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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019
Uttermost Accessories Inverted Feathers Prints come in sets of three.
Are you one of the folks who think on default that dark-colored rooms are depressing and gloomy? A few people could even feel claustrophobic. Using dark hues takes getting used to but those who are able to overcome their initial negative reactions appreciate the coziness and drama provided by the dark colors.
Interior designers have a lot of techniques and tools in beautifying homes. Some of these depend on their personal taste as well as their professed signature style. Other designers prefer thrive on traditional wisdom. One such conventional notion is that dark colors can help recede objects in a room.
Here are other ways that you can wield the dark colors –
Emphasize a Photo
Do you like black and white photos? If you answered yes, then it’s time to think about changing your wall colors to black, say, a delicious matte charcoal gray paint. This will recede in the backdrop which will give emphasis to the framed photos. The black and white photos then become the focal point in the room.
Stage a Light Show
Did you notice that the darker the sky gets at night, the more stars you are able to see? Consider light as a kind of black and white photo that becomes even more beautiful when placed against a dark backdrop. Consider increasing the striking features of light fixtures with a dark, rich hue.
Highlight Millwork
Cloak your walls in dark color so that they recede to the background and would bring the finest millwork foreground. This is especially effective if the millwork is painted white.
See Fabric Beauty
Your furniture’s upholstery does not have to be neutral-colored to stand out. All that it needs is a dark background and the furniture will be more striking than you originally perceived it.
Decrease Visual Weight
Using a bold, dark color as the anchor element in a room will help clear up misgivings. An example is when a kitchen island has a black marble or granite top that’s lacquered to perfection; having this placed in the middle of the room will emphasize the openness of a kitchen.
Maitland-Smith Dining Room Armchair, Lthr:Hair Hide
Alter Perspectives
You can also easily change visual perspective when the surface of furniture is a different color from its base which blends with the color used on the flooring.
If there are also structures which you do not want to veer the attention to, then it goes without saying that the color it should be painted with is black or any other dark color. This will allow the said structure to effectively recede to the background.
You can also conceal a television set when you set it up against a dark wall.
Remember that you can easily minimize and downplay any features in your home if you use dark colors on an already dark backdrop.
Unify a Room
Dark colors are not just interesting. They are also great to use when unifying different elements coming from various eras. These are the go-to colors of eclectic individuals.
Dark walls, furniture, and window treatments can unify the disparate design elements while creating a stylish look.
Create Contrast
It is crucial to create contrast inside a dark room. You need to learn to mix materials and play with varying textures in fabrics against hard surfaces. Use items that would pop against the dark-colored walls. Use bold or light colors sparingly and find interesting shapes, too.
Dark rooms are already innately dramatic so you should not overdo the use of black, navy blue, gray, and other such colors. Be careful in adding patterns, too, or you risk making the room look cluttered.
Energize
Believe it or not, dark colors can also energize. To do this, use glossy finishes on the ceilings, trimming, and architectural details.
Tags: dark color scheme, dark colors, dark design, dark hues, dark-colored hues, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Color Schemes, Decorative Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Stygian Hues: Embracing the Dark Side
Thursday, July 14th, 2016
FFDM’s Villa Cascina: Wood tones are a great alternative to black.
Color plays a huge role when it comes to interior design. The mood of an entire room can change in a jiff with the right or wrong color choice. The wrong choice will conceal interesting designs, helping create a dull space. A color that is just right spells success for the designer, it can make an art pop, or it can make the neighbors swoon in envy. When creating drama for your room, though, perhaps you’ve been told that there is no better color than black.
Embracing Dark Colors
So, you want to use dark colors in your home. There is a wide array of hues to choose from – there’s navy blue, dark chocolate, charcoal, etc. All these colors are hues that people normally shy away from. If you want to use them, then you’re one of the few that are willing to.
Pick the Room
Or more like, pick the right room. Darker colors have the capacity to make a room appear more intimate or cozy. There are rooms such as the parlor or bedroom which would do well with such intimacy. Imagine the deep charcoal color on your bedroom walls, wouldn’t they be lovely? If you want to hold cocktails with your friends in your large living area, then have them gaze at a little more drama…well, not your drama but the depth of emotions that the dark walls would evoke.
The master bedroom should have a cocoon-like ambience. Chocolate brown walls inside this room would make the white linens and wood tone furniture pieces pop out.
Hooker Furniture Living Room Balmoral Maurice Recliner comes in delicious navy blue.
Add Contrast
Reddish brown tones on upper portions of any room can be offset by white wainscoting as well as a white wood ceiling. There isn’t a better way to welcome your guests than with the rich drama of your home’s furnishings and accessories.
Don’t resort to the usual black and white when achieving contrast. Remember that there are many other color combinations that you could experiment with.
Your palette for the hallway should be simple – deep brown and white would be the simplest. White picture frames on a white console table plus a unique mirror should fuse beautifully.
