Living with Winter White

Designed by James Radin (Photo: Cote de Texas)

She was right. I had two children, a dog, and a cat . . . not to mention, a husband who worked with horses. We were a clean bunch, and our house was always neat as a pin; but white in our family room would be hard to keep clean. “Something darker and patterned would be better,” she said. “It won’t show the dirt.”

I never did get the white couch. It wasn’t a matter of being practical; I simply didn’t find a couch in white that called out and begged me to take it home. Instead I bought a white area rug that looked fabulous with the navy patterned sofa I did buy. My bath was a crisp white, and I had white kitchen cabinets, too. They easily showed dirt and fingerprints, but I cleaned on a regular basis. I didn’t mind. I like a clean house.

Decorating with white

Pure as the driven snow, white is pristine, peaceful, crisp, and clean. Not really a color, it’s a manifestation of the presence of all colors. Like a diamond, it reflects light . . . and rooms in white are generally bright and airy.

White walls, furniture, and flooring are offset by dark wood and distressed frames (Photo: Hypevilla).

[above] This formal white living room looks good with dark flooring, a striped area rug, federal blue accents, and other vintage pieces (Photo: Country Living).

[right] Elegant dining on a winter day can be changed easily for any season by using fresh flowers instead of the white-washed twigs (Photo: Williams-Sonoma).

Layers of white . . . and neat, organized shelving create an inviting desk area
in the corner of this living room (Photo: Ikea).

White, painted brick and a vaulted, beamed ceiling add drama, and a nice mix of modern furniture
with the antique mirror give the room an eclectic feel (Photo: Amazing Decoration).

[above left to right] 1. Open shelving with white dinnerware, baskets, and cookbooks offer handy storage and look fabulous in this all-white kitchen (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens); 2. Designer Christopher Peacock’s white kitchen, with polished cherry flooring, gets a splash of bright color from an orange window shade, and walls are painted a silver-grey, like the range (Photo: Traditional Home).

Floor-to-ceiling soft white cabinets with dark Carrara marble and a handmade ceramic tile backsplash create a stunning kitchen (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens).

Pine beams, hardwood floor, toss pillows in water colors on a window seat
with an ocean view . . . sigh (Photo: Bright Bold & Beautiful).

[above left to right] 1. Vintage flooring, a soaking tub, and a floor-mounted faucet give this bathroom period style (Photo: Traditional Home); 2. White and polished chrome make for a totally contemporary, minimalist bathroom (Photo: HGTV).

A deep soaking tub is pure heaven! This freestanding tub by Waterworks
has clean, sculptural lines (Photo: House Beautiful).

Winter White

Pure, pristine white! See my collection of all things white on Pinterest. My boards are always changing as I add new and exciting things to them, so be sure to follow Our Empty Nest to get all the updates!

Top Photo: Cote de Texas. Designer: James Radin.

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