I’ve had black and white interiors on my mind for months now, every time I see one it jumps out at me, not for lack of color obviously but for the way the well thought out black and white space is both classic and modern all at once and with little or no color to assist.  Like the classic black and white film or photograph, I find these spaces so sophisticated, elegant and divine!  It’s the high contrast that I’m so drawn to – how the whites deepen the blacks, and the blacks brighten the whites. 

I’m fascinated how much personality exists in these multilayered spaces both casual and formal.  Here are some of my most favorites to inspire, punctuated by a few fun objects for your home.

Style at Home

Eddie Ross

Raya vase; Bone dominoes

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A long time ago I fell in love with a tufted sofa.  Not just any tufted sofa, a petite rounded back ‘works so perfectly in my house’ kind of tufted sofa. I even wrote about my tufted sofa dream almost two years ago.  {Cue the ‘a dream is a wish your heart makes’ melody…}

So I have this wall in between two sets of French doors in the living room where a lot of traffic passes by so the only thing that really works there is a buffet, which I had there for a year, but what I really always wanted for that spot was a beautiful tufted sofa. 

I’m have a big fat crush on them, especially when they’re paired with modern fabrics.  Here’s a few images from my inspiration files – so sophisticated and dreamy.

Bella Mancini Designs

Massucco Warner Miller

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There’s been an ongoing debate in our home for over a year about painting some dark wood cabinets in our casa.  We have dark wood cabinets in our master bathroom and dining room, dark wood countertops in our kitchen and dark wood treads on our staircase too – all of them I love and would never paint.

I love dark wood, especially juxtaposed next to crisp or warm whites – the contrast is divine.  The debate in our home has to do with the dark wood built-ins in our windowless family room, which feels like a cave much of the day. I am so drawn to the look of white built-ins in a living or family room space, especially flanking a fireplace.

See how nice they look?

Bella Mancini Design

Globe and Mail

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I go through phases where I obsess over certain colors, and the color of the month for me is sea green – I’m totally crushing on it.  I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to paint my own walls or cabinets in this shade even though these spaces pull if off well.  Perhaps I’ll stick to fabrics and accessories, or even indulge in glass tile in a bathroom, but this hue is definitely on my mind.  

Better Homes & Gardens

Design Seeds

sources unknown

M. Christine Duncan

martha martha

Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens

Sea what I mean?  What’s your latest color crush?

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