White walls, white ceiling, white trim. Help needed ASAP!

9 years ago

We moved in to our new house over a month ago and I swore I would paint within the first week. I absolutely hate the wall color currently and it is driving me nuts! I am a fan of crisp white walls and more of the young modern look.
(Picture this)
http://southernweddings.com/2014/05/23/southern-newlywed-home-caroline-joy/

We are getting a quote this week to paint the walls, but I don't know if we need to ask them for ceiling, trim work, chair/rail, etc. Does it need to be the same color as the walls? Or are they brighter usually? I am looking at BM white dove especially, but am open to other whites.

I know the kitchen will look absolutely terrible in the space once we paint everything white, but that is our next project.

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PRO

Arianne Bellizaire Interiors

9 years ago

Hi @jordanshea518! The great things is that you know your preferred design aesthetic. Clean and modern will be easy to achieve with a little paint and a lot of planning.

A few things I would suggest you consider before you get the quote:

1) Think long-term and long-range. If you know that you will eventually want to do the kitchen, think about what that kitchen should look and feel like before you commit to the color of the adjacent room. In fact, because kitchens tend to be the most expensive and labor intensive renovation projects, I would get a firm handle on that design FIRST and let the other room support the elements chosen for the kitchen.

2) I like to find a good, solid base wall color and then choose a trim color two "steps" above that color or ask the paint company to give you the base color at 25% (meaning the color is tinted to be a lighter version of the wall color). This ensures that your trim and wall color all have the same undertones and don't compete.

3) Since you like clean and modern, ask how expensive or difficult it would be to remove the chair rail. Removing those "seam" lines will get you closer to that clean, modern look.

Hope this helps!

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Comments (6)

PRO
Mommys Time Space and Being
9 years ago
generally, the wall color is just a hair darker than the trim and molding in order to make the trim "pop". just a suggestion: you could ask the paint store to add a touch of gray (little or a lot according to your preference and level of desired contrast) to the BM white dove; use that mixture as your custom wall color and paint the trim the actual white dove color.
jordanshea518 thanked Mommys Time Space and Being
User
9 years ago
Your inspiration photo has just a little contrast between the woodwork and the walls. EDIDS has the right idea. If you don't want to chance a custom formula you can probably find a BM white that will provide just the right amount of contrast to your white dove trim.

I would do the ceiling the same color as the walls.
jordanshea518 thanked User
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One refinement on the all white solution: get three distinct whites for walls, ceiling, and trim. While you are considering marine-gloss magenta for the dining room, you will feel less as though you are a prisoner in a stark white box. Benjamin Moore has some lovely, non-stark whites and off whites in their classic whites group. Their historical collection is particularly soothing, including: Concord Ivory Monterey White greys Edgecomb Gray Wickham Gray (very pale) Stonington Gray (a little darker) Revere Pewter (warm) Coventry Gray (neutral) pale yellows Windham Cream Hepplewhite Ivory and plenty of interesting beiges.
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jordanshea518
Original Author
9 years ago
All this is great help! I will talk to the paint co. and see if we can come up with a custom paint color. I like the idea of just doing one shade up from the trim.

We already know our kitchen is probably going to have dark wood (basically black) wood with white or light grey subway tile backsplash. I am not sure what kind of countertops just yet, but obviously they will be along that color scheme- possibly white or grey marble/silestone.

We do not want to put too much money into the house, as it is just a starter home. But it is in a very nice area and we want to fix it up a bit to get more out of it than we bought it for. Plus right now it is just not working for me ha! So we need to figure out how to do all these things without completely tearing down the kitchen.
Jill Thaxton
7 years ago
I would love to see your final project! Can you upload a picture?
John M
7 years ago
Hey jordanshea518, looks beautiful! My recommendation is always a fresh exotic plant. It's a great way to fill dead space or corners. I have an avocado tree that really adds some life to my living room. Lighting can be a bit tricky so I went with an LED grow light. I prefer the 40W Aspect just because it blends with my plants and furniture. Good luck!

White walls, white ceiling, white trim. Help needed ASAP!

Arianne Bellizaire Interiors

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Mommys Time Space and Being

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White walls, white ceiling, white trim. Help needed ASAP!

Arianne Bellizaire Interiors

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Mommys Time Space and Being

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