The Rural Voice, 1999-09, Page 70MIL
Home Decorating
Decorating with the many shades of white
By Patti Robertson
White is white, right? Nope, not by
a long shot! When planning on the
use of white paint or paper in one's
home, it is really important to become
familiar with all the subtle nuances of
this hue.
The effect of other colours on
white is incredible. Add the tiniest
amount of any other colouration to a
white base and you have affected its
quality. Even a room's lighting, or
natural light streaming in through
sheers or the light of a grey day all
change the appearance of a white hue.
There are literally thousands of
whites! A great (and most interesting)
project to become more familiar with
white is to set up a display of nothing
but white objects. For example spread
your favourite linen table cloth on
your dining room table, then overlay
the centre area with a pretty lace doily
in white. Onto this position as a white
floral vase or white milk pitcher. Fill
the vase or pitcher with white gladioli
or white fall asters or mums. Add a
set of white candleholders and
candles and for good measure, add an
array of white seashells or a favourite
white figurine. About halfway
through your arranging it will
suddenly dawn on you how many
tinted values of white your table
linens and accessories have. Also
you'll notice how the light you are
working in is affecting the various
objects. Leave your display in place
for a day or two for an even better
perspective of white's various moods
and attitudes when subjected to
outside influences.
So ... even the purest of white is
far from plain and white is deserving
of as much consideration as any other
colouration when deciding what is the
correct white for your decor! The
wrong white in one's decor will be as
bothersome as a
note sung off
key!
If your desire
is to have white
trim, analyze the
colours within
your space.
What is the right
white for you?
Have your
wallcoverings,
furniture,
window
coverings, and
accessories got
blue tones or
perhaps yellows, reds or greens?
There is a white available that will
blend in wonderfully and contain the
undertones of your room's colour
theme, thereby enlivening the finished
effect.
This is where I always suggest
using.a reliable decorating products
dealer with good quality paint. Also it
is always advisable to make yourself a
colour board so as to "test" your
white. If you are only interested in the
purest of whites, all high quality
paints have their own true white
products already formulated for
consumer needs.
Lesser brands are often developed
PATTI ROBERTSON'S
Unique Residential and
Commercial Interiors
/35 Victoria Si.,.tt7.\1;//.111
357-2872
• Custom-made Window
Fashions, Bedspreads
& Accessories
• Fine Domestic &
Imported Fabrics
• Select Wallcoverings
• Furnishings, Lighting
& Artwork to suit
any interior...
66 THE RURAL VOICE
with less purity of product
colouration.
White can be the ultimate
representation of "fresh", showing off
artwork, architecture, and the space
itself to its optimum and making areas
appear to have more lofty proportions.
White is ultimate in its ability to tailor
any space. However, white will also
accentuate all cracks, crevices, chips,
cracks and holes. When using white,
one must ensure that all surfaces are
patched, sanded and primed. You may
even need to skim -coat the surface to
ensure a perfectly smooth surface.
The ultimate trick in working with
white is to not take it for granted. It
deserves the same consideration you
give -any other colouration you plan
on using within your home.
White has come an incredibly long
way in the technology of paint, and
within decorating schemes, now the
preferred choice for appliances and
bathroom fixtures and more often
than not, the colour choice of trim
throughout one's home.
White was not always the shining
star. Historically, white hues were
considered paint for the poor.
Available only as a poorly pigmented
whitewash, it had chalky grey
undertones. When Ward and I toured
historical Charleston, N.C., time and
again we were told the story of how
the Historical Society figured that the
preservation of their town was due to
the poor, reputation of whitewash.
Apparently after the great hurricane
tore through this upscale and stately
area, devastating everyone and
leaving many without funds to repair
their grand homes; the majority
preferred to wait and regain financial
stability rather than use the lowly
whitewash which was cheap! The
battle cry was "too poor to paint and
too proud to whitewash!" It was this
attitude the Historical Society
attributes to saving the town from the
fate of improper restoration.
Today white is more often than
not, right. So take time to play with
the various tints, lighting effects, and
subtleties of white and you'll be a
happy customer.0
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.