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angelamm79

Simply White Walls- what color white for cabinets?!

4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

Kitchen remodel. I’ve chosen BM Simply White for my walls, ceiling, and trim. (obviously, in different finishes). my dilemma is what color to paint the kitchen cabinets. I want them to be ”white” but was going for a warm white and nothing stark. I’ve considered classic grey, swiss coffee, cloud white- but everything I read states cabinets should be brighter than the walls or they will read yellow or dingy. Im afraid if I do cabinets in Simply White as well, the whole space will lack depth and warmth. My other idea is do walls white dove and cabinets simply white? Countertops are Pental Misterio Quartz, floors are natural hickory with Bona Nordicseal. Lots of white oak, woven accents, textures, brass and flat black hardware with stainless steel appliances. but the paint is keeping me up at night in a mental circus. Would love some thoughts, help!

Comments (16)

  • PRO
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Assuming kitchen? . .Much depends floor and counter tops. Which are.....what? You haven't enough info for anyone to advise

    If reno and not new build? Post pics and more info.

    angelamm79 thanked JAN MOYER
  • 4 years ago

    Thank you Jan, I’ve updated original post to include more information.

  • 4 years ago

    I would do simply white in same sheen as trim. If you think need more contrast, then I would do a warmer white wall color, like white dove as you mentioned.

    angelamm79 thanked User
  • 4 years ago

    If your cabinet maker color matches his cabinet coating product to Benjamin moore paint colors versus actually using a Benjamin moore paint (and hopefully this is the process, as cabinet coatings are much better for wear and tear), then have a sample door made to approve color. I found that the Benjamin Moore color I thought I wanted (Cloud White) read waaaaaay too yellow in the product my cabinet guy uses.

    angelamm79 thanked User
  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Sorry you are doing this backwards wall color and backsplash are the last 2 choices you make I also would not mix hickory and oak .Even hardware a last thing. IMO with all the other stuff I would just stick to one white anduse theaccessories to give life and depth to the space .

    angelamm79 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 4 years ago

    I wouldn't put Simply White and White Dove next to each other, but of course colors look different depending on the ambiant light. Simply White is warmer than White Dove and has a very slight yellow undertone whereas White Dove is very slightly gray. Your choices in cabinet colors may not be unlimited, so start there and then decide on wall color. Make sure whatever you choose for cabinets is going to work with the countertop you choose also. There are plenty of posts on this forum where people got that wrong. Whenever possible, look at colors next to each other in natural light. Chances are the lighting in warehouses where you look at countertop slabs is not the same as the kind of light you will have at home.

    angelamm79 thanked kandrewspa
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    @stellarceline do you have any pictures you can share? I too like the “layered whites” look but want to avoid whites that actually clash.

  • 4 years ago

    @Patricia Colwell Consulting the hickory floors are original and we are keeping them but the nordicseal will give a scandi look allowing oak and other wood tones to mix well.


  • 4 years ago

    @kandrewspa may sound weird but I love simply white for walls so im prioritizing that and need to pick cabinet color based on that or do them simply white as well

  • 4 years ago

    I prefer not to post pictures of my home but recommend the samples from Samplize or just getting some plywood and a tiny sample size can of the cabinet whites you are considering!

  • 4 years ago

    In my last house I did Simply White for all of the walls, trim, and ceilings as well as all of the kitchen cabinets and it looked great. Not too stark, just really crisp, clean and pretty.I

  • 4 years ago

    We love our kitchen cabinets in Simply White (Advance satin). The cabinets read white with a soft glow, not yellow and not stark. The photos below were taken late morning with natural northern light. We've moved on to painting the walls and unfortunately Simply White in eggshell reads yellow next to the Simply White cabinets. It's almost like two different paint colors, with the cabinets being lighter and whiter than SW on the wall. I've since read that SW can appear more yellow in the lower sheens. I'd highly recommend you get a sample of Simply White Advance satin (or semi-gloss) to help you decide. It might be what you're looking to achieve. BTW, Advance for cabinets is beautiful and has proved to be super durable. We sprayed our cabinet doors and hand painted the bases. The tile is AKDO Origin in Birch White (neutral white). One of the photos shows 4 paint swatches (primer followed by three coats of each paint) next to a cabinet. Top to bottom: Decorator's White, Simply White, Super White, Chantilly Lace. Good luck with your project!





  • 4 years ago

    If you're set on Simply White for the walls look for a white with a bit more blue so it reads brighter. Any color with more yellow will look dingy. You could also see if they can just add more blue to Simply White to get a custom color so it looks similar but just a little brighter. Either way just grab some paint swatches and see what they look like in your house with your lighting and make sure they don't make Simply White look too yellow and vice versa.

  • last year

    I'd stay with Simply White (semi-gloss just as the trim) for cabinets. Then knock it out of the park with fabulous hardware.

  • last year

    My walls aren't Simply White, but my cabinetry, fireplace, doors and trim are. It's a great color. I would definitely recommend it for cabinets! I wanted a white that wasn't sterile or cold looking.