Could you Embrace the Beauty of an All-White Home, Garden or Wardrobe
Have you ever considered an all white color scheme in your home. garden, or wardrobe? What a bout an all white kitchen? It certainly could simplify your life. I am joining my pals Mary Ann, and Annie for our Sunday favorites. Let’s chat about whether or not you could you embrace the beauty of an all-white, home, garden or wardrobe.
An All White Home
Interior Designer Tricia Foley comes to mind when I think of all white interiors. While white might seem like a one-note minimalist look, the beauty lies in the variety of textures you can incorporate for visual interest. White rooms can be a blank canvas for art and furniture. Rough-hewn wood, vintage accessories, woven wood shades, add warmth , and introduce a touch of rustic charm. It is all about texture in an an interior with white walls and ceilings. An all white room can evoke a sense of calmness and serenity. I don’t think I personally could do it, but I love Tricia’s way with white. You can see more of Tricias work here, and follow Tricia on Instagram here.
photo credit Marili Forestieri
White Hair
Have you considered or have you gone white/silver? I think I have been white for over 13 years. I have had to adjust my makeup (more color) accordingly, but I haven’t regretted it for a minute. You can find all of my posts on gray hair here. You can also find some beautiful gray hairstyles in this article here.
White Gardens
Have you ever considered an all white garden? Or maybe you have a spot in your garden where you have embraced only whites or whites and purples? House and Garden has a great article on how to design a white garden here.
This beautiful white container garden arrangement from Containers in the Garden by Claus Dalby He has a beautiful book on Cottage Gardens that I think I need as well.
photo credit-house and garden white pot garden claus dalby
Perhaps the most famous white garden is that of Sissinghurst Castle designed by Vita Sackville West. Have you been? You can find the book The Creation of a Garden on Amazon here. I have always wanted to add this one to my library.
photo credit Adam Nicholson
White Wardrobe
I have embraced white now that my hair is silver. I love white in the Summer especially now that my hair is silver. If pure white isn’t your m.o what about cream or other warm neutrals with yellow undertones? White or Cream can be the perfect backdrop for brass jewelry, horn or wood for textural accents. Have you checked out the White Company (this is not sponsored). I just received their catalog and was impressed by how many pretty offerings they have here.
ZARA has so many pretty white options. You can find all of the pretty whites I selected at Zara here. This eyelet dress is to die for. I love this straw bag, these fun sunnies, and the leather sandals (if you can still wear inexpensive shoes).
As I mentioned above the White Company has so many pretty neutral options. I love this crochet hooded sweater, this simple tank, linen wide legs, their great toe loop sandals, and this beautiful crochet bag.
Perfect Stovetop Popcorn Without Oil
Have you ever tried to make popcorn without oil? 101 Cookbooks has a no oil recipe they swear by here. I am going to try it!
The Precocious White Lab
Thank you for reading Could you Embrace the Beauty of an All-White Home, Garden or Wardrobe. What do you think? Could you do it? There are so many white paint colors from crisp whites to warm neutrals for your home. If all white is not your thing what about white cabinetry in your kitchen, or a white bathroom? I would love to hear your thoughts.
I spent the day celebrating Summer’s bday yesterday in the bay area, so I almost forgot about Mother’s Day. Have a great one all of you fabulous mothers out there!
Now let’s pop over and visit Mary Ann and Annie for their Sunday favorites.
I’m late to the party but I love an all white garden. On our patio I do mostly whites with hints of purple. So, come and refreshing in the Virginia heat. I also like white decor with a hint of cozy.
Hi Robyn
Never too late to the party!! I love white with purple!
I love all your post..love your dog…i have always had an all white house…Apartment really,,, love it all..everytime i buy something. my family says..”are u painting it white???” ha ha…but do have whicker accents..jsome…love all you do..thank you ..live in the Northwest…rainy sometimes…thx
Love the white outfits…very chic!
I don’t think I could live with all white in my home. That said, I love Tricia Foley’s designs. I did have an all-white garden for about two years. I confess, white is beautiful, but I missed the pink, blue and lavender flowers. This was a fun post, and you saved the best for last…Scout melts my heart. He’s so adorable.
Happy Mother’s Day a few days later.
Karen B.
I couldn’t either Karen. I love white but I also love color in my accessories! Scout is adorable but also a little stinker! He is in puppy school right now. He seems pretty trainable but he definitely has a mind of his own!
Love it!!
Hi Teresa
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you are enjoying your new place!!
Hello Cindy,
I love how our white roses and irises seem to glow at dusk, so pretty. Thank you for so many inspiring posts, I enjoy them all. Blessings to you this week,
Hi Donna
My neighbor grew irisis in Chualar. They were so beautiful. Thank you so much for being so supportive! You ladies are the best!
I never get tired of seeing pics of sweet Scout as he grows!
Hi Becky
Thank you so much! He got his vaccines today and loved it! He thinks the vet is a fun place!
Hi Cindy,
I think an all White House could be a bit aseptic and sterile and possibly not so warm and welcoming. If the home has accents of color in the pillows and wall art it would create some warmth.
The garden and in the home white flowers are beautiful. White and pink and white and purple we have planted together. There are so many flowers that are beautiful however in our intense and harsh dry heat there are so many flowers that do not work where we live in Arizona. I would love if my honey could grow Peonies and so many others.
