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Paint Design Dilemma

Can I have a white trim with cream shutters? Need help

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Buying a house with cream shutters. I going to repaint the trim, doors and walls. What goes with cream? I was thinking of doing alabaster white for the trim and agreeable grey for the walls. It's a big house so I want to pick wisely.

Featured Answer

homechef59

2 years ago

Keep the shutters. Not everyone wants mid-century modern. The plantation shutters will outlast anything else you might select. They are great for privacy. Yes, they do reduce the amount of light, but some of us live in climates where we need to reduce the sun beating into the house.

Consider SW Creamy 7012 along with SW Alabaster 7008.

I've got SW Creamy on my walls and trim along with my shutters. Paint the shutters in a semi-gloss finish to harmonize with the glossy finish of the shutters. My walls are also SW Creamy in a satin finish. It works very nicely and is close enough to appear to be the same.

I see from looking at your pictures that the house appears to be older. Years ago, an architect friend of mine who specializes in historic architecture explained the reasoning for one color, different glosses. It's to trick the eye into missing any imperfections between walls and trim.

SW Alabaster will work nicely, too. I suggest you try both. They are so close that you will have a hard time choosing. I thought the SW Creamy was closer.

Comments (11)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
IMO remove the shutters since I really dislike them always . They block light and views and really there are so many other choices for window coverings that are more attractive
jackowskib
2 years ago
I wouldn't let the shutters dictate what colors for the trim and walls. Select your desirable trim and wall colors and after painted if shutters don't blend then consider other alternatives for them (remove or paint them).
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cat_ky
2 years ago
I would remove the shutters also. They block all the light from the house, and really are not all that attractive. Be aware that alabaster can also look very cream, if you are wanting the trim, a nice white, then you may want to pick another white.
Jennie Metzler
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you! I like shutters and defintly want to keep them.
Jennie Metzler
Original Author
2 years ago
Any chance you will post a picture homechef59?
Jennie Metzler
Original Author
2 years ago
Great Advice
PRO
Debbi Washburn
2 years ago
I like the shutters as well. I would bring the trims back to a nice white and then figure out wall colors. Personally, I dislike every room being the same color so stretch your mind and find some favorites!

Please get samples of colors you like, paint onto a poster board and hang in different locations in the rooms so you can see how the color will change from day to night.

Good luck!
homechef59
2 years ago
The rooms in my house that have shutters are all bedrooms or bathrooms. Those are harder to photograph. This is a series of pictures of the master bath as we were completing a renovation. The area around the tub is mostly trim and therefore painted with SW Creamy in semi-gloss. The last picture is after painting but before the sconces were installed. The light is different and helps to see the color differential. I hope this helps.
User
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
keep the shutters for a while and see what you think. if the still bug you, paint them. good window treatments are so expensive. if you like them, it's so cost effective to simply make them work!
elcieg
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
What goes with cream? Cream. Paint all the trim/doors cream and paint the walls a flexible color, like B.M. Gray Cashmere.

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