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Collection by Erika Heet

How to Design with Black

If your answer to “How much more black could this room be?” is “None more black,” then we have some recommendations for you. From jet-black facades to walls to furniture, adding a touch of midnight adds a little mystery to anyone’s decor.

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Three-For-One: Gibbs says the custom hot-rolled black steel storage unit in the living space’s one exterior wall was the architects’ “baby.” Having only one unit to house a television, a fireplace, and wood storage was a top priority. Even in the “baking hot” summer months, she says, “My son wants to roast marshmallows.” monessenhearth.com
Three-For-One: Gibbs says the custom hot-rolled black steel storage unit in the living space’s one exterior wall was the architects’ “baby.” Having only one unit to house a television, a fireplace, and wood storage was a top priority. Even in the “baking hot” summer months, she says, “My son wants to roast marshmallows.” monessenhearth.com
Keep the Home Fires Burning Using wood for heat and energy keeps the Wadhams’ environmental footprint small and helps avoid the use of coal- or nuclear-powered electricity. Come winter, the couple relies on an Esse wood-burning stove for cooking, heating, and feeding a set of small radiators. In summer, they use the stove’s electric component, which is powered by solar energy.
Keep the Home Fires Burning Using wood for heat and energy keeps the Wadhams’ environmental footprint small and helps avoid the use of coal- or nuclear-powered electricity. Come winter, the couple relies on an Esse wood-burning stove for cooking, heating, and feeding a set of small radiators. In summer, they use the stove’s electric component, which is powered by solar energy.
Atherton's bedroom also contains a miniature piano; outside is a red bud tree, an appealing spot for mellow contemplation.
Atherton's bedroom also contains a miniature piano; outside is a red bud tree, an appealing spot for mellow contemplation.
Atherton made the bathtub and sinks by hand, out of marine-grade plywood held together with aluminum spline joints and dyed with Behlen Solar Lux in jet black. To make them waterproof, he coated every surface in a thick layer of West System marine epoxy, popular with builders of wooden boats. The components are inexpensive, but the process is time consuming: Each piece took five days to make.
Atherton made the bathtub and sinks by hand, out of marine-grade plywood held together with aluminum spline joints and dyed with Behlen Solar Lux in jet black. To make them waterproof, he coated every surface in a thick layer of West System marine epoxy, popular with builders of wooden boats. The components are inexpensive, but the process is time consuming: Each piece took five days to make.
A family of cost-conscious Hamburgers converted a kitschy turn-of-the-century villa into a high-design home with a strict budget in place. To unite the quaint masonry of the original villa with the squat, ugly add-on built flush against it, the architects decided to paint the old-fashioned facade graphite gray and then covered the box next door in plain, light-colored larch. Photo by Mark Seelen.
A family of cost-conscious Hamburgers converted a kitschy turn-of-the-century villa into a high-design home with a strict budget in place. To unite the quaint masonry of the original villa with the squat, ugly add-on built flush against it, the architects decided to paint the old-fashioned facade graphite gray and then covered the box next door in plain, light-colored larch. Photo by Mark Seelen.
The residents use either the black steel staircase or a glassed-in elevator by Wittur to get around the house.
The residents use either the black steel staircase or a glassed-in elevator by Wittur to get around the house.
Just because your kitchen is on the smaller side doesn’t mean you can’t make it as efficient and effective as possible.
Just because your kitchen is on the smaller side doesn’t mean you can’t make it as efficient and effective as possible.
Concrete stairs leading up to a sleeping loft are illuminated with wall sconces.
Concrete stairs leading up to a sleeping loft are illuminated with wall sconces.
The rear facade, like the top-floor addition, is faced in rectangular panels of black rainscreen Richlite over exterior mineral wool insulation.
The rear facade, like the top-floor addition, is faced in rectangular panels of black rainscreen Richlite over exterior mineral wool insulation.
The dining room’s high drama is thanks to a Cellula chandelier by Nunzia Carbone and Tiziano Vudafieri, a sleek Colors table by B. Fattorini for MDF Italia, and a massive yellow painting on the wall by Polish artist Pitor Uklański.
The dining room’s high drama is thanks to a Cellula chandelier by Nunzia Carbone and Tiziano Vudafieri, a sleek Colors table by B. Fattorini for MDF Italia, and a massive yellow painting on the wall by Polish artist Pitor Uklański.
The media room is all about relaxing, whether in the nine-foot-long, extra-deep sofa from Minotti or the lounge chair from B&B Italia.Photo by Ben Mayorga Photography
The media room is all about relaxing, whether in the nine-foot-long, extra-deep sofa from Minotti or the lounge chair from B&B Italia.Photo by Ben Mayorga Photography
The old wood floors throughout the open-plan space are painted a dark eggplant. The vintage PP19 armchair is by Hans J. Wegner for PP Møbler. The painting above it is by Ruben Toledo, a friend of Peter Fehrentz, the resident. A trio of Tom Dixon lights hangs over the Pirkka dining table, with bench seating by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Artek. The Berber rug is from Morocco, purchased from the Paris shop Caravane.
The old wood floors throughout the open-plan space are painted a dark eggplant. The vintage PP19 armchair is by Hans J. Wegner for PP Møbler. The painting above it is by Ruben Toledo, a friend of Peter Fehrentz, the resident. A trio of Tom Dixon lights hangs over the Pirkka dining table, with bench seating by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Artek. The Berber rug is from Morocco, purchased from the Paris shop Caravane.