Best Paint Colors
Fresh Ways To Decorate With White For Summer
Published on May 26, 2020
Senior market editor Kai Ethier shows how white can bring summer style to your space.
One of the many joys of summer is the color it brings with it: blue skies, gardens full of multi-colored flowers and the greens of grass and trees. Here in Canada, people shed their black winter parkas for a riot of color and patterned fabrics. When it comes to summer decorating however, the shade we see time and time again is white. Yes it’s a popular neutral for every season, but there’s something about pairing white with certain styles that give a room an instant summer feel — from farmhouse to beach chic. Scroll down to get inspired!
Nautical
This boathouse designed by Anne Hepfer has a maritime feel with rope-like dining chairs and a watery blue banquette. The soaring white ceiling and the bay window’s gorgeous lake view give the feeling of being on an actual boat ready to set sail.
Designer Tiffany Leigh Piotrowski also used a white envelope punctuated with pops of blue and natural materials, giving her cottage a nautical feel. Decorative accents like a pair of model sailboats, striped textiles and an oversized shell are the finishing touches.
Building the beds into the white sloped ceiling mimics the look of a ship’s cabin in this nautical kids’ room. The regatta flags painted onto the floor, along with red, white and blue bunting, will have kids dreaming about sailing all through the summer (if not all year long).
Well-Travelled
Designer Sam Sack is a master of the global look. The living room of her boho cottage has airy rafters and rustic walls painted a crisp white. The furnishings and textiles are a mix of styles from around the world. When designing the space, she said she was inspired by “a mashup of surf shack, safari camp and Dutch colonial styles.”
See more of this designer hideaway on H&H TV.
With its Swedish botanical prints and mid-century modern furnishings set against a whitewashed background, this Georgian Bay cottage feels like it could be a summer hideaway in a Scandinavian country.
The guest room of this British Columbia cabin offers a minimal, modern take on global style. A framed Shibori-style textile and lidded African basket offer a dose of pattern and texture to this serene summer space.
Farmhouse
This Kentucky kitchen designed by Barbara Purdy features white-framed woven chairs and a banquette with a mix of blue and grey patterned pillows. The black sconces and linear iron chandelier pop against the white shiplap walls, creating a fresh, modern farmhouse look.
You would never know this boathouse is a new-build. Soft white walls, slightly distressed cabinetry and reclaimed wood floors create a charming, traditional Muskoka quality to the space.
This Niagara-on-the-Lake heritage home features an idyllic white garden room. An antique wicker table and chair look fresh with a coat of white paint, while bright blue cushions add a dose of vibrant color.
Beach Chic
A few designers immediately come to mind when I think of this coveted look. Michelle Lloyd Bermann and Christine Ralphs of Lloyd Ralphs Design are definitely at the top of that list. Michelle’s penthouse living room perfectly displays the juxtaposition of big city and breezy beach.
Another master of this aesthetic is designer Montana Burnett. She helped her friend, Hailey Atkins, create this backyard oasis in Toronto that could easily be mistaken for a coastal getaway in Malibu with its white decking and modern glass and iron railings. Sleek woven outdoor seating and potted palms complete the look.
Stylist Jen Cranston’s Lake Simcoe retreat mixes a cool, all-white palette with natural fiber accents, like a rattan pendant and jute rug. A driftwood branch and tall grassy greens in a vase add to the tropical vibe.