Cindy, I have not had a chance to respond to your post on your amazing gorgeous roses in your gardens. I want to share this with my honey he is a Master Gardener. He grows roses here, lots of constant TLC, the best fertilizer we buy at a special nursery in Phoenix and lots of protective sail shades. Like you both he has a feel for the earth and soil. Sees the roses as his children. You really have to know what you are doing when it comes to gardening and roses are really challenging to keep healthy and alive.
I admire what you and Steve have accomplished. Your garden should be on a magazine cover.
I bet Summer had a fun filled birthday. I look forward to seeing pictures, she is a beautiful little girl, inside is what really counts.
Hi Katherine
I would love to hear what roses he is able to grow in the Arizona heat? Mine do suffer during the hottest times. Summer had a wonderful birthday. She is growing up so fast and is such a nice little girl!
I’m wondering how much oil people are using when they make popcorn.. I only use a tiny amount of olive oil when I make popcorn, add a bit of salt and that’s it. No butter, etc.
Hi Rita
Good question! What is your ratio of oil to popcorn? I would love to hear.
I don’t do any measuring, unless I’m baking. I’m an instinct cook I suppose. In a medium size pot (sorry don’t know the inches (or centimetres in my case), I would probably put 1/2 – 1 tablespoon of oil and then cover the bottom of the pot with the kernels. We rarely have popcorn so I don’t worry that it’s one tablespoon of oil. I only ever use good quality olive oil or for salads EVOO. As with everything in life moderation is the key.
Just to add, I’m Italian background so 1 tablespoon of oil is tiny for me.
No to a white house, beautiful as they are – I have a crazy Jack Russell and a grandson and our house and coastal cottage are for living. I wouldn’t wear all white for the same reason. I’m always ‘doing’ and would be filthy in next to no time.
I do have white hair – born ash blonde and will die ash-blonde – the colour that suits me best is versions of pale blue, not white. It lifts my skin, eyes, and gives my 72 year old face a bit of sparkle. I do love a white shirt though and white jeans, although not together.
But a white garden? Yes and yes again. Vita Sackville West’s white garden convinced me and I love the moonlit glow at night in summer. I do intersperse sparsely (and as a visual shock) with very dark purples to blacks for contrast and in spring, will always have a pot of two of orange tulips. But whites are the heroes of my garden. They remind me of Les Sylphides or Swan Lake – perfection and a purveyor of utter calm.
Cindy I really appreciate your hair product posts. Unfortunately the links in the most recent article no longer work – anything you can do?
Thanks for all you do.
I would love a yard full of all white flowers!
With a red headed golden retriever and a brown and white English springer, uh no all white home or garden. I did have an all white decorated tree for Christmas one year. The clear lights and white ornaments and ribbon were absolutely beautiful against the deep green tree..I
Love your newsletter, thx so much for all the research you do for us.
Re a white garden: yes! I live in the south & the idea of a white/moon garden around my patio to enjoy in the evening when it is cooler is something I hope to have.
Cindy, I’m still using my old Orville Redenbacher microwave popcorn bowl, which requires no oil and makes perfect popcorn with few old maids. Back before there was such a thing as a microwave, my aunt used her high- domed vented lid electric skillet (broad across, even heat) . She did not use oil. She used real non hydrogenated lard, or nothing. Some real butter and salt on top, please and thank you. In my opinion, the secret to great popcorn is to let the steam escape. Otherwise, it’s tough. We also had a pan to use over an open fire- long handle, rectangular with a sliding screen for a lid. Didn’t make a big batch. And, fyi, popcorn is the first thing I learned how to cook. Had to stand on a stool to do it!
The all white is beautiful and serene, but I need color! My garden and my closet are a riot of color. My home is more neutral, along southwest lines, warm caramelly tan and pops of roasted red pepper and turquoise.
I have an all white yard – I get teased, but my roses are white, my impatiens are white and what ever flowers I plant are white –
I like the simplicity of the look against the boxwoods, spruce, magnolia’s –
My life is cluttered, working in the simple serene yard just brings me peace .
This looks so elegant and chic but my 2 dogs and husband with tremors I’d be cleaning 24/7…plus I adore colors. and after a while this look would simply bore me.
I love all white homes done right where they still look welcoming. But with dogs and a messy but adorable husband I’ll stick to my creams, beige and taupe color scheme.
I can check off the white garden though. I did add in some purple in a wisteria on my pergola and a lilac bush but the rest flowers white.
Love my white shirts and I have many! But I’ve not branched out into white dresses or pants. In my younger days, I wore white jeans but after gaining some weight on my bottom half I’ve stayed away from them.
I would love an all white house. I, like you, live in a Mediterranean style home. I love the artistry of the Venetian plaster walls and would hesitate to paint over them. But an all white garden, no thanks. I love the fire reds of the summer, they warm my heart and soul.
White hair, I have it too. White clothes, particularly eyelet, I love and have accumulated some. The only problem is white clothes tend to make you look heavier and I don’t need any help there.
Thanks for your posts. Happy Mother’s Day!
Having just experimented with probably 10 different contraptions and methods of making popcorn, I settled on a hot air popper. There’s no oil used in the popping, by design, and very minimal cleanup. However, the popcorn does taste like fluffy cardboard. I prefer to drizzle a little olive oil over it before devouring. Yum.
Hi Cindy,
Popcorn without the oil how perfect is that!! Sounds amazing.
Gorgeous outfits and clothes ideas thank you. And those dreamy white rooms to linger in…lovely way to start the morning.
Happy Mother’s Day !