Fresh Take on Blue and White

Southern Living, Apr 2005 by Anderson, Sara

Cool and crisp for spring, welcoming and relaxing in winter, this classic combination looks pretty all year.

Like jewelry and fine china, color combos also get passed down from generation to generation. If the time has come to pick new shades for your living spaces, instead of dashing to the paint store or browsing the how-to-decorate section of a bookstore, think about the house you grew up in and which rooms you liked the most. Figuring out your favorite color schemes may be just a memory away. When we asked Catherine Wenske of Austin why she chose to decorate her living room with various shades of blue and white, she quickly answered, "My mother-she always loved to decorate with blue and white."

A Well-Paired Palette

Blue and white is a combination that never seems to go out of style. With larger, more open rooms, the one-hue-with-white approach is smart because it gives the space color, but not so much that you'll tire of it quickly. Catherine's sister, interior designer Anne Eppright, used the colors to create a crisp look in Catherine's home. Tones range from cobalt blue on the couch to a watery silver on the walls, and whites span from snowy to creamy. Varying the shades ever so slightly and playing with different fabric patterns keep the room from feeling stiff and stark. Another plus: Accessorizing comes easy. You can find an abundance of porcelain pieces, fabrics, and floor coverings in these shades.

Smart Cover-ups

In a new house such as Catherine's, it's fun to start from scratch, but it's not so fun to buy all new stuff. That's when slipcovers, reupholstering, and a few coats of paint really come to the rescue. Catherine's sofa was an old family hand-me-down. To update it, she re-covered the piece in vibrant blue velvet with a subtle swirl pattern. She then added white sheepskin pillows for a plush touch. It's now a standout in the room, perched in front of the windows, which are left curtainless to bring in lots of light.

Instead of tossing a collection of upholstered red chairs, Catherine had custom slipcovers made for them; the wide stripe down the center is sewn from vintage silk drapery material.

More Ideas

Blue and white is a combo that looks great in any style home. Whether you want to add a few touches or go all out, here are some inspiring ideas.

* Fill cobalt blue vases with white lilies, and line them across a mantel.

* Make a guest room blue and white, choosing one as the dominant color. For example, paint the walls and furniture white, and then add a blue comforter on the bed. Or opt for pale blue walls, curtains, and furniture, and then pile lots of white pillows on the bed.

* In an all-white kitchen, paint the ceiling a robin's-egg blue to give it a fresh, airy look.

SARA ANDERSON