All about that Black

The Works

In this Oregon library-turned-home, the interior designers at Jessica Helgerson Interior Design let the kitchen recede into the background and put the focus on the fantastic windows, which were painstakingly replicated from the originals. Black was used on the trim and built-ins throughout the open plan. Between the open shelves full of cookbooks and the rolling ladder, one can see the library spirit is still alive and well in the home.

James Dawson Interior Design

In this flawlessly chic Miami, Queensland, Australia, apartment, interior designer James Dawson had the freedom to go graphic. When facing in the opposite direction from the view here, you have a full view of a marina. When facing the kitchen, the eye goes up to an op-art “wallpaper” treatment on the ceiling. (Dawson drew the pattern, then had the wallpaper crew cut and apply the shapes.)

Sleek black wood-veneer cabinets and black marble countertops keep a streamlined look, while mirrored backsplashes on either side bounce the light around. Using the black created a strong contrast that doesn’t compete with the view.

LDa Architecture & Interiors

This black kitchen also opens to much lighter rooms with coastal views, so it recedes into the background in a sleek, sophisticated way. The designers at LDa Architecture & Interiors were inspired by the rocky Massachusetts coastline right outside the home when choosing the countertop. This large slab creates a stunning middle ground between the black and white.

Island top: Argos marble; kitchen counters: Caesarstone in Blizzard; cabinetry: custom; lighting: Benson pendants

Douglas Design Studio

Jeffrey Douglas of Douglas Design Studio recommends making sure that a kitchen has good light showing through from different angles before going black. This kitchen gets plenty from the large windows and doors and another window in the backsplash (not shown). This is also a story of wood — the cabinets are Canadian red oak with a charcoal stain. Engineered white oak flooring, a light ceiling and a rich wood island add warmth.

Light fixture: Zac Ridgely, Ridgely Studio Works; cabinets: red oak with a charcoal stain, Emanuele Furniture Design, flooring: Di Legno collection, Moncer

Design Line Construction, Inc.

Interior designer Candace Cavanaugh specified black-brown when coming up with a custom color for these cabinets. The hue adds an unexpected warmth to the dark room. She then custom designed taxicab-yellow counter stools to add a playful dash of color. The overall look is glamorous and unexpected.

Cabinet hardware: custom, Folger & Burt Architectural Hardware Inc.

Renovation Design Group

Renovation Design Group gave this bungalow the contemporary loft-like feel that the owner preferred. The black cabinets fit right in with the industrial-style corrugated ceiling, glass garage door, concrete countertops and stainless steel accents.

Countertops: custom, Mike Lookinland of Just Add Water

Chris A Dorsey Photography

This industrial kitchen in Brooklyn, New York, used to be an industrial woodshop. Appropriately, the island is a well-worn vintage workbench. Dark cabinetry and appliances put the focus on items that homeowner Alina Preciado has collected on her worldwide travels, including spices and unique teapots.

There is no more deliciously decadent palette for a bathroom than black, white and gold. Here’s how to work the mix for an elegant result

 So you want all-out glamour, luxury and indulgence in your bathroom, but you don’t want it to look like the Palace of Versailles or the ladies’ powder room at Harrods? Getting the balance right without tipping over into kitsch can be tricky, but these bathroom designers got the monochrome-metallic combo right on the money.

Godrich Interiors

Keep it in proportion. If you’re going for gold, keep those touches to a minimum to avoid overkill. A simple gilt-edged mirror, a metal wall hanging and complementary amber touches in the chandelier are all that’s needed — and stand out all the more against the black backdrop.

Deliver it through the details.With white as the main element and black as the second in this bath, the simple gold tap really jumps out, proving you can make a feature out of even your sink line. The designer wisely stopped short of a blingy gold showerhead in favor of antique brass to avoid overkill.

Ofer Wolberger, LTD.

Take risks in the smallest room.The powder room or small downstairs bathroom is a space where you can indulge the most adventurous decorating ideas, such as this gentlemen’s-club look with black lacquered paneling and playful artwork.

Tip: To keep a mix of metallics from seeming haphazard, consider grouping them in some way. Here the chrome fittings are kept to the the bottom half of the room, and gold or bronze to the top half.

Make a statement. The feature wall of large-scale textured metallic tiles is the star of the show in this deluxe bathroom. You could also create a statement wall with metallic paint or decoupage panels with copper foil sealed with a clear varnish or lacquer.

Carpetright

Hold on to a vacation feel.Metallics are a wonderful way to liven up classic black and white tiling. Monochrome mosaics and furniture with ornate detailing and motifs can make you think you’re relaxing in a luxury hotel in some far-flung destination.

Chronicle Books

Be adventurous. We’re used to thinking black painted ceilings belong in teenagers’ bedrooms, but this bathroom proves that the look can be pulled off with panache as long as the walls and floors are white. It’s a look best suited to rooms with high ceilings — try a stenciled gold border instead of the gold rail.

Ogle, luxury kitchens, Bathrooms & Stonework

Use luxury materials. An abundance of black marble gives this stunning bathroom five-star-hotel appeal, but if your budget won’t stretch that far, limit marble to your basin and bath surround, where it will have the most impact, and economize with ceramic checkerboard floor tiles instead.

Combine them with a chiffon or organza voile curtain in old gold. To finish off, a mirrored wall is relatively inexpensive but really delivers on the wow factor.

Break up stripes. When you’re using an equal mix of black and white, it’s even more important to introduce an accent.

The crisp lines of this monochrome striped wallpaper need a strong counterpoint, otherwise the room could feel too stark. Here the contrast is provided by the ornate mirror and detailed gold accessories.

Special Thanks to

Karen Wilson

UK based Houzz contributor

and

Becky Harris

Houzz Contributor