{"id":345853,"date":"2026-01-12T11:56:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T16:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/?p=345853"},"modified":"2026-04-03T16:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T20:30:10","slug":"color-chart-the-joys-of-a-bright-white-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/color-chart-the-joys-of-a-bright-white-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Color Chart: The Joys of a Bright White Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our monthly series asks: How do you use color in luxury design? White can be surprisingly warm and multi-toned, writes Jill Krasny<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Home<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hollywood Hills, California<\/a> | Sotheby\u2019s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ever notice how some homes catch your eye while others fail to make an impression? The colors in the design scheme may be at play. Whereas dark blue feels relaxing<\/a> and bright red gets p<\/a>eople tal<\/a>king<\/a>, white, which our series on color in luxury design turns to next, evokes subtler and more sophisticated feelings of calm.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For decades, white has been the go-to for contemporary interiors in sunny climes. Now, \u201cCloud Dancer,\u201d a subtle off-white shade with warmer undertones, has been named Pantone\u2019s Color of the Year for 2026. White is not without its design pitfalls, of course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn a contemporary house with clean lines, the thought of doing white everywhere with teeny tiny pops of neutrals can get clinical really fast,\u201d says Lisa Shaffer, chief executive and creative director of Lisa & Leroy<\/a>, an interior design firm based in Washington, D.C. However, the clever layering of textures and materials is the best way to keep things approachable, she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Living<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hollywood Hills, California<\/a> | Sotheby\u2019s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A secluded, sun-drenched retreat<\/a> in the Hollywood Hills shows the power of choosing materials with similar undertones, says Shaffer. Though the home appears all-white at first glance, surface materials like poured concrete walls, porcelain floors and dark oak cabinetry add interest, warming things up with their slight color differences.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nor do the white walls come across as cold, says Shaffer, noting that the tree-covered mountains of Laurel Canyon, visible from the windows, may have informed the design scheme. There isn\u2019t an ocean nearby, she says, so the bright paint creates contrast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Estate<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mykonos, Greece <\/a>| Greece Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Greece, where the clifftops are dotted by traditionally whitewashed homes, the color reads cooler and brighter than that of the Hollywood residence. And that\u2019s a good thing, says Shaffer, because it makes the water look bluer and turns it into the focal point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A contemporary subterranean villa in Melora, Mykonos<\/a>, a five-minute drive from the island\u2019s main town, shows how incorporating natural materials like teak\u2014and little else, beyond well-chosen accessories\u2014put the Cycladean views front and center.\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mansion<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Belgravia, London <\/a>| United Kingdom Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, a 19th-century mansion in London\u2019s exclusive Belgrave Square<\/a> proves why Italianate \u201cstucco\u201d villas remain such a prominent feature of the capital\u2019s most affluent neighborhoods, such as Mayfair, Belgravia, Kensington and Chelsea.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, white hallways serve as a \u201cpalette cleanser,\u201d says Shaffer, playing up the bolder color choices of the reception rooms and bedrooms They also serve as a through line, giving a residence of this size and heritage a sense of continuity. \u201cThis house is such a good reminder that a home is designed to be cohesive\u2014not match,\u201d Shaffer says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Living<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vero Beach, Florida<\/a> | ONE Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An oceanfront mansion in Ocean Pearl<\/a>, a gated community in Vero Beach, Florida, combines the cohesive white of its exteriors and interiors with cozy detailing like wood ceilings and floors, Shaker-style cabinetry and crown molding. \u201cThis house you could pop anywhere, and convince me it belonged there,\u201d says Shaffer. \u201cA lot of it has to do with the architectural choices.\u201d Such details have the power to evoke emotions, she adds, and \u201cthis is a house where a family can feel really comfortable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore our Color Chart series, from <\/em>crowd-pleasing blue<\/em><\/a> to <\/em>zingy orange<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>bright red<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our monthly series asks: How do you use color in luxury design? White can be surprisingly warm and multi-toned, writes Jill Krasny Hollywood Hills, California | Sotheby\u2019s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage Ever notice how some homes catch your eye while others fail to make an impression? The colors in the design scheme may […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770370,"featured_media":345862,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1399],"tags":[1423,1440,1445,1505],"class_list":["post-345853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-and-design","tag-california","tag-florida","tag-greece","tag-united-kingdom"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Color-Chart-White_CaliforniaA2.