Inspirations

10 Easy Pieces: Architects’ White Paint Picks

This week we’re revisiting some of the most popular DIY stories from our archives. Read on for end-of-summer project inspiration:

Not all white paint shades are created equal. And a number of factors come into play when deciding on the perfect white: the region (Northwest? East Coast? Southern California?), the quality of the natural light, window placement, room size, ceiling height, and more.

That said, every architect has a favorite all-purpose, works-anywhere shade of white. We consulted a selection of architects from the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory for their go-to white paint picks.

Photography by Mel Walbridge for Remodelista.

the top choice for an all purpose white is benjamin moore’s white d 14
Above: The top choice for an all-purpose white is Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. San Francisco–based Cary Bernstein calls low-VOC White Dove a “foolproof, livable shade of white.” According to John DeForest of DeForest Architects in Seattle, “White Dove is clean and calm, a great backdrop for art.” Celeste Robbins of Robbins Architecture in Winnetka, Illinois, is another fan of White Dove.

for woodwork, molding, and cabinetry, hope dana of platt dana architects in new 15
Above: For woodwork, molding, and cabinetry, Hope Dana of Platt Dana Architects in New York likes Farrow & Ball’s All White (in an enamel oil-base high gloss). Sample pots are available for $8 at Farrow & Ball.

jim poteet of poteet architects in san antonio, texas, says, “our f 16
Above: Jim Poteet of Poteet Architects in San Antonio, Texas, says, “Our favorite is Pittsburgh Paints 520-1 Gypsum. It has a tiny amount of gray and a warmth to it that moves it away from pure white. We primarily use eggshell finish on walls and prefer that they be sprayed for a smooth, hard finish.”