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Paint Design Dilemma

Paint sheen/finish for new built-in bookshelves?

Jacqueline Corbett

11 months ago

I am expecting delivery of primed custom floor-to-ceiling bookshelves for the living/dining room of my 1930's apartment. The room has a modern loft-like feel (recessed lighting, no crown molding) and the walls and ceiling have been painted in flat BM simply white. I also want to paint the shelves in simply white.

Question: what is the best finish for these bookshelves--flat, matte, satin, semi-gloss? (Note: I intend to paint the back of the shelves in BM saybrook sage.)

Thanks for your advice!

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Comments (11)

Lori Sawaya
11 months ago
Product choice for shelves is important too. Check out PPG's Breakthrough in satin. Originally formulated for paint store shelves - dies very fast, no blocking (meaning it won't be sticky) because it cures in 7 to 10 days which is super fast. Many tried to duplicate it but couldn't; eventually the formula was bought by PPG.

It does dry fast and you can end up with visible brush marks because it dries so fast and doesn't do a lot of leveling on its own. Which actually could be fitting for a 1930s apartment.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
11 months ago
I always prefer a semi-gloss to (sometimes) high gloss for woodwork, including bookshelves and paneling. I used Simply White in semi-gloss to paint the knotty pine paneling in my FR; it turned out exactly as I'd hoped!
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We have some "discrepancies" in our ceiling for the kitchen and what we are doing with our crown molding is that the crown will be mounted onto a rail and the rail mounted to the top of the cabinet - and that rail piece will grow or shrink as necessary - we have a 1/4 inch discrepancy with one cabinet, so on the one edge, we will see about 1/4 of an inch of the rail and on the other edge, we will see about 1/2 of an inch of the rail. The crown itself remains level with the ceiling. I will tell you that YOU are likely the only one that will notice most of those discrepancies once everything is in place. Most people look at crown molding and see that it's there and it creates a finished look, but they don't look at the intricacies of the crown unless you get something super elaborate.
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wow this does look really good. I would continue to work at this. I think the idea of lightening up the inside of the bookcase with the fabric wrapped foam would also help bridge everything. also maybe decorating the mantle with lighter objects to pull the lighter color over to that wall. maybe replacing the the stone around the fireplace to something lighter as well. overall it looks really beautiful; I'm just nit picking.
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Your bathroom built-ins look just like mine... I'm not sure what your ultimate plan for finishing these cabinets are, but if they are anything like mine that wood has absorbed a lot of moisture over the years and no longer smells that fresh. Seal them up with a couple coats of shellac to lock that old wood smell in.
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Thanks All! Sounds like we all agree to get rid of the red wall first :) I like the idea of priming the cabinets and then seeing how we feel with them in a "white family" of colors. Good idea to replace the beams - the bright white is so jarring. In our current home, we used White Dove for trim and Revere Pewter on walls, with warm wood floors, which actually made it all feel warm and not sterile. I want to see if White Dove could be a good choice with the light in the new house since it's a warmer white without a strong undertone. Possibly lighter shelves up top and a darker tone for the cabinets (and new doors)? We'll also likely repaint the kitchen cabinets white so I am a little worried about white walls, white cabinets being too much? Possibly a darker grey/green on lower cabinets with white shelves and/or white with colored backboard?
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apple_pie_order
11 months ago
Semi-gloss or satin. Both allow the books and things to slide in and out without leaving marks.
blueskysunnyday
11 months ago
With the PPG Breakthrough, I think it is important to get the old formula (so not the new voc50, but the original voc250) to get the durability.
Lori Sawaya
11 months ago
50 vs 250 was an issue about 3 years ago but I don't think 50's are available anymore -- it could be regional or I could be wrong. ☺️
blueskysunnyday
11 months ago
Lori, My local paint shop carries only the 51, not the 250. Our Home Depot also carries 51 and 52. What do you know about 51 and 52? I know I don't want the 50...
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
11 months ago
I think it depends on what you are putting on this shelving. More decrative or books thta get moved all the time . I think any good semigloss cabinet paint would work for both uses .
artemis78
11 months ago
Ours are painted in satin, which I prefer to semi-gloss. Our trim, wall paneling, and windows/doors are the same finish, and our ceilings are flat in the same color. We have a mix of some painted many years in ago in BM Satin Impervo and some painted more recently in BM Aura and BM Advance. The finish is similar for all three.
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
11 months ago
Paint the bookshelves with the same sheen as your window and door trim. I usually spec semi-gloss for trim and millwork. But I also happen to love high-gloss for a bold statement and a lacquered look. Looks terrific with bold colors.
PRO
JAN MOYER
11 months ago
last modified: 11 months ago
I use satin, with almost no exceptions. You don't need the gleam as a boat bottom: ) unless a very modern space and a lacquered look. Subtle gleam 99% of the time : ) Ben Moore Advance
ShadyWillowFarm
11 months ago
Semi-gloss, and don’t get suckered in to a more expensive product when the product is not significantly more durable.

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