apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I just posted this in a open thread but it's more appropriate here:

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So many white paint colours to choose from! Any comments on "Bavarian Cream" by Benjamin Moore as the main wall colour in a living room with north light in a rainy climate? I really want to maximize the light and create a warm feeling. The floor is oak, and there is quite a bit of wood in in similar colours, with a warm brown leather sofa and "sand" leather armchairs. The priority is complementing a bookcase wall and three original paintings. Planned accent colours are citrus yellow, emerald, and tomato red (pulled from paintings). The adjacent kitchen has grey tile flooring.

Anyone have experience with Devine "Pebble"?

http://www.devinecolor.com/paintt/colorpalette03.shtml

I use BM's Montgomery White in my studio. It faces due north and while it is very bright the whiter whites seemed too cold. I love the warm feel to it - but I haven't found the perfect trim color yet.
BM Monterey White (HC-27)is great - and looks good in every light I've seen it in.
For a really crisp white, I like BM Decorater's White.
For a traditional look I like BM China White (satin or eggshell finish) on the walls and BM Atrium White in semigloss - it looks very rich.

For a more clean modern traditional: BM 2143-60, Moonlight White on the walls looks great with BM Superwhite as trim.

If you've every done faux finishing for others as I have, you tend to be partial to BM Superwhite. It's crisp. Universal tinters - just one teeny drop, can make all the difference in the world. It's a wonderful way to design your own white.

pratt & lambert designer white - my favorite, (especially next to really bold, bright colors), but a bit stark for some people

good ol' kelly moore swiss coffee - a clean yet warm white, it's really nice on trim in semi-gloss

Has anyone used any of the full spectrum paints that are white? If so, was it worth the $$?

Dang. I keep posting without finishing...

and has anyone had experience with the whites of Devine paint? (thinking about the icing, vanilla and whipped.

I've used Devine icing and vanilla. The vanilla is a touch warmer, I used it as a ceiling color with other warm colors (paprika and latte). I love icing, but it is a cool white. It looks very different depending on your lighting, the color in the bathroom is very different than in the hall.

There are sutle differences in the whites, the best way I found was to use the sample packets and put them side by side. If you are matching against another color or wood then try them up against the wood. I found the icing really made my wood cabinets pop.

A painter friend recommends a custom blend for painting trim: one gallon with a whole shot of black. It covers well, but I think it can look gray depending on the light. The Benjamin Moore store where I shop is very helpful. He told me what the color mix was for several different colors and then let me custom blend my own. And since it was my own, I gave it a name: Happy White.
The BM guy colormatched Restoration Hardware's Butter Cream paintfor the corresponding wall color.
One thing to remember if you mix your own: It takes more shots of yellows to match a single shot of another color like blue or red. And, once you get the guy to mix it, it's yours unless you have a very cooperative paint guy. You can end up with a lot of closet paint if you are not careful.

WHITE DOVE HAS BEEN VERY VERSATILE....NOT YELLOWISH AT ALL BUT WITH NICE VERSATILITY WITH LIGHT CHANGES

Would Atrium White make a nice match with a interior red brick wall, or should I slect another color? The floors are amber wood and the furniture is cream and brown.... I'm in the process of paiting the molding atrium white... the other walls are another story!

All my walls are painted Atrium white. I have oak floors and lots of wood trim and an old brick fireplace. I've also got a red Bokhara. The Artirum white looks fine.

I am a big fan of Atrium white -- used in my baths and kitchen and for all trim in my apt. It has matched well with everything from the tan in my living room to the persimmon in my dining room to the bamboo green in my bedroom.

My upstairs neighbor used decorator white when she had her apt. repainted last year and had a ton left over. So, in an effort to save $ on repainting my office/guest room which desperately needed it, I borrowed some last weekend and painted. The thing I noticed right away (as did my friend who was helping me) is that it has a decidedly blue-ish cast to it. It was fine with me, but just putting it out there.

i used Behr Moon Rise to take my kitchen from oily yellow to a clean, crisp white. it really opened the space and it looks fantastic.

Hi. I am in need of some good suggestions for a white paint for our kitchen/family room area. Have looked at lots of colors - but are deciding to go with a version of white. Of course there are TONS of choices. I am thinking of the Ben Moore Atrium white or linen white....
we live in a timber frame home - lots of exposed medium oka beams, wood floors and a good deal of natural light. I am a little worried it will look boring 0 but i think the white will bring out our beams more....
what you are your thoughts?????
THANKS!!!!!

