Seeking a Neutral Paint - Going from Grey to All White?

last year

The home is MCM and the room is open concept, includes kitchen with island (natural maple wood slab style + quartz counters with marble like veins, 8ft island), large picture windows and cathedral ceiling. Flooring is Red Oak, but will be bleached and refinished to look Scandinavian white/modern.

Originally we were going to go with BM Cement Grey, because we like that it’s difficult to know what color it is and it’s a good mix of warmth/cool…

Now, all the research suggests Grey is on the way out, the new 90s Beige. I hate Beige btw and prefer cooler colors in general.

Considering going all white, and our only concern is will it just blend in with the trim (despite being a diff sheen) or be too bright?

Considering BM Simply White for walls, and BM Chantilly Lace for trim.

We also like BM Decorator White possibly too…

Anyone else to with white on white and regret it?

Our floors will look like this:

Layout of room looks like this (kitchen design is diff):

Space looks like this:

Featured Answer

Lori Sawaya

last year

last modified: last year

Originally we were going to go with BM Cement Grey, because we like that it’s difficult to know what color it is and it’s a good mix of warmth/cool…

Then that's what you should do.

Not sure what you found or where, but keep in mind bloggers in particular have to continuously feed the social media beast with new content.

When it comes to color, it's just their subjective opinion.

None of it is based on any kind of studies, research and certainly not science.

Frankly, when it comes to all things color, I believe most are making up everything they post from "systems" to trend forecasts.

There's also a fair amount of copy and pasting so it looks like "everyone" agrees when it's more like everyone needs content.

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Comments (22)

Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
last year
I really like Nick Lewis on youtube regarding this issue. How to choose a white paint! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KDnuPfuro0&t=24s
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Thank you all for your responses! I think maybe I wasn't clear above. I LOVE my curtains, rug and accents. :) Including the baskets. I use them regularly and I like the look of them. So that would leave as options painting the walls, trim and cabinets. I was really looking for dark drapes and light walls when I found those inspiration pics. I do see that the trim is light too. I guess I did not have much luck finding dark trim and dark drapes. :( I will look some more. I have actually been moving to stainless appliances as they break down. I guess that is an old picture! It doesnt change things too much on its own Chispa! It is a good idea though. If there is very little painted wood in a house, would it look odd to have painted cabinets? Auntjen I was thinking of you when I was posting and as I have been thinking of painting. I love how your house transformed with your new colors. I loved it before too, but now it seems more, I dont know, serene? Your artwork and accessories are more the focus maybe. I think Pal did a post on that awhile back. Maybe it was someone else, but either the paint or the accessories standing out. Both maybe is jarring. madeyna - I am more worried about painting the trim and lower cabinets with the young kids. I know it will show dings and dents way more that way. I wonder if I can paint just the uppers or if that will look half done? olychick! you are so smart. I hadnt even thought about the old picture. It has a much darker rug in it. but you are right, the DR before painting had whitish yucky wallpaper, b ut it gives you and idea. I have to say, I didn't really like it like that at all. but I think it was because the paper is white. I am thinking of more a cream/light beige color which is warmer. I think I have to try a color visualizer or something. that might help. teacats I think you are right - start with the walls. then see how it evolves. lavender lass I like the idea of a warmer color. White I think would be too harsh. I am going to look at that matte color when I get home. I think that might be a good starting point. I would love to see pictures Kimberly, cindyloo and southerngal. :) LOL pattycakes. DH has a cousin that is a painter so luckily we usually get him to paint for us. I dont think I could do it myself at this point! :) I for sure need a new light fixture lascatx. well, actually two in the kitchen they are both terrible. Any other paint suggestions for the walls? Thoughts on painting the upper half of the cabinets?
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<https://www.diydecormom.com/benjamin-moore-balboa-mist/> Balboa was perfect for an earlier post. Not sure if it was BM or SW....but this is something no one has suggested: Color and Wood Tone: How to Choose Colors That Go Together Use these tips to find the best paint colors and finishes to complement your wood furniture and trimwork around the house. Whether your furnishings are Mission-style oak, country pine, or high-style mahogany, the beauty of the wood deserves a background that shows it to best advantage. The question, however, is not really what color goes with oak or mahogany, but rather, what color will best enhance your wood's finish. Don't Get Too Matchy-Matchy Develop a natural, evolved look in your home with items that go together comfortably but do not match exactly. Each type of wood has a characteristic color and grain pattern, and the color also can be altered with stain. Furniture makers have used stains and varnishes for centuries, both to enhance the appearance of the grain and to change the color of the wood. The stains sold at home improvement centers are generally named for the types of wood they simulate: Maple, cherry, walnut, mahogany, ebony, oak, and fruitwood are the most common types. Over time, wood furnishings acquire a rich patina that gives the surface depth and complexity. Newer woods and veneers may lack this complexity, but they still have an overall color tone that may be yellow, orange, red-brown, bluish brown, or dark brown. To choose wall colors or fabrics that will enhance your wood pieces, consider the dominant hues in the finish. Also consider whether you prefer the drama of high contrast or the richness of low-contrast pairings. Don't worry about all the wood pieces in a room matching -- the casual, comfortable, gathered-over-time look of mixed woods is perfectly appropriate today. Use Contrast to Call Attention Dark finishes, such as mahogany, walnut, or cherry, stand out in sharp relief against any light color, whether it's a tint of green or blue or a hue from the sunny side of the color wheel. In the same way, light wood shows up boldly against dark or strong color on the walls. The contrast calls more attention to the furniture, a plus if you have a fine piece you want to focus on. If you have a lot of dark furniture in a light-color room, however, the space may feel busier than it would if the furniture blended in. If you love the look of dark wood against light walls (or light furniture against dark walls), keep furniture arrangements orderly and streamlined to offset the impression of crowding. To achieve high contrast with medium-tone finishes, keep the wall color soft and light, creating as much difference as possible between the values of the wood color and the wall. You can also use the colors in the furniture finish as a cue for wall colors. If the dominant color in the wood appears to be red, then a green background will enhance and intensify the wood's hue. <https://www.bhg.com/decorating/color/basics/color-and-wood-tone/> I think you should consider: https://kellymoore.com/company/press-room/press-release-detail/2017/10/11/2018-color-of-the-year
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Zach
Original Author
last year
Anyone go all white and now regret it for any of the reasons I gave or ?
elcieg
last year
last modified: last year
For heaven's sake...who says that gray "is going out"? It is a neutral and a color you can build on, work into your scheme using a myriad of colors.

