Notes on Neutrals

“I’m not sure how to add color without it feeling too busy to me,” homeowner Lorey Wetmiller says. Instead of color, she prefers to “add lots of textures and occasional patterns so the house feels full and calm but not too cluttered.” Here, a few of her go-tos:

FIND A WARM WHITE. Lorey chose Sherwinwilliams Whitetail (SW 7103) for wainscoting, shiplap, and trim throughout the house. Another favorite is Valspar Warm Oatmeal (V179), which coats the dining room buffet.

ADD CLASSIC BLACK. A tried-and-true blackand-white combo is an easy way to bring contrast to a neutral scheme. Lorey painted the front door and potting bench Tricorn Black (SW 6258) by Sherwinwilliams, and the kids’ bunk room benefits from buffalo-check accents and other accessories in black.

MIX IN WOOD. Stained pine floors, old doors, a butcher-block kitchen countertop, and wood accents in the main bath and mudroom bring natural touches to the Wetmiller house.