbourne — a near-identical match on the wall, with Vista Paint Melbourne also close. With an LRV of 16, Kemp Kelly creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Pair it with off-whites like Simply White, walnut or rift-cut oak floors, and mixed metals — brass for warmth, matte black for grounding. Terracotta and rust accents add warm contrast. At mid saturation, this color sits at a flexible mid-point — bold enough to anchor a room without dominating, and pairs cleanly with both crisp and creamy whites. Greens shift the most under different light. 2700K warms them toward olive or yellow-green; 4000K daylight reveals their true tone. Bluer greens especially benefit from north-facing daylight. At mid saturation the lighting shift is moderate but real — sample under both warm-bulb evening light and cool-daylight morning light before committing.
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Colors Similar to Kemp Kelly
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Kemp Kelly
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Kemp Kelly
#437B48
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#60917D
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Kemp Kelly
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Kemp Kelly Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors
Other Dunn-Edwards colors close to Kemp Kelly.
More green colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the green family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Kemp Kelly — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Kemp Kelly from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Kemp Kelly are Melbourne by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Melbourne by Vista Paint (a very close match), Signal Green by RAL (a very close match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Kemp Kelly's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Kemp Kelly?
Kemp Kelly has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 15.8, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Kemp Kelly
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Kemp Kelly depends on the room. Here's how to choose.