Her name is synonymous with romantic, white, ethereal, effortless beauty and style, and her lovely work empowers us to gaze at our own spaces with a freshened perspective. Favorite buzzwords on this site include “timeless” and “tranquil,” and the editor, writer and stylist Fifi O’Neill knows her way around both. The busy interiors expert who is originally from Paris produces features for magazines including Country Living and is the author of several books. Shades of White: Serene Spaces For Effortless Living (CICO Books, 2021) with all of its gorgeous photography from Mark Lohman is a personal favorite, and today it’s in the spotlight.
![Rustic country living area with wood beams and fireplace - styling by Fifi O'Neill and photo by Mark Lohman.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Haupt_NJ-2000-1440x960.jpg)
Source: CICO Books, 2021; Author/Styling: Fifi O’Neill; Photography: Mark Lohman
Fifi O’Neill & Serene SHADES OF WHITE
Has it truly been a dozen years since ROMANTIC PRAIRIE STYLE by Fifi O’Neill became a bestseller and inspired a legion of decorators, country-loving homebodies, and European country design freaks like me?
![Sumptuous white bedding in bedroom from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE. #fifioneill](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Haupt_NJ-1901.jpg)
I recall falling in love with the pale interiors and home tours in that beautiful 2011 book! Fifi was far ahead of social media trends…it took “modern farmhouse” and then “cottage-core” many years to catch up and captivate the mainstream.
Maybe that’s why 2021’s Shades of White feels so fresh and relevant two years after publication.
![SHADES OF WHITE by Fifi O'Neill and Mark Lohman (CICO Books, 2021) - book cover](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/shades-of-whtie-fifi-oneill-mark-lohman-book-cover-CICO-Books.jpg)
Is it a book of formulas for getting white right and DIY tutorials to create the look? No, no, no, mes amis. Instead, we are gently welcomed into 12 homes embracing shades of white peacefully, uniquely, and gracefully.
One of my favorite tours in this book whisks us away to Seattle where vintage style sings harmoniously with country French charm thanks to a patient, thoughtful homeowner.
Hushed Whites & Greige in a Seattle Home
There’s so much to admire as soon as you step through the front door…
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white interior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-16.jpg)
and as you can clearly see, there are far more shades of white to count in a single vignette than you might imagine!
![Vintage style in a kitchen in Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO, 2021). #countrykitchens #vintagekitchens #fifioneill](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-11.jpg)
And if you are curious about the paint color on the walls?
![Lovely vintage country cupboard with Louis style chair - from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE. Photo by Mark Lohman.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9973-1440x1877.jpg)
It’s Secluded Beach (Valspar) which has a light reflectance value (LRV) of 62…
![Valspar Secluded Beach paint color swatch. #secludedbeach](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/valspar-secluded-beach-paint-color-swatch.jpg)
And even though the beautifully warm, greyed-white color has been discontinued, it’s quite similar to this neutral…
Balboa Mist is truly a versatile color for interiors and exteriors, and we looked at this shade of white across a variety of settings in THIS. Another possibility with a similar LRV?
Accessible Beige is a bestseller for Sherwin-Williams for good reason!
And now we resume our tour…
![Vintage style in a kitchen in Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO, 2021). #countrykitchens #vintagekitchens #fifioneill](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-9.jpg)
Serene Simplicity & Soulful Splendor
Isn’t the simplicity and sea of white in this kitchen a sort of quiet sanctuary?
![Vintage style in a kitchen in Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO, 2021). #countrykitchens #vintagekitchens #fifioneill](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-10.jpg)
With a soothing backdrop, it’s easy to imagine how the seasons can be savored and celebrated in a very natural, no-fuss manner.
![Rustic vintage wood door as an accent in a lovely white living room with Cabbages & Roses pillow. From Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO, 2021). #fifioneill #vintagestyle](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-13.jpg)
Shades of white make their own magic and can dial down the formality even while they elevate the humble.
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white interior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-14.jpg)
Somehow, a mix of various delicate whites feels far more sophisticated and interesting than a singular shade or two.
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white interior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-12-1440x1010.jpg)
This homeowner collects vintage objects to which I am also drawn! Who can resist a pair of distressed shutters or a wee industrial stool?
![Rustic wood shutters as headboard in a white bedroom from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-4.jpg)
What could easily come off as too frou-frou is balanced with natural design elements, rusticity, and earthy humility.
