Dark and dramatic is the name of the game for these statement-making spaces that prove incorporating black paint and wallcoverings into your decor can really brighten your style outlook.
LACQUER UP
Photo: Claudia Casbarian for Julie Soefer Photography
The library features a marble fireplace and walls in lacquered black paint by Fine Paints of Europe from Boxwood Interiors. Elsewhere are built-in shelves with custom brass detailing by Peck & Company, a Schumacher wallcovering on the ceiling and a Jonathan Adler chandelier. The abstract painting is by Alexis Portilla; the figurative work is by Michael Carson.
BLACK OR BUST
Photo: Pär Bengtsson
Douglas Cabinetry fabricated the kitchen cabinets painted Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black by Louis Gloria Painting, which blend with the island countertop by Sarché Concrete Design. Ann Sacks Savoy bronze backsplash tiles, an Apparatus pendant from Allan Knight and Nichols stools by Marmol Radziner for McGuire complete the space.
THE ISLAND IS LAVA
Photo: David Duncan Livingston
The owner is an avid cook with an arsenal of cooking tools, so the kitchen had to have ample storage along with a clean, kid-friendly aesthetic,” says interior designer Heather Hilliard. She designed the black-stained oak cabinets and selected the lava stone island countertop from Sue Fisher King for good looks and durability. The counter stools are by Thomas Hayes Studio, and the pendant light is by Mark Albrecht.
CUE THE CONTRAST
Photo: Ken Hayden
A gallery wall enlivens a sitting area in the main bedroom. Coleman pulled from storage a black metal rocker covered in a Ralph Lauren Home stripe, paired with a vintage rattan-and-metal table. A handwoven EQ3 wool rug with a black linear pattern and the brand’s Anchor floor lamp round out the space.
IN A MOOD
Photo: Brad Knipstein
Interior designer Suzanne Childress opted for “a dark and moody mix” in the parlor of an Ashland home she renovated. Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty paint and a faux-crocodile Osborne & Little wallcovering underscore her aim. An RH lounge chair and a brass Crate & Barrel table rest on a West Elm rug. Backing the bar is a Schumacher covering.
INTO THE GLOSS
Photo: Trevor Tondro
Glossy black lacquer on the pantry’s cabinetry contrasts dramatically with the silver-leaf barrel-vaulted ceiling. Suspended above is an E. F. Chapman pendant for Visual Comfort & Co. The Top Knobs pulls are from Carter Hardware.
DARK HISTORY
Photo: Karyn Millet
Designer Scott Formby used rich hues on the walls throughout his historic Hollywood Hills to dramatic effect.
PERFECT PITCH
Photo: Aimée Mazzenga
Inspired by a page she tore from a magazine, homeowner Jill Alberts wanted a moody, all-black office, which designer Sarah Vaile achieved with Farrow & Ball’s Pitch Black. In dramatic contrast are a custom white sofa covered in Kravet linen, a white lacquer desk from The CEH in Dallas and as well as a bold Turkish rug.
FLORAL OUTLINES
Photo: Richard Powers
Though much of the home adheres to a lighter, Zen-like palette, Brown built in moments of moody drama, too. The powder room features a custom-scaled Trove wallcovering depicting X-ray peonies, along with vintage French bubbled-glass wall sconces from 1stdibs.
TIME TO WIND DOWN
Photo: Tria Giovan
Designer Jack Arnold took the master bedroom in a moody direction, using Portola Paints’ Oliver on the walls. He covered the custom bed in a Mokum linen and dressed it with Parachute Home bedding. A vintage settee from Laurin Copen Antiques and a Pierre Jeanneret chair and ottoman in a Rogers & Goffigon fabric offer spots to perch.
RUFF AROUND THE EDGES
Photo: Karyn Millet
A built-in wet bar, in Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black, with hardware by Water Street Brass from The Bath & Kitchen Showplace, encourages socialization and relaxation in the study. “It’s everyone’s favorite room,” says interior designer Andrea May. “We all hang out here, reading, watching TV, doing meetings on Zoom and chatting.”
COCKTAIL HOUR
Photo: Aimée Mazzenga
The stylish and dramatic cocktail area, which is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Pitch Black, is outfitted with a light fixture from Rejuvenation. “[Designer Sarah Vaile] found the fabulous chandelier and we got these old Mad Men-style glasses,” says the homeowner. “This space takes you back to another time.”
ROCKING IT
Photo: Jeremy Bitterman / JBSA
On the home’s lower level, a custom bookcase weighing some 800 pounds when empty swings open to reveal a hidden speakeasy containing the homeowners’ impressive collection of whiskeys. Just outside that cozy hideaway, jet-black river rocks cover the floor beneath the staircase.
ALL IN THE DETAILS
Photo: Roehner + Ryan
Designer Rebecca Salcito requested a master bedroom that was a complete departure from her previous light, bright and airy one, and the navy blue woven silk by Phillip Jefferies provided the jumping-off point. The black architectural details, upholstered bed by Savoir Beds, and silk-and-wool rug by Azadi Fine Rugs cut to frame the fireplace complete the look.
BLACK MEETS MATTE
Photo: Dustin Halleck
In the foyer, a black lacquered Phillip Jeffries grass cloth and matte plaster staircase with brass embellishments set the tone of the home. The Kyle Bunting hide plays off a set of sheep inspired by French artist Francois-Xavier Lalanne. “You have one chance to make a first impression as a person,” remarks designer Megan Winters, “and as a home.
