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tlparks

Stark white vs warm white paint in remodel- HELP

9 years ago

I'm confused and exhausted trying to find the RIGHT white for my cabinets and trim in my lake home remodel. I have made multiple trips to pick up and study lots of white paint chips, but I just can't find the one. I originally wanted to go with a little bit of a warm white since stark white scares me. It doesn't seem to give me that warm and cozy feeling I'm looking for. But when I study some popular and recommended warm whites, they end up looking too yellow to me. The house doesn't get a lot of direct light. I had thought about using SW Repose Gray on the walls, if that helps the discussion. TIA

Comments (10)

  • 9 years ago

    Part of the problem is that you're trying to choose accessories before you've chosen the outfit. Buy a sample container of your preferred wall colour and paint a very large posterboard or foam-core sheet with it. Tack the board to a wall and see what you think. Try it on another wall. Do you still like it? Try it at night with some and all of the lights turned on. If it survives those tests, it's a good colour for you. And you can finally get to picking a trim colour.

    It's much easier to decide what you don't like than what you do. So do that: get paint chips in every white you think might work and even some that you don't. Tape them to your wall colour sample board. Stand back and have a look. Now remove any you instantly dislike. Once they're gone, they're garbage. You never look at them again. Now move the board to another wall. Remove the failing trim colours. Repeat at night time. Give yourself time to do this. It's not instant, especially as you narrow your choices. Walk by the board at different times of day. If you don't like a chip, remove it.

    Eventually (it usually takes me about a week), you'll get down to a couple colours. Then you can decide which you like best.

    tlparks thanked Jennifer K
  • 9 years ago

    Yes, I usually go through the process pretty much like that. I didn't realize there were so many white choices. I just didn't know what specific names of whites that might fit the bill for my wishes. Lean towards gray toned whites?

  • 9 years ago

    Sw snowbound or sw eider white or sw incredible white might work for you. Warm but not yellow.

    tlparks thanked User
  • 9 years ago
    Have you already selected your flooring and countertops?
    tlparks thanked simstress
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I thought I had flooring, but my husband didn't want anything but our dark hardwood flooring, so I guess that's what we will go with. Haven't officially chosen counter top, and I know that's what should come first, but I already know it will be a quartz or quartzite that is quite white, maybe even a marble look. Thank you, truey, for the suggestion. I will check out those colors

  • 9 years ago

    tlparks thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    Is the dark hardwood floor existing? If you will be installing new floor, I urge you to look at other options. All of my friends who put in dark floors have regretted it. It shows every speck of dust and pet hair. Check out SW Alabaster as well. Good luck!

    tlparks thanked simstress
  • 9 years ago
    We used BM distant grey with our floors, white oak stained with antique walnut. Yes, dark floors show dust and dirt, however, we find the time necessary to keep them clean is minimal.
    tlparks thanked Diane
  • 9 years ago

    Ok, I am seriously considering Viatera Celeste as my counter top. Now does anyone know of a good white to put with it for the cabinet color?