Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Tuesday Inspiration: Dramatic Black Decor


House Beautiful
We have all heard the saying, "Every room needs a touch of black!"

For Tuesday Inspiration, I'm exploring black as the focal point, not just an accent color.
Typically used for front doors, black has made its way into homes, creating dramatic, sexy rooms like above, designed by Brandon Barre.

Just like that little black dress in your closet, black has always been in style.
The inglenook above is even more dramatic painted black. This is truly one of my favorite rooms!

lonny
"Without black, no color has any depth....

Tommy Smythe
"But if you mix black with everything, suddenly there's shadow...

"no not just shadow, but fullness....

DecorPad
"You've got to be willing to mix black into your palette, if you want to create something that's real."
A great quote from of all people, Amy Grant! I don't think I could have said it better!

Wow! Miles Redd painted his New York City apartment high gloss black. Talk about drama!

'Catalano
Houzz
Designer Kerrie Kelly wallpapered her den bathroom with black grass cloth.

This bathroom is amazing with the washed black front on the bathtub.
I like how it adds a little rustic to the sleek tile and marble.

One of my favorite decorating ideas for a huge, expansive wall, is to frame out a portion of it and paint it black. Add art in the middle, and voila, the wall is more manageable and dramatic too.

I'm not sure if the walls are truly black here.
It isn't easy finding true black, because usually there is a lot of blue in black paint.

I know this because it took three tries to get it right when I painted my kitchen island.
I used Benjamin Moore paint, and selected colors off the color wheel like "Nightfall" and "Graphite."
But in the end, it was simply stock black paint that did the trick!

I used the same paint on the family room mantel, previously yellowed pine.

I'll admit that black has been on my mind lately, ever since #1 daughter retiled her bathroom floor in this wonderful black marble hexagon tile. I'm planning on using the same tile when I redo my downstairs bathroom.

We all know black goes with everything. It especially makes colors like pink or orange zing, as opposed to browns and earthy colors.

I like it with hot pink!


I like it with turquoise!


I like it with white!

Do you believe every room needs a touch of it?
Are you brave enough to paint an entire wall or room black?

Think about what Renoir said: "I've been 40 years discovering that the queen of all colors was black."

24 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post! I could not agree more! I adore black and have it in almost every room in my house!

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  2. HI Delores! Well, we must have been WAAAY ahead of our time cause Mr. S. and I painted the CEILING in our family room black, back in 1970!!!!!!!!! It was our first house and we finished part of the basement. Everyone thought we were NUTS til they saw it then LOVED it! The ceiling almost disappeared. Now, in our guest room we have a black wall and in front of that wall sits a very large bookcase that Mr. S. made. All the objects on the shelves look so much better against the black. I also have touches of black all over the house. I love it! This was a great post. XO, Pinky

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  3. Love the hexagon flooring...my friend used it in her kitchen. Feels very French. Great post.
    Mary Ann

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  4. I have always thought this...black is the best accent color there is!

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  5. Wonderful post! Beautiful inspiration! Yes, I like the use of black and you've showcased it beautifully.

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  6. Stunning post Delores...black is my accent color and I have wanted to do my hood and island black..great inpiration, thank you!

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  7. Love your post the rooms are stunning...my daughter just did a room in green and black...it is beautiful!

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  8. Hello Delores,
    whow! I don't like black so much but I must admit, those rooms are not only dramatic but truly sophisticated designed. All look very inviting and have a special charme. I can't use black because our rooms are to tiny for that. But I love what you showed.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  9. Delores, a touch black is essential in my home design. I love black and white as you well know!!! I did a post on , wish I was brave enough and some of the things involved black. A black fence. black baseboards, black hall doors and a black room. I still wish I was brave enough. I think a black room is so handsome.
    Great post and I loved all of the images!!! KS

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  10. Yes I do agree that a touch of black goes a long way,but I have lived with alot of it for years and now feel the need to lighten things up!!! Great post!

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  11. Wow.. what an absolutely gorgeous post. Love the black accents, walls and furniture, so agree that it's timeless, sexy and very dramatic.

    Caron

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  12. So pretty Delores. You made me want to paint my kitchen island black. I'm sure I have a little black in every room (heck, I could probably say that about almost any color!). Thank you for all of this inspiration. laurie

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  13. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, Delores! XO, Pinky

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  14. Black is beautiful! I have a lot of black in my wardrobe. Wear it head to toe a lot. You've shown some stylish ways to incorporate black into home decor. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Delores, this is a wonderful post. Yes, it is full of inspiration. Can't say that we use much black other than all the Courtly Check around here. ;-)
    Guess I need to rethink some things. ~ Sarah

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  16. Hi, just wanted to let you know how much I look forward to your posts every day. I found you through another blog and I soooo love your style! I am across the country from you but it looks like our style is much the same. Love your majolica and brown transferware. I collect them also so it is always great to see posts with them to get fresh ideas! Thanks for inspiring me! Natalie

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  17. I love your black island! I just moved a small table into my kitchen and am seriously thinking about painting it black. I love your blog, btw. Thanks so much!

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  18. I love black.. whenever I talk to anyone about decorating.. it's always are you sure??? yes I'm sure. I have pops of black everywhere. Not brave enough to do a whole wall, but certainly brave enough to a bathroom floor.. which I thought was divine!

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  19. I love black and always have! The closest I got to painting an entire room black was a deep chocolate brown. I had it for 3 years and just painted it a lighter gray. I enjoyed the coziness of the dark, saturated color but was ready for a change. I especially like how black looks against the wood of the antique desk in one of your pictures. I think it's a classic color and can never go out of style. I also painted my kitchen island black like you. Love it!

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  20. Hi Delores,

    I really loved this post,as I've had a love affair with black for years.I've restored so many furniture pieces that I've painted black and am naturally drawn to accessories that are black. It's a color that one can mix with so many others...it's a basic!

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  21. Beautiful rooms all! Well I did have the entry and short hallway into the cottage painted Graphite which is almost black, and I really love it. It doesn't make the small space feel claustrophobic at all, just looks great I think.

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  22. Black is essential in any room to ground the room. Even the black of a t.v. screen counts as something black although it isn't as nice as the lovely photos you have here. I loved every one of them.

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  23. Loved your post on the color black. I have done a wall grouping and all the frames and the large shelf is black. It was my first attempt to really have "alot" of black in the room. I love it, and it is definately the focal point of the room. Since then I have added pieces of furniture I have painted black. I accent with all the other colors. Thanks for sharing such an inspirational blog. Karie

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  24. Delores, I love your blog. My favorite thing about following a blog is the owner's home. You do a great job showing how you have achived your special style. Also this post on "black" is right on. I love lots of color, but without the black to ground everything it might look like a preschool!
    Thanks,
    Gayle from "Vintage Farmhouse"

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