Tropical Paint Colors in a Charming Traditional Charleston Home

There are certain homes that capture Southern charm and breezy summer nostalgia in such a fresh way, they sing with timeless loveliness. Julia Berolzheimer’s Charleston home in Southern Living (interior design by Torrance Mitchell and architecture by Beau Clowney) is one such traditional house decorated with cheerful tropical hues. The front porch! Blue shutters! Dreamy pink bathroom! Can you handle more exclamation!?! Learn the names of tropical paint colors and enjoy a tour as you soak up the sunny, classic, tropical mood and learn the look.

Whimsical handpainted turquoise hardwood floor (Suzanne Allen) in entry of charming Charleston home - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bmsimplywhite #paintedfloor
Handpainted wood floor in entry by artist Suzanne Allen

Tropical Paint Colors in a Charming Traditional Charleston Home

Julia Berolzheimer home in Southern Living – Design: Torrance Mitchell Designs; Architect: Beau Clowney; Photography: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox

Benjamin Moore Blue Porcelain 1641

Of Blue Porcelain, Benjamin Moore says “This blue is darkened slightly by a touch of gray, resulting in a lovely, serene hue.” And the gray undertones seem to make all the difference! You know how easily bright blues can be all wrong! But Porcelain Blue is just right for these shutters and porch!

BM Simply White siding and BM Blue Porcelain shutters on a beautiful Charleston house exterior - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bmsimplywhite
BM Blue Porcelain on shutters – BM Simply White on siding

The light reflectance value (LRV) of BM 1641 is 54.9 which is a little surprising since it doesn’t come off as a mid-range blue to me on this home.

I think all of the natural light works magic with it, and it’s worth noting that you should definitely sample this before being sold on it for your project.

BM Blue Porcelain shutters and Simply White siding on a charming Charleston exterior - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bmsimplywhite #bmblueporcelain
BM 1641 Blue Porcelain on shutters and porch floor of a charming Charleston home with vintage plant stand.

It appears to be painted on the porch floor and ceiling as well, though I am wondering if it was mixed at a lower saturation since it appears lighter. See this story about perfect haint blue paint colors. Sometimes photography and editing will influence how a paint color is perceived. Add to that how the time of day a photo is snapped affects the perception!

Haint blue ceiling on front porch with patio furniture and blue cushions - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bmsimplywhite
Brown Jordan Calcutta furniture on the inviting front porch

But do bear in mind that if a color is just a little too much, you can always sample it at a lower saturation to arrive at the perfect custom version of the paint color for you and your needs.

Blue Porcelain is going to match with these BM colors: Cloud White, Ivory Porcelain, White Dove, and Templeton Gray.

Farrow & Ball Parma Gray 27

Is this the prettiest blue traditional style kitchen you’ve ever laid eyes on? Deep Charleston sighhhhhhh. The shiplap, the island feel, the tropical pendants, the La Cornue range, and that pantry!

Farrow & Ball Parma Gray kitchen cabinets, La Cornue range, and Tabarka Studio tiled backsplash - Torrance Mitchell - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #farrowandballparmagray #bluekitchens #charlestonkitchens #traditionalstyle
Parma Gray painted kitchen cabinets, La Cornue range, and glorious woven pendants over island

I feel like a broken record on this subject of blue paint colors, but it bears repeating. Look at colors with “gray” in them when you’re after the perfect blue. Here’s a perfect example. No. 27 Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray is the paint color on cabinets in this kitchen!

Of Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball says this clean and crisp hue reads “as a cool blue.” and “creates the perfect period feel when contrasted with Wimborne White.” Julia Berolzheimer called on Olivia Brock of Torrance Mitchell Designs to create this stunning space for her young family, and doesn’t the blue feel youthful and happy?

Farrow & Ball Parma Gray kitchen cabinets, La Cornue range, and Tabarka Studio tiled backsplash - Torrance Mitchell - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #farrowandballparmagray #bluekitchens #charlestonkitchens #traditionalstyle

The natural materials and touches of warmth play so well with Parma Gray cabinetry.

Beautiful breakfast nook with banquette and custom oval table - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #charlestonhomes #breakfastnooks

Would you dare place a lantern of this scale in a cozy breakfast nook?

