Off-white cabinets - what to do about the trim and ceiling colors?

13 years ago

Hi! We just had our cabinets installed and they turned out a lot more cream than white to my eye. We have "classic white" dura supreme cabinets. I'd post a photo, but they are all taped up for painting already. We were going to do bright white trim and white ceilings, but now that the cabinets are up I can't image that would look good. So I've decided to go off-white trim (haven't chosen the specific shade yet -maybe BM Cotton Balls or Dove White or ?). I don't know what to do about the ceilings? Contractor says go white, but I'm concerned it will look unfinished or worse, make the cabinets and trim look yellow/dirty. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

Ps the walls are likely going to be BM Harbor Gray or Smoke Embers and we have a large exposed brick wall that will not be painted. We have an open floor plan and want to keep it consisten for the entire floor of the brownstone.

Featured Answer

feeny

13 years ago

last modified: 13 years ago

Just so you know you can do it, we have our trim, ceiling, and cabinets all the same color-- ivory. I think having the trim the same or a similar color to the cabinets is the most important. But I like the consistency of having the cabinets set the level of white for the kitchen, and I do feel that cream or ivory cabinets can end up looking too yellow or muddy against a stark white. It isn't a problem to have the opposite happening, as in Bobbi's kitchen. The off white ceiling makes the white cabinets look whiter, and that always looks good. It's the same thing with back splashes--white cabinets against back splashes that are a shade or two creamier look lovely and bright. Cream cabinets against stark white back splashes look too yellow. I don't have a good picture to show you how this happens with trim and ceilings, but here are two examples with back splashes so you can see what I mean about the effect. In the first the putty-white tile is a few shades darker than the cabinets and grout, and I think it looks gorgeous. In the second the tile and ceiling are considerably whiter than the cream cabinets, and to me it looks off (though others must like this effect or they wouldn't choose it):

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Comments (38)

charleee
13 years ago
I have the opposite issue, my cabinets are appliance white and my ceiling is off white. It really doesn't look bad at all. My walls are also appliance white to make for a consistant sight line. A bright white ceiling will make your kitchen look brighter.
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feeny
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
One more note. If we are talking about really subtle differences between whites I don't think it is a problem. It's only if the cabinets are truly a cream that, IMO, the problem arises with stark whites against them.

And one final, totally off topic, note to Bobbi: I LOVE your new photo of your dog in his snuggie!
charleee
13 years ago
Thank you feeny! He does love his bath!
charleee
13 years ago
feeny, in your second pic the white backsplash makes the cabinets look yellow, almost as yellow as the rug square closest to the refrigerator leg. Don't like yellow!
feeny
13 years ago
I agree. But those same cabinets with no pure whites in the kitchen would look creamier (and I think nicer).
feeny
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Here's perhaps a better example of the effect of cream cabinets with white trim and ceiling. But, as I said above, this is only a problem if the cabinets truly are cream and not just a variation on white (and many people might not consider it a problem):
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charleee
13 years ago
Way to many shades of neutral in that room!!!
User
13 years ago
Try half formula of the wall color on the ceiling, to really pop it and similar to cabinet color for trim.
Good Taste
13 years ago
You need to consider the floor colour and the colour of the rest of the house.
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
13 years ago
I would have your painter match the white of the cabinets for your trim color. The ceiling I would paint the same color as the walls, Harbor Gray or Smoke Embers.
Natalie
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Hi---I recommend nothing lighter than the color of your cabinets going into the space. Match the ceiling and trim to your cabinet color---or 1-2 shades darker. Backsplash a mix of colors---what is your countertop??? Pull color from counter, cabinets, and wall color into the backsplash and I'm not 100% sure about your color selection for walls. One is ash undertone, the other bluish purple----I suggest going with a warm taupe/gray color since the cabs have a yellow undertone. Look at colors: SW 7036 Accessible Beige, SW 7037 Balanced Beige, and SW 7038 Tony Taupe, they're all on the same paint chip... See which one looks best with your cabs, floors, counters, and brick... Hope this is helpful---Good Luck!
PRO
StoneMar Natural Stone Company LLC
13 years ago
My gut is to recommend matching the trim to the cabinets. Use a warm-ish white for the ceiling, or be bold and use a lighter tone of the grey from your walls.
stegonwheels
Original Author
13 years ago
Wow! Thanks so much for all the great advice. You guys are fantastic. Went to the local paint store this afternoon to check out some more samples. They painted a dap of White Dove on the cabinet sample and it looked great. So that's done for the trim. Then we switched it up for the wall color and are going with Kennebunkport green. The countertops are going to be Silestone blanco stellar and the backsplash is a large format tile from porcelenosa in Gris. It's grey, very light reflective and quite pretty. It picks up the grey in the countertop so well. The floor is wood - yet to be stained- but probably going to be on the medium to dark side. The ceiling paint color is the last piece of the puzzle. I'm still debating white vs white dove?
feeny
13 years ago
White dove is a fabulous color. I'd use it on the ceiling in a minute. It will look white, but not be stark.
stegonwheels
Original Author
13 years ago
Feeny- totally agree with your comment about the white backsplash. I had such troubles at the tile store. That's how I figured out just how cream my cabinets are! The grey backsplash is great though.
feeny
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
I love gray back splashes with white cabinets. They look fabulous. And if white dove works as trim with your cabinets, they definitely aren't too creamy--just a nice off white. I think it sounds like your kitchen is going to be gorgeous!
stegonwheels
Original Author
13 years ago
Question about a white dove ceiling - guy at the paint store said it may end up looking dirty. Thoughts?
feeny
13 years ago
Well, I've certainly seen white dove used on a ceiling, and it didn't look the least bit "dirty". But it was in a bathroom where the walls were also white dove, and the trim was dark wood. I think whites look whiter or yellower or grayer only in context, next to different whites or different colors which reflect on them. But if you are worried about the ceiling, you can always use a 50% reduction of the wall color as others have suggested. That will look lovely on the ceiling too.
User
13 years ago
white dove ceiling here