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white interior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-5.jpg)
What you’ll appreciate about Shades of White is how we are treated to various perspectives. A texture you might miss in a wide shot of a bedroom is revealed in another more detailed image.
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white bedroom from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-2-1440x1000.jpg)
And such attention to detail requires an artist’s eye!
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white painted dresser in Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-3.jpg)
This painted dresser captured my attention, and should you need one in your life, you are destined to find unpainted contenders online. In my region, they are plentiful with friendly price tags.
![Detail of painted dresser with glass knobs in Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO, 2021). #fifioneill](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-8.jpg)
![White ironstone pitcher with pink flowers in Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO, 2021). #fifioneill](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1709_lohman_CogarSeCB1464_WHITE_Seattle-Cogar-9994-6.jpg)
The Power of White
If only I had a dollar for every social media comment I have received on my channels over the years with some version of “of course it’s white, the homeowner is boring, soul-less, and playing it safe.” And it is always so tempting to request photos of the commenter’s own designs!
![Lovely white cottage exterior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (2021).](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Miller-CALIF-0945-1440x987.jpg)
The truth is (and I discussed this the other day with Fifi O’Neill) white opens up a whole world of peaceful possibilities. There’s such an optimism that white embodies.
![Beautiful outdoor dining - Fifi O'Neill (Photo: Mark Lohman).](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Miller-CALIF-0897-1440x1953.jpg)
Fifi O’Neill’s Shades of White
White is so very often misunderstood as an absence when it is more accurately a spaciousness.
![Sweet Boston Terriers lounging on an antique daybed on a cottage porch - styling by Fifi O'Neill and photo by Mark Lohman. #shadesofwhite #fifioneill](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Shrader-CALIF-0605-1440x1101.jpg)
White refuses to show off. It’s that friend who does not feel the need to clutter every pause with noise or judgement or even humor.
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white interior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1106_lohman_MearsEliz-VT_6493-Edit-Edit.jpg)
White’s quiet elegance seems uninterested in competition.
![Rustic romantic white kitchen styled by Fifi O'Neill for SHADES OF WHITE. Mark Lohman photo.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Vermont-Mears-6704-copy-1440x996.jpg)
White does not shrink away from the shadow side of things. (This is not at all a small thing if you reverently consider the prospect.)
![Vintage sconce with lovely jade green and crystals. Serene, romantic, ethereal white interior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1106_lohman_MearsEliz-VT_6498-copy.jpg)
What Sets WHITE Apart?
White’s light is pure and reflective and restorative…
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white interior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1106_lohman_MearsEliz-VT_6574.jpg)
while also soothing and meditative.
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white bedroom from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1106_lohman_MearsEliz-VT_6588--1440x929.jpg)
Full of possibility and hope, shades of white are suggestive of child-like wonder.
![Luxurious white bath with soaking tub and serene decor - from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Anderson-CALIF-0766-1440x2035.jpg)
And this cynical world needs more of us to rise and shine in such wonder.
I’m so grateful to Fifi for pointing us to a rainbow of whites; for the artfully styled evidence that it can stretch wide as a shelter for bodies, minds, and souls.
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white interior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Heydt_RI-2125-1440x962.jpg)
You’ll love savoring the spaces in her book, and if your design library should grow lonely…
![Serene, romantic, ethereal white interior from Fifi O'Neill's SHADES OF WHITE (CICO Books, 2021). #fifioneill #whiteinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CB1464_WHITE_Fifi_FL-2407-2-1440x1982.jpg)
…do consider more titles, including THE ROMANTIC HOME which launches in 2024 and can be pre-ordered here.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
![Fifi O'Neill books to love! Peek inside these stylish homes with vintage vibes, serene white interiors, and romantic luxe - Hello Lovely. #fifioneill #prairiestyle](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/001-fifi-oneill-books-banner-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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Gorgeous post! A page turner for certain!
Author
Thanks so much for reading – you’ll love the book!
To those people who say white is boring, I say go elsewhere and don’t rain on our parade. What a glorious post!. Everything is serene and peaceful and beautiful. We all like different things, I don’t join websites that feature primary colors and a riot of color.
Author
Absolutely! The beauty of art and design is the heart is free to love what it loves. It’s not a competition is always what I want to remind! 🙂