Comments on: White Walls: Inspired or Institutional?

By: Finola

Finola — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:42:00 +0000

I LOVE Cloud White and I would love to paint my open concept house with it too but I haven’t been able to convince DH. I’m looking forward to your ‘after’ pictures for help persuading him. Go for it!!

By: Megs

Megs — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:10:00 +0000

i think it’s going to look awesome – can’t wait to see it!

By: Javamom

Javamom — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:18:00 +0000

I have cloud white in my hallway, which is small and narrow, but has natural light, and I love love love it so much I ended up painting my kitchen wall the same colour! (It’s a Benjamin Moore colour). I accent the white with colourful art the kids make, framed usually in white frames (cheap ones from ikea so I can really see the kids’ art). I recommend white especially in small rooms and accent with frames, art, or furniture and accessories.

Having said that, having lived in Europe, everyone’s house is white. I loved the colours in people’s homes when we moved to Canada. So I have a case for both…all our rooms have natural colours (inspired by nature, so a lot of herby greens or mustardy yellows); still, the white is not something I’m complaining about.

Looking forward to hearing how it turns out.

By: Coffee with Julie

Coffee with Julie — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:13:00 +0000

Hi Giulia, I should clarify that it’s not actually the ability to wash it off the paint that I’m worried about — it’s actually having to wash them off all the time because the prints show up more on the white. Our current walls are a light colour, but not white, and there are little finger prints EVERYWHERE all the time! So much so, that we simply can’t be bothered to wash each one off each time! Perhaps I need to set aside an hour each week just for washing prints!

By: Sarah McCormack

Sarah McCormack — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:54:00 +0000

after looking at her web site, I would say……. trust Tanya! sister knows her stuff!
Sarah

By: Giulia@fishlynews.com

Giulia@fishlynews.com — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:59:00 +0000

The first appartment I rented here in Canada had chocolate brown walls, purple walls and a green kitchen…no painting allowed:)

By: Giulia@fishlynews.com

Giulia@fishlynews.com — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:56:00 +0000

Julie, BM paint, the Aura one is washable even in a mat finish( which is what you should use). Just grab a wet papertowel and you’re good..or magic eraser if it’s crayola:)
I grew up in Europe and walls were white, we could not get coloured paint and maybe that’s why I’m drawn to light colour?

By: Julie Harrison

Julie Harrison — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:15:00 +0000

I love, love, your master bedroom! Especially the wallpaper … which is one of my goals — to have one wallpapered wall in our master. I am still working on Hubby — he is not a fan of the wallpaper idea. But you are seriously painting a whole wall of individual flowers for your daughter’s room?? Wow, woman — I bow to you! That is very cool. And I love the effect of cheeriness and creativity it brings to the room.

By: NK_StyleingwithChildren

NK_StyleingwithChildren — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Julie, I have painted our master bedroom & by 2.5 year old’s bedroom white. So far these are the only semi finished rooms in the entire house. oh, and the finished basement has been painted a very very very light gray/blue. Almost white.

I don’t have “after” photos of the master bedroom, I’m hoping to have them soon (we’re just finishing up a few things), but I have a few “interim” photos for you
http://styleingwithchildren.blogspot.com/search/label/bedroom

I also have a few posts up about my daughter’s room. I’ve done one entire wall of huge pink poppies (Marimekko Unikko pattern) and the rest of the walls are white white white!
http://styleingwithchildren.blogspot.com/search/label/Room%20for%20Baby%20C

link to basement photos:
http://styleingwithchildren.blogspot.com/search/label/basement

What I DO have to say about painting walls white is it has a lot to do with what your furniture and flooring is/will be in the room(s). We chose natural oak for the floors. They add a TON of warmth. Also, our furniture not black. I find that white walls with black furniture DO look very cold. We tend to choose natural wood finishes whenever possible. This way the house is more light/organic than cold/industrial/sterile.

I also LOVE oversized original art. I have a lot of it and will be investing into more throughout my life. So the walls for me are the perfect backdrop.

For accent colours I prefer bright or very saturated colours. Nothing timid. No beige here. It is either in-your-face pink or charcoal gray.

Have to say this: a good white will read very different in shadows and depending on what other colours you have in the room. Don’t buy paint from Home Depot, get Benjamin more or go to Randall’s. Expensive paint has more colours mixed in (even in your white) and will have undertones, overtones and character that cheaper paints do not. I would trust your designer and not stray from the colours she picked for you. Speaking form experience here!

White with kids? well…. I have to say this, I have a little girl. Sometimes she ruins things, somethings mom or dad ruin things. I have not had any issues with her and white walls. At all. And they are easy peasy to touch up. Not a problem at our house.

The last thing I can say is, if in doubt, come over for tea and I’ll show you my master bedroom. And you see for yourself if white is for you

PS. sorry for the long comment!!! ))

By: Julie Harrison

Julie Harrison — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:37:00 +0000

Haha! What you said about apartments and white walls was similar to the Benjamin Moore guy I spoke with … he said that people “our” age don’t like white walls because we all grew up in houses with white walls because our parents thought they should never paint the walls in case of resale. I don’t actually remember that from my childhood, but I do remember white walls in apartments!