Black walls - would you dare to?What would it take - tall ceilings, tons of light, or just incredible confidence?
If you would, what room - library, powder room, home theater, bedroom?
Yes, no, maybe? Check out the survey - I'm curious.
Homes and Gardens, June 2006
This bedroom, designed by Kelley Proxmire, was in the Spring 2007 Washington Design Center showhouse. I remember it well - it was simply stunning!
Designer Kelley Proxmire, images provided to Desire to Inspire by Brock Proxmire
Designer Laura Rubinstein via Desire to InspireThe following images are from the Blakes Hotel in London, interior design by Anouska Hempel. We stayed there in July 2005. Interestingly enough, both rooms we stayed in at the hotel featured black walls.
We stayed in this room the last night. You couldn't help but feel a bit regal in it.
This room was my favorite of the two - partly because of this gorgeous Biedermeier bathroom.
Style at Home via Desire to Inspire
Ruthie Sommers via Pink Wallpaper
Designer Kara Mann, image via Turquoise Chic. Go to Kara Mann's site and click on Lake Shore Drive Penthouse to see more beautiful rooms featuring black walls.
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, designer Courtney Giles, photography by Erica George Dines
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27 comments:
hmm for me it would take alot of natural light......just like this last photo but especially like the doorway with the photo frames...that looks spectaular....I do have a dark wall in my lounge but it's a grey brown...I just prefer a warmer feeling.
go ahead, dare me.
yes, I would. Halloween parties would be much more fun. Every designer or artist needs one black room, right?
I BEGGED (then Threatened to paint it myself without permission ) my friend to paint an upstairs room of her store black. It had lots of windows and light. My thinking was that all merchandise would pop of the walls. No go, she went with a yellow...sorry but boring and safe!
Oh the pics are so beautiful. I don't know if I have the guts. It all depends on how big my house was. If I had the space to really play with them maybe I would. This sure makes me want to.
I would do it if I thought I could get it right. I'm not a great painter, so tend to stick with colors that don't look so bad when splotched a bit on the trim and ceiling - or aren't hard to cover over with white paint to correct.
If I get better at it - I can think of a bathroom which I'd love to do in black paint.
LOVE YOUR BLOG.
I think it looks great, however, how do you keep them clean? It doesn't seem like something that I would want to dust or clean every day. I can imagine that dust would collect and show much easier on a black wall verses a tan or sage wall... interesting but not in my house... =)
I love black walls! I knew a guy who had a room w/ black walls about ten years ago, and they looked great! But, I must admit that I have never tried it myself.
I like them but I think they tend to feel cold. I had a deep deep navy blue bedroom a few years ago and it was really lovely.
I have always wanted to. Just havent found the right room for it.
Great pics BTW.
love the look... not sure I would do it... maybe... I do like daring walls... so I can't say no.
your survey is almost even across the board - i voted no, but then saw all the great pics - would have to have a different space with high ceilings and lots of light and great art to take the plunge
I just love your blog! i am so tired of all the Shabby chic style. And this is relly different. Anette
I painted my dining room walls black several years ago and I still LOVE it! Each adjoining room is enhanced by the amazing contrast. I'm an interior redesigner and would love to recommend it to a client -- just looking for the right person.
What a BRILLIANT post. My bathroom is painted black although I had really wanted to do a room in black and I had mutiny on my hands. Next time around ^_^ Such inspiration. With black walls, it's all in how you pair the rest of the room with it (floors, fabrics, furnishings.) LoVE this post! Great inspriation!
Karen
not sure I would dare, but these photos are DIVINE!
Yes, yes, yes! I have all white furniture in my living room but unfortunately my windows face north so there isn't enough natural light to do black walls successfully. Instead I did a dark orange/terra cotta and it looks great and warm but not 100% of the drama I was shooting for, more like 75%. My half bath is dark chocolate brown with white trim and I adore it, I want to do my whole bedroom that color. With white linens wouldn't it be like being enveloped in a cappuccino?
PS - congrats on the mention in today's Washington Post !!! (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/email/2005/03/31/EM2005033118307.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter)
Thanks for the comments everyone - I'm here in Huntsville AL & only have 15 minutes on the hotel computer! (heading home tomorrow) I'd like to do black walls sometime but I think its going to have to be in a different house. Michele
Hmm, given the right space, I think I would dare.
I definitely like light and airy. In fact, I am having my bedroom painted right now, and it is a very light color! However, I do remember going to a friend's house when I was 8, and simply loving the black bathroom. It seemed like such a secret, quiet little room, exactly the right mood for a bathroom.
I've done black walls before - in a dining room - and they turned out fabulous! I framed the walls out with white moulding for that extra pop. I love all the examples you've shown :)
I would dare! That looks gorgeous!
I was going to say "no, not for me" but after looking through all of these wonderful pictures I am having a change of heart! Thanks for visiting my blog - so excited to have found yours!
Absolutely! I did a post about black a little while back (http://www.studioannetta.com/2008/01/back-in-black.html) - but it's so nice to see so many other images that I hadn't found. Of course, I've since seen a few more. I think it takes a bit of courage, but it would look amazing in the right room.
Kelly is a real talent. And a nice lady to boot. I'll make sure she sees your nice post.
I also did a quick little post on thisas well after seeing a gorgeous dining room painted black. I absolutely love the idea of it, but do think you need the right amount of light to make it work, as well as making sure the black ties into colors in adjoining rooms so it doesn;t look like a random black box.
http://elementstyle.blogspot.com/2008/01/black-is-new-beige.html
just found your blog and this post on one of my favorite things, black walls!!
I've loved them ever since a friend got some floral Sanderson wallpaper on a black background in her bedroom back in the early eighties.So dramatic.
I've just printed some wallpaper with gloss back ink on matt black paper, it looks fab!
I don't know if I'd dare but I do love these beautiful pics! I linked them up to my "black walls" post too, come on over and check it out!
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