There are certain houses where you know you’ll love the aesthetics inside since the exterior is oozing with storybook charm. This particular beauty in Canada (interior design by Jenny Martin Design) has inspiring gentle paint colors selected for the interiors and facade. 3 Paint Colors in a Storybook Dream House spotlights breathtaking nods to traditional style (arches! eyebrows!). I’ll never tire of this romantic (yet not too precious) style that feels fairytale-like yet all decidedly grown up.
3 Paint Colors a Storybook Dream House
Project: Maison de Lee (in Victoria’s South Oak Bay neighborhood); Builder: M. Knight Construction; Home Design: Zebra Group; Interiors: Jenny Martin Design
What’s the story on this storybook charmer?
Known as Maison de Lee, this beautiful home won seven awards including Project of the Year.
“Aiming to incorporate traditional elements with an aged vintage quality, this project integrates detailed mouldings, rustic white-oak beams and soft arches, pairing them with unlacquered brass and natural marble specifically selected to age gracefully over time. The aesthetic was elevated with a restrained palette of natural tones.” – Jenny Martin
Care to see it lit up at night during the holidays?
Atmospheric Paint Colors Paint a Modern French Country Kitchen
If you love this look, turn to Benjamin Moore White Dove. The reason so many designers have sworn by this white for decades (oh goodness, I have used it since the early 90s) is it has traditional feel and doesn’t seem to change throughout the day when the light does. I love painting vintage castoff furniture this white since it feels harmonious with older things.
If you’re not a bandwagon-y type, maybe you could use extra incentive to choose white subway tile for a backsplash in spite of the fact it is a common mainstream choice. The thing is when you’re after an understated atmospheric calm look, it’s nice to not have a jolting tile moment. Subway is subtle enough and helps a new space feel established.
Do you love the beautiful wreaths lined up across the windows!?! Did you know there are beautiful choices now when you want the look of real greenery but without the messy needle drama?
They’re an investment for sure, but I have no regrets about the high quality fresh looking artificial arrangements I have owned for years.
Will a single color for walls, cabinets, and trim create an atmospheric mood?
While you can stick with the same color for cabinets and walls, they will appear slightly different since the sheen will vary (flat or satin for walls, satin or semigloss for cabinets). However, your trim color should most likely be the color of trim in other areas of the home.
So for example, if all the trim and doors in your home are painted White Dove, then it may be okay to stick with that white for the kitchen areas.
How is the mood “atmospheric?” In this newly built kitchen, the finishes, color choices and design elements combine to create a feeling of nostalgia. There’s a sense of history, age, and context. White Shaker cabinets and warm brass hardware contribute to the traditional yet fresh vibe. Best of all, they are timeless choices that will remain relevant.
Bonus Paint Color Tip from a Real Life Renovator (moi): Make the oh so important choice for your countertop material first. Then decide on the backsplash. When those decisions are out of the way, that is the moment to sample paint colors. Sample at least three and choose your favorite that works well with the balance of the kitchen design.
Idea for an Atmospheric Color for Kitchen Cabinets?
You won’t have trouble discovering a host of off white colors for cabinetry since there are a ton. But if you need a place to start, I would suggest sticking to whites that may have grey undertones rather than brown or yellow if you like the feel of this atmospheric kitchen. There are plenty of off white paint colors beyond White Dove…Classic Gray above, for example. Even though it sounds like a gray, I have used it plenty of times, and it will feel white.
F&B Blackened No. 2011, Valspar Swiss Coffee 7005-16, or Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (yes, plenty of whites don’t have “white” in the name!) are beautiful contenders.
Atmospheric is not the same as sterile. The warmth of wood, metal, and natural materials will create cozy atmosphere and feel inviting. I have heard of design-sensitive types noticing that their guests linger longer at a dinner party in their dining room when the walls are a particular color. So interesting to consider.
Still haven’t picked up this watering can which is similar to the one above. Sometimes those small touches can be big moves.
Lovely Colors for This Storybook Facade
It can be frustrating to choose paint colors based on photos online. There may have post-production editing or the home may be in an entirely different region of the globe than your project. Add to that the fact the time of day when an image is shot matters big time.
It’s wise to buy samples of a few different whites in the family of whites (warm or bright or cool, etc.) you’re after. The exact exterior color on this beautiful house is:
For whites close to Gray Mist that you may want to sample (because I’m telling you even if they all look the same here in a post or on Pinterest, it’s a different story when you place them in YOUR space side by side)…consider Sherwin Williams Snowbound, Benjamin Moore Calm, and Farrow & Ball Strong White. Bear in mind that the perfect white for your atmospheric space may have “gray” in the name, and that perfect gray you’ve been hunting down? The paint color name may have “white” in it.
