Monday, January 18, 2010

White Out

Whites, creams, and ecru combine for white out conditions, and I'm not talking about the kind of white out conditions I'm privy to in the Midwest. The talk is all about decorating with lack of color or hue, and in artsy terms, a surface that REFLECTS EVERY color, thus appears white. 
    

My favorite white basket is filled with an off white china plate, a silver plate, and a distressed thingamajig (thingamajig: item with absolutly no purpose, but adding color or texture). My black pedestal table displays a candlestick, a vintage pottery piece, a children's tea set and a glittered star.   


When putting together vignettes of one color, (or in this case, lack of color), choose pieces with texture and variations of the same color. Think of visual texture as the glue that holds it all together. If all the pieces were glossy or matte they would seem to slide away.  The weave of the basket adds visual texture that allows the sleekness of the pottery and silver pieces to (visually) stick together.  The pottery and the thingamajig add another type of glue due to their distressed appearance.  Even the star contrasts and adds texture against a glossy tea service. I like it simply for the pop of sparkle :) 

I prefer combining white with its complementary color: black. This works well for me because I have touches of black around my home, like the table where this vignette sits. I added silver pieces because black and white mixed together makes gray (silver).  Easy peasy. Get it? But, remember the best rule when combining items, do you like it?   

My friend Mary at Vintage Patina really knows how to use white and creams in her home. The following pictures are from her Christmas post, (I know, I just can't let Christmas go).

 
Look at those textures! 
 This is the kind of white out I don't mind!

DIY: The star in the little silver children's teapot is an easy do it yourself project. You can buy chipboard stars already cut out at your local hobby store. Paint the star silver, and glitter away!

Blessings, Ele

16 comments:

Free Pretty Things For You said...

your such an artist!
Love your work :)

vickie said...

Very pretty Ele, this "whiteout" I can live with!

Connie said...

Lovely, Ele, and I understand about the "white out", honey. We have "fog outs" here in Idaho.

I bought some little stars that were already glittered during the Christmas season and they worked out fine. Of course, I'm up to my ears in glitter and sequins now!!!

xoxo,
Connie

Secondhandrose said...

My kind of "whiteout". I'm loving this too.

karen

Barbara Jean said...

Wonderful Post.
Love all your cream/white vignettes.

blessings

barbara jean

Lori said...

Ele, i much prefer your type of white out...as opposed to the ones we have here in the snow belt...your vignette is gorgeous!!!

Maija said...

Thanks for the educational post, Ele!!!

Pink Feather Paradise said...

Beautiful, I think texture and shades of colours are so overlooked sometimes...

x Alex

savvycityfarmer said...

happy new year dear friend ... we must catch up ...stay tuned if you wish for news of grandbaby #3

Kai said...

This SURPASSES elegance! I love the surprise of the star among the more subdued items! How beautiful! And your friend's Christmas cream/white scenes are perfection. I'm trying to see if one of those trees is actually made up of just felt circles attached with straight pins. Can you tell? That's brilliant! And I STILL say you should be a teacher. I learn so much from you, Ele! I also LOVE you!

Farmchick said...

Hi Ele.....:)

Very "pretty" post.

Hope you are doing well.

~Tania

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous, lovely post! Thank you for sharing how to create magic!
Zuzu

Jennifer said...

I love whites and creams - oh so much - fun post!

The Tablescaper said...

Lovely, creamy, beautiful.

- The Tablescaper

Catharina Maria said...

I love your blog very much , its lovely and sweet !
Love from the Netherlands ♥RINI♥

Catharina Maria said...

I love your blog very much , its lovely and sweet !
Love from the Netherlands ♥RINI♥