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Which white paint for kitchen cabinets? BM Decorator white or White Dove?

14 years ago
Deciding between Benjamin Moore Decorator's white or White Dove for kitchen cabinets. The kitchen does not get much light. Looking for crisp white--don't want it to look too stark and don't want too much undertone. Any other suggestions welcome. My wall color will be gray and kitchen countertops are black granite. Backsplash is neutral tiles.

Comments (93)

  • 10 years ago

    @cr8amind, I tried decorators white (today) and in rooms with lots of natural light, it looks great, but my north facing room, it looked very gray/blue. My friend just redid her entire home reflective from SW and it looked very blue to me. I also don't want any blue or yellow undertones, now I'm looking at chantily lace from BM. Good luck.

  • 10 years ago

    cr8amind, what did you end up using? We're using Monte Cristo for our countertops, too, and are looking for the right white.

  • 10 years ago

    Will White Dove cabinets work with white appliances?

  • 10 years ago
    @vfmenzies I am not sure if white dove would look ok with white appliances? White dove is a soft white and I think a lot of white appliances are a bright, stark white. Maybe you could paint a swatch on a board to see how it looks? I will attach I picture of my white dove cabinets if that helps.
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I have BM Revere Pewter walls, stainless appliances and want to paint my kitchen cabinets white. I don't want stark white but also no cream or undertones. Any suggestions? Counters are being done after and I will pick accordingly. Island will be a darker grey. Thanks!

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Milk Glass DEW358 is a close match to White Dove.

  • 10 years ago

    @lisantril


    Revere Pewter, stainless, and white dove cabinets. and dusty floors.


    We did all our trim and ceilings (flat) in white dove--the only issue was in one bathroom where we used really white floor tiles. I did the trim Simply White in that room--White Dove can look pretty yellow if next to anything that is stark white--such as a lot of white marble-look quartz countertops, or even marble itself.



  • 10 years ago
    Funny enough today I had the kitchen in our rental house Painted Decorators white and the bathroom in my house painted White Dove.

    I like the Decorators white with the black and brushed / stainless elements in the kitchen.

    The tile in my bathroom and counter top fit slightly better with white dove, which feels slightly creamier.

    Hope that helps!
  • 9 years ago

    The best white for your space depends on the light in the room. My kitchen is dark also and so many of the whites recommended here look gray and dirty in my space. I am going with a creamy shade instead. You've got to get plenty of large samples up and look at them at various times of day to choose the right white.

  • 9 years ago

    I went with Chantilly Lace and I love it.

  • 9 years ago

    I just had a interior decorator in to help me pick a white for the cabinets. She suggested SW Panda White .

  • 9 years ago

    I am trying to decide on a BM white paint for my kitchen cabinets. I have Santa Cecilia Granite and light, wide plank, rustic wood floors. I'm looking for a white that is not a stark white, but one that isn't too yellow. Also seeking a white that goes with my granite. Advice???

  • 9 years ago
    I also went with Chantilly lace and love it. It is a bright white, some might consider it stark, but it looks clean and bright to me. I have high gloss white cabinets, porcelain tile in cement and walnut floors. Fyi
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Does Benjamin Moore White Dove go with white appliances, darker beautiful granite countertops, like a beige tile floor? I thought darker cabinets would make the white appliances stick out too much, and white white cabinets would be hard to match since there are so many different whites. So went with Dove White, which is kind of an off-white, and hope it goes well. Waiting for cabinets. Can send picture. I just don't like the coldness of stainless steel appliances although they make it easier to put it all together. Any comments or advice? Not sure how this works. Will they notify me if anyone replies to this post?

  • 9 years ago

    Can flyingwhiteninja or cr8amind post pics of your cabinets painted Chantilly Lace? That is my top choice now and would love to see a photo, thanks!

  • 9 years ago
    I didn't paint my cabinets Chantilly lace. I'm painting my kitchen walls that color. I have glossy white ringhalt doors.
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I used the white dove with my white appliances and it looks just fine. The granite is a brown pattern and backsplash a beige like a faux finish. the wall is a light beige. It's looking great! Will post a picture when it's done.

  • 9 years ago

    I want to paint my kitchen cabinets a white color. My walls are bm soft fern with dove white crown molding and woodwork. Should I paint the cabinets dove white too or go a darker shade?

  • 9 years ago

    Nancy White, what color are your appliances? Some people weren't happy with white dove with white appliances, but I love the way my kitchen looks with white dove and white appliances.. White dove is definitely great with SS appliances. The cabinet maker told me that 95% of the decorators he works with choose white dove for cabinets.


  • 9 years ago
    Nancy White, my crown molding and cabinets are both in white dove. It's been two and a half years since we remodeled our kitchen and I still love the color of the cabinets!
  • 9 years ago

    My appliances are stainless steel, my wall bm soft fern and woodwork and molding white dove. Should cabinets be painted white dove or darker color?

  • 9 years ago

    I think white dove would be really nice. I really love my white dove kitchen. Just my opinion.