Beautiful breakfast nook and pantry with interior windows - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #charlestonhomes #torrancemitchell

Because it’s working for me! So is the custom oval table and open concept pantry which feels like a dream!

But what color white is on the kitchen walls, ceiling, trim, window and throughout the interiors in this Charleston home painted?

Benjamin Moore Simply White 2143-70

It’s this white paint color that is widely popular with designers and homeowners for its gentle warmth.

Traditional living room with shiplap walls (BM Simply White) - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bmsimplywhite

Benjamin Moore says of Simply White: “The slightest hint of warmth makes this clean, crisp white a favorite to use anywhere in the home.”

This white paint color is also known as OC-117 and reflects a ton of light. The LRV is 89.52, which means it’s going to reflect almost 90% of light.

Charming Charleston traditional dining room with modern Parsons table, Ballard Designs chairs upholstered in Cole & Sons - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bmsimplywhite
A parsons dining table with chairs (Ballard Designs) upholstered in Cole & Sons.

Simply White was also used on the exterior of this home, and you begin to see how repeating the same color becomes important when you see areas of the property such as the courtyard:

Charming courtyard at a Charleston home - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bmsimplywhite

The exterior color becomes a focal point from interior rooms with such a configuration. Simply White matches with these other BM colors:

Moonlight White, Old Prairie, Camouflage, Olive Branch, Alligator Green, and Sage.

Traditional bedroom in Charleston with Colefax & Fowler's Boxwood Chintz and lavender accents - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #traditionalbedroom #boxwoodchintz

Torrance Mitchell chose Boxwood Chintz (Colefax & Fowler) for the primary bedroom, and you’ll note the wallpaper’s background is more of an antique white. So many homeowners believe they must match their whites precisely, and if you study the contrasts within this room, it may illustrate how designers do NOT get matchy. Notice the white baseboard trim, the bright white bedding, and the ceiling meeting the creamy white of the floral wallcovering.

Farrow & Ball Pink Ground

Ready for the most romantic bath with a French accent?

Pink bathroom with vanity (Farrow & Ball Pink Ground), lavender roman shades, and pink cement tiles - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #pinkground #pinkbathroom #traditionalstyle
BM Simply White on walls – Farrow & Ball Pink Ground on bath vanity

Ahhhhhh! Pink Ground 202 is described by Farrow & Ball as a dusty blush pink. It started out as a delicate wallpaper background which prompted customers to request it for a paint color.

Its yellow undertones result in a warm soothing mood that isn’t too sweet or precious. Farrow & Ball suggest pairing it with warm whites rather than bright whites.

Soaking tub with brass fixtures in a traditional Charleston home - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez).

Are you ready for the commitment of pink cement tiles somewhere in your home? You have to hand it to folks who are willing to be bold and embrace happy colors they will be living with for a very long time. It’s an honorable way to make a house a home and distinctively yours.

Understated & Classic Tropical Paint Colors

Isn’t it refreshing to see hushed tropical paint colors as opposed to bright, sugary sweet, vibrantly loud iterations?

Lofty ceilinged bedroom with Colefax & Fowler Melina fabric and vintage framed bird prints - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bmsimplywhite

I love the idea of a haint blue ceiling in a guest room! Keep those ghosts far from guests! Hahahaha. (By the way, after that haint blue post where I joked I would pity the ghosts who would haunt my house since I would have little patience for their antics? Something totally spooky was spoken loudly and unprompted over a bluetooth speaker from the other room this week. Serves me right. Where’s my shopping list for haint blues…)

Caribbean blue tile in a shower of guest room - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bluetile #brightbluebathroom

What a gorgeous way to celebrate a tropical blue color in a bath! And raise your pretty hand if you need a screen porch with a fireplace in your life…

Screen porch with fireplace in charming Charleston home - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #screenporchdesign
Screen porch with fireplace in a lovely Charleston home with BM Simply White

Has anyone converted their builder-grade deck into a screen porch? A friend wants to know. 🙂

See glimpses of Julia’s home in this:

See more Charleston goodness in THIS.

Benjamin Moore Blue Porcelain on shutters of beautiful Charleston farmhouse with wraparound porch (Simply White on siding) - Julia Berolzheimer's home in Southern Living (photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez). #bmblueporcelain #bmsimplywhite
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Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing