White & Faded: Touring Janet Parrella-van den Berg’s Tuscan Sanctuary

Borta är bra, hemma bäst (away is good, but home is best) - so the Swedish saying goes. And really, there’s no place like home. It’s our very own personal space where we can control the environment and simply be ourselves. When it comes to decorating, there’s no “right” or “wrong” way — it’s all down to personal taste.

Some love to fill their home with joyful colours and a riot of patterns to maximise energy. Others prefer nostalgia, surrounding themselves with treasures collected over time. And then there are those who long for calm minimalism, creating an oasis in which to clear the mind from the noise of the outside world and recuperate in quiet.

The latter is the path Janet Parrella-van den Berg has chosen for her home. An abstract artist and author of White & Faded, Janet — together with her husband, Dino — is the creative force behind the UK-based brand White & Faded, as well as a beautiful property in Lucca, Tuscany, just half an hour from Pisa. Their focus is on restoring old homes and furniture, breathing new life into everything they touch while inspiring clients and followers to embrace stylish, sustainable living.

Now, we’re invited to step inside their Tuscan retreat — an Italian country house full of history, lovingly pared back to reveal its timeless charm. Here, Janet has created a sanctuary painted almost entirely in white. The soft palette enhances natural light, highlights the building's original character, and sets the stage for her philosophy of calm, understated elegance. As she explains: “I couldn’t think of any better colour than white in my home — feared by so many, but loved at the same time.”

Let's take a peek inside. 

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a home so dedicated to white on here.I can certainly see the white and the faded — true to Janet's signature style. The result is a perfect source of inspiration for anyone who loves to keep things minimal, fresh, and timeless.

Are you a fan of white in your own home, or do you prefer to admire it in the spaces of others? 

If you are feeling inspired, here are few tips on the best way to work with white in your home: 

• Layer your whites. Mix warm and cool tones (ivory, cream, chalk, linen) to add depth and avoid a flat, clinical look.

• Play with texture. Use natural materials like linen, wood, stone, and wool to bring warmth and interest to a white room.

• Let light do the work. White walls reflect natural light beautifully, so keep windows uncluttered to maximise brightness.

• Balance with accents. A hint of greenery, rustic wood, or black iron details can anchor the space and make the white feel even fresher.

• Keep it practical. Washable slipcovers, matte finishes, and wipeable paints make living with white much easier.

Would you like to see a few more homes with a white theme? I love:

Leanne Ford's beautiful white guest house
A beautiful Swedish home as white as it's snowy surroundings

50 shades of white in a serene Swedish home

Happy Wednesday! 

Niki

Photography: Janet Parella-van den Berg, shared with kind permission. 

READ MORE...

7

Coastal Living, but Cooler: Inside an Artist’s Seafront Retreat

There’s something about houses on the coast that always gets me. Maybe it’s the light, maybe it’s the horizon, or maybe it’s just that I’ve always secretly wanted to live overlooking the sea. For now, I’ll happily live that dream through others, like this incredibly cool early 20th-century house in Littlestone, Kent.

On the surface, it’s a peaceful five-bedroom home. Step inside and it’s clear this is no ordinary seaside house. Flooded with natural light, it has that creative, subtly rebellious edge that only comes from being shaped by who I presume are artist owners.

Portrait paintings in oils, the predominant art of choice here and perhaps reflecting the hand of the owner, lend a personal touch to the interior. Look closely and you’ll also spot the coastal hints, a palette of blue and white to mirror the waters of Hythe Bay and textures that nod to driftwood and sand. Always just enough to echo the view beyond the windows, never enough to feel contrived. Add in those bay windows framing nothing but Littlestone beach, the water and horizon, and you’ve got coastal living, but cooler.

Such a cool home – and entirely unique. The art and the handpicked mix of antique and vintage finds help to make the space. I also love how the paint has been used selectively, with a blue on the stairs and door, and a grey on an accent gallery wall.

I've shown everything but the exterior - which I must share as it was so unexpected:

The architect reflects the Arts-and-Crafts-influenced style of early 1900s British seaside homes, practical, built to last and to enjoy the views. From the outside, it is not traditionally beautiful, and a passerby might walk past without giving it a second glance. But step inside and it tells a completely different story. In the hands of an artist, it has been transformed into something very cool, a home full of personality and creative spirit. And I simply love that element of surprise!

Is there anything that stands out to you about this Kent seaside home? 

Tempted to move? Check out the complete listing here on Inigo. 

Shall we look at other homes with a sea view today? 

Maria's stunning house by the water on the Swedish High Coast
A cosy Swedish cottage with stunning sea views
A dreamy cottage by the ocean filled with vintage finds

And also: 15 coastal living ideas to steal from a Danish cottage

Happy Wednesday! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Inigo, shared with thanks. 

 

READ MORE...

11

Tour the Beautiful St Oaks Studio by 'Our Food Stories'

The girls behind Our Food Stories have done it again. Those of you who’ve been following MSH for a while will remember the Berlin flat and country retreat, derelict classroom that became a  beautiful kitchen and even a charming house in Sweden. More recently, Laura and Nora have been busy renovating St Oak apartments near Berlin, and have just completed a beautiful 200-square metre (2150- square foot) studio. 

Their signature style is unmistakable — richly patinated walls, brass fittings, and incredible cabinetry that always steals my heart. As keen foodies, the kitchen is always at the centre of their projects, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Made from Frama CPH and Kvänum units, it has that old-world feel with a modern twist. I’m especially smitten with the glass-fronted pantry — how beautiful (and handy) is that?

The open-plan space also features two striking green Italian sofas by Tachinni which rest on a textured Cappelen dimyr rug, a light-filled dining area, and a bathroom with a very cool wooden bathtub from Michor (how I'd love to put this to the test!). And there’s even a balcony where you can soak up the summer sun.

It certainly has me dreaming of a weekend away in this holiday home: flitting about, relaxing, and using it as a base to explore the surrounding area (I hear there’s a lake nearby that’s perfect for swimming!) - maybe a day in Berlin (such a fantastic city, have you been?). 

I hope you feel as inspired by the tour as I do! 

Beautiful! I’m always amazed by how they manage to renovate so many spaces — each one unmistakably with their signature style, yet with its own unique character. I also love how they source distinctive pieces, like the sofa and that incredible wooden bath — it’s such fun to see something a little different.

Was there anything in this studio that inspired you?

If you're visiting Germany anytime soon and fancy giving yourself a wonderful spa-like getaway - you can find all the details about booking a stay in this studio here. 

Here in Malmö, the sun is shining and we’re basking in 28°C (82°F) — it’s shaping up to be a lovely weekend, not least because we have a birthday in the house! Liv is turning 17… where have the years gone?

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tours this week. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday!

Niki

Photography courtesy of St Oaks apartment, shared with kind permission.

READ MORE...

24