  • 9 years ago

    Here is a link from a decorator about the different whites if you are going to do white: https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/colour-review-benjamin-moore-3-best-off-white-paint-colours/


  • 9 years ago
    Nancy, as you can see my appliances are stainless, the cabinets and crown molding are BM White Dove and the walls are BM Bar Harbor Beige. We remodeled 2 1/2 years ago and I still love the look! Hope this helps.
  • 9 years ago

    Looks beautiful!

  • 8 years ago

    @marcinki what is your countertop material used? granite?


  • 8 years ago
    @hartntex my counters are granite- black pearl
  • 8 years ago

    For the original poster or anyone else with this dilemma -- I have A LOT of trim and millwork in my house, all painted BM White Dove. In some rooms it does definitely look yellow, particularly in the bathroom up against the stark white bathtub and cool gray tile. Don't use for cabinets in a kitchen with carrera countertops and white appliances unless you don't mind the yellow undertones.


  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    We did the walls in our personal residence in White Dove in one sheen up from flat and the trim in semi-gloss White Dove. It turned out stunning so I used it on an investment home and it looked great there as well. In a third mid century modern house it was too yellow. I was shocked, especially after having bought enough paint to do the whole house. We ended up using Balboa Mist with Decorators White on the ceiling.


  • 8 years ago

    I am using BM Marble White. Has anyone used this colour on their kitchen cabinetry? It's very creamy and I'm stuck on what to use for counter tops.

  • 8 years ago
    Margee Showalter, what subway tiles did you use with your White Dove cabinets?
  • 7 years ago

    I have Cambria Ironsbridge countertops. What color Benjamin Moore can I paint my cabinets? It’s been a very frustrating dilemma!!!! Would also love a suggestion for backsplash

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago


    I have BM Decorators White on my walls

    with BM White trim, and am not sure which color white to paint my cabinets. I have black and stainless appliances with grey granite. I don’t want it to look to stark or harsh.

    Any help appreciate!

  • 7 years ago
    Easy answer is to match your trim.
  • 7 years ago

    I've found various houzz threads on white paint very helpful, so I'd like to pay it forward. I am renovating our kitchen (black-brown wood grain cabinets, Caesarstone Noble Gray counters, long white subway tile backsplash) and was looking for just the right white wall paint. Since the backsplash will be white, I wanted something true white that would not look yellow next to the tile, but not too stark. Our trim around the house is BM white dove and there are a couple doors in the kitchen that are painted BM white dove. Right next to the tile, though, the white dove looks too creamy, though elsewhere it looks more white and I love it where it is. I considered Simply White (OC-117), Moonlight White (OC-125), Decorator White (OC-149), Super White (OC-152), but ultimately decided and love Chantilly Lace (OC-65). It is bright, white, but doesn't feel institutional. I really like it. There is one area by our laundry where the white dove is next to the chantilly lace and they look like the same color. Phew!


    Good luck everyone!


  • 7 years ago
    what did you paint Chantilly Lace? your cabinets?
  • 7 years ago
    never mind, I see it was wall paint! would love to see a picture of it all!
  • 7 years ago
    Right now it's just on a wall but I'll try to remember to post a photo after we've installed backsplash.
  • 7 years ago
    I'd like to see your White Dove trim. my cabinets are White Dove although I really like my off the shelf white trim, I wonder what they would look like painted to match the cabinets. I kinda wish I had gone a little whiter with the cabinets!
  • 7 years ago

    Here are some pics. The sliding door is Chantilly, the very top trim is White Dove. there's also a pic of the trim on a doorway in White Dove.

  • 6 years ago

    Wow, talk about First World problems!

    I, too, wonder which white will go best (or at least not clash) with cool white quartz, chilly stainless steel, warm walnut veneer, cool white cabinets and honey-amber ash wood floors. Is there a white paint that can handle such a wide spectrum of warm and cool? Feels like Eeny Meanie Miney Moe might be the best option at this point.

    I'd be open to hiring a color consultant, if that helps, or should I just take my clueless self to the local paint store??

  • 6 years ago

    Following....

  • 6 years ago

    Yes Mittens Cat, SW Pure White. Its not stark looking either. Its just an elegant white that can sit right in there between cool and warm surroundings.

  • 6 years ago

    @M D, we actually ended up with Dunn Edwards' version of Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace and love it. :)

  • 4 years ago

    Anyone use White Dove in an east facing room?

  • 4 years ago

    White Dove is warm white and would look great in an east facing (cool light) room.

  • 4 years ago

    White has become so trendy now that a warm white like BM White Dove instead of a starker (cool) white may end up more palatable as we go forward.

  • 4 years ago

    Currently we have Bone White, so White Dove will feel stark! LOL I am finding that if i want the actual BM white dove it is a custom color — does anyone know of a company for which it is in the regular offerings?

  • 4 years ago

    White Dove is Benjamin Moore

  • 4 years ago

    Not sure I understand your question Christine Kaufman.