This is Another Reader Request (LOVE!)...White Walls

Dear Baylor Says,

Is it design criminal in this exciting world of color/fabric/fun to paint my dining room....white?  Also I'd love to find the perfect velvet and linen drapes and under thing, but just haven't yet....What's a design happy, but white paint lover to do?? Please help.

Signed,

Dining Room Hesitant
My very first official plea for advice....this must be how Caroline Manzo feels.  Weeee, I'm thrilled to tackle this one, but remember old (dear) readers, and please note new readers (Hi!  Thank you for coming!), I am not an interior designer.  Any and all opinions that I express are purely acquired through a passion for decorating, not book-learnin'.  

Dear DRH,

Thank you for asking a question that so many people have been pondering for a very long time (including me!).  I used to state proudly and often that I "hate white walls", but one could argue that way back then I knew nothing of fabrics and woods and metals and all the delicious textiles that bring a room to life.  I have a new love, nay obsession, with stark white walls.  They really let everything else in the room shine!  And your mention of velvet drapes just almost made me faint.  Swooooon.

Enough talk...just take a look at these white-walled rooms.  Nothing boring about these amazing spaces.

Julie Dodson of Dodson and Daughter Interiors

More from Julie Dodson, an amazing designer and super fun friend

And, but of course...

In my next living room redo (37 years from now seeing as I haven't finished the current do), there will be white walls and bright, voluminous silk drapes.  Blue, of course!

And finally, my dear dear DRH....please see a painting expert (we at Baylor Says heart Benjamin Moore in a big fat stalker kind of way) to help you choose the correct shade of white.  Yes, there are shades of white!  Do not ever buy the White can of paint of the shelf and proceed to paint your walls with it.  There are warm whites and cool whites.  Whites with blue undertones and yellow undertones.  Once you've narrowed it down to a few shades, swipe the samples on the wall and watch how the colors change with the light throughout the day.  You will definitely see a difference.

Another great source for major paint knowledge is Colour Me Happy, a blogger that knows her color stuff.

Lovingly,

 

"My bel-bel hurts".  The poor little Peeps has had #3 for a few days now.  We may hit the doctor later, but in all my googles it seems that the culprit is probably camp and dirty hands that are constantly in his mouth.  Which is kinda starting to sound more like a parenting issue.  Yikes.