The Whiteness of Being
By Christa TerryUsing white on walls and in decor can be tricky. Too much white will often end up looking institutional, like an old fashioned mental health ward or a hospital hallway. And let’s not forget how temperamental white can be in more ways than one. For example, any notion I had of decorating using white went out the window when I decided to adopt five cats of different colors and have kids, to boot. Then there’s the fact that white is not just white. There are shades of white ranging from quite dark with cool and warm undertones to stark and bright. The good news is that it’s not at all difficult to integrate one or two white pieces into almost any room, no matter what the color. White furniture and objets d’art are amazingly eye-catching in otherwise dark or colorful rooms.
Here are five interesting and beautiful pieces from Tonic Home:

A pierced white resin round cocktail table from Oly Studio can serve as the focal point of a living room, but could also nestle snugly next to the arm of your couch in an unobtrusive corner.

Oly Studio’s frost white cast resin bird chandelier features darling, playful birds that gaze down upon your daily life. It’s chic, but not formal.

This wood carved antique white frame sofa sports eight legs and a casual raffia fabric that keeps it from looking too fussy.
I love this Marco Grasscloth side table from Bungalo 5. It’s finished with lacquered white glasscloth and embellished with nickel nailheads, giving it an old fashioned, classic feel. There’s a matching larger table, but I like the subtlety of the smaller version.

And finally, a wannabe Eames Molded Plastic Rocker that actually costs more ($650) than the repro original ($449 at Modern Seed). I’m not sure what that’s all about, but I love it in white.