THE #1 PAINT COLOR THAT PEOPLE AGONIZE OVER IS..
YOU GUESSED IT…
WHITE
THERE ARE SO MANY WHITES- AND ALL WHITES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL…IN FACT THERE ARE HUGE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM THAT CAN THROW YOUR DECORATING ADVENTURES INTO A TAILSPIN!!!
********************************************
THREE OF PHOEBE’S BEDROOM WALLS ARE WHITE. I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD EVER HAVE WHITE WALLS…MUCH LESS…WHITE WALLS THAT I THEN PAINT – WHITE!!!
BUT LIKE I SAY “NEVER SAY NEVER!”
PHOEBE’S BEDROOM WALLS used to be Benjamin Moore “COTTON BALLS”
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/cottonballs.jpeg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/phoebesroom-700x466.jpg)
…and then we changed them to “CHANTILLY LACE”!
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CHANTILLY-LACE.jpeg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/IXCROSS-THE-ROOM-700x467.jpg)
WHEN CHOOSING A WHITE we found –
AS YOU KNOW….THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS..
WHAT IT WILL BOILED DOWN TO IS CHOOSING
THE RIGHT WHITE WITH THE RIGHT UNDERTONE…
WHITES HAVE EITHER A WARM OR A COOL UNDERTONE
Cotton Balls has a pale pale pale yellow undertone…WARM. You would not even notice IT unless it was next to a white with a blue undertone..like Chantilly lace…which looks yellow next to a white with an even bluer undertone…and so on and so on….
IF you are interested in TRULY understanding undertones and WHITE PAINT COLORS I highly recommend you get Maria Killam’s E BOOK- WHITE IS COMPLICATED.
![WHITE IS COMPLICATED - MARIA KILLAM'S EBOOK](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ss157-be31d4b4-74cd-49d7-9758-eabcea40c0c0-v2.jpeg)
This book is for you if:
- You wonder if there is a “go-to” white that will look good in every situation.
- You would like to know the critical difference between choosing white for walls and choosing white for trim and cabinets.
- You want to learn how to choose the right white the first time.
- You need a “go-to” list of tried and proven whites that works 99% of the time.
- You realize that it costs exactly the same to paint the wrong white as it does to paint the right white.
- You are building or renovating and need to choose the correct white foundation palette.
WHITE paint colors come up a lot and hence I have done at least 3 POSTS on them….
2. “WHITE” PAINTS THAT ARE NOT WHITE
3. GREAT EXTERIOR (AND INTERIOR) WHITES
NOW…LETS TAKE A LOOK AT 10 OF MY FAVORITE GO-TO ON THE COOLER SIDE – WHITES..
![MY TOP PICKS - ALL BENJAMIN MOORE - FROSTINE, CHANTILLY LACE, CLOUD WHITE, DECORATORS WHITE, OXFORD WHITE, SIMPLY WHITE, SNOWFALL WHITE, WHITE CHRISTMAS AND WHITE DOVE.](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/WAY-COOL-WHITES-500x500.jpg)
![CLOUD WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CLOUD-WHITE.jpeg)
![CLOUD WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Cloud-White-CC-40-588x900.jpg)
![CLOUD WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Benjamin-Moore-Paint-Colors.-Cloud-White-by-Benjamin-Moore.-Cloud-White-by-Benjamin-Moore.-CloudWhite-by-BenjaminMoore-580x900.jpg)
![DECORATORS WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DECORATORS-WHITE.jpg)
![DECORATORS WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DECORATORS-WHITE.png)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Decorator-White-DECORPAD.jpg)
![OXFORD WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/OXFORD-WHITE.jpeg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Benjamin-Moore-OPaint-Colors.-Benjamin-Moore-Oxford-White.-BenjaminMooreOxfordWhite-BenjaminMoorePaintColors-Kelly-Deck-Design.jpg)
![OXFORD WHITE HOME BUNCH](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/oxford-white-CC-30-500x406.jpg)
![CHANTILLY LACE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CHANTILLY-LACE.jpeg)
![CHANTILLY LACE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Chantilly-Lace.jpg)
![CHANTILLY LACE - HANDMADE HOME](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/emersonsroom5-600x900.jpg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/LesliHouse0116-599x900.jpg)
PORTRAIT OF GUS
![SIMPLY WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/SIMPLY-WHITE.jpeg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/SHOLiving-Fireplace-Straight-On.jpg)
![SIMPLY WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/SIMPLY-WHITE-593x900.jpg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/SIMPLY-WHITE-600x900.jpg)
![MY OLD COUNTRY HOUSE EXTERIOR](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/HOUSE-EXTERIOR-700x522.jpg)
![FROSTINE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/BMFROSTINE.jpeg)
![FROSTINE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/FROSTINE.jpeg)
![FROSTINE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/FROSTINE.jpg)
![WHITE DOVE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/WHITE-DOVE.jpeg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/WHITEDOVE-700x525.jpg)
![WHITE DOVE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/WHITE-DOVE-500x600.png)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/revere-pewter-bm5.png)
![WHITE CHRISTMAS](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/WHITE-CHRISTMAS.jpeg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/HOME-BUNCH-TRIM-DECORATORS-WHITE-WALL-COLOR-ABALONE.jpg)
![WHITE CHRISTMAS FROM PARC INTERIORS " This white with hints of green is such a beautiful white. I like to use this soft color in bathrooms. "](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Screen-shot-2011-12-19-at-9.56.42-PM.png)
![SNOWFALL WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/SNOWFALL-WHITE.jpeg)
![SNOWFALL WHITE SLC INTERIORS](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/SLC-Interiors.jpg)
…AND TWO MORE WHITES- A HAPPY BRIGHT WHITE THAT I ADORE ….SUPER WHITE –
![SUPER WHITE - CELERIE KEMBLE - BLACK AND WHITE " “My whitest white. Highly reflective, great for floors. Doesn’t compete; lets other colors be ‘true.’ My go-to ceiling and molding color in modern spaces.”](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/SUPERWHITE.jpg)
AND A BEAUTIFUL FARROW AND BALL WHITE – WIMBORNE WHITE…I AM KIND OF SMITTEN WITH THIS COLOR…MAYBE NOT FOR PHOEBE’S ROOM…BUT SOMEWHERE!
![HOUZZ FARROW AND BALL WIMBORNE WHITE](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/be45526769d564c560471aec8b51b74f.jpg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/7-700x514.jpeg)
![](http://myoldcountryhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/23.jpeg)
…WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE WHITES? ARE THEY WARM WHITES? COOL WHITES? OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN???
XO
The perfect post for me today! We have to put new drywall the the den because of a leaky pipe. I’m pretty sure I want to paint the room white, but I’m having a hard time choosing which one. Now I have some inspiration!
My go-to white is All White by Farrow & Ball. I had chosen Wimborne White for my dining nook, but it proved too dark (I know it’s one of their palest colour) for my space as I only have a small window (it’s an old stone cottage), so I mixed Wimborne White with some All White to create the colour I wanted. You can see it there: https://thelittlewhitehouseontheseaside.blogspot.fr/2015/05/the-dinner-party.html
Love it and love your site!
Thanks Erin!
This was a great read! I’m planning a renovation and was planning on using a warm white. My other colors in my design is navy blue, gray and pale jade color. What white would be the beat with that color palette?