My love of grey paint is not entirely news to you, but recently I have been thinking of taking it a step further.
This is my sitting room as photographed recently for the made.com/unboxed platform. The walls are painted in Farrow & Balls’s Downpipe as are the library shelves at the other end of the room and, indeed, the shelves in the kitchen (you can see all those rooms by clicking the link above.
But I am finding myself drawn to its darker cousin – black. I have written before about the stunning effect that black windows and black doors can have on a property. But now I think it’s time for the walls.
Consider adding accents of black paint throughout your home. It doesn’t make the room dark and dingy. On the contrary it brings in a sense of warmth to a space and helps to define it.
Pair it with soft brass or hammered gold, an old rug and the odd houseplant (yes plants are back) and the effect is simple, stunning and dramatic.
Take a look at some of these and see what you think. You’ll notice that in many cases the other common denominator is a large, lush houseplant.
They are taken by Lincoln Barbour for Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. I found her website a few weeks ago and am drawn to nearly all her projects. Do visit her website to see what else she has done.
The team is based in Portland, Oregon but has worked in New York, San Francisco and Alaska.
However, if the thought of black walls makes you feel a little nervous, take a look at the kitchen below. There are just a couple of black accents to anchor the scheme.
I’m definitely coveting a gold velvet sofa now. And look how great a whole wall of metro tiles is.
If you look very closely and you’ll see that the pans are hanging on a wonderful brass rail. Details people details. Touch points and eye level. Remember that if nothing else.
To see more black walls and details visit my Pinterest Board
Black can make such a fantastic statement in a room providing a look of effortless style. That combined with white walls and rustic features and I am in style heaven!
I’ve used Farrow & Ball Off Black on several pieces of furniture in the bedroom. I did so tentatively at first, but I love it so much that I’m feeling emboldened to go much further and paint floors or a ceiling in it too. Off Black is the new Down Pipe!
A bold statement and one, I think, that may prove to be true …
I love these black walls, they are very effective but would not look well in my house. However for many many years on a number of projects I have used black or, slightly more forgiving but only you’ll know, a very very near black charcoal grey on oddments where some sort of neutral was needed. It has never failed as a technique because often black or nearest black is a paint available for any surface from heat resistant for log burners, through matt paint for steel or old cast iron to ordinary interior paints. It’s such a good answer to a myriad of ‘problem areas’ with the added advantage of going with everything. the LBD of the interiors world.
Great post about a great trick!
Such useful information thank you so much. I know exactly what you mean about deep black too. A friend of mine has just painted her stairs in Farrow & Ball Off Black, which is still black but somehow softer and looks great.