Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Black walls

I love them - always have.
Some people have a misconception about black walls - thinking it closes a space - makes it look smaller when the exact opposite is true.  Black brings depth into a room - especially when it's only done as an accent wall - surrounded by white.
2 houses ago I painted our entire dining room black - the room had 2 double sets of french doors and crown molding with high baseboards - so there was a lot of white trim to contrast it.
When we sold the building ( it was a duplex ) the realtor advised that although HE liked the black dining room, it might prove to be a hard sell.

That home sold in 8 hours - with multiple offers ( in off - season ) for double what we had purchased it for and every single potential buyer loved the dining room.
Moral of the story?

Any color can look gorgeous if done properly in a space -
I remember people reacting with horror when I told them my plans.....................
But it was only paint - and the marvelous thing about paint is that it's never permanent
( your talking to someone who once painted her living room 3 times in a week until I got the right color - but oh what a gorgeous color I ended up with LOL )

Here's some samples of Black that enhance a space.  ( in my humble opinion )

THE UNCOMMON LAW
NOSTALGIA AND NOW
HOUSE BEAUTIFUL
DECOR PAD
Even black wall paper is gorgeous if done in the right setting - look how sophisticated this room looks

EUROPEAN-WEB.ORG
EUROPEAN-WEB.ORG
I painted a small accent wall in the entry way in black in this house ( you can see more pics HERE )
Oh God - I'm looking at the before - I'd forgotten how horrible it all was....................


and now I've done one wall in the second guest room
( please don't look at the floor - it only has one coat of primer on it - and don't look at the window either - it's still a work in progress )
I'm only granting permission to look at the wall itself -


A white dresser will be put against that wall - so you'll see even less when it's finished -
But the white floor and black wall already make this tiny little room look bigger


Plus it ties in with the black accents on the other side perfectly


I want to retain the cottage-y style of this house without a doubt - that is after all, what it is - but I also want to add ( on some level anyway ) a little sophistication to the mix and touches of black seem to do the trick.

Has anyone else ever painted a wall black?

Much love,
Me

Looking for inspirations?
Join me at these fabulous parties !

Savvy Southern Style                                   French Country Cottage
Too Much Time on My Hands                     My Turn for Us
My Romantic Home                                    I Should be Mopping the Floor
Distressed Donna Down Home                   Uncommon Designs
Between Naps on the Porch                        Sand & Sisal
Kathe With an E

39 comments:

  1. You never cease to AMAZE me! I love the black!! I have a question.....I am finally (after 8 years) ready to paint my bedroom which is quite large. My King size bed is a very dark wood with a dark leather headboard. The other pieces are equally dark. The bedding is white with "true" red floral accents. What's your opinion on black in there? There is one double window which faces North and currently no crown moulding. Standard 8ft ceilings and a set of French doors and 2 other doors that are white. The carpet is a beige/off white very neutral. Opinion??

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    1. Well I think black on your headboard wall would be very striking, don't you Laurayne -
      AND if you're not ready to go so bold - you could always paint all the window and door frames black as accents - I painted the window frame in the kitchen black and am loving the look.
      Thanks so much !!!!!!!!!!!
      xoxo

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    2. Good for you Laurayne - and I'd love to see a photo when you're done !!!
      xoxo

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  2. I have- I have- I have. It was in a bathroom and I had all pure white accents with touches of black and herringbone black and white accents. It was lovely! Your black and white scheme looks sophisticated and wonderful to me! Love it! xo Diana

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  3. no, I have never painted a wall black, but from viewing what you have done in this house I will admit I am a convert, it looks great!

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  4. This looks so great Love it. You have some projects for sure.
    Hugs from here

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  5. I went through a phase about 6 years ago. I painted my kitchen black, my bedroom black, my exterior doors black, my window boxes outside black. I loved it. Even the bathroom was midnight blue (which in itself proved terrible for visible condensation on the walls). But I am a chronic changer and everything has lightened up. I have always loved dark colored walls, in the right rooms they're far more dramatic.

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  6. I have never thought about black for me, it always seems to sophisticated for my style. But, all the black walls you have shown look great. I like what you have done with the room so far.

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  7. It's perfect! I just did a wall in the hall for a gallery wall in all black and it's awesome! Black walls may not be for everyone, but I love them!

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  8. I never have...but have a friend that has a house to kill for and her dining is black with all white trim and out of this world.......
    I love love love your little wall painted black...

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  9. Love that you took the chance

    Cindy

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  10. No black paint, but I used a black (flower trellis) wallpaper in my study once... I paired it with soft pinks, and absolutely loved it!!
    Your room looks great!

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  11. Black and white looks very sophisticated and one black wall does bring depth to a room and I actually think it looks cosy.

