Interior Obsessions – Blackest Black

I’ve always had a thing for white walls. Maybe a touch of color for an accent wall, set off by some nice wood furniture, but always with a background of white. White seems clean and uplifting. But lately, I’ve really been taken by some seriously dark spaces. Rooms where walls and furnishings are black. Black cabinets in the kitchen, black tiles in the bath. It’s a departure for me, but it comes across so calm, so quiet, and so often, elegant.

Although the black often includes an amount of white, in these spaces, the black dominates. Textural qualities differentiate the blacks in these interiors – sometimes glossy, sometimes matte, in leather, paint, tile or wood finish. The black background makes all those little touches like lighting and objects stand out without overtaking the space. I’m not sure I’m truly ready to do this for my home because the impact of black isn’t something that works only for a single room. It needs to be worked into the adjoining spaces as an overall vibe to really work well. But I’m tempted.

(above) Black and Mirror Entry

Dark Office + Mini Mosaic Tiles

Matte Walls and Pendant

Painted-out Paneling + Black Tub and Walls

Darkened Living

Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.