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Here's Why So Many Designers Love Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore

The clean, crisp hue is beloved for its simplicity and versatility.

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If you ask interior designer Anthony Dunning what his favorite paint color is, he’d be quick to say Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace. The clean, easy hue—which is meant to evoke “images of pure silk, soft linen, and simpler times”—is popular among designers due to its versatility. “It looks good with everything!” gushes the Next Wave 2021 honoree. "I consider it a staple with my preferred whites and like it because of its neutrality," he adds. "It's present without being overwhelming, and it plays well with others."

House Beautiful editorial director Joanna Saltz is also a fan—so much so, that she had her whole kitchen painted in the crisp color. Similarly, design expert Lauren Behfarin chose the neutral pick for a recent client’s eat-in nook, aiming to make the space feel modern and bright. Its lustrous finish also makes it appealing: “I like to add a high-gloss finish to walls in dark rooms, since the shiny texture reflects light,” Behfarin explains.

Not completely sold on the sought-after shade? Keep scrolling for examples of how the perennial fave can be used in pretty much any space, inside and out!

1

A Modern Entryway

bunny williams home tour
Andrew Frasz

Designer Bunny Williams breathed new life into the foyer of this once-rundown industrial loft in SoHo with a fresh coat of Chantilly Lace.

2

A Sun-Filled Escape

elena calabrese interior design
Suzannah Scott Photography

For this home with sky-high ceilings, "I chose Chantilly Lace because I wanted to use the cleanest, most marshmallowy white," explains designer Elena Calabrese. "There was so much wood in this room that I wanted the walls to be crisp, clean, and bright."

3

A Timeless Sprawl

britt design studio chantilly lace benjamin moore kitchen
Robert Radifera Photography

"The clients wanted a color they would still love in 20 years," says Andrea Pietragallo, founder of Britt Design Studio, who chose the hue for the walls and ceiling of this contemporary kitchen.

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4

An Artful Backdrop

sarah mendel emma tannenbaum
Emma Tannenbaum

"The choice of color was inspired by galleries and museums," says Cochineal Design cofounder Sarah Mendel of this art-filled home, which features a collection of oversize works. "We wanted a uniform hue that would let the artwork take center stage. Chantilly Lace is the perfect gallery white in that it's clean and bright without any sense of coldness. It's classic and sophisticated."

5

A Seaside-Inspired Sanctuary

chantilly lace in living room
Thomas Kuoh

"We use Chantilly Lace in most of our projects!" admits Kriste Michelini, owner of Kriste Michelini Interiors. In this family room, the designer chose the shade to create a coastal vibe. "It has a subtle hint of blue, making it crisp and warm, but not too creamy."

6

A Relaxed Retreat

peti lau home tour
Brittany Ambridge

Designer Peti Lau juxtaposed Chantilly Lace with pops of black and orange in this laidback Los Angeles home, which happens to belong to The Chainsmokers's Drew Taggart.

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7

A Culinary Staple

renovated residence in corte madera designed by corine maggio of cm natural design, mill valley, california
Chipper Hatter

"The island is the heart of this kitchen, and Chantilly Lace really offered that bright pop necessary to add depth against the other cabinets" (which are painted in Benjamin Moore's Gray Owl), says designer Corine Maggio, owner of CM Natural Designs.

8

A Fine Family Room

julie rootes paul dyer
Paul Dyer

"Chantilly Lace is one of my go-to white paints!" says designer Julie Rootes. "It is a true white and does not go gray or green," she explains. "It was the perfect color for this millwork and tied perfectly with our coastal vibe."

9

A Minimalist Haven

cathie hong dining room
Christy Q Photo

Chantilly Lace's neutral, slightly cool undertone "paired perfectly" with the light-oak herringbone floors in this San Francisco home, says designer Cathie Hong, creating a "Scandinavian feel."

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10

A Grand Gallery

zoe feldman home tour
Stacy Zarin Goldberg

“This is a crisp, cool white that works really well with grays and blues," designer Zoe Feldman notes. "If you want to achieve more of a gallery feel with a cool vibe, Chantilly Lace is your girl.”

11

A Cozy Refuge

jamie haller bedroom
Jenna Ohnemus Peffley

In the main bedroom of this 1900s Craftsman house, "I wanted a clean and creamy white that felt traditional and maintained warmth," says designer Jamie Haller.

12

An Elegant Exterior

james huniford design studio matthew williams
Matthew Williams

The striking-yet-subtle hue looks as great outside as it does inside—and beautifully complements brick, to boot (as exemplified by this stately home by Huniford Design Studio).

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Color Inspiration

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