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  12. Suzan, I like the idea of black.... maybe going there with black curtains for an intense, yet soft accent. Plus, the apartment management would have a cow if anything was painted black. lol
    Oooo black colored black-out curtains.... in velvet.... with Elvis .. no.. no Elvis. :))) but definitely velvet.
    Love the story of your house selling SO well. :))
    ~ Christina in Cleveland

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  13. I've never done it, Suzan, but I would in a heartbeat if I had the right room and the right people to support my ideas! Ha! I like the wall that is recessed...black is wonderful for accenting areas.

    Thanks for your visits...I'm trying to catch up! :)

    Jane xx

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  14. Beautiful! You're the second post I've read today about a black wall. Susan @ Uniquely Yours or Mine did a beautiful black gallery-style wall. It's gorgeous! You should go check it out. :P If I ever painted a wall black, I'd have to do it when Phil was gone and not tell him about it in advance. He's such a poo-pooer.

    -andi

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  15. Never ever have I painted a wall black, but I can see how it would work. I'm still in awe of your entryway transformation.

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  16. Love a black accent wall and then with all white bedding makes for a very elegant look. I was just thinking the other day to paint our wall behind our bed a charcoal color see how all of our walls are completely white

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  17. Haven't painted a wall black, but I do love black on a wall! I have several pieces of furniture I have painted black though and love them all. I think every room needs at least a little black in it. Love your guest room and can't wait to see it all finished!

    Blessings, Vicky

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  18. I posted a while back on dreaming of black walls, but haven't gotten the nerve to make it happen. Love your black walls. If I got half brave, I would paint a big chalkboard in my breakfast room like French Country Cottage has. That would be a good compromise.

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  19. Now you've done it! I can hear my husband now...."why in the world did you paint the wall black and who the heck is Susan?"......what color black did you use..it's a nice shade.

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    Replies
    1. LOL - John was in Europe on business when I did it - there's no way I could have pulled it off with him in the house !!!
      It was a black I had on hand and can't read the color - because there's paint all over the tin - sorry about that Lisa !
      xoxo

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  20. Suzan,
    This is what I love about you. You are not afraid to go to places with color that most are. I love the black accent wall in the guest room and the entry way. Love where you are going with the bedding and pretty in this bedroom. When I come to visit I want to sleep in that bedroom.
    Kris

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  21. No, I have not, but I must say you make it look amazing.
    I just might get brave. :-) Or ask you to come over and do it for me. LOL

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  22. I did a black dining room for a client. She loved telling people what was being done, seeing how horrified they were and then seeing how much they loved the room when it was finished. There were high, white baseboards and white built ins on one wall to offset the black. Love what you are doing with that guest room!

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  23. Love you black wall Suzan! I considered it for about 5 minutes in Jacobs room. Wish I had given it more thought now!

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  24. I just saw a magazine spread with all black walls and immediately thought that you would love it. I don't think I could live with it but it is gorgeous! You have to love it from a design standpoint- it's so striking and elegant.

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  25. I love the black and white look. I did actually paint the upper part of my bedroom wall blackish. I love it and I am in love with your spare bedroom!

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  26. I love it. My daughter has three paints on her wall right now. She can't make up her mind. She decided she didn't like the white, so I guess my spouse will at some point paint it despite telling her she had to wait 2 years. I'll have to show her your photos.

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  27. I would do a black wall in a heartbeat, but my hubs would never go for it. I wanted to paint a small wall in my kitchen with chalkboard paint, but he vetoed it!

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  28. I love black and white but I don't think I have the know how to put it in the right place here. As teens we once painted our room black while the parents were away....Mum had a fit and the Irish curses flowed that day LOL poor Mum.

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  29. The blck definitely adds a level of sophistication. It goes perfectly with your nook. Thanks so much for joining the Make it Monday Party! Hope to see you again next week.

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  30. Missing votive candles and the catafalque and it would be great...

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    Replies
    1. LMHO !!!
      I'm guessing you're not a fan of black walls lol

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    2. In my house, dominates the light and sun, I am not in mourning

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    3. And that's fine - it YOUR house after all - but please understand that a black statement wall is a design choice - it's as simple as that - nothing to do with mourning LOL
      But you ARE making me laugh - and I thank you for that - it's always a good thing to laugh, right?
      P.S. why are you anonymous?
      Have a great day

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  31. My two cents? Black would be calming in a bedroom. I have had a dark red and a navy bedroom in my life. I am thinking I would like a dark charcoal in my current bedroom. Wish I had a nook. Thank you for coming over to Make It Monday.

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  32. Congratulations, Suzan! Your black accent wall is a feature tonight at Make It Monday.

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Due to a large amount of spam ( that I'm tired of going back to posts and deleting ) I'll be using comment moderation from now on !!!
Can I beat these spammers at their own game? Probably not - but I'm going
to try my damnedest !!!
xoxo