Staring at paint chips and seeing 12 different whites? Here’s how to pick one that actually looks good in your light. If there is one decision that seems simple (but almost always spirals), it’s choosing a white paint … especially for cabinets. What looks “clean” on a swatch can turn gray, yellow, pink, or oddly...
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Ok here’s the truth- I have a lot of favorite whites- but this may be my new fave for cabinetry!
Here’s the part no one tells you:
Most “bad” white cabinets aren’t bad colors… they’re bad context. White fails when it’s chosen in isolation. Paint chips are judged under fluorescent store lighting, held next to nothing, and decided before cabinets, counters, floors, or hardware are even finalized. Then that same white gets wrapped around an entire kitchen and suddenly feels gray at noon, yellow at night, or weirdly dull no matter how much light you have.
That’s why we chose Shoji White by Sherwin-Williams for our kitchen cabinets this time around.
Not because it’s trendy.
Not because it photographs well.
But because it behaves.
Shoji White has a soft warmth that doesn’t show up on a chip, but does show up when it’s next to real materials. It stays steady throughout the day, doesn’t compete with natural wood or stone, and doesn’t turn chalky once it’s covering full-height cabinetry. That consistency is what actually makes a white “safe” — not how popular it is.
Designer truth:
If a white only looks good at one time of day, it’s not a good cabinet white.
If it needs perfect lighting to work, it’s not a good cabinet white.
If paint decisions make you spiral, it’s not because you’re bad at this (it’s because white is reactive, and no one teaches you how to test it properly).
Our blog goes live today at 3:00pm PST, where I break down how to evaluate whites in your actual space and share a few other cabinet whites we consider truly “safe” — the ones we use repeatedly for clients because they hold up in real life, not just in photos.
Save this if you’re choosing cabinets soon.
When I turned 50, I thought my story was already written.
Turns out, I was just getting to the good part.
I’ve rebuilt homes—and rebuilt a life.
Left what was familiar. Started over more than once.
Turned a lifelong love for design into a business alongside my husband, creating intentional homes for people all over the country.
I believe spaces should hold real life… the messy, meaningful, beautiful moments.
And I’ve always looked at older homes and thought, look at the potential. Maybe that’s why starting over has never scared me, because I see life the same way. Not as finished, but as full of possibility.
How about you? Are you in the middle part of life and just getting going??? I want to hear! And, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want some advice on how to get started- I’m realizing we are all in this together. 🤍
Life is short. Make it beautiful.
January, already?!
This month’s edit ended up being a mix of things I naturally reached for: cozy knits, everyday staples that don’t try too hard, little home upgrades that make winter feel more intentional. A few things for staying in, a few things for stepping out, and a few things that just make the house feel good again after the holiday rush.
It’s that in-between season where comfort wins, neutrals feel right, and anything with warmth or texture just makes sense. Simple, useful, grounding.
Here’s what’s on my radar as we settle into the new year. Comment “edit” for all my monthly picks! (Live on the blog at 3:00pm PST).
Welcome to our newest project: #TheSeattleSnug. A cozy, collected family TV room that’s getting a full Clouz Houz revamp.
We’re transforming this family’s TV/game room into a space that feels inviting, personal, and functional for real life. That means rethinking the furniture layout, adding texture in every direction, introducing multiple layers of lighting, building out a meaningful gallery wall, and mixing materials so the room has depth instead of feeling flat.
As always, we’re designing with their lifestyle at the center — comfy sofa moments, a game table for family nights, kid-friendly fabrics, and details that make the room feel lived-in.
Can’t wait to bring this space to life. More behind-the-scenes coming soon!
Hi 🤍 if you’re new here—my husband and I are the founders of Clouz Houz.
Three months ago, we packed up our life and moved across the country to follow a dream: expanding our design business in new ways and planting roots in a place completely unfamiliar to us.
We bought a house in Middle Tennessee to renovate and call home… in a community where we knew no one.
It’s been scary. And humbling.
But we’re doing it.
While we haven’t gotten as far as we hoped on this first project, we are making progress—little by little. New hardwood floors. New electrical. Kitchen and laundry demo complete. A bathroom fully replumbed and rebuilt.
And still… so much more ahead.
Living in the middle of a renovation while starting over at the same time has been overwhelming in ways we didn’t anticipate. This isn’t our first remodel, but this season feels different. It’s stretching us. Asking for patience. For trust. For presence.
And maybe that’s the point.
Progress doesn’t equal perfection. Sometimes it just looks like staying in it, even when the path feels uncertain. Learning a new place. Meeting new people. Believing that what you’re building—slowly—will be worth it.
This house is testing us, yes.
Follow along as we restore this 1930s bungalow and build a new chapter, one step at a time.
2026, we can’t wait to see all that you have in store for us. 🤍
Trying my best, learning a lot, thriving (occasionally)... the usual.😂 2026, I’m ready for you!
