I may be talking through my hat here, but white always pops forward. The more white, the more pop forward. strategically placed, the white would set up the colors, but if the white is a solid mass, the colors might just look jumbled ... the point about the white being an excellent place for quilting (or interesting appliqued flowers or objects) is very true ..
Maybe I should just say white isn't my favorite light accent, but it always looks clean and crisp.
I know that your excellent work will be beautiful, and we will all wish we had thought to do it just the way you finally decided to complete. :P