Your right. It is almost impossible to know if whites are going to work well together without large samples. Flooring is a huge investment and being absolutely confident takes more than a plank or store sample. When I chose flooring I ordered a single box of flooring (9 s ft) so I could see it laid out in my space. I purchased paint colors in the sample size and got large 240 lb water color paper (12"x18") and painted 2 coats of each color on a separate sheet. I had a 1/2 sheet of drywall that I had painted white so I could test how the colors would work without seeing the current colors surrounding my samples. I placed the color sheets on the drywall and moved them around the house and lived with the colors, looking at them at different times of the day in each room. I also got a sample of my tile, counter tops and gathered samples of my upholstered furniture, bed linens and towels. I took all of my sample outside on a clear day and looked at everything together in natural daylight to make sure that everything worked together (nothing beats natural daylight for seeing unwanted undertones).

When I assist others with selecting paint colors I generally go with the same process, making sure they are seeing exactly what they are choosing rather than guess that it will make them happy after things have been painted.

Don't mix C marble and soapstone. Please. Before anything? Post a photo of the existingkitchen, whic we will assume is getting only cosmetic changes.Ie Paint, counters floor etc.

I agree those 2 do not work together. I would very much like to see your space . I always address lighting before choosing colors so change all your bulbs to LEDs in 4000K that mimics bright sunlight and gives true colors day and night. I really dislike plantation shutters IMO they are too heavy looking in most homes and in a dark wood even worse. I hate that they block light and views and removal is one of the biggest changes you can make in a space. I started removing them in Calgary about 15 yrs ago for clients. If light and heat control and daytime privacy is an issue go with solar shades , they handle all those issues and you get to keep the view and the light. I usually mix them with drapes if nighttime privacy is an issue. As for wall color do as Jennifer suggested and keep whites to one choice they are difficult to mix successfully all have undertones .

I’m not sure about Carrara and soapstone, but marble and soapstone is classic. I have a statuary marble island and soapstone perimeter. Maybe look for a whiter marble. Also you didn’t say which soapstone. There are grey, green, & black.

@Jennifer Hogan @JAN MOYER @Patricia Colwell Consulting @Steph Here's a picture (on a white background - I'll edit my original post to include). My flooring will be stained on site at the end of the work but I had a sample(ish) done to give me an idea. The soapstone is PA so nearly black and the marble is more white (venitino) not the blue/gray carrara. My lighting is all being changed to recessed. So really starting from scratch thus trying to keep it classic and neutral so I can go in lots of directions in choosing new furniture and other items after the work is all done. I want my cabinets/trim/doors/shutters all one color - looking at extra white to keep clean so it will work with most anything. I'm updating honey oak cabinets/trim/doors to painted (hoping extra white isn't going to shock my system LOL). I think the Alabaster would give the walls some warmth but still be fresh (current walls are that goldy-beige). My contractor uses Sherwin Williams so I'll being using that and don't want to try and color match from BM or others. I want to be able to bring in warm accents through rugs etc and have some pictures I love that are deeper/muted which I think will give a nice contrast and I love a mixed look with new/old. Thus, needing to know if these color choices will give me the freshness with some warmth and allow me lots of flexibility with decorating. Thanks!

First we are missing a huge decision maker - back splash. It only comes in so many colors and since it is on the same plane as the cabinets it must work perfectly with the cabinet color.

Always look at your counter and back splash as they will appear in your kitchen - counter laying flat with the back splash going up the wall.

Once you find the back splash we can move forward with finding appropriate paint colors that work with the counter and back splash.

There really isn't a white that works with everything, especially with other whites. Each white will have a slightly different color and a really crisp blue white like extra white will make a lot of other whites look dirty.

A white shirt can look really clean and crisp with a dark gray suit until you pick out a tie and it has a crisper, bluer white and suddenly the shirt looks dingy.

To me the Extra White makes Alabaster look slightly green and kind of dirty.

Often the best answer is to find one white and use different sheens on different surfaces.

Glossy on cabinets and trim, eggshell on walls, flat on ceilings. The other option is to pick a white for the cabinets, trim and ceiling and select a really light color for walls. The wall color can be close to white, but different enough to make it feel intention. If they are too close in lightness one or the other will feel dirty or gray or blue or green or pink or something and it will look like a mistake vs an intentional design decision.

One other thing - too bright of a white on walls can look institutional, adding a bit of color makes it light and bright and inviting.

@Jennifer Hogan Backsplash I'd like to do in the marble subway tiles that will mimic the island. I do agree I need some more color on the walls for the main color so maybe the SW Alabaster might be too light of a wall color for the house and maybe rethink the all over white trim/cabinets - either SW extra white or SW pure white is nice too and a little softer and both look okay with the marble. I had initially looked at BM colors however my contractor only uses SW so I'd like to stick with those and not color match. I did like the BM gray owl at first for the kitchen with the white cabinets, the soapstone and marble.

