Maison de Lee is a gorgeous dollhouse-like Frenchy gem in Canada with interior design by Jenny Martin Design. We’ll take a closer look at the paint colors used inside and out to better understand the color story and mood. Along the way, we’ll identify the safest white paint samples (and grays and neutrals) to try for our own homes.
Safest White Paint Samples & Inspo from a Storybook Beauty
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?
Which White In This Modern French Country Kitchen?
If you love this look, turn to Benjamin Moore White Dove. The reason designers consider it a safe white is it is traditional in feel and changes minimally through the day with changing light. I use this color on vintage castoff furniture as it feels harmonious with older things.
Like the beautiful wreaths across the windows? There are beautiful choices now when you want the look of real greenery but without the messy needle drama.
An investment for sure, but I have no regrets about the high quality fresh looking artificial arrangements I have owned for years.
Will One White for Walls, Cabinetry, and Trim Look Okay?
Even when you decide to uniformly use the same color for cabinets and walls, they will appear slightly different since you’ll likely vary the sheen. (Typically flat or satin for walls, satin or semigloss for millwork).
Is White Going to Feel Calm? In this newly built kitchen, the finishes, color choices and design elements combine to create a calm and nostalgic feeling. 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 a backsplash. With those decisions made, 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.
More Options for Safe White Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets?
You won’t have trouble discovering a host of off white colors for cabinetry since there are a ton. For the safest whites, I would suggest sticking to colors with grey undertones rather than brown or yellow if you like a calm, atmospheric feel. There are plenty of off white paint colors beyond White Dove…Classic Gray above, for example. While it sounds like a gray, I have used it plenty of times as a 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.
Calm and safe should not feel sterile. The warmth of wood, metal, and natural materials will converge to feel cozy. I have heard of design-sensitive types say guests linger longer in the 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.
Atmospheric White & Neutral Exterior Colors
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 try samples of a few different whites in the temperature you’re after (warm or bright or cool, etc.). The exact exterior color on this beautiful house is:
For whites close to Gray Mist you may wish to sample (once again, 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 the perfect white for your atmospheric space could have “gray” in the name. That perfect gray you’ve been hunting down? Its 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
Open Shelving
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 to flank the range hood, I still may do it. 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.
I’m sure you noticed the popularity of black and white modern farmhouse interiors and exteriors in recent years. High contrast between the black and white is not for everyone, and it’s not an atmospheric feel I get from this inspiration project…however:
Black With Gentle Color Stories
There are no design rules. It’s okay to implement rules if it helps you. But it is also okay to break them.
Unexpected Moves in a Serene Inspiration Home
Even though I see plenty of snugs and sitting rooms on social media, I wonder if people are embracing them in the mainstream. New home plans seem to have fewer rooms and more open plans. Maybe that’s why the music room in this new build caught me by surprise.
Similar to my own living room here at the Georgian, it’s the perfect sized sitting room. Instead of furniture that is formal and hands-off, a California influenced spare style is flexible.
You’ll also note in the music room and living room (above), curves keep things balanced and not boxy.
Understated & Gentle Entry
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 it 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?
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:
Want to build this home? Find house plans HERE, and 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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