We just went through a living room update because of a large crack in the ceiling drywall. The job included the dining room, foyer, and adjoining hallways We removed the popcorn and had the builder stomp the ceiling followed with the slightest knock down. Then came the recommended semi gloss white paint. We said excuse me? He said your going to love it. We are early 50’s people and may be a little flat on current trends so we bargained to let him show us with the reassurance that if we did not like it the primer and flat paint are on him. He said deal. We absolutely love it and so does everyone else. Never would have considered it but for this job it is amazing.

My kitchen ceilings get a scrub once a year. Before I started washing them, I used to repaint them about every other year. Maybe not necessary in a brand spanking new house, but mine is two centuries old, and has been heated with wood or coal for that duration. Clapboard and around window and door jambs leak coal dust and ash dust. You'd never notice it from day to day, but over a year you would. Spider webs, greasy film lain down by cooking and a gas grate in the hearth, and black soot from oil lamps during power failures. I just put a strong solution of soapy water (laundry power works amazingly well for this) in a paint pan, and get a big, fluffy paint roller and roll it along the ceiling....let it do its thing for about fifteen minutes (you can see the grime letting loose). Follow that with a sponge cloth I rinse out often in clear water and you gotcha the cleanest, brightest nicest smelling kitchen you want. I can't believe people don't address this in an old house. The kitchen brightens up like someone turned on a light or opened the curtains. I don't do this in every room, but by gummy my kitchen is the heart of this home and gets heavy use and I want it pleasant.

If you are one who washes kitchen walls and ceilings once or twice a year (I'm not. I'm lucky to get them washed every two years otherwise I just paint! LOL) then you are going to want to have a paint that is more washable. I've always used a satin finish in the kitchen and bathroom because of the washability factor. Then again, with the new paints on the market now, even flat finishes are wipeable. We have a family friend whos kitchen and family room are all one room. They painted their ceiling in the kitchen with a satin finish but the family room area was painted same color but in a flat finish. Can't really tell until night when she has the lights on in her kitchen and at that, the ceiling reflects a very soft glow. Personally, I think it looks good but then again, I thought dressing up my statuary ducks in seasonal clothing looked good.......What do I know. :)

avoid cheap cabs. UV retardants can be expected in higher end product. Do you have a basic idea of sq footage and general design and budget. Might be wise to have a couple options for yourself other than high end white gloss . I’d be cautious w any downtown urban condo these days in terms of dollars allocated. Something else: spend as needed on base storage drawers and on walls edit to reduce the cabinetry . Open shelf: 1 or 2 shelves so the prob w fading etc at eye height and where angled sun hits is non issue . Those base drawers can be sufficient believe it or not .