WONDERFUL WHITES FOR THE KITCHEN

Time-honoured and still the most popular colour for the kitchen, a classic white palette is here to stay. No matter where you choose to use white in your home, there’s a bit of trial and error that comes with choosing the right white. There are hundreds of white hues to choose from and they all have unique “personalities”. Subtle undertones of colour change white from warm to cool hues and it’s these nuances that can make or break the desired effect of a room’s decor. We’ve all chosen what we thought was white only to find that once it’s painted on the wall is not actually white at all.

To help you make the right choice, I’ve rounded up some go-to tips from colour experts and designers on choosing and using white paint.

How to Recognize Undertones in White Paint

Most paint colors are created by using two or more colours. An undertone is created when there is a higher percentage of one colour over the other. By viewing white paint colours next to one another, the undertone will become more obvious, making it easier to select a white option that leans warm or cool.

Warm white hues have undertones of red, orange, and yellow, resulting in a soft glow and welcoming vibe.

Cool white hues have hints of green, blue, and violet, resulting in crisp, clean and fresh spaces.

My favourite pure whites with little to no visible undertone are Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65 and Super White OC-152.

When looking for the “just-right” white paint, I recommend a visit to your favourite paint store and select a few white colour strips to take home and layer on top of each other to see the difference between brightness levels and undertones. View the strips’ paint colours against your kitchen cabinetry, backsplash, and furnishings to find which white looks best.

An all-white kitchen doesn’t have to be boring and cold. This charming white kitchen featuring lovely architectural details is the perfect example of how to add character and dimension with just one well-chosen white hue in finishes (see CLASSIC FINISHES below) that best suit the elements you want to paint. Designers’ Tip: Use different finishes for the cabinets, walls, and furniture to add definition and interest. Via Pinterest

CLASSIC FINISHES

Gloss: Turns up the drama and durability and highlights architectural details. Use for trim, cabinets, furniture, and architectural details.

Flat or Matte: Provides an understated, elegant finish that enhances luxe surfaces like stainless steel, marble, and quartz countertops. Use for ceilings and walls.

Eggshell & Pearl: A favorite for practicality, they offer a soft hint of gloss and an easy-to-clean surface. Use for walls.

Ask any designer for their favourite white paint colour and it’ll likely be shown on this sampler. White paint colours are especially prone to taking on different tonalities from morning to evening, under both natural and artificial lighting conditions. Look for large reusable peel and stick paint samples at your paint store that can easily be moved around the room and left on the wall to see how light effects the colour throughout the day.

Rainey Richardson of Rainey Richardson Interiors created drama in this stylish modern kitchen by pairing a pure white with a cool white hue that has a subtle blue/gray undertone on the walls. This combination is the perfect neutral backdrop for her client’s collection of bold colourful rock and roll posters and Thermador’s gleaming stainless-steel appliances.

Thermador Freezer column and Fridge column combo.

Design: Rainey Richardson Interiors @raineyrichardsoninteriors

Photo: Open House Foto @openhousefoto

Use a combo of warm and cool white hues together as shown here to add interest.