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stegonwheels
Original Author
13 years ago
Here's a few photos - backsplash with other swatches and the the kitchen in progress. ones of the kitchen are a little old, but you get the idea
User
13 years ago
white dove should be great.
feeny
13 years ago
I think all your grays are going to be lovely with those cabinets, and I love that you are keeping the exposed brick wall!
PRO
Dura Supreme Cabinetry
13 years ago
I would recommend taking a Dura paint chip of the cabinetry and bring it to your local paint store or contractor so that they can match the cabinetry color. You could use this matched color for the ceilings and trim. Or you could use this matched color for your trim and have the ceilings an off-white gray tone to go with Harbor Gray walls. Using these options the ceiling will either tie in with the cabinetry or tie in with the walls depending on what you prefer and everything will look consistant.

If you’d like a color chip ordered you can email me at mandij@durasupreme.com. You can also perchase molding from Dura Supreme to match your cabinetry if you want to go that route as well.
Barbara
10 years ago
This helped me so much. Now I am certain I want the cabinets, trim and ceiling white! Thanks! love feeny - kitchenlab photo!
PRO
Dura Supreme Cabinetry
10 years ago
We hope everyone has a very, merry Christmas! Check out this "Dreaming of a White Christmas" video to see many beautiful kitchens and other rooms with white cabinetry... https://www.instagram.com/p/_XrFpuwwNY/?taken-by=durasupreme
jins1
10 years ago
Need help finding a wall color.

We are debating making the floors a hardwood (same as front of the house as you can see in one of the pics) but if we don't, I can't figure out which color to paint the wall. The cabinets are a light off white color. I am also debating painting the island a different color so that there aren't so many neutral colors in the room. I've heard of greige and am debating doing some version of that color?
jins1
10 years ago
Oh sorry, didn't mean to post that in your space!!
jazzy707070
8 years ago
How about painting the walls a black and if you want to change up the island paint ir a putty beige picking one of the colors out of your floor. Black may seem extreme for your walls but with all your white cabinets I think it would hold its own nicely. Plus from what I can see through the door way it would complement the wood flooring in the other parts of the house.

Take a look at other dark/black walls in "Photos". There are various shades of black. I prefer ones with a little bit of warmth unless going contemporary.
denise lincoln
8 years ago
We are refinishing our kitchen and I decided to go with very light cream cabinets. We are going to have a coffer ceiling using wainscot. We also have wainscot on the lower half of our walls topped with a chair rail. I decided to paint the ceiling wainscot cream (Benjamin Moore - Mayonnaise) and the coffer beams and crown moulding white (Benjamin Moore - Chantilly Lace) I'm not sure if I should paint the wainscot on the walls Mayonnaise and the chair rail Chantilly Lace to match the ceiling or all one color or the other. I've seen some posts that da it is ok to match cream and white and other posts saying absolutely not.. either one color or the other.
denise lincoln
8 years ago
ooops sorry didn't mean to post this under your question...
denise lincoln
8 years ago
a cool greige would be nice and then I would paint the walls a similar version.
Caroline Parrish
7 years ago
Hi, do you have a photo of your Dura Supreme classic white cabinets with the dove white trim? We just had our trim painted and it looks so much lighter, although the paint swatch matched almost perfectly. Not sure what to do at this point!
Danielle Monaghan Brown
7 years ago
I have a similar issue...but what do I do if my cabinets are cream but the windows are white? And the window trim in every room is also already white.
PRO
Dura Supreme Cabinetry
6 years ago
Caroline, I recommend taking a small drawer front off and bring into your local paint supplier and have them match the finish.
krisclark3
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
What about in an open floor plan. Am I stuck with trim matching my cabinets everywhere? Won’t the white things in the house just make it all look dingy? if the crown molding is only in the kitchen and matches the cabinets, can I do the rest of the trim and windows in a brighter white?
Brianna Reed
6 months ago
We are struggling with a very similar situation. We have redone the bathrooms and painted the halls in the house. I would love to brighten up baseboards but I don’t want to replace cabinets and blinds…
Brianna Reed
6 months ago
I have tried different paints with the cabinets and none of them seem to work very well. I would really love to brighten the space more, but also want to try to maintain some cohesion in the home. Here is a photo of the whole way and the great room. Our house is pretty open for a plan. Any help would be appreciated or suggestions