DesignJan 8, 2019

White Paint Digest 2019

Written by Amber Lewis
Photographed by Tessa Neustadt

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!! That’s right, it’s my annual WHITE PAINT DIGEST!! I am a major weirdo and there are few things that get me more excited than making the team huddle around the swatch deck and screaming out my favorite paint colors to have the contractors sample on the walls. I have been collecting new faves over the past few projects and today is the day I yell at you all about white paint (again). I have said it once before and I will say it again. White paint is a tricky, tricky mofo. There are a million and one options to choose from and there are thousands of factors to consider before settling on ‘the one.’ Lucky for you, I am currently writing my book with literally an entire chapter dedicated to paint and ALL the things you’ll need to know about tones, best application practices, yada yada yada. You name it and I’ll cover it in the book. But for now, I have gone ahead and put together my cliff notes version of my Top 8 (yes only eight) absolute favorite white paints of the moment, separated by my all-time fail proof favorite white, a neutral white, a cool white, a warm white and of course, a little tip on trim sheens.

And if you’re embarking on painting your own room or homes, first of all, I salute you. Second, I’ve gone ahead and made a shopping guide on ALL the best tools and items you’ll need to paint. So go on my lovers and paint your hearts out!!!!

All Sorts Of - Amber Interiors - White Paint Digest 2019 Amber Interiors - Client Nicest People65

“White Dove” by Benjamin Moore used in the majority of Client For Reals The Nicest People On The Planet. (Pictured Above)

Amber Interiors - Client Nicest People

“Simply White” by Benjamin Moore used in the family den of Client For Reals The Nicest People On The Planet. (Pictured Above)

ALL-SORTS-OF-SHOPPE-PALISADES-WHITE-PAINT

“Simply White” by Benjamin Moore used in Shoppe Amber Interiors Palisades and Calabasas locations. (Pictured Above)

“White Dove” by Benjamin Moore used in the majority of Client For Reals The Nicest People On The Planet. (Pictured Above)

“Pure White” by Sherwin Williams used in Client Greater than Great (Pictured Above)

“White Dove” by Benjamin Moore used in the Client Say No Morrison (Pictured Above)

“Milk Glass” by Dunn Edwards used in the Client Canyon Cool (Pictured Above)

“Decorator’s White” by Benjamin Moore used in the Client Double Thumbs Up. (Pictured Above)

“White Heat” by Dunn Edwards used in the Client What’s the Story Spanish Glory. (Pictured Above)

Comment

  • Susan Espinoza

    Amber, i love your work and appreciate this White Paint info so very much. Currently working on a remodel for our family and i am struggling between white cabinets or light grey for the kitchen…..do you suggest one over the other? If so which white paint do you tend to select for cabinetry work? Thanks!

  • Amelia

    I feel like you missed an amazing one! Alabaster by Sherwin Williams!

  • Do you recommend a white more then others if I have interior black windows? I’m currently leaning towards White Dove. Thank you!

  • Heather

    What about lighting considerations. I’ve never done white, but love all your white rooms! What would you suggest for a poorly lit, north facing room in a snowy climate?

    Thank you!!!

  • Bee

    What white was used on clientwestcoastisthebestcoast ?! Would love to know what white works with the DE foggy day!

  • Beautiful tones of white! Thank you for sharing this Amber!

  • Erica

    What about trim? If you use a warm white on the wall like white dove or even simply white, do you like a true white on the trim and doors?

  • Whitney

    Similar to Erica’s question above – what trim color do you recommend in combo with White Dove or Simply White? Also, what about CEILING color in that combo? Love your work!

    • Mechelle Navarro

      I would love to know your answer to Erica’s question about trim, do you use the same color as the wall just a different sheen? We are redoing our master bedroom and bath and picking a white. We have decent light, but not a lot of direct light and we are north east facing so I was going to go with Simply White, I put a bunch of swatches on the wall and it seems like the best. A lot of my friends have done Decorator White but when I painted a big swatch it doesn’t look as good/warm as the simply white. We are going with Flat paint and semi gloss in trim, thoughts? I was just going to do the same simply white for the trim?

      • Shoshana Rosen

        I would love to know the answers to these two comments. We are renovating a 1930’s Tudor home in Boston and are wanting a white, wood floor, black window trim look for the entire first level. What trim color do you use for simply white? What color do you do the ceilings as well? What sheen do you recommend? Matte for walls and semi gloss for trim? Also do you have a favorite black for painting french doors and window trim?

        • Nicki

          Yes, would love to know what you typically do for trim as well. Match or do something else? If you go with something else, do you have go-to combinations?

  • Heather Lynch

    In the kitchen of the Client For Reals The Nicest People On The Planet, is White Dove used on the cabinets too? Seems like a different white. That is my struggle with white cabinets already, how do I determine what white to use. The struggle is reeeallll

  • Tanya Mc Donagh

    Hi Amber, I live in Ireland, and wonder what white would you suggest for our home, maybe a warmer white?
    Thanks
    Tanya

  • Adrianne Armstrong

    I just fell in love with and chose Donald Kaufman Color DKC-51 for the tiny house I’m building. What do you think Donald Kaufman paint and do you ever use it? Full spectrum paints are so interesting! Thanks!

  • Nicole Perino

    Hi Amber,
    I’m looking for a nice off white color to paint our barndaminum. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks so much. I love your style.
    Nicole

  • Thanks for your helpful article

  • sean

    i’ve been given the go ahead to paint my 800sqft rental (am i crazy??!) but cannot paint the brown wooden window trim. baseboards and doors are white, but the windows are a pretty rich walnut.. can’t decide between simply white (will it be too stark of a contrast??) or white dove (will it come off yellow-y??).. what do you suggest? thank you so much for this — such good timing!

  • If I didn’t have teenagers who love to slouch against walls still then I would definitely be going down the white shades route in our home, I think I’ll wait til they move out though or I’ll be re-painting every few months!

    Stevie

  • Claudine Jomphe-Ferland

    Hi! I was wondering what white was used on clientblackhousesarethebesthouses ?! Thank you so much!

  • Kim

    In the Spanish Glory house, the glass ball light fixture is incredible! Where is it from? It seems a great solution for warm lighting with high ceilings, without having something hang low. I have high ceilings with a large window view and am nervous to obstruct the view with something hanging in the way! Thank you for this info on whites, it’s hard to get clean white without an antiseptic tone.

Leave a Comment