I love white interiors. Some people dismiss white as boring, or think it cold and stark, but to me white is multifaceted, and offers endless possibilities.
There are countless shades of white and each different one can evoke completely diverse moods; mixing pure white with either cold or warm off-whites creates elegant, calm interiors. Cold off-whites, with a blue or black undertone, and pure white give this contemporary living area a sleek, sophisticated look.
Warm off-whites, with their yellow or red undertones, soften areas and add a sense of comfort; in this room, pure white walls and floors, coupled with soft ivory tones and a mix of textures create an airy, elegant, and subtle scheme.
Mixing reflective and absorbing surfaces creates interesting contrasts of light and shadow, shiny and matt. In this bright, contemporary open plan interior, polished tiles make the kitchen gleam, while the beautiful stone stove and the stack of logs bring textural interest to the living area; the staircase is light and unobtrusive, and the smoked glass sliding doors open up the space and provide interesting reflections.
White walls and floors make borders disappear, creating fresh, luminous interiors. The texture of wood and a few plants give a feeling of warmth and comfort to these contemporary kitchen & dining areas.
Distressed furniture and reclaimed wood inject character and warmth into this light, traditional kitchen-diner.
Gauzy fabric, ornate screens and vintage chandelier give a dreamy quality to this romantic bedroom, and the four poster bed almost seems to float over the gleaming polished floor.
White is perfect to display art, interesting objects and collections; in this interior, the white background allows every object, every detail to stand out and be clearly defined.
Another reason I love white is that it makes it quite easy to change the mood of a room; splashes of colour, ethnic accessories, patterned cushions and throws can instantly alter the look of a white interior. Red accents lift this crisp dining area
while the distressed blue cabinet becomes a focal point and gives a feeling of freshness to this luminous beach house.
Last but not least, have a look at this elegant, minimalist interior and its lighting – I can only imagine the beautiful atmosphere of the room at night, with dimmed lights and a lit fire. Magical.
Photo Credit: 1 – Contemporist; 2, 4,5,6,7 Living etc; 3,10,11 – At Casa; 8 – Shoot Factory; 9 – Marie Claire Italia – 12 – Autojogja
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I HAD DRAWN A LOT OF INSPIRATION FROM YOUR WHITE ROOMS. I HAVE THE CORE WHITE ITEMS, LEATHER LOUNGES, WHITE PORCELAIN FLOOR, WHITE WALLS, WHITE BLINDS. I NOW NEED TO CHANGE MY FURNITURE. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME CAN I PAINT OVER DARK BROWN INDONESIAN TEAK WOOD ITEMS. OF COURSE I WISH TO PAINT THEM WHITE. WHAT PREP WOULD I NEED TO DO. I HAVE LIVED WITH WHITE AND CHOCOLATE FOR SO LONG THAT I NOW WANT TO GO ENTIRELY WHITE AND INTRODUCE ANY COLOUR WITH SOFT FURNISHINGS.DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS.
KIND REGARDS
SUE
Hello Sue,
I’m glad to hear that you find my article useful, thanks for letting me know.
Usually furniture needs to be prepared before being painted over – that is sanded and primed; sometimes you also need to strip original finishes, and that can be very time consuming and messy.
I recently discovered a paint that doesn’t need any particular preparation; it’s Chalk Paint from Annie Sloane http://www.anniesloan.com/index.html
If you check her website you’ll find all the information you need, including where to find it (she’s based in Oxford but there are stockist in Europe and North America too).
It’s a pity that you don’t like your old pieces any more though….Indonesian teak is beautiful, it seems such a pity to paint it over…but I do understand your love for all white interiors! Maybe you could leave just one piece in its original state? I find that one piece of ethnic furniture in all white interiors can be a lovely focal point.
If you have round occasional tables, instead of painting them you could simply use a long tablecloth/sheet and cover the table completely – quick and inexpensive.
Same for benches and chairs – consider having a loose cover made, in linen or other fabric of your choice.
Hope this helps, and best of luck with the decorating!
Thanks, I was also recently inspired by white and wrote a post about white kitchens. Your images are beautiful, i just love white!
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