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Color Trend: Black And Bright
Black rooms {and black accent walls} have been gaining in popularity over the past couple of years.
Black walls have been on a slow ride to the top, and with good reason: It’s a bold choice. Plain and simple. Black was my first choice when I recently re-styled my sitting room {shown above}. I painted just one accent wall and left the other ones crimson, at the request of my husband. Even painting one wall black was a bit scary…
…but I love it! Using black is very tricky. Unless your room gets a ton of natural light, has ample artificial lighting or is open to other rooms — I strongly suggest painting just one accent wall. Yes, this is where an accent wall really makes sense. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an extremely dark room.
Some designers like to use white furniture and fabrics in black rooms. That’s OK, but I think using bright, vivid colors looks much better and it’s way more fun! In my sitting room, I used my red chairs, and brought in splashes of orange, pink, yellow and wasabi green.
Here are a collection of other black rooms that I love:
If you decide to paint a black room or wall, here’s an important tip: Unless your room is very low-traffic — meaning no one will ever go in there — do not use a flat finish. Black paint in a flat finish is like a chalkboard. You will not be able to even brush up against the wall without a smudge showing. For the best results, use either a high-quality, cleanable matte or satin finish. And bold as it may be, you’ll love having a black space in your home!
Go Dark With Wallpaper or Paint
I’ve gone over to the dark side this week by sharing tips around the web on how to use dark colors in your home.
{wintercreative via houzz}
Over at Houzz, you can find my Ideabook on using wallpaper to create dark and dreamy bedrooms.
{habachy designs via houzz}
Then, at Sherwin-Williams STIR I’m dishing out ways that designers can help clients feel comfortable using darker paint colors {but I think this info is useful for anyone — not just designers}.
Dark colors and wall coverings bring elegance and sophistication to your home like nothing else can. Be daring in 2012 and give ‘em a try!
Red Sofa Project: Sneak Peek
In this post, I’m sharing a sneak peek of a project that I’m working on for one of my clients. It involves a dining/living space and two red sofas.
As you can see in this BEFORE picture {above}, the space desperately needed some character and coziness. The homeowner loves her red sofa and love seat, but she wasn’t sure how to decorate around them.
Here is my computer rendering of the AFTER space. The first thing we did was paint using a pewter gray {Anew Gray from Sherwin-Williams}, which is actually a warm gray so it, along with a shag area rug, added instant coziness. The black and silver frames above the sofa will hold family photos. I also added elements that would provide texture and a few accent colors.
The renderings include a few “place holders,” but I’ll show you the actual pieces in separate photos — for instance, pictured above is the actual sofa lamp/end table combo. The lamp is from lampsplus.com; table from target.com}
{BEFORE}
The space really needed additional lighting, so I worked a few extra lamps into the design. The homeowner also wanted a scenario with extra seating, so I presented her with an Option B, pictured below:
{The bench is from anthropologie.com}
Pictured above is the BEFORE dining area, which opens to the living space. Below are the AFTER renderings:
{This is the actual host/hostess chair from pier1.com}
My client already owned a terrific piece of art that provided a pop of red to the dining space. An arrangement of dinner plates adds interest to the opposite wall.
Here are the actual window treatments {below} that will be used in both the dining and living area:
The space is coming along beautifully! We’re in the process of purchasing all of the items and waiting for everything to arrive. I should have photos of the completed space to show you soon!
If you have a space that could use some color, character or coziness, I’d love to work with you {and it doesn’t matter where you live}! Contact me at info@porterhousedesigns.com.
Not So Basic Black
Painting your space black can take unwavering courage, but the result is a sophisticated and elegant room where any other color can co-exist harmoniously.
{Long black draperies can also add tons elegance — and they’re easy to remove. Photo by bhg}
Yellow and Black
Yellow and Black is probably the most powerful color combination on Earth…
These two hues command our attention like no other color duo can. In nature, yellow and black insects warn us of their danger or perhaps attract us to their beauty.
On the road, the same colors catch the eye of drivers and communicate the need for extreme caution.
So how does this translate into interiors? Spaces that combine the cheerfulness and radiance of yellow with the sophistication and elegance of black provide a very dramatic setting that is both lighthearted and refined — as shown by the following two spaces designed by Tracy Murdock.
By adding white or gray, the strength of yellow and black is lessened; therefore creating a space that is not so startling but still lively.
