Baseboards, Doors, Door & Window Casings-Semi Gloss vs Gloss Paint?

12 years ago

HELP!!!!! I have all my colors picked out and now must decide on the finish of the paint.

I believe I will do eggshell on the walls. But am struggling with semi-gloss vs. gloss for all the millwork, doors, etc.

The house is a 1909 home that we completely renovated. A soft neutral wall (Elmira White-BM) with soft white baseboards/millwork (White Dove-BM) and a few built-ins painted a blue gray.

High gloss for built-ins, semi-gloss for the baseboards, doors and casings and eggshell for the wall is what I had in mind.

What is recommended in historical homes?

HELP!!!!!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Brickwood Builders, Inc.
12 years ago
I would not do an eggshell finish on the walls unless you told the sheetrock finishers (or your contractor) that you wanted that finish up front. If the walls are not finished to a Level 5 ( which is a step up from 'standard') then any imperfections will be exacerbated by the slight gloss of eggshell. Obviously, the Level 5 finish costs more than a standard finish.

I would do a semi-gloss or satin for all of the millwork, including the built-ins.
Brenda Farr_Hague
12 years ago
The Advance Satin sheen is beautiful for trim.
Related Professionals
Vincennes Interior Designers & Decorators · Aberdeen Interior Designers & Decorators · Jackson Interior Designers & Decorators · Fayetteville Interior Designers & Decorators · Cody Interior Designers & Decorators · Toms River Architects & Building Designers · Frisco Architects & Building Designers · Sierra Vista Architects & Building Designers · Pueblo Architects & Building Designers · Topeka Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · DeRidder Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Rocky Mount Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Lawton Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Fort Dodge Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Boston Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
Sarah Nelson
Original Author
12 years ago
Deborah, if not eggshell-then what would you recommend? Matte isn't an option with sticky children's hands :). We didn't specify a level for the drywall (I didn't know there was such a thing)-but we had them finish the walls flat with a skim coat & fine sanding.
Brenda Farr_Hague
12 years ago
I paint with Aura matte. It is scrubbable.
PRO
Brickwood Builders, Inc.
12 years ago
If they did a skim coat on the whole wall (not just around joints), then that would be a Level 5 finish and you should be okay with the eggshell. One way to test is to take a very strong, direct light and shine it on the walls and look down the wall. If you can see any waviness, then you may have problems with the eggshell.

As Brenda suggests, there are some flat paints that can be scrubbed.