ways wished I lived in a Banks-Gilmore house. A sort of enmeshment of the stately traditions from the Father of the Bride home, and the cluttered collectiveness of the Gilmore Girls' humble adobe. And what do these two houses have in common? White trims and buttery yellow walls within. A homely homage to all things country cottage with a modern twist! So when it came to choosing what wall and trim colours to do in our house, the answer was simple. Sort of…
Whites. Who knew there would be so many different variations to choose from? I believe at one point I had 6 different Dulux sample pots scattered across our doorways and closets, all with a vivid white base. Only some had a blue undertone, while others verged on being too eggshell. Don’t even get me started on how they looked in the changing shades of light! In the end, my husband and I came to a mutual consensus that Dulux’s Natural White was the way to go. It was the crisp white we had been searching for and didn't feel the least bit cold.
For a while, we lived with our new white trim and pink walls until we mustered up the courage to give painting the rest of the house a try. This is where the fun really began! We experimented with more shades of white, experimented with yellows, creams, blues and even sage greens. I wanted to try it all! To see if the house could pull off farmhouse chic, or if it was destined to become the cosy traditional interior I’d always hoped for. In the end, Dulux's Sand Diamond in quarter strength is what kept drawing us back. It sat softly during the day, and held warm throughout the night. We also loved Dulux’s Antique White USA, so opted for that in the bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchen and dining rooms where we wanted a more neutral tone to be set.
What do you wish someone had told you about choosing paint colours, before you started the process?
To not get caught up in the idea that only whites can keep a house fresh, modern and timeless. Though whites can help to achieve this result, there is a reason why so many country cottage period homes from the 18th to the early 20th centuries have stood the test of time, and it is because, if balanced properly, many hues of colour and pattern can be timeless. After all, it’s about the collectiveness of a well-decorated space that dictates its ability to remain current through the ages.
