Home Design 2011: A Whiter Shade of Pale

Monday, February 2, 2009

A Whiter Shade of Pale

Time after time, I am drawn to rich saturated colors that make a statement. I have far more purple and turquoise items in my closet than white or beige ones. In my home, white furniture and/or accessories are typically just used to take the edge off all the color. But sometimes it's nice to let beautiful construction and design (rather than bright colors and bold patterns) take center stage. J.Crew's newest collection for spring is particularly inspiring and it reminds me a little bit of LeAnne Marshall's collection from Project Runway (remember this stunning wedding gown?). In muted tones of white (or pearl, oyster, cream or butter -- there seem to be as many shades of white as there are colors in the rainbow), ruffles, rosettes and pinwheels look more architectural than child-like, and I'm starting to rethink my relegation of such embellishments to little girls.

From Collages

As shown above (all from J.Crew):
1. Tiered Analisa gown ($2,995) [How beautiful would this be for an informal garden wedding?]
2. Tissue tee with hand cut applique ($55)
3. Merino pinwheel cardigan ($98)
4. Ringspun cotton rosette tee ($48)
5. Tissue rolling-ruffles tank ($44)
6. Solid silk garland cami ($88)
7. Silk-linen ruffle cardigan ($78)

Similarly, in home decor, muted shades of white and beige allow (when selected and layered properly) texture and design to speak volumes. The items shown below illustrate how white doesn't have to be stark or cold -- or even modern. In fact, I think the detailing and textures of these pieces would add a layer of warmth and coziness to any space.