BEYOND THE PALE
It may have serene all-white schemes in every room, but Janet Parrella-van den Berg’s abode is still full of dramatic moments that delight
The favoured all-white scheme of this Georgian rectory oozes serenity and splendour
Unusual split levels and a layout that had undergone a few changes over the centuries meant that this Georgian rectory had a unique personality that instantly appealed to Janet Parrella-van den Berg and her husband Dino. ‘We loved the large, open spaces and the fact you have to go down to the dining room from the reception room and then up to the kitchen,’ says Janet. ‘In total we have six different floor levels!’
Putting the house in order meant painting everything white then planning which room to start on first. ‘We opened up all the fireplaces that had been bricked up and put in reclaimed wooden floors in the bedroom and dressing room because the original floors were badly damaged by rot and woodworm,’ says Janet. ‘We added a free-standing bath to the main bedroom to give it a luxury, hotel-room feel, and finally we tackled the kitchen and laundry room.’
This was the biggest of the makeovers because it involved changing the entrance and removing the lowered ceiling. The area had originally been used as the stables or coach house and what is now the pantry was the outside lavatory.
Janet and Dino had a five-year plan to complete all the work but, surprisingly, everything was done in just three. ‘The only hold-up was lockdown, which slowed down the kitchen, but in general we found good tradesmen and we did a lot ourselves,’ she says.
The couple run White & Faded, a company specialising in restoring old furniture and selling ethically sourced products and antiques online. As you would imagine, white is their passion, and the interior of this property demonstrates the serenity evoked by an all-white scheme.
‘I’ve been living with white interiors for 30 years and can’t imagine anything else,’ says Janet. ‘I’m known for my “50 shades of white” interiors and this May we’re
launching our own white paint colours selected and created by me. It will help answer the thousands of questions I get about the best white shade to use where.’
Between them, the couple have five children and a three-year-old cat so Janet had to find practical ways of keeping everything clean. ‘Slipcovers are an absolute must, I drape quilts and throws over chairs and use washable paint on high-traffic areas.’
With such a neutral background, texture is vital, and this is created by adding cushions, throws and rugs in different shades of white. Huge, dramatic chandeliers from Holland – Janet’s home country – add a sense of drama to the tall ceilings, and antique French mirrors generate depth through reflection. ‘Sometimes a wall needs something but a painting can be too colourful or dominant,’ she explains.
White china designed by Janet plus linen from small studios in Europe add the finishing touches. However, nothing is static for long in the Parrella household. ‘I keep changing things because I need to look at something new,’ adds Janet. ‘Also, our furniture is often for sale and when it’s gone we replace it with something else. We’re always on the lookout for other properties, too, so this may not be our forever home.’