Hello and welcome to another Project Design with Annie and Cindy. Today it’s all about paint! I’m giving you my tried and true neutral interior paint shades and finishes. Some of my favorite experts are joining us so be sure to follow their links at the end of this post.
Neutral White Paint Shades
Let’s face it. A good fresh paint job can make your home feel like new! I always recommend testing the paint in different areas of the room and viewing it at different times of the day.
A favorite combo of mine is Benjamin Moore White Dove on walls with Super White on the woodwork.
Deeper Neutral Paint Shades
I like Benjamin Moore Wind’s Breath and Vapor Trails for when you want a white with a hint of green.
If you want a blue cast that doesn’t read Baby Blue, I recommend testing Benjamin Moore Sterling and Donald Kaufman 57.
Honorable Mention for Painting Stained Cabinets
If you have ugly stained wood cabinets, Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter can be your friend. There is a contrast here in our rental kitchen with Corian white countertops so that they don’t look dingy. Also, I’ve found that this color works well with many granite countertops when you can’t afford or don’t want to change them.
Basically, the shinier the finish, the more durable….
*Here’s an exception to the rules above. We are using BM Aura Interior paint on a beautiful home renovation right now. This paint is not cheap but Benjamin Moore claims it is washable in any sheen so it can be used in any room. It also has a self primer and is fade and color rub-off resistant.
And that’s it…my tried and true neutral interior paint shades and finishes! Have you used any of these?
The Decor Experts’ Paint Advice
I can’t wait to check out what these ladies recommend…
Colleen says
Off the paint subject…every time you have a post looking out your windows at that gorgeous view I want to ask how many stories up are you folks? And were you living in the bay area when the 1989 earthquake hit?
Mary Ann Pickett says
We aren’t very high up…just high on the high. We’ve only been in SF six years.
Annie Diamond says
Mary Ann! I somehow missed that you used BM Super White in your Lido house. I love everything about that house…including the paint! I love your informative boards…there’s nothing like seeing it in that way to make you see the potential it can have in a space! I love everything you do!
xo
annie
Annie Diamond says
Mary Ann! I somehow missed that you used BM Super White in your Lido house. I love everything about that house…including the paint! I love your informative boards…there’s nothing like seeing it in that way to make you see the potential it can have in a space! I love everything you do!
THERESA says
Very helpful post, Mary Ann! I am about to use White Dove throughout my house. For the ceilings, what paint would you recommend? Thank you!
Mary Ann Pickett says
White Dove in flat if they are regular drywall.
Sheila says
You and I love so many of the same shades!! Love your tips MaryAnn, and your cabinets in the Revere Pewter look so good!
Thanks so much for including me – loved this hop!!
Sheila
xo
Karen B. says
I haven’t painted a room in quite a while. We’re renting and we love it. This house has white walls and trim but the base and trim are nice sized and the white looks very clean and goes well with our furniture. Still, some of these colors are lovely. Thank you for always providing your readers with great style.
xo,
Karen
Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com says
I always look forward to your Project Design posts and am amazed at all the creative subjects you girls dream up. This one is a particularly important one for sure! I wholeheartedly agree with your recommendation to test the paint in different areas of a room and view it at different times of the day, as light changes paint colors so dramatically. You can always tell the house where someone selected their paint off of a chip and ran with it. It seldom if ever works, right?
nancy says
love your picks!
Carla Aston says
I just love those subtle neutrals and whites you shared. Pinning these for sure. I want to try Vapor Trails and Wind’s Breath. Have not used those, but they are gorgeous!
LA CONTESSA says
BM I keep hearing about!I guess Timothy Corrigan took it to FRANCE to paint his renovated CHATEAU!The French were a bit skeptical but the finished product is AMAZING!I have not painted in Years………..the prep work alone STOPS ME!!!But the time has come to add new LUSTER to the decaying RANCH HOUSE!Room by room that is how I will tackle the problem!
Hope your travels were FUN and NO MORE TIME OUTS FOR CHIEF!What a FUN LOVING DOG you own!
XX
cindy hattersley says
What a beautiful informative post!! It is always fun to see others favorites. There are some comman threads but a few new ones to try as well. I can’t wait to save these to my paint boards!