Not all white paint shades are created equal. And a number of factors come into play when deciding on the perfect white: the region (Northwest" East Coast" Southern California"), the quality of the natural light, window placement, room size, ceiling height, and more.
That said, every architect has a favorite all-purpose, works-anywhere shade of white. We consulted a selection of architects from the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory for their go-to white paint picks.
Photography by Mel Walbridge for Remodelista.

Above: The top choice for an all-purpose white is Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. San Francisco?based Cary Bernstein calls low-VOC White Dove a “foolproof, livable shade of white.” According to John DeForest of DeForest Architects in Seattle, “White Dove is clean and calm, a great backdrop for art.” Celeste Robbins of Robbins Architecture in Winnetka, Illinois, is another proponent of Benjamin Moore’s White Dove.
Above: For woodwork, molding, and cabinetry, Dana likes Farrow & Ball’s All White (in an enamel oil-base high gloss). Sample pots are available for $7.50 at Farrow & Ball.

Above: Jim Poteet of Poteet Architects in San Antonio, Texas, says, “Our favorite is Pittsburgh Paints 520-1 Gypsum. It has a tiny amount of gray and a warmth to it that moves it away from pure white. We primarily use eggshell finish on walls and prefer that they be sprayed for a smooth, hard finish.”

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