In this week’s Design Ramblings, Kriste and I answered another e-mail from one of our fans, Laura. She asked how to select the perfect paint color, specifically a creamy white. Here’s what we had to say on that subject…
A few of you suggested showing our bloopers at the end of each video, so we did that in this one. It is fun to share those candid moments and I feel like you can get a better sense of our personalities.
So, I looked up the price of Super Paint after the video and realized I was way off! It’s about $50/gallon now when it’s not on sale. I was quoted the price from about 10 years ago, I think. Sorry about that! Anyway, I still think quality paint is really worth it. I usually buy the $80/gallon stuff, because I’ve become a bit of a snob about paint in recent years!
Since we’re talking about paint colors, I thought I would share the paint colors I use in my house.
The living and dining room are joined by an archway, so those are both painted in Pearly White by Sherwin Williams. It just might be my new favorite white. It has a gray hint to it and feels very clean and fresh without feeling sterile, as some cool whites can.
These rooms used to be painted in Aria Ivory, the Sherwin Williams color I mention in the video. You can see how different two whites can look! Aria Ivory is to the right of the arch and Pearly White is to the left.
The home office, halls, stairwell and 1/2 bath are all painted in Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore. If you’re thinking of using this color, just be warned that under sunlight, it looks gray and under electric lights, it looks more blue.
My family room and kitchen are in Glass Slipper by Benjamin Moore.
The master bedroom and bath are Simply White by Benjamin Moore.
The guest room is Marscarpone by Sherwin Williams…
…and the boys’ room is Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore.
All of my trim and ceilings are painted in an out-of-the-can bright white.
I hope our ramblings and me sharing my paint colors might help you narrow down your options when it comes to selecting paint for your walls!
One last thing, since we didn’t start adding our bloopers to the end of the episode until this week, I thought I would share our cuts from last week when I had the giggles.
You two crack me up. I look forward to your “ramblings”. You should have your own TV show!
i second that.
Great tips ladies! I like the quality of both Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore paints but was surprised to see that Consumer Reports actually rated Behr interior paints as #1 and Valspar as #2 in their March ’15 issue.
I used SW Sea Salt in our master bathroom and its one of my favorite colors. Its a soft greenish-gray and is really a gorgeous color. Another favorite color of mine is BM Lemon Ice. Its a soft creamy white with just a slight hint of yellow.
Good Morning!
In the beautiful photo of your family room, there is a bench. I have a very similar bench with the same fabric. BUT……I would like to re do the top to look like yours.
Do you have a tutorial about how you did that?
That is actually one of the few pieces that I didn’t do anything to. 🙂 I bought it like this!
I have the same three drawer chest that you’ve painted white in your living room. Which paint did you use and can you tell me anything about the chest itself? I’ve never seen another like it.
Thanks!
I used Grain Sack from my line of milk paint – Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint. I love this style of dresser. They are usually late 1800’s. I bought mine from Craig’s List for $90, which I thought was a steal.
My favorite creamy white is more on the warm side than the cool side. White Dove by BM.
I have been soooo inspired by your videos that last weekend I dragged my husband to Quakertown, PA (2 hours from our home in NJ) to pick up a bergere chair from Craig’s List. Now we are on vacation and I will be ordering the pneumatic staple gun and compressor midway through our trip so that it will be there soon after we get home. Our 12 year old son is going to help me and I am thrilled to have a project with him. We watched all of the videos together! Family Fun! The kicker is that I am an interior designer with wonderful access to so many lines of beautiful furniture but I want to try my hand at it myself. Thanks so much for all of your daily inspiration! I would love to come to one of your workshops in the future!
I love how bright, light, and airy a creamy white can make a room feel! My husband isn’t a huge fan, but maybe your beautiful rooms would change his mind!
I really have enjoyed your photo gallery of your rooms and paint choices. Everything is so clean and crisp. I love the added brightness the colors bring to each room and it ties together with your décor really well.
Oh how i could watch the video! I’m at work and i can’t , but will catch it later. Either way, reading about your white paint color choices was really really helpful. I’m looking at shades of whites for my walls. and I am terrible horrible awful at picking out wall paint colors!
Cindy
Hello,
I have just started following some of the blogs and videos…. Thanks for all the education. I love that small dresser in your dining room with the cow art over it. I am getting ready to paint a large english or french counrtry buffet in a dining with no windows and wall all white so it isn’t a hole…… chalk painting a french country set a custom mix of white (ASCP) and I think I would love to paint the duffet like you little dresser. Could you share what colors you used and any special techniques if any… I have seen where louis blue and white combo have been finished off with a coco wash to make it look aged. Have you tried this or seen this…..not a fan of dark wax yet. Thanks so much for your input.
Eileen
What color blue is at
The top of your family room. Amazing
G
Can you share the source of the cow art? It is the most fabulous thing!
I am obsessed. Thank you
hello, I found your site 🙂 I am having to select a white paint color for my entire house this week to give to the builder. I have stressed over colors and textures. I decided to trim out the doors, windows and trim in either repose gray or dorian gray, but I HAS to be SW color. so if you have a better option I would love to hear it! I have seen both in person. My delimia is the color of white or which white to go on the walls, alabaster, Princeton white, simply white, pure white, dover white?? its endless and I have no clue, carpet is light silver gray. and lots of light. LOTS. white kitchen and white hardwood plank tile floors, distressed by urban district, called uptown. So if you can imagine all this.. the island is dark stained wood, the granite has white and chocolate and veins of gray.. the subway travertine is blavet white done in a herringbone. still on the fence if I should do shiny white subway or rustic white travertine and enjoy the subway look while getting the rustic feel .. thank you for your advice. im getting frustrated at this point.