Lightness, Whiteness

Jane Cumberbatch Home, Pure Style, photos ©Sue Schlabach www.129twigandvine.com

I feel well familiar with whiteness right now. Our landscape remains monochrome, blanketed with snow.

But I leave for London tomorrow where the grass is green and the air is mild.

Mild never sounded so good.

Jane Cumberbatch photo ©Sue Schlabach, www.129twigandvine.com

I’ve been remiss in writing about an afternoon I spent with Jane Cumberbatch in London last fall, and since whiteness and brightness reigns in her home, it seems only fitting to finally share it.

Jane’s books about her Pure Style approach to life are the cat’s meow, and she showed me her latest bit of color accent: hand-painted striped borders. In all the whiteness and brightness, a stripe of color would do anyone good. I came home with quince (a cheery acid yellow) and cake tin (a green-tinged robin’s egg blue). Both sit on my studio shelf saying, “stop being afraid and do something with us!” Maybe when I get back…. I do have ideas for where stripes would be just the ticket around here.

Jane Cumberbatch home photo ©Sue Schlabach, www.129twigandvine.comJane Cumberbatch home photo ©Sue Schlabach, www.129twigandvine.comJane Cumberbatch home photo ©Sue Schlabach, www.129twigandvine.com

And so, we ate apple cake and drank delicious strong coffee. I wandered the sunny rooms of Jane’s south facing house and found recognition around each corner, since her home is used as a styling location for magazine shoots and throughout her books. And plenty of surprises too, of course.

Jane Cumberbatch home photo ©Sue Schlabach, www.129twigandvine.comJane Cumberbatch home photo ©Sue Schlabach, www.129twigandvine.comJane Cumberbatch home photo ©Sue Schlabach, www.129twigandvine.com

See the two at the bottom center? Quince and cake tin. Ready to bring some color back into my world.

Soon. Soon.

Jane Cumberbatch home photo ©Sue Schlabach, www.129twigandvine.com

16 Comments

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

Sue Adamreply
March 28, 2014 at 12:11 pm

Beautiful shots, Sue – have a great trip! Thank you for the wonderful bag you sent me….more soon. xoxoxo Sue

Sue Schlabach 129twigandvinereply
March 28, 2014 at 12:34 pm
– In reply to: Sue Adam

So glad it arrived!!! Do you have spring? xox

fionadoubleday18reply
March 28, 2014 at 12:15 pm

Just lovely, thanks for sharing. X

Sue Schlabach 129twigandvinereply
March 28, 2014 at 12:35 pm
– In reply to: fionadoubleday18

Most welcome! Happy Friday.

squatorclamorreply
March 28, 2014 at 12:57 pm

Beautiful and so inspiring! Thank you!

Cheryl @ Artzzlereply
March 28, 2014 at 1:43 pm

Likewise . . . winter still wild over here. It just can’t seem to decide to leave . . . and not come back! Such a great post here. Gives us hope for Spring.

Sue Schlabach 129twigandvinereply
March 28, 2014 at 2:45 pm
– In reply to: Cheryl @ Artzzle

Thanks Cheryl!! Hoping for spring for us all. 🙂

Caitlin | The Siren’s Talereply
March 28, 2014 at 3:48 pm

Beautiful photography 🙂 Indoors whites are always so preferred to outdoor whites, so thank you for sharing the good kind of lightness and brightness!

Sue Schlabach 129twigandvinereply
March 28, 2014 at 4:56 pm
– In reply to: Caitlin | The Siren's Tale

So true. I’m trying to appreciate those outdoor whites while also willing them to melt!!

Karen Lynne Klinkreply
May 6, 2014 at 3:57 pm

I’ll be moving into my own, dear studio this summer and plan to start with basic white and add lots of soft color. Love your blog. I’ve nominated you for a Sunshine Award, which should help connect with other bloggers. Click here for details: http://twenty1619.wordpress.com/

andrewreedlarimerreply
June 17, 2014 at 5:05 pm

These rooms wrapped in a veil of white is breathtaking. To me, white is such a calming color. So airy and open, and I love that. Beautiful Photographs mixed with such elegant prose. Can’t wait for what is next! Have a great rest of the day, Sue!

-Reed from the newly made reedbyme.com

Sue Schlabach 129twigandvinereply
June 18, 2014 at 11:01 am
– In reply to: andrewreedlarimer

Thanks Reed. Gotta get back in the saddle and write again. Good luck at SCAD. I have the good fortune to work with three SCADuates and we currently have a SCAD intern. Great school!

Zurainny Ismailreply
June 17, 2014 at 7:54 pm

The whites are so grand – they enhance all the tiny colours and brighten the whole room! Really lovely shots. 😀

Sue Schlabach 129twigandvinereply
June 18, 2014 at 10:56 am
– In reply to: Zurainny Ismail

Thanks Zurainny!

brookemiller615reply
July 2, 2014 at 12:56 pm

What great pictures, I have been experimenting with whites and well…With a few gold accents!

parotissereply
August 29, 2014 at 6:25 am

Love the lightness in the decoration, it let’s you breathe and feel free 😀 Thank you

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