@Tracie Craig This is actually my inspiration kitchen :) I've nixed the white walls and am leaning in the direction of SW Drift of Mist for the walls in the main open areas and using SW Extra White for doors/trim/kitchen cabinets as it gives a soft color and a nice clean freshness and contrast with the extra white. I think using a gray/blue/green in the kitchen would work well with the white cabinets, wood floors, soapstone counters and white marble island. Gray Owl might work or something similar that would blend beautifully with the countertops. If you are familiar with SW Drift of Mist, I'd love your thoughts on using it in the open area that is visible with the kitchen and using the Gray Owl (or something that color range) in the kitchen (but maybe with the Drift of Mist might need a touch more green than the Gray Owl). Even thought the family room and kitchen flow together they do have some wall separation even though they open up to each other.

Hi Nancy, my kitchen has most of the colors/ finishes you're are debating; SW 7006 on trim & cabinets, soapstone counters & a marble backsplash. My floors look to be a bit redder than your selected finish. My walls are BM Pale Oak (color matched by SW, by the way). Thought it might help your to see these IRL.

Helene

@mihelene YOU are my kitchen angel :) This is absolutely the look I'm going for and so happy to see my choices in an actual kitchen ... especially the extra white paint as I wasn't sure if it was going to be too white! Yours is stunning. Classic and homey. Your soapstone is beautiful. I'm going with the PA soapstone which looks to be a close match to yours. Kind of a black with deep greenish and whiteish light greenish veining. I've contemplated having the drainage lines put in - how do you like yours? I'm even looking at using the same backsplash that should blend nicely with the soapstone and white marble I'm using on the island. Did you use Pale Oak throughout your home? I've seen it in pictures and it looks like a beautiful neutral that would complement many other colors. I'll have to give it a look. Seems to be similar to the SW Drift of Mist but DOM might be a bit grayer. Glad to know you had a good experience with SW matching colors. Oh, and tell me more about the door with the glass!! Thank you so much!

I use both of your white paint colors frequently & I think you will need more contrast between the 2.

Well how nice to be called an angel today! Made my day.

The soapstone does not have any green in it- charcoal grey with caramel & white veining. I chose it for the color but it is VERY soft. The scratches kind of go with the age of the house so I don't sweat it too much but it does chip very easily. I had a much harder variety in another house that did have more of a green tint to it. Love the drain runnels for both looks and practicality- since the sink wasn't centered under the window we did the runnels to offset the imbalance.

The glass doors open to a walk-in pantry and access to the AC behind the fridge/micro run. I think that door is new but previous owner installed it so not sure- the glass is frosted to hide a multitude of sins.

The front of the house was built in 1924 and the addition (in 2000) starts right around where the sunflowers are on the counter. Previous owners added a family room and back staircase down and master up.

We used Pale Oak throughout the downstairs and second floor landing. It's a great neutral color. It looks more taupe than grey in my house but is chameleon like. I would definitely get a sample, paint it on a poster board and try it in different places in your house. It offers just enough contrast between trim and walls.

Hope your reno goes well- I'm always jealous when I hear someone starting a renovation, then I think back to the reality!

Wow, thank you so much for sharing all the special details of your home. Lots of character in a home built in that era. I did pick up a sample of the Pale Oak and you're right it's more taupe. The Drift of Mist is also a pale neutral but with a bit more gray/green undertone. Your charcoal soapstone with the caramel veins sounds beautiful and a color I haven't seen before. I've been tossing around ideas for our pantry door so thanks for that info as well. I've got a desk area in the kitchen with cabinets above that I'm having removed and hoping to put an antique buffet/dresser of some kind (maybe with a piece of soapstone or marble on top) with shelving above. So that spot may be empty for a while until I can find just the right piece. You've been my kitchen angel and now I'm going to wish for the decorating fairy to come and .... poof ... make the whole house come together while I sleep so I can wake up and just like that .... magic .... it's all done and perfect. I can dream anyway LOL.

Nancy - you reminded me of my mom with your decorating fairy. When the grand kids were little and slept at my mom's house she would always tell them not to worry about picking up their toys, hanging up their towels or folding their clothes before bed - she told them she had a house elf who would take care of all the chores while they slept. She passed away right about the same time as the Harry Potter books were published and I remember them remarking that their grandma had a house elf just like the ones in the books.

Sadly, my house didn't come with a house elf.

check out this YouTube video on SW Alabaster. https://youtu.be/ZouTi7xSb0E

@Jennifer Hogan What wonderful memories the grandkids must have of their sweet grandma and the house elf. Thanks so much for sharing that story with me.