If you want to highlight bright colors, on the other hand, use deep neutral tones for depth. You might think that having brown in the nursery might be a little off but the right tone could work with the right artwork and the right shade of furniture.
You can also use dark tones to showcase beautiful architectural features. A powder room, for instance, would be more interesting if you add the right contrast. The walls painted in truffle can be used to balance white architectural features such as crown molding, trim or the shutters.
The contrast is what would make you want to look at the featured architectural piece so better do the color contrasts right.
Lighting for Dark Hues
No matter what room you’re considering to remodel, think what sort of lighting you would be using. A full lighting system should be set up to highlight your art gallery wall. Spread the light all around the room unless you have to put a ceiling fixture that needs to focus on a furniture piece or a work of art.
Go-To Colors
Alright, so it has been established that black isn’t the only dramatic color in the world. But what colors would be just as appealing?
Begin with navy. This classic nautical color would look wonderful whether in a male or female room. This is also a great choice for the guestroom since it comes with a neutral appeal.
Warm gray and charcoal are cool off-black hues. A hint of brown somewhere is also a wonderful choice for any bedroom. This is especially useful if black is too stark for you.
Other colors that are not black are cool gray, anything chocolatey, burgundy, emerald, deep forest, and chalkboard.
Tags: dark color scheme, dark color schemes, dark colors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2016
Maitland-Smith Dining Room Arm Chair 4130-812 is simply gothic.
Gothic interior design or those medieval interiors both represent like eras. But do not imagine creepy mansions and artwork when thinking about gothic style, instead, think of architectural beauty and intricate furniture pieces.
Victorian gothic is, in essence, an architectural design that started as early in the 1740s. Compared to modern gothic interiors, they are similar because they show opulence and elegance. Gothic architecture first took the spotlight around 1150 AD. This was during the Medieval Period and it immediately became a significant part of every building design. Back then, it was called the French Style.
Examples of the gorgeous Gothic style can be found in abundance in the U.K. and the rest of Europe, more so in Paris, France. Gothic cathedrals are the perfect examples of gothic architectural wonders that have endured centuries.
Gothic Design Today
These days, gothic structures stand as a testament to the unique ability and solid engineering that are used hand-in-hand in their creation.
Have you heard of the flying buttress? This is one of the most recognized gothic elements in the world today. This was created during the Medieval Era. One can be seen in the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris.
Gothic’s got a pointy sort of style with ornate doorways, beautiful archways and perfect symmetry. Architects need to use balance in all aspects of a gothic home. This doesn’t mean that their brains have been hardwired to create everything that’s dark and gloomy, though. With the right set of eyes, you can appreciate the artistry that gothic design stresses. These great minds have been trained to value the beauty of old cathedrals and other majestic structures.
Maitland-Smith Accessories Black Marble Vase 2100-302 has all the elements of gothic style – a dark, rich color and its ornate metallic design.
A great way to wrap your mind around this unique interior design is to imagine intricate and ancient churches instead of dreary places. These are actually sanctuaries with stately windows complete with stained glass. Designs of roses or trefoils are also quite common as are majestic fireplaces situated below exposed beams and wooden rafters.
Beautiful candelabra should complete this divine style.
Gothic Interior Design: A Vertical Style
The gothic design is mainly a vertical style depicted by the looming peaks and arches, with windows growing larger and larger as you walk in each room. There is also an increased amount of lighting and ventilation as the years pass. The gloomy feel of the Romanesque churches are long gone.
Victorian gothic furniture pieces are usually made with sturdy and heavy oak wood adorned with the designs that are reminiscent of the Medieval Period. Headboards, chairs, cabinetry come with beautiful legs, arches and spirals. Heavy fabrics encase these heavy furniture pieces with every upholstery displaying the most majestic colors.
Including benches, pews and altar chairs is an effective way to show the kind of crafts that was featured during that time.
Gothic colors tend to be dark and rich with sombre hues of ruby, purple, forest green, ochre, and gold. You may use black but do so sparingly. It is not good to fall into the usual gothic notion where rooms are dark and even probably haunted. Vibrant colors like deep burgundy, emerald green, dark blue and ruby red are all acceptable.
Uttermost Accessories Alita, Mirror 11587 B
Gothic walls are covered with greenery, flowers and heavy patterns. Homeowners also use stencil designs and heraldic symbols. Paint your walls with flat colors in order to replicate the stone surfaces.
Accentuate stained glass windows with full suits of armor, wrought iron, candles and pews. Cornices and carved ribbing are also common characteristics of gothic interior design.
Display wooden, carved sconces as well as pottery dishes. Wrought iron lamps should be able to cast that needed glow inside an otherwise dark room.
For the final touch, go full gothic by adding dramatic elements such as moldings, dark wallpaper and heavy curtains. Just like you would with any style that you choose, go all out in using the gothic interior design.
Tags: dark color scheme, dark colors, dark design, dark hues, dark-colored hues, French design, French design elements, French furnishings, gothic, gothic interior design, gothic interiors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Victorian gothic
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
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