Interiors

Blogger Holly White’s all-white home

‘For wedding gifts, we requested everything white – linen, towels and crockery’

Holly White at home in Dublin: “Home feels like a sanctuary.” Photograph: Aidan Crawley

Liz Dwyer
Sat Jul 15 2017 - 00:00

Dubliner Holly White began her fashion career interning in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar after completing a degree in fashion journalism at the University of Arts London. She moved back to Dublin in the mid noughties and began styling fashion shoots and working for TV3 and UTV both behind, and in front of the camera, as a presenter, stylist and contributor. Although she has been moonlighting as a blogger for a few years, in January she made the decision to work full time on creating content for her website, Holly.ie, and her popular social media accounts, which centre around sustainable fashion, beauty and living. White lives in Dublin city centre with her new husband Andrew Wynn and their two cats.

Describe your interiors style?

We don’t have a lot of disposable cash right now. Andrew and I just got married six weeks ago and for gifts we requested anything white – linen, towels, crockery and throws and now we have lots of good white basics which I hope will last us for years.

Which room do you most enjoy and why?

My office, aka Holly’s cave. It doubles up as my wardrobe, dressing room and a space for all my books, make-up, clothes, cameras and work paraphernalia. I spend hours in there pottering and getting my work done. It’s like my own little private space and it keeps all the girly stuff out of the main bedroom and living spaces so Andrew doesn’t have to watch TV or sleep in a room full of pink, fluffy stuff.

What items do you love the most and why?

I love anything that helps create a welcoming atmosphere in the house – like crystals, flowers and candles. I have some gorgeous amethyst and quartz crystals I hang in the windows, which reflect beautiful light all over the walls. I’m forever lighting Joe Loves candles, to fill the house with notes of lemon and lilies and every Saturday I buy a few bunches of roses and arrange them in colour blocks to break up all the neutrals.

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Holly White’s home in Dublin: “Every Saturday I buy a few bunches of roses and arrange them in colour blocks to break up all the neutrals. Photograph: Aidan Crawley

Who is your favourite designer?

Interior wise, I’m obsessed with British interior designer Rose Uniacke (a favourite with the Beckhams and Stella McCarthy). The interior spaces she creates are incredible. At first glance, they are simple and very serene but the details are in the materials she uses – like polished limestone, hewn woods, and pure linens. Designer-wise I adore Simone Rocha. She lent me a beautiful dress to wear to the VIP style awards this year and that’s about as close as I’ve got to owning anything of hers.

What would you save from a fire?

My two cats, Will, a British shorthair Cheshire and Tom our rescue kitten, even though they destroy all our furniture and keep breaking all my vases I love them dearly.

What’s your favourite gadget?

My Cannon G1X Make 2 camera. When I decided to take blogging seriously, it was the first bit of kit I invested in and it’s dramatically improved my photography and the content I create. I’m also indebted to my Nutribullet. I don’t like meals that takes more than three minutes to make so this suits me perfectly.

Holly White’s home in Dublin: “My Cannon G1X Make 2 camera. When I decided to take blogging seriously, it was the first bit of kit I invested in.” Photograph: Aidan Crawley

Which artist do you most admire?

I’m a big fan of Nan Goldin. I love the lack of production and rawness of her photography. We are living in a world of highly processed and filtered images, which is distorting our perception of what’s real so I like how untainted her works are. Monet is my favourite painter and every time I’m in Paris I try get over to the Musée de l’Orangerie to see his waterlilies – they are breathtaking. I think when something can stay relevant and beautiful decades on from its creation, it’s unique.

The biggest interiors turn-off for you?

Clutter. It sounds simple but a clean space is a beautiful space. When we moved in here I made sure we had lots of storage. My Ikea Kallax cubes and baskets hide a multitude of stuff effectively. I think if you don’t plan for storage unless you are very Marie Kondo, your things can get on top of you very quickly.

Holly White’s home in Dublin: “I have some gorgeous amethyst and quartz crystals I hang in the windows, which reflect beautiful light all over the walls.” Photograph: Aidan Crawley

Your favourite travel destination and why?

We minimooned in Lisbon after our wedding and fell in love with it. The heat, the value, the culture and the chilled-out atmosphere. We found the best restaurant ever called Yakuza. It’s behind a big secret door that leads on to an amazing Asian courtyard and suddenly you feel like you are in Tokyo. We will go back soon hopefully!

Holly White’s home in Dublin: “My two cats, Will, a British shorthair Cheshire and Tom our rescue kitten, even though they destroy all our furniture and keep breaking all my vases I love them dearly.” Photograph: Aidan Crawley

What does home mean to you?

Home feels like a sanctuary. We are much more a “night in” than a “night out” couple so I suppose it’s our switch-off time together. As I work from, home must feel somewhat organised and creative.

If you had €100,000 to spend, what you would buy?

We would put a deposit on a house. I think it’s very Irish to dream of owning but also nothing would feel better than investing in something we will have for life. As two entrepreneurs, setting aside for savings is very tricky!