Photography: J. Barclay
Sometimes the ultimate non-color is the perfect choice. Here are some examples where white takes center stage.
It’s a matter of preference. Some feel colors, whether deep and dark or soft and pale, are accentuated well with white trim. To me, this is an effect meant to highlight the wall color, not the trim itself. Another aesthetic approach is to do the exact reverse – white or neutral walls and colored trim. I’ve enjoyed both of these styles in historic homes but in my current home I went with white on white. This decision was made in order to accentuate very large trim details such as coffered ceilings, mouldings, ceiling medallions and also to showcase the scale of architectural curves of the space.
Art gallery white walls are purposely a dedicated backdrop in order to let artwork be viewed without any distractions to the eye. This same concept goes for the home, however there’s typically more than just art on the walls. Art may be in the form of fabrics, upholstery, furniture pieces and personal artifacts collected over time. Art may also be “artisanship” – meaning, the intricacies and details of the craftsmanship of the space. In these photo examples, the details of the mill work and plaster work are given subtle attention. The white on white is complimentary and not overstated. Again it is a preference how walls and trim are treated with color. Other paint styles aren’t necessarily wrong – they are just highlighting the space in different ways.
Archways in White
White Coffered Ceiling
White Medallion
