Interior Design Books at New England Lifestyle

One of New England Lifestyle’s new interior design books called ‘White on White’ written by Stephanie Hoppen, shows how to create elegant rooms using verious shades of white. White being the colour for all seasons and a colour that never dates.

White furnishings and home accessories have many contrasts which can change with all the different filters of light coming from outside throughout the day. In this book, Stephanie Hoppen uses her design expertise to create beautiful rooms complimented by many of the different shades of white.

White transforms the size and character of a room and can also be a very warm colour, imagine firelight flickering on a white wall, whereas dark colours will  just absorb the light and can reduce the scale of a room considerably.

Basically the book demonstrates that no matter what your personal style is, white can work for everyone. Classic, timeless, easily adapted to the changing fashion, it is far from bland or boring.

The use of white furniture compliments various textiles and fabrics which can be used more freely without being trapped by colour. When using various shades of white its best to combine shades that come from the same colour family, i.e. chalky, muted, neutrals, creamy and cool. Painting walls, ceilings and woodwork all the same shade of white will make them recede into the background creating an ideal showcase for your white furniture.

Come and visit the New England Lifestyle showroom based in Ford, West Sussex and see how we can transform your home into a place of calm and beauty.

White on white, Stephanie Hoppen

I love flicking through books on various aspects of design, from which I have gained much inspiration for the way I live my life.

One of my favourite books is White on white by Stephanie Hoppen.

The cover note begins with the words

“White is the color for all seasons, and it never goes out of style. Rest your tired soul in a cool summer beach room, revel in the sumptuousness of an orange-white living room steeped in autumn elegance, or welcome winter with a classic gold-and-white table setting.”

The idea of white being a colour for all seasons is so true, and the book is beautifully arranged beginning with ideas for spring, and following through into summer, autumn and then winter.

This book is different – whilst it is packed with interior style, it does not just focus on the white furnishings and room sets.  Summer eating features images of crisp white meringues, and plates of sushi set for a floor level feast; whilst autumn is evoked with images of white custard squashes and a large glass bowl overflowing with juicy white currants.

An Easter table is dressed with white flowers including white anemones, lily of the valley and a mini forest of “Paper white” narcissi, whilst matt white eggs sit on clumps of Helxine soleirolii. Stephanie suggests suitable fabrics to protect yourself from the dazzling white summer sun, showing ideas for dressing your windows with simple cottons, canvas and muslins. Everything is covered from the white bath to the white comfort and white winter sparkle.

This really is a book for all seasons; the perfect picture of white for all year round.