Decorating the white way

The team at Whiteport are huge fans of Rachel Ashwell, founder of the Shabby Chic brand with stores in Santa Monica, New York and London. Comfort, the beauty of imperfections, the allure of time-worn objects, and the appeal of simple practical living are the cornerstones of the Shabby Chic brand.


Rachel's take on white decor? Pretty, but far from precious. Think rumpled linens and chipped paint gussied up by crystal chandeliers and fresh flowers. "My motto is 'beauty and comfort,'" Ashwell says. "If you can embrace the lived-in look, white is very practical."

Here are some other tips from Rachel on living with white:

White is never boring. Beige can be boring, but not white. It's a very dramatic color.


White can be cozy. People think of it as cold, because they believe a white room must be neat and uniform with chairs lined up like good little soldiers. I avoid hard, modern pieces and use fluffy cushions and distressed finishes — so you still get that airy feeling, but with warmth to it.

White makes for a flexible and forgiving first step. Paint a room white, and you have a blank canvas for anything.

Finally, white has the power to unify disjointed spaces. White on the walls and underfoot harmonizes the space and establishes continuity from one room to another.

(Images courtesy of Shabby Chic & linked to source)