The exact atmospheric paint color on this home’s trim and shutters?
You may want to test several similar atmospheric light grays to be sure you find the one that works well with your particular exposure. Another one to sample? Farrow & Ball Ammonite No. 274.
To increase contrast between the siding and trim colors, you could consider:
I have lots of positive experience with Repose Gray and included a bunch of inspiration photos here. It is quite similar to Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray No. 242 which is why I created this graphic:
I find Farrow & Ball Pavilion Gray to have more blue undertones so it reads cooler than Repose Gray in my own home. Here’s Repose Gray on walls:
And here is Pavilion Gray (at 66% saturation) on my kitchen cabinets.
While we’re on the topic of atmospheric paint colors, don’t count out SW Eider White (on walls above in our kitchen).
It’s a different sort of off-white, light grey-white that I learned about when we bought our home two years ago.
Traditional Architectural & Design Details for Gently Atmospheric Interiors
Airy & Open Shelves
I love how the shelves look in this gorgeous kitchen design. They are an opportunity to show off pretty kitchenware, but more importantly, they keep essentials at the ready. While I still haven’t added shelves on either side of my range hood, I may do it. What is the delay? We have plenty of storage, and it’s a big decision to drill into those walls for shelves to hold heavy items.
One way to decide whether you’re the type who would like living with open shelving? Simply clear an area of your countertop beneath an existing wall cabinet. Place dishes, mugs, or essentials there right on the counter that you plan to place on shelves. Live with this system to see if it agrees!
How Bright Whites, Neutrals & Warm Oak Interact
If you are responding favorably to this inspiration kitchen, it may be that the lighter toned wood feels fresh and not dated. European country style tends to rely on pale tones including light stained or natural wood.
Do you like the absence of black in our former kitchen? I didn’t paint the window muntins black or incorporate much contrast at all since I love a serene, subdued, ethereal mood.
You probably have noticed how popular black and white modern farmhouse interiors and exteriors became in recent years. That high contrast between the black and white is not for everyone, and it isn’t necessarily the “atmospheric” feel we’re exploring in this post…however:
Introducing Black to a Gentle Color Story
There are no design rules, kittens. You can give yourself all the rules you want for your decorating plans and then wake up one morning and say NOPE. Breaking my own rules. Did you even know you can do this with every aspect of your one precious life? You totally can. It’s what living freely is all about and is where all of the fruit lies.
Yes, you could design your utility room or mud room with neutrals but color outside of the lines.
Unexpected Design Choices in a Serene Inspiration Home
It does seem as though little dens and sitting rooms are unpopular now unless they are used as a home office. Rather, newer homes have fewer rooms but more open plans with spacious dimensions for each space. I think that’s why the music room in this newly built home caught me by surprise.
Similar to my own living room here in the Georgian, it’s the perfect sized sitting room. Instead of furniture that is formal and hands-off, a California influenced spare style keep it very flexible and inviting.
You’ll also note from that music room and even this home’s living room (above), that there are some curves added to keep things balanced and not boxy.
When You’re After a Gentle Entry
A sense of grandness in an entry is hardly a disadvantage, but there are certainly some things that could undermine the gentle mood you’re after. The singular color on walls and trim is relaxing for the eye, and the restrained palette (just a few woven natural accents which echo the hand rail) keep all rather quiet.
If you’re seeking white paint colors to sample to approach the look of this space, peek at Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, and Farrow & Ball All White.
Easiest way to see if a color is right? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.
Can a Closet Actually Feel Tranquil or Atmospheric?
Apparently a closet totally can! Historic homes are wonderful, but they aren’t going to have modern amenities like this:
Of course you need not build from scratch. Occasionally we can carve out a closet with some clever design choices for a renovation. In our current home, we turned a small unused and terribly awkward bedroom into a dressing room/closet. It can easily become a bedroom once again since my design left plenty of room for a bed. Certainly not luxurious like the custom dream closet above, but my semi-custom DIY closet serves me well.
Calm Country French Bath
What I noticed first about this bath is its lofty feel. High ceilings and abundant natural light are both so unusual for a bath!
As you can see, carrera marble was installed in a herringbone pattern on the floor and staggered on shower surround. Subway inside the shower has a fresh more casually relaxed mood.
A classic white bath is always a good idea.
Applied moldings in the bath, anyone?
More of my favs here:
Thanks so much for reading, and let me know if you have favorite atmospheric colors that work well in your own home.
Visit Jenny Martin Design for more info!
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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