When I chose a white trim paint color for my Mom’s bathroom, I was under immediate pressure and admit: I found a teensy chip, “Alabaster White,” that looked “good” in the Sherwin-Williams midcentury paint colors brochure that I had sitting in the kitchen. The color turned out okay — fine for a ceiling actually — but it was to brite for the trim where sunlight hit fully. I am not a fan of brite whites inside the house, they hurt my eyes. So this made me think: Readers, what are your favorite whites for interior walls and trim in your mid century or vintage-inspired homes? Choosing whites can be sooooo anxiety-producing.
Two photos above: Dave and Kristin used Ralph Lauren Oatmeal for their lovely Louisville living room. They even admit, they had to try about 15 colors. I tweaked the exposures, etc., on these photos for the blog when I posted them initially. You’re always gonna have to put up a sample in your house. But: I think I would like Ralph Lauren Oatmeal and would definitely give it a try. Plus, I really trust Dave and Kristin — those two have the eye.
Gavin Hastings says
I still use oil paint for trim. Bullet-proof, Ben Moore Satin Impervo.
Alkyd paints do tend to yellow over time, so I try to compensate and keep to the gray/blue tints. I have been very happy with China White.
Keep your paint samples or better yet, your used stir sticks: Many manufacturers change formulations every few years….yet keep the same names.
BM is famous for this.
pam kueber says
Thanks, Gavin — I was waiting to hear from you!
Alison Marie says
…oh, that green, it was my original kitchen walls (with dark green trim- straight out of the Youngstown Kitchens ads….). I repainted all my trim in my 1945 Cape Cod with Benjamin Moore’s Cloud Nine….with a splash more yellow ochre added by the awesome folks at Jill’s Paint in Atwater Village, CA, it matched the paint on the tongue-in-groove wainscoting that covers half the walls in the bedrooms, and in its straight from the can form it covers all the gabled walls and dormers and is cozy and light without being too bright (I tried Decorator’s White, but it just looks too new in this old house….)
pam kueber says
Thanks, Alison. Yes, you’ve hit on my issue: Brite whites = too “new”. Like you, I like the house to feel “vintage”!
Phyllis says
I agree that Benjamin Moore Coud Nine is fantastic, we have it in every room of our 1967 MCM.
Jkaye says
We’ve used a Behr paint called Pearl Drops in the half bath, and also in the hallway that goes to the bedrooms. It is a warm pearly white, and I sometimes wish I would have painted every single room this color, particularly the bedrooms, rather than the pale blues and pale greens that we used. Hey, what’s to stop me? That ghastly mint green in the master bedroom will be the first to go.
Just another Pam says
Too funny, Jkaye! THAT green has been in every house, always in a bedroom, I’ve ever renovated. Even when you think it’s not there it shows up again hidden behind a switch plate or under wallpaper.
pam kueber says
Sounds like a great color, Judy!
STL Mom says
Green is a really hard color to get right. The colors that look great on the chip, or even the swatch, are usually too bright or too green or something when they are all over the wall. The ones that look ugly on the chip end up nicest on the walls.
The only white in my house is Oyster White by Glidden, painted before we moved in. It’s a nice warm white.
pam kueber says
Thanks, STL Mom. That one sounds good. When I was in KY, we also painted my mom’s kitchen. She has beadboard on the walls half-way up. It went Alabaster, which I think is too bright for that application. The walls we painted Great Green (Greatest Green?) by Sherwin-Williams. It’s a 1940s green, a leetle on the yellow side – and I liked it. Will get a pic next time I’m there. I dropped my camera about 1/4 way through these projects, argh.
Julia Fain says
I’ve been researching a light grey/beige and B. Moore Abalone + Silver Fox have really positive feedback on websites like apartment therapy. Leaning that direction…
TroySF says
You may like Benjamin Moore’s Shale (861). It’s quite a light gray, moves from warm to cool depending on the light. Looks great on on my bedroom wall with black/ivory/gold/chartreuse bedding, art, and accessories and warm walnut furniture.
pam kueber says
I am going to add Behr “Swiss Coffee” to the list. I have seen in referenced in magazines two times recently. Next time I have the chance I will try it.
CindyD says
I like ‘Swiss Coffee’ as well and have used it often It doesn’t ‘sound’ like a white, but it’s a very soft pleasing white – sepecially in a satin finish.
pam kueber says
Thanks, Cindy, I gotta try this one sometime!
TroySF says
Hi Pam! I discovered an old can of Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee in the garage of my Eichler when I moved in, and after consulting the neighbors I’m pretty sure this is the original white of all the beams in the house. My local BM has a custom mix to match KM SC so the beams all got a fresh coat a few months ago. I’m usually not a big fan of mixing whites, but I like the brighter, cooler SC against the warmer, milkier BM Ivory White I put on the walls.
pam kueber says
Thanks, Troy — nice to hear from you!
Michael M says
Swiss Coffee by Dunn Edwards has been our go-to white for years. Very adaptable and lends itself to acting as a blank slate.
Gerry Stairet says
My sister-in-law painted her ’60’s ranch with Devine paint. She used Devine Whip for the walls and Devine Icing for all the trim and maybe the ceiling too. Devine advertises that their paint goes on like yogurt and looks like chiffon. They have a great website too.
I guess think whipped cream and white frosting and that should give you an idea of the colors she used.
Sara in WA says
Devine is the best paint you will EVER paint with. Used it several times and the colors are great; shine is also perfect. Painted an entire house and never had a single drip. Saw the “whip” used as trim in several model homes and it was great. It’s available in the northwest and formulated for our gray (the few we have) days. 🙂 I don’t paint with anything else.
Just another Pam says
Dave and Kristin’s living room is a vision of perfection! Every time I see it I’m in awe.
I’m using a Eco white, I think by CIL but the tins are in the shed, as pure white is part of what I need right now. Yeah, the psychology of decor, but Benjamin Moore’s Designer white is lovely and what I’ll most likely use again in the future.
Depending on the other colours on the exterior I’d go slightly off pure white….cool or warm as needed because, as Pam so rightly pointed out, when the sun hits it it hurts your eyes.
Lisa Coleman says
I have great luck with Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White. I have a 1962 tri-level split ranch, slightly on the more modern side. This white transitions well with warm or cool tones; I just changed the carpet from warm to cool and this paint looks super with both.
pam kueber says
Thanks for the tip, Lisa!
Kimberly D says
I second the BM Decorator White suggestion. It is the best white around, also a favorite of many interior designers as well. We used it for all of the walls in our 1958 MCM Post and Beam and it looks spectacular.
Gerry Stairet says
Creamy white by Pittsburgh Paint. Walls and trim of our old house. Wonderful color.
I haven’t painted our ’60’s ranch yet inside or out, but I will test Creamy White and see how it looks in a different style house and different light. No blue in it.
Any suggestions for a white exterior paint? I started looking and am confused already.
pam kueber says
“Creamy” sounds great, Gerry — many thanks.
Michael Braun says
I’m currently using “Linen” from Restoration Hardware for my trim. I color match the RH paint chip at Lowes. In the last house I used “The Right White” from RH also. I switched to Linen because I also agree about a bright white just being too much. A softer white is just more comfortable and pleasant.