That said, Cement Gray has a purple undertone. It will work well if the natural light comes from the North. You tell that there are lots of windows, but no mention of the direction.

That is so important if you want to do whites.
Zach
Original Author
last year
@elcieg - “comes from the North”? Can you point me to anything online that references how the direction of light entering a home impacts the color? In general, light comes from the east and sets in thr west, so just not understanding how North/South can matter.

If it comes in from any direction besides North, how does that impact the paint?
elcieg
last year
last modified: last year
Each direction of natural light impacts paint color. Every room in your house gets its own light, depending on the orientation of the house. Here is a great link...

https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/north-east-south-west-which-paint-colour-is-the-best/
Zach
Original Author
last year
Yeah after posting that, I googled the impact of North vs. South light on paint, which I should have done before hitting post…

Any thoughts on going a not so bright white on walls and pure bright white on trim? No matter what we do, we’re going to test multiple colors in the rooms. I listed possible concerns in the OP…

We were also considering asking BM to lighten Cement Grey several shades, and to try that…

Compared to our prior house, this house does get less natural light, which is another reason why we were considering an off white.

Colors we were considering is BM Simply White next to BM Chantilly Lace…
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I have a MCM ranch and IMO if you like cool colors more than warm then there is nothing wrong with plae gray walls I have had them for 15 yrs just repainted this spring and used the same color again. I used C2 Vancouver Day most people think it is white until they see it next to white and honestly to me gray is a perfect neutral for everything I own.
Marylee H
last year
last modified: last year
There’s a whole lot of misunderstanding about what compass orientation brings to the table in terms of its effect on paint colour.

It’s worth taking time and trouble to vet your sources. This is a refreshing change from the usual.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQ1yuZ-CMYK/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Molly
last year
The 2 whites you are considering are the ones people use to compare against other whites to see the difference. I have Simply White trim with China White walls (probably too warm for your taste).
kandrewspa
last year
When you're sampling, try Simply White flat against Simply White trim in satin or semi-gloss (or any white). Then no worries about how two whites are going to look next to each other. The difference in the sheen does make the color look slightly different. I have used Simply White throughout my house. It might be too warm for you. But since you're already aware of the importance of sampling I will save you my usual speech and let you carry on. :-)

Do wait until the floors are in place before sampling. I am concerned about your ability to get red oak to look like your inspiration picture because this forum has a lot of postings from people who weren't happy with natural finishes on red oak (tends to end up looking pink). But if it turns out the way you were hoping, please repost and tell everyone how it was done. There are a lot of people who would love to be able to achieve that result.
Lori Sawaya
last year
There’s a whole lot of misunderstanding about what compass orientation brings to the table in terms of its effect on paint colour.

Agree. You either have a dim, moderate or abundant quality of light. The typical NSEW memes don't consider latitude.

A northern exposure in Columbus, Ohio is not the same as Northern exposure in Phoenix, Arizona.

