Eoin Lyons admires three homes that have gone for an all-white look
An alternative to the very fashionable all-black look is an all-white interior. But as with rooms of black furniture, it's not just about one colour. In this house designed by Frenchman Christian Liaigre, the decoration relies on differences in texture - dark wood, blond oak, woven sisal, white linen and an oriental rug - to give character. The simple beauty of these objects stands out against a white backdrop.
The virtues of white are obvious: spaces seem larger and calmer. The downside is also clear: it's hard to keep clean and it's not a look for young children. It can be argued that white works better in sunnier climates, but Scandinavians have long used interiors based around light colours as a means of reflecting light into the home. Armchairs like those pictured here can be found at Orior, a sofa company in Newry, Co Down (available direct or through Peter Johnson in Dublin). Similar sisal matting can be bought at The Natural Interior, and Decor usually stocks ethnic occasional tables.
Light colours are often used in period homes as an alternative to traditional dark shades and few have done so better than Louise Kennedy in Merrion Square. Under her direction, Robbie Keating and David Smullen of Purple Ark painted her home and store in various off-white colours. Purple Ark is a specialist paint company which often works with older buildings and paints everything from furniture and chandeliers to murals and gilding. Apart from perfect finish (and reliability) they are particularly good at mixing paints, which they did for Kennedy. "We made warm whites that take away the clinical look," says Keating. "Because most of the rooms have different quality of light, different shades of white were needed. The floor - carpets or wood - also affect the shade that should be used. What Louise has done with white works because she has stepped away from the way these houses are usually treated and done something more modern."
Helen Kilmartin put together this apartment in Dublin and used an all-white look in one of the bedrooms. The carpet is a very light cream - so the room doesn't become too stark - and tall slender lamps also add warmth. Because the project was completed quickly and on a tight budget, the Irish linen used to make the curtains was bought from Murphy Sheehy (€12.50 for a metre and a half). They fall from the ceiling and cover the entire wall, which makes for a dramatic look when closed at night. As shown here, the way to dress the bed in a white bedroom might be to use grey bed linen: try Muji for a well-priced selection.