Interesting b/c that is what my GC uses! I agree that most use SW or BM including the guy who normally does my painting at my current house. I am interested in what others say.

I used some Porter exterior trim paint on a boat in Florida. I was not impressed.

In our Midwestern town the local paint store mainly sells Porter paint and I have used them on our interior walls with no problems. I think they are a quaility paint.

Good luck.

I too live in Indiana, southern Indiana. Our home when first being painted was using porter paint. That was all the builder would use. Every house in the neighborhood has porter paint, unless they re-paint after they move in.

I liked it and it seems to hold up good. But I have since repainted about 80% of our home with Behr or SW. But the PP that is left is still looking good.

I'm not fond of it's consistancy or coverage or clearness of tones. I'm pretty sure it uses clay as a filler for the light shades rather than pure titanium dioxide. I don't think it's even as good as Behr (which is much better paint that most people think). And, it doesn't hold a candle to BM.

Thanks for everyone's replies.

At this stage of the game, I think I am stuck with Porter. So, does anyone that actually likes Porter have a white color recommendation?

live wire oak - if I can get my GC to switch to BM, is there a white you have worked with that you would recommend? Thanks!

With all due respect, I think live_wire_oak is talking through their hat! A clay based paint is far superior to the standard stock of latex stuff around - you get both, stunning texture (*velvety*) as well as no to very low odour from these clay-based paints.

Farrow and Ball is a very up-market brand and these paints are clay-based. I've used F&B and absolutely adore this paint - clay-based, as I mentioned. Porter Paints is, to the best of my knowledge, an Australian paint with the same philosophy and the same stunning texture, although I've never used it myself: check Atticmag for a reference: AtticMag Paint Page. I've only ever heard it uttered in the same breath as F&B, however, never having used Porter, I can't attest to it. However, F&B is not Behr. Its not even Benjamin Moore or SW.

... and what I meant by: "F&B is not Behr, BM or SW" is that it is a vastly superior paint. Both in texture as well as in odor and of course, I adore their colors.

To get the "whitest white" in a paint, you have to start with a whiter base. Some paints use kaolin (a whitish clay) as their white base, and then tint with titanium dioxide (what artists use for white paint, and the most expensive white colorant). Some paints omit the kaolin entirely and use titanium dioxide as their sole white base. Those paint lines are able to get "whiter whites". It's sorta like the commercial where the T shirt "looks" white, until the shirt washed with Clorox is put next to it.

So, I'm gonna have to differ with you mindstorm on this one. :) That's why there are 957 posts on this board trying to pick the "perfect white". LOL! Everyone has a different opinion.

September - thank you for the info. I know Porter is popular around here. I REALLY appreciate the recommendation for "Velvet White". I just felt so lost and when I try to explain things and don't know what to ask for, I feel dumb.

Mindstorm - thank you for the info and the link. Very informative and I thank you for explaining it to me. In the past, I have always been a "cheapo" shopper at Lowe's... I am only now coming to realise you have to get high quality products if you want it done right. :)

Live wire oak - thanks, I understand that more now, too.
Since I definitely do not want the whitest white, I will check out September's suggestion and hope I feel comfortable with Porter's choices. Thanks again for your help.

Off to the paint store next week, I guess. I also think I may need to budget in a Dr's visit because these details are sure to give me ulcers!! LOL

Katiee, paint selections have given me ulcers, migraines, arrhythmias, thromboses, aneurysms, ADD, ADHD, PTSD, and cost me an arm, a leg, and a husband. Alright, perhaps not quite ... but none of the above seems to be too far from the truth.

LWO, I'm not familiar with Porter Paints. However, I'll ask you to go get a sample of Farrow & Ball "All White" and get whatever BM or whatever white you'd like and tell me that you don't find the F&B better - both as far as colour as well as the net appearance. :-) Seriously - that clay base is *super*. I wish KitchenDetective, Pirula and Rococogurl would find this post - I think two of them have used Porter but all of us found F&B after Pirula explored it and all are great converts to both the colours as well as the texture compared to BM. RG I know swears by Porter as well as F&B.

haha mindstorm.... I am not sure if planning a kitchen is an obsession OR a sickness.... I was clueless when I started. I found an inspiration pic, I had a vision and I got DH to agree to my vision. No problem! Call the GC and let's get this baby started......... NOT!!!