It's all very confusing because in the process of assigning prescribed and static "undertone" labels to color the light source is completely ignored.

But then - out of the blue - which way the windows face is suddenly critical for choosing paint colors.

In my 25 years as a color expert it is without question the dumbest !@#$ I've ever seen alleged about how color works.
Zach
Original Author
last year
@kandrewspa - Thanks, the inspiration photo I posted was actually of red oak, same treatment I’ll be doing too. The only true way to avoid pink in red oak when going light is to bleach. It’s costing a good portion more, but my hope is it will be worth it - because floors are not something to redo in the future. Happy to post a follow up!
M. S
last year
Just throwing out there BM pale oak is another color you may like. It's a greige but it's very light and bright.
Jennifer Hogan
last year
I had a white on white home with very light floors a few decades ago. I lived in Southern California, had huge windows and tons of natural daylight in a climate where it seldom rained or had cloud covered, gloomy days. It was stunning, but I owned 4 dogs, 10 cats and ran a mobile pet vaccination service from my home where I had 8 employees coming and going. White was not a great choice for my lifestyle.

Much of my current home was painted white and had light beige carpet when I moved in. I live in Central Pennsylvania where there are long winters and many cloudy overcast days. The white fell flat and felt lifeless without all the sunshine.

In both situations I was happier after I painted with neutral colors in the main areas of my home and colors in my bedrooms and bathrooms.

Over the decades of picking colors for my home and being sought out by friends and family and referred by real estate agents to help others pick colors for their homes I have figured out that there isn't a perfect paint color. There are perfect paint colors for your home and those color are based on the colors that make your heart sing.

We all have different colors that we are just drawn to. We buy clothing and art and bedding and throw pillows with variations of the same 2 or 3 colors.

If you love coral and aqua and own all kinds of things that are coral and aqua you want them to look pretty when you hang the art on the wall or throw the pillows on your sofa, so the neutral that you pick should be different than the neutral that someone who loves olive green and gold or the neutrals that I pick that work well with smoky purple and wine reds.

I inevitably end up with some shade of taupe, sometimes a bit lighter and more beige and sometimes more violet gray, but they always have some gray and some beige and pink/purple undertones.

I always have a clean white trim with just a touch of peach or yellow vs a blue or gray white. (The color I used in both my last home and my current home is Devine Icing which I get mixed at any BM store from their computer match formula. It is close to BM Simply White, but warmer so less likely to pull green.

I am the youngest of 6 kids and am in my 60s. At this point all of my siblings and I are long settled into our signature color palette, but we have also all tried painting or wearing whatever color was popular at the time. If it happened to be "our colors" it worked out great. Builders beige trend was a decade of colors that simply didn't work with the colors I love.

You won't go wrong if you stay true to yourself. When you walk through your home you want to look around and see the colors that bring you joy, not the color that some designer decided should bring you joy.
Maureen
last year
We used a touch creamier white on walls and a purer white on trim. The house is 40 years old and I couldn’t believe how it modernized the spaces. An advantage is that it acts as a lovely backdrop for art and works with any color scheme and window treatment.

With the ever so slight variations of white and how it reflects light, if possible, suggest waiting until your floor is completed. FYI: they have been saying grey is going out for years, but I think white is a better choice.
Molly
last year
Samplize samples are great for testing. https://samplize.com/collections/benjamin-moore/products/chantilly-lace-2121-70-12x12
Zach
Original Author
last year
So most of the light will be coming in from the East, because the house faces East. Located in Maryland. Also, the trees in the backyard and overhang from the roof (MCM) prevents a ton of light coming through the wall of windows on the back West facing wall.

We will someday install skylights to get more natural light.

Our cabinets are warm looking, but our quartz will be cool. Overall the space is open and large. My first instinct was to try and go cooler, assuming it wont make things feel dirty.
J Sk
last year
last modified: last year
We used Bm Glacier White, no regrets so far. Other light nice colors you could check: Bm Soft Chamois, Bm Sheeps Wool, Bm Classic Gray, Bm Cloud Cover

Bathroom: Bm Cloud Cover
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HALLETT & Co.
last year

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Zach
Original Author
last year
Based on samples, our initial reaction is we really like the combo of BM Decorators White (flat) for walls and BM Chantilly Lace (semi-gloss) for trim… That said, we have a lot of samples to look at though and wont know for sure until we’re back at the house this weekend.

Thanks to everyone who contributed feedback and advice!
PRO
Bergen Furniture & Design
last year
All white can go too bright but a gray might not look that cool. You can look out for how off-white goes. That won’t be too bright, will serve the purpose of white that makes the space look airier. You can also go for a lighter shade of grey as that won’t make things too dark inside.

Seeking a Neutral Paint - Going from Grey to All White?

Lori Sawaya

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