Sterile Start: Fresh-Faced White Planking

There’s something irresistible about the possibilities which lie in big, white, walls that are open. They guarantee a new design beginning, a blank canvas that invites you to plumb your own imagination. Yet with no note of feel, they can occasionally seem sterile and dull.

Here is one solution that I adore: white-painted planking, that adds depth and definition, yet preserves that pure, pristine allure. One of the greatest layout chameleons, it swings between classic, cabin and contemporary effortlessly.

Jeanette Lunde

This photo feels like a deep, calming breath of air. A handful of well-chosen furnishings and colors seem to float against that beautiful white background.

Bosworth Hoedemaker

Tall ceilings and plank-clad walls add a cathedral-like serenity for this dining and living room.

Tracery Interiors

Look at the beautiful interplay of curves and lines here. The strong vertical and horizontal planes are counterbalanced by the gentle curve of the planked walls which frame the stairwell.

Webber + Studio, Architects

Can you imagine a more serene spot to start your morning or float off at day’s end? Proof that minimal doesn’t mean dull, the powerful lines of this mattress and detailing on the night table add just enough significance to this distance.

The Lettered Cottage

Following is a lesson in adopting imperfection. The clapboard walls in this bedroom are somewhat flawed, and that is what causes them to work. It is just the right setting for the diverse art collection clustered together.

Robert Young Architects

Wall planks create a warm, cozy antidote to the hard surfaces and sharp corners in this bathroom.

Rough Linen

Rough-hewn beams and vintage beams bring out planking’s rustic side.

Woodmeister Master Builders

White clapboards are a custom for beach houses, and this airy bedroom feels just right. I can almost smell the salt air blowing through the window sheers.

Bosworth Hoedemaker

Engineered wood satisfies crisp planks for a cozy, serene setting. The towel rack and tub add interval flavor that plays up the planking’s old-fashioned feel.

Justine Hand

We’ve said it before, and we’re going to say it once again: Good design is in the details. Notice the smart way these kitchen drawers continue the lines of the clapboard walls. What a fantastic touch!

More: How to Select the Ideal White Paint
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