Unless you have an unlimited budget, you can't just hand the guy a pic and say "I want this". Heaven forbid you stumble upon GW in your search and get sucked in here :)In one way, it has skewed my "vision" of what I want into what I NEED. Dangerous!! LOL

BUT, because of the wonderful advice here and the friendly folks always willing to help the clueless ones.... I stay addicted and ask my silly questions.

I am on a timeline for trying out the other paint brands for my cabinets........ but I will have lots and lots of walls and adjoining rooms to paint and I will definitely give those a try........ so someday I can help others with MY experience :)

Southern Indiana here too and that is what my builder uses. They have "an upgrade" from flat which the builders use, to ceramic flat which is suppose to be easier to clean. We are just giving our colors today are very excited!! Where in southern Indiana are people? We are building in Sellersburg. Moved from Louisville over here for Silver Creek schools. Cathi

**Mindstorm- Thanks for making me laugh- without a doubt it can be consuming. Thanks for the great information on Australian, Porter's Paint. Enjoyed their website and techniques/finishes.

The Porter Paints that katiee511 was referring to is based in Louisville, KY (I grew up down the way from The Porter family), completely different animal. They are now owned by a British Company (cortault coatings).

I also have a love of F&B. I used it in a bedroom (Borrowed Light) of a previous home. Gorgeous! However as often as I move and renovate, it's completely cost prohibitive for me (near 3x's what I would spend on BM aura for the same room). I try to use it in small applications. (I hope to use Minster Green on my front door). I could pour over their paint chips all day.

**katiee511- I read more carefully and just realized you are painting cabinetry, for some reason I had it in my mind it was trim (I must have been really slow yesterday :), afterall you I was in the *KITCHEN* forum!) It must be that ADHD that mindstorm was referring to!

If "Velvet White" isn't what you had in mind (ie too bright) and you want something a little more creamy/golden check out a color called "Indian Ivory." If you are going to have PP on the walls, I would definitely suggest Silken Touch, even if its a slight upcharge as ccinindiana had mentioned. So you won't have to repaint too soon (unless you choose). What part of IN?

**ccinindiana- Congrats on your colors, I am sure you are releived to have that behind you. Much better to enjoy them first hand. Sellersburg seems like a neat community. I'm in Louisville.

Best to you in your choices. Keep us in the loop once you decide!

-September

Today we painted our kitchen with Porter silky (the eggshell version) and it went on very well and looks great. I think it will also clean well. The color was one they copied from Mautz. Don't be afraid of Porter paints; I've used them throughout our house for years with no problems.

Thanks for the posts and opinions. Spent most of the week-end working on a baseball fundraiser..... so just getting back here now.

Hi Cathi - hope you found colors you love! I am not in Southern IN, we are in Greenwood. It's south of Indy though haha

september - My GC said what I need to look at is "Glyptex Eggshell Alkyd Enamel (a semi-gloss finish)" and I appreciate the color recommendations. Except for having PP on the cabinets, I will probably use SW or BM on the walls.

cindy49 - we have had Porter on the exterior and an interior room. They were done professionally so I don't have the experience of using them myself. I am not afraid of using them....... I was just clueless about what whites others may have used successfully and how it reads in the big picture. Nice to see another Porter fan though, thank you!

Well, once I find the time to spend at Porter this week, I'll let you know what choice I make! Thanks again for everyone taking the time to post. You have all been very helpful!

alkyd enamel is an oil-based finish and super great to clean! Great for cabinetry. I usually use semi-gloss for my trim, but I use a satin for my cabinets. It's a personal preference of how "shiny" (ie reflective) you want your kitchen cabinets to look. The satin is just as durable, but doesnt show water spots, fingerprints, dog nose smudges as well.

Katie sounds like your plan is coming together. Best Wishes.

there is an Australian paint company called Porter's Paints and an American company called Porter Paints.

The Australian company has beautiful color range and specializes in natural finishes; Lime Wash,Stone Paint, Liquid Iron & Instant Rust, Copper & Patina and more.

Since they sound similar & they are both paint companies, the Australian Porter's Paints is called Sydney Harbour Paint Company (in America.)

AND... they ship all over the USA (213)291-1586

Here is a link that might be useful: Porter's Paints in America

I realize this thread is 9 years old but just want to second what v.egcedes wrote above! The Porter's Paint I used (and adored) is a natural, earth pigment based paint from Australia. I used it 20 years ago and am using it again in our remodel. Totally different product from the other Porters!