Embracing the White

"Meanwhile,' said Mr Tumnus, 'it is winter in Narnia, and has been for ever so long, and we shall both catch cold if we stand here talking in the snow.' 

                                     --- C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

The Stream on the edge of our yard, Photo by Linda Pakravan

Too cold and snowy so the dog and I headed back to the house for tea. The stream chortled on its merry way.

Tilda Swinton is the best.

The Queen, never one to appreciate laughter but her own, sent her coldest cold and froze the stream solid.

The same stream, only frozen. It does make it easier for Pumpkin to get to the other side.
photo by Linda Pakravan

Pumpkin, the ever-faithful dog, skated to the far bank and whispered encouragement to the wavelets trapped below the ice.

It's no good trying to paint a fantasy onto our frozen landscape. It's too cold. The last big snowfall was lovely and the air temp was warm enough to keep the stream running. Now we are rock solid frozen in the vise of the Polar Vortex. You'd think we were back in Minnesota!

All this snow has me thinking about white rooms, white walls, and white decor.

Lloyd Ralphs Design via Canadian House and Home

I love white woodwork. 'Sacrilege!' cry the natural wood devotees at the mere mention of painted wood. Look at these two examples of how white paint can make wood even better. Shadows emphasize and enhance the details of the foyer above and this Federal style mantle from Brent Hull.

  

Brent Hull, exquisite and architecturally and historically correct woodwork

White bedrooms. In this very white and elegant bedroom, our eye is instantly drawn to the récamier's graceful curves and finely carved legs because they are in high contrast to the white wallpaper. I'm not against stained wood altogether. It has its place.

photography by Werner Straube

I like this simple idea for a white bedroom. A white and grey wallpaper headboard on an otherwise nondescript white wall. It should be relatively easy to do.

Farrow and Ball Wallpaper Headboard

White kitchens, traditional, modern or otherwise are a natural. Canadian designer Kelly Deck uses a lot of white. 

Kelly Deck Design

As does Christopher Peacock.

screen grab from Christopher Peacock

Could I do an all white room in my own home (for a client, yes of course)? Almost everything white, à la American Horror?

No. Why? Because I think white looks best with a color. A mostly white room? Maybe a bedroom. Definitely a kitchen.

via Country Living

I'd love to hear from the all-white fans. How do you keep it clean?

Stay warm. Have a lovely weekend.

Thanks for reading,

Linda Pakravan

This post was not sponsored by any of the products or companies mentioned.