White and Faded: Restoring Beauty in Your Home and Life

By Janet Parrella-Van Den Berg and Liz Marie Galvan

The only thing more beautiful than home transformation is personal transformation. Bring new life into your home and your soul through the gorgeous photography, inspiring story, and creative design ideas from Janet Parrella-Van Den Berg, founder of popular UK brand White & Faded. Journey through these hope-filled pages, and discover the hidden beauty in your own home and life.

In White & Faded, Janet Parrella-Van Den Berg takes you on a stunning photographic tour through her restored English homes as she invites you into her personal journey of restoring her own sense of value and purpose—and reveals how you can do the same.

So what is White & Faded? As Janet explains, she loves white things as a culmination of all colors and a representation of new mercies. And she loves faded things, such as cast-aside furniture, as a reminder that even what is painful or imperfect can be repurposed to reveal hidden beauty. Janet gives insights into both the literal and metaphorical aspects of white and faded as she draws on her decades of experience to offer:

• Full-color photography of restored English country homes, including a 1767 Georgian rectory in Kent and a home originally built in 1500
• Practical restoration tips—from large-scale homes to smaller antiques
• Fresh decorative ideas you can adapt to your own style, home, and season of life
• Fun inspiration—from antique to modern—ideal for fans of HGTV and Magnolia Network
• Inspiration to incorporate a touch of seasonal charm throughout the year
• How to make white work with kids and pets 
• Janet's own remarkable story of trauma, love, and rediscovered identity

 

How will you create a place in your life where you feel loved, find healing, and discover new treasures? Sometimes seeing the past through new eyes gives hope for the future—and looking ahead can be a beautiful way to come home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Sep 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9781400243402

Janet Parrella-Van Den Berg

Janet Parrella-Van Den Berg and her husband, Dino Parrella, are the creative powerhouse behind UK-based White & Faded. With a focus on restoring old homes and furniture, they bring new life to everything they do while introducing their clients and fans to stylish, sustainable living. Through their website, the pair offers a behind-the-scenes look at restoring homes, such as their own large country house built in 1767. Janet also hosts a digital academy where she teaches interactive online courses. The couple resides in Canterbury, England.

Book preview

FOREWORD

WHEN I ENVISION A COZY HOME, I picture a historic home with a clear tell of one’s style—one they are confident in showing. It isn’t decorated using an entire endcap from a big-box store but rather is filled with treasures that have been carefully collected and curated over time. Some of these carefully selected items tell a story about the homeowner’s personal history, while others are handmade by artisans they admire. Some of the decor may be special finds that were thoughtfully sourced from thrift shops, antique stores, or local flea markets. The cozy homes I envision tell a story, showcase the personalities of those who live within their walls, and reflect the hearts of those who reside there as well.

When I stumbled on Janet’s home while scrolling on social media one day, I think I actually gasped! And then I collected myself and immediately wrote to her about how much I admired her cozy home.

You see, Janet—or White & Faded, as I like to call her sometimes—has a true talent for curating a cozy home. You can tell it’s in her DNA to strive for her home to tell the story of her and her family. It shows in the curated antiques, carefully sourced handmade goods, and the editing down of items—only displaying and decorating with items that she truly loves and enjoys.

Janet inspires others to be true to their style by her unique decisions, her unwavering dedication to how her home serves herself and others, her passion for true antiques, and her ability to deviate from the latest trends even when they’re all over social media. I am so thankful for creatives like Janet who are solid in who they are as an individual and take the time to share that with others through the internet—and now through a book for others to experience and see the beauty that comes to life when you live true to yourself in every facet of your life. This is the kind of influence we need.

A cozy home is authentic and true to the homeowner, and that is what you will discover as you page through this beautiful book to view the gorgeous photography of Janet’s home and read the inspiring journey of Janet’s road to creating her cozy home. Use this book as a guide to become your most authentic self in your home life and beyond.

—LIZ MARIE GALVAN, interior designer, owner of the vintage home decor boutique The Found Cottage, and bestselling author of Cozy White Cottage

A NOTE TO THE READER

ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, my eldest son told me I should write a book and fill it with the many stories and experiences I have had while living across the world. Although he has been part of that himself, he still loved to hear over and over about the adventures we lived. But also, being aware of the pain I had lived through, he saw that writing about that inward journey might help me.

A few years later a friend of mine, who is a life coach, challenged me also in writing a book—this time the topic was a book full of tips and inspiring photos of my home and interior designs, as she believed this would spark my confidence. Back then, this was hugely challenging for me as I had just gone through the most difficult time in my life.

So this book is born from these two challenges—writing about my life experiences combined with the journey I went through while dealing with very low self-confidence after a life-changing experience that left me with the biggest question: Who am I, and what is my purpose?

I truly hope that this book will feed both your soul and your creativity, challenge you, and fill you with hope and joy.

My prayer for you is that it will bless you, refresh you, and ultimately restore the beauty in your life and home.

Much love,

CHAPTER 1

THE ROOTS OF WHITE & FADED

AS A CHILD I was forever rearranging the furniture in my bedroom—to my parents’ amazement. Going through my photos, I can see they represent transitions. Although I was making the decisions, the furniture seemed almost to rearrange itself!

I frequently had a new idea of how I wanted things to look, and I would change it right then. I moved smaller pieces by myself and asked for help with the bed and the wardrobe.

Most of the time my parents would intervene—invariably when the bed wouldn’t physically fit against the wall I had planned for it. My room was square, like a small box, and housed a washbasin opposite the bed. The other walls had a window and a door, so there really was no space to change the layout. Although this was clear, I still tried all options!

Looking back, I can say a few things haven’t changed for a very long time—I love to change things around, I love white, and of course I love antiques.

Swedish antiques in their original paint. Opposite: This is a very good example of the symmetry you find in Swedish homes. Shown here is a beautiful antique Swedish Gustavian chest of drawers, with matching chairs on either side. This page left: Stunning 1700s doors function as a feature in this room. In front, an antique Swedish chaise longue in original silk upholstery. This page right: A Swedish interior wouldn’t be complete without a Mora clock. The clocks were made in Mora, Sweden, and the case was often made by the father or future father-in-law and given as a wedding gift. The wooden floor has been painted in a traditional Swedish checkered pattern.

I grew up in a home that felt like a museum; all the antique furniture was dark, solid, and in perfect condition. The walls had antique patterned wallpaper and the paint color matched the intense,