I have devine vanilla in a long hallway. It's a warm white, very easy to live with. Never stark. Devine whip is in a bathroom. It appears very crisp and clean there.

On color matching devine colors-- When I first discovered the Devine line, I bought a gallon of Shell. We decided to use it in several rooms, so we needed more. DH thought it was silly to pay $37 when we could just have it color matched at home depot. Well, their first try was way off. Next try was really close. We painted one side of a stairwell with the Devine, the other with the home depot version. The devine side really is nicer. I understand now what they mean about the glow it has. Hard to explain, but when the light hits it, it has a GLOW to it, rather than shininess.

Next, we discovered that Miller will mix up whatever devine color you like in one of their standard bases. They have the recipe of course, so you get the exact color. But their bases have varying degrees of SHINE rather than GLOW. You really can tell a difference.

I love the devine colors, and will never bother with anything else. If you like it on the large card, you'll like it on the wall. No more hideous disappointments once the paint's on a whole wall. we have manzanita, date, fescue, vanilla, whip, latte, shell, reef, and silver. Silver is the most astonishing color. It looks like gray, until you put it with warmer colors or the light hits it. Then it's the most beautiful, sophisticated blue.

If you go look at the colors at a miller store, be SURE to take the swatches over to a window to see them in natural light.

I like bavarian cream, very light soft and white. This would make a space wide open and fresh.

Benjamin Moore
bavarian Cream
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-OC-123-Bavarian-Cream-p/mpc_bm_oc-123.htm

Benjamin Moore
Top selling off whites
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Top-Off-White-Colors-Myperfectcolor-com-s/3236.htm

Shari --

We used full-spectrum whites by Donald Kaufman throughout our home, and they are absolutely worth it. They are the most beautiful whites, which change according to the different lighting conditions. (his darks are gorgeous too). They were pricey, but we consider them money well-spent, especially since we have a somewhat bare aesthetic.

This is an extensive list of whites and off whites across a broad spectrum of brands. These are all my favorites

Benjamin Moore - Linen
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-912-Linen-White-p/mpc0006842.htm

Sherwin Williams -Dover White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Sherwin-Williams-SW6385-Dover-White-p/mpc0071237.htm

Benjamin Moore - Mayonnaise
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-2152-70-Mayonnaise-p/mpc0005088.htm

Donald kaufman - DKC-51
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Donald-Kaufman-DKC-51-p/mpc0108904.htm

Sherwin Williams - Minuet white
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Sherwin-Williams-SW6819-Minuet-White-p/mpc0071272.htm

Benjamin Moore - white Dove
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-OC-17-White-Dove-p/mpc0007036.htm

Ralph Lauren - Journal White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Ralph-Lauren-WH06D-Journal-White-p/mpc0068438.htm

Benjamin Moore - Navajo White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-947-Navajo-White-p/mpc0006877.htm

Glidden - Terrace White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Glidden-53YY87-070-Terrace-White-p/mpc0097948.htm

Sherwin Williams - Reserved White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Sherwin-Williams-SW7056-Reserved-White-p/mpc0071370.htm

Benjamin Moore - Cloud White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-967-Cloud-White-p/mpc0006897.htm

Ralph Lauren - Tackroom White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Ralph-Lauren-WH07D-Tackroom-White-p/mpc0068529.htm

Benjamin Moore - Ivory White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-925-Ivory-White-p/mpc0006855.htm

Ralph Lauren - Whitecap
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Ralph-Lauren-SS05-Whitecap-p/mpc0068354.htm

Benjamin Moore - Natural Wicker
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-950-Natural-Wicker-p/mpc0006880.htm

Ralph Lauren - Picket Fench
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Ralph-Lauren-CO12C-Picket-Fence-White-p/mpc0068475.htm

Benjamin Moore - White Sand
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-964-White-Sand-p/mpc0006894.htm

Benjamin Moore - Muskoka
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-974-Muskoka-Trail-p/mpc0006904.htm


Pratt & Lambert - Cool White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Pratt-Lambert-1514-Cool-White-p/mpc0021995.htm

Restoration Hardware - The Right White
http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Match-of-Restoration-Hardware-The-Right-White-p/mpc0085397.htm