{printed canvas available at The Contemporary Home UK}
{Viceroy Santa Monica Hotel – design by Kelly Wearstler}
A yellow and black space is bold but it need not be too brash. Avoid equal amounts of each hue by using one as the dominant color and the other as an accent. Also remember to use splashes of white, gray or any pastel to soften the palette. Follow these guidelines and you too can create an attention-getting space that will also put a smile on your face.
additional photo credits: lovehome; my home ideas; bhg
Black, White & Whatever You Like
As someone who’s passionate about color, I actually love black and white spaces…
…because you have the freedom to add any accent color you desire. So which hues work best with black and white? Well, because this combo creates such a dramatic effect, muted and soft colors won’t get much attention. Go bold and bright with your accent color, and it will surely stand out. Here are some of my faves:
{orange}
1. ceramic lamp, 2. juicy clock, 3. set of 3 vases
{yellow}
1. chandelier pillow, 2. lamp, 3. flower pillow
{purple}
1. glass vase, 2. fern pillow, 3. chandelier
{aqua}
1. side chairs, 2. chandelier, 3. telephone
{lime green}
1. chest, 2. side chairs, 3. accent table
{red}
1. candles, 2. picture frame, 3. bubble lamps
black and white bedroom: csnbenches.com
Final Four Inspired Room
Can this NCAA Final Four logo be turned into a room?
Yes indeed! Remember my Super Bowl XLIII Logo inspired room? Well, my husband challenged me to take another shot {no pun intended} using this year’s NCAA logo. So, once again using an on-line painting tool, here’s what I came up with.
I created two different scenarios using gray and periwinkle-blue as the dominant wall color. I really couldn’t decide which one I liked better, so I posted them both. The gray walls definitely provide a more contemporary, urban feel. However in this dining room, which has little fabric but very hard lines, the blue walls soften the entire look of the space. Which room do you like best?
Colors are from Sherwin-Williams: Web Gray, Domino, Venture Violet, Valiant Violet, Dazzle, Frank Blue
Black, White, A Touch of Sunlight
I was so inspired by this photo in the new White House Black Market catalog.
Are they selling shoes or flowers? Black and white is very chic these days — for fashion and home. The yellow adds an eye-catching, happy pop of color.
{bright yellow walls can be toned down with white draperies; from countryliving.com}
{even a small dose of vibrant yellow will stand out, and make a black and white space seem less serious — love the pendant! From lampsplus.com}
{a single black lamp shade is teamed up with navy blue for a less dramatic look; from valspar.com}
{softer yellows also warm up a black and white space; from designersguild.com}
{you can’t help but to be in a good mood if you’re sitting on a sunny-yellow sofa — I bet the Ugly Doll is happy; from domino}
Mr. Snowman’s Cut and Color
My snowman scissors are one of my favorite things. As a snow lover, I’m really enjoying the late winter snowfall that surprised us here on the East coast. So, today I’m inspired by the quintessential snowman!
I’m sure Mr. Snowman will pop up around the region today, featuring an orange carrot nose and black charcoal eyes, buttons and perhaps a gray, brown or black hat — like the one on my scissors. It’s a simple color palette that packs a little punch. Below are a few inspired spaces that I know snowmen everywhere would approve of:
from Traditional Home magazine
from the book, “The Smart Approach To Kids’ Rooms” by Megan Connelly
The view from my home studio today:
Fashion House Color
These photos are from the Fall 2009 Baby Phat/KLS Fashion Show that took place earlier this week in New York. I love how the ‘Kimora Lee Simmons Clan’ was adorned in shades of pink, purple and black. Simmons’ adorable daughters, Aoki Lee, Ming Lee and beau — the incredibly talented actor Djimon Hounsou, all looked very urban chic wearing fuchsia, violet and black. Not sure why Ms. Simmons wore beige, but none the less she looked radiant.
Looking at these couture colors reminded me of two gorgeous bedrooms that I’d seen using the same palette. If you like the clothes, you’ll love these spaces:
This pretty bedroom (livingetc.com) was designed using different tones of purple, accented with pink. This is a good example of how you don’t have to be so matchy-matchy when using one color. Pictured below is a stylish teen bedroom that my blogger-friend Helene Blonsky designed for her daughter. Helene did a marvelous job combining pink and purple with black and white — all very hot color combinations right now. Mmmm…she must be on to something. Click Here to see how this space came together.
Photos from the Fall 2009 Baby Phat/KLS Fashion Show: seventhsquare.com
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