Simply White

As we patiently await Pantone’s 2016 color of the year, many brands and designers are already starting to put forth their ideas and guesses regarding 2016’s color trend.  One very important influencer in color trends and paint, Benjamin Moore’s creative director, Ellen O’Neill, announced Tuesday that the company’s 2016 Color of the Year is Simply White. 

I will admit as much as I love color, I am also huge fan of white.  I never feel more pulled together than when I am decked out in all white (all black, too).  I love white bathrooms and kitchens and I obsess over white bed linens and duvets.  I love white upholstered fabric but as much as I obsess over keeping white clean, I know I could never use it in my own space as I'd cut a side-eye everytime someone decided to sit down.  Nevertheless, white is crisp and cool.  It indicates cleanliness and purity. 

It may seem like an easy task but decorating with white can be somewhat difficult.  The first question is which shade is the perfect white.  Some whites have a blue tint, while others have a yellow or pink tint.  Once you start to look at several, your eyes begin to play tricks making it even more difficult to find a pure white.  Decorating in all white can be used to highlight a particular work of art as we see in many museums and gallery spaces.  You can also mix it up and decorate with layers in a variety of shades of white to give your space more depth.  White can be paired with just about any metal finish from polished chrome for a super crisp look, to a brushed brass for a chic glam feel.  

In light of the announcement and until Pantone unveils their Color of the Year, I have compiled a few photos of my favorite interiors dressed in shades of white. 

An all white interior done right.
Photo via styleathome.com

Stair risers, trim and wainscoting are Benjamin Moore's 'Simply White'
Photo via Benjamin Moore's Pinterest

Kitchen Design by Shea McGhee Design. Cabinets are painted 'Simply White'.
Photo by homebunch.com

Interior Design by Patricia Gray Inc.
Photo via PatriciaGrayInc.blogspot.com

Benjamin Moore's 'Simply White', 2143-70 or OC-117.
Photo via bowerpowerblog.com

Carrara White vs. Calcutta Gold

I love white marble.  It always makes everything seem so crisp and clean.  I see a lot of designs where Cararra White marble is used and while it is very similar to Calcutta Gold in that the background is mostly white with a bit of grey veining, what differentiates Calcutta Gold from Cararra White is that within the veining are these lovely gold tones that add warmth to the stone. I think I love them both equally but I do like the uniqueness and rarity of use of Calcutta Gold.  Here are a few images of both stones.  Which do you like better?

Carrara White used as a wainscot, vanity top and flooring in a bathroom.
Image courtesy of www.deuxmaisons.com

Carrara White used to line shower walls, vanity backsplash
and vanity top.
Image courtesy of www.seattletimes.com

 

Carrara White used in shower, bathroom walls and vanity top.
Image courtesy of www.picasaweb.google.com/aposhgirl

Carrara White marble slabs.
Image courtesy of www.bagm.com

Calcutta Gold backsplash and countertop.
Image courtesy of www.evadesigns.com

Calcutta Gold Vanity Top.
Image courtesy of www.decorpad.com

Calcutta Gold marble slab.
Image courtesy of www.inmanparkmarble.com

Unexpected Ingenuity

I really love the idea of incorporating non-traditional pieces into various living spaces.  I think it provides a bit of that unexpected ingenuity that makes people say, "Hey, why didn't I think of that?".  When I stumbled across these two images, I totally wished I had designed these spaces first.  What do you think?

Image courtesy of www.bhg.com

Image courtesy of www.bhg.com