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1rYh","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":341896,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/341896-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":345853,"position":0},"title":"Sotheby’s International Realty Expands in Michigan","author":"SIR Admin","date":"June 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Sotheby's International Realty has announced that The Home Seekers Real Estate Group in\u00a0Central Michigan\u00a0has joined the network and will now operate as White Pine Sotheby's International Realty. The addition marks the brand's continued growth in the state of\u00a0Michigan\u00a0and its 8th\u00a0office in the state. The company is owned and operated by\u00a0Rob\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Brand News"","block_context":{"text":"Brand News","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/brand-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/White-Pine-SIR-New-Affiliate-Announcement-Suite-Brand-Email-Header-1024x518.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/White-Pine-SIR-New-Affiliate-Announcement-Suite-Brand-Email-Header-1024x518.jpeg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/White-Pine-SIR-New-Affiliate-Announcement-Suite-Brand-Email-Header-1024x518.jpeg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":345519,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-queen-anne-idyll-in-greenwich\/","url_meta":{"origin":345853,"position":1},"title":"Inside a Queen Anne Idyll in Greenwich","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"December 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Near the water in a prestigious area of Greenwich, this 1890 estate\u2014a picturesque main residence, a charming carriage house, a refreshing pool, and impossibly green gardens\u2014is a paradigm of the fairytale Queen Anne aesthetic that incorporates contemporary comforts and conveniences. With their pitched rooflines, towers and turrets, breezy wraparound porches,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"blue library in Queen Anne home","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":345418,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/color-chart-the-joys-of-a-dark-blue-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":345853,"position":2},"title":"Color Chart: The Joys of a Dark Blue Home","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"November 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into a luxury home? Dark blue is a crowd-pleaser\u2014and complements almost any shade, writes Jill Krasny Brooklyn, New York | Sotheby's International Realty - Downtown Manhattan Brokerage Ever notice how some homes energize you while others make you more relaxed? The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dark blue room with white furniture","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dark-Blue_San-Francisco-B1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dark-Blue_San-Francisco-B1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dark-Blue_San-Francisco-B1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dark-Blue_San-Francisco-B1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dark-Blue_San-Francisco-B1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dark-Blue_San-Francisco-B1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":346128,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/collecting-focus-chinese-art-and-antiques\/","url_meta":{"origin":345853,"position":3},"title":"Collecting Focus: Chinese Art and Antiques","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"February 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"From headline-making Ming pieces to elegant, accessible ceramics, Chinese art brings exquisite artisanship and a tangible connection to the past to any serious collection, writes Katie Armstrong A rare famille-rose \u201cpeony, magnolia and peach blossom\u201d vase (Tianqiuping), seal mark and period of Yongzheng. Photograph: Sotheby\u2019s When a tiny Ming dynasty\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Art and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/art-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Asian art exhibition featuring various blue and white vases, plates, and bowls","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/031325_Asian_Art_Exhibition_152.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/031325_Asian_Art_Exhibition_152.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/031325_Asian_Art_Exhibition_152.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/031325_Asian_Art_Exhibition_152.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/031325_Asian_Art_Exhibition_152.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/031325_Asian_Art_Exhibition_152.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":341529,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/homes-with-elevated-monochrome-design-palettes\/","url_meta":{"origin":345853,"position":4},"title":"Homes with Elevated Monochrome Design Palettes","author":"SIR Admin","date":"April 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Angela Beccera - Prominent Properties Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\u00a0 The concept of monochrome design is often misunderstood. In film and photography, the term denotes black, white, and gray, and so people may associate monochromatic color schemes with being colorless. But that\u2019s not the case. Monochrome design is all about color\u2014selecting a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image5-2-1024x683.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image5-2-1024x683.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image5-2-1024x683.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":346701,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/how-to-design-the-ultimate-dressing-room\/","url_meta":{"origin":345853,"position":5},"title":"How To Design the Ultimate Dressing Room","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"May 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"With luxury features ranging from climate-controlled cabinetry to museum-grade lighting, these private spaces combine glamour and calm, writes Emma Reynolds Brooklyn, New York\u00a0|\u00a0Sotheby\u2019s International Realty - East Side Manhattan Brokerage It\u2019s a dazzling month for\u00a0fashion\u00a0as stars parade showstopping looks at the Met Gala in New York, while \u201cThe Devil Wears\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bel Air dressing room with glass doors and recessed lighting","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/232770370"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345853"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":345866,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345853\/revisions\/345866"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/345862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=345853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=345853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}