The Secret to Timeless Design? White, White and More White!

Whether it's your new white kitchen or a new upholstered sofa - nothing is as timeless as white.

For years, white furniture was considered casual and beachy.  White walls were considered boring and institutional and white bedding reminded us too much of our grandma's house- remember those old white chenille bedspreads?  

Now you know that I love color, but honestly, what doesn't work well with white? As a designer,  I absolutely love a white canvas because of the endless possibilities that it presents.  And, there are so many shades of white that work well together that just by varying the texture, you could do an entire room in white and not get bored.

If you are afraid of white, why not start in the bedroom? It certainly gets the least amount of traffic and you don't really have to worry about dirty shoes  or red wine spills by strangers!

In the bedroom on the left, white dominates the scheme.  The dark floors, dark beams as well as a dark wood bed could never look as beautiful and dramatic against any other color.  The pop of red on the desk chair and on the desk, add just the right amount of punch.  We could have used a bright pink or turquoise as well but classic red does the trick here.

A bright white ceiling, grayish white walls and an off white carpet set the perfect backdrop for this colorful bedroom.  The yellow, teal and lime green palette fear no competition against that white background and the lovely area rug on the floor gives the off white carpeting a bit more life.  The eye goes directly to that rug and any imperfections in the carpet can be overlooked.  The upholstered bed is absolutely fearless and would never work as well with more intensity on the walls.

And, if you feel you need a little color on the walls, using a bright white trim gives that color even more intensity. In the bedroom on the right, the blues are crisper and the white crystal chandelier really pops.  The white marble surround of the fireplace is clearly a focal point for this bedroom.  Simple linens that incorporates white and a neutral gray give the other colors the breathing space they deserve and  there is absolutely nothing casual or beachy about these sophisticated bedrooms!

Just like basic black in clothing, white rooms are timeless.  I love to vary the textures to any room where white dominates to add interest and depth. But there is no doubt that in design, my secret weapon is definitely white, white and more white! Oh, what a color!