I have so much fun writing features on bright colours that when someone suggested I do WHITE for the June issue, I was like, ‘You what? How boring’. But then I thought about how many pieces of furniture I’ve given a chalky makeover recently, how many mirrors I’ve white-washed and how much pretty white decor I’ve seen in shops across the Algarve this season. Don’t dismiss white, I said to myself; the truth is you love her just as much as her sassy sisters turquoise and tangerine, so come on, let’s go wall-to-wall white!
White spaces not only feel fresh and modern, they create the illusion of more space and less clutter. Hmm, white has its work cut out at my house with a husband who leaves a trail of dirty clothes wherever he goes and teenagers who dump things on every surface. The only time our place looks clutter-free is when there is nobody in it. I long to lounge in a white silk maxi dress on a white linen sofa in a white minimalist home. If only I could live next door in my own serene sanctuary and pop in once a week when I fancy some noise and mess.
Anyway, the white I love the most is not just white; it is textured white. I’m talking carved white, rough white stone, white rattan, white shells and white crochet … I can’t get enough of it. Layers of touchy-feely white mixed can transform a white living space from blank and impersonal into sophisticated, ethereal and uplifting.
White-washing furniture is a great way to upcycle on a budget. Our neighbours were chucking out some furniture last weekend so I dragged in one of their old chest of drawers. Everybody made a face. It was a yellowy orange pine that had been varnished really badly and was peeling with age. I thought about painting it but I do like instant gratification so I went to Bricomarché and got a can of spray paint.
The fumes were ridiculous and it took a total of seven cans to ensure an even covering with no blotches but it was worth it. Now it looks fantastic and just as classy as the €700 one I’ve seen in Maisons du Monde. Well, nearly as classy – luckily, shabby chic is still in fashion.
White mandalas are everywhere this summer and I can’t get enough of them. They are a great alternative to art or mirrors when you want to add some texture and interest to a wall. I found this huge wooden one (pictured) at Hiper Algarve near Albufeira last week. It’s so gorgeous with its intricate carving and white-wash effect. I spotted it in the window when I was sitting in traffic last week. Thinking on my feet, I told my husband we really should nip in for that saw and weed killer we keep meaning to buy. He got so engrossed by their wide selection of devices to stop seagulls pooing on your terrace that he didn’t even notice me buy the beautiful mandala and hide it under the lilo in the boot. Thank goodness, or we would have had the usual argument that starts with him saying, “But what is it for, what is the point of it? As if there needs to be a purpose when it comes to pretty things. It was an absolute bargain at €84, and would be more than twice the price in any of the Algarve’s posher shops.
I bought a big mirror (pictured) from a charity shop last month because I liked the chunky frame. It was made from a cheap-looking MDF so I used a wood stain to try and give it a weathered look. That was a mistake, it looked even worse. I painted a thick coat of chalky white paint over the varnish and then roughly sanded it off … now it looks like a proper piece of beach house chic!
Outdoor sofas
White sofas are a no-no in our house – although the days of children’s sticky hand prints are over, they’ve been replaced by teenagers’ make-up stains on every towel, sheet and cushion. The only place I’ve dared to go white is outside. I’ve got two fake rattan outdoor sofas from Ikea (pictured) and they look immaculate because nothing sticks to them. It’s not the most natural of fibres, but I’ve found it’s the only material that survives a battering from the Algarve sun, wind and sand. I’ve tried everything – wooden furniture rots and breaks, painted metal goes rusty, while traditional white formica furniture turns the colour of urine after one winter outside. Fake rattan is the only thing that stands strong.
So don’t be afraid of a total ‘white out’ this summer, and go bold with the whitewash!
