Black magic and its powers to transform a room....

Happy Friday! Hope you are well, glad its the end of the week.....looking forward to a busy but fun weekend. I have spoken often on my posts about how much I like black elements in interior design. Black truly has the power to transform a room or space unlike any other.... It offers so much drama, high style, elegance and old world-ness to virtually any room. Whether it be black and white timeless marble floors, a black kitchen, a huge black hutch, dramatic black walls in a dining room, there is no denying the power of black in a room. It also looks sensational next to virtually any other color. So today I pay homage to the use of black in interior decorating, and showcase a collection of different rooms and spaces that underscore my point. Though I realize it might not be for everyone, there is no denying the impact it has in a room. Some of the prettiest interiors I have seen have had elements of black in them, and it is highly effective when used properly....like most things in interior design, its all about scale and balance. I personally will be using black in my kitchen and butlers pantry. Would love to know, as always what you think and if you have a favorite! Do you have any black in your own and if not, would you want it? 

Elegant black dining room as interpeted by Ralph Lauren

Black and white floors and black walls make for a very elegant and dramatic foyer 

hallway, Max and Co.

M Elle designed this beautiful inviting space in shades of soft black and charcoal with pops of orange and reds in the books and throws.

A gorgeous painted black door offers subtle drama and elegance, Jan Showers

Atmosphere Interior Design went all black in this elegant dining room while keeping the warmth of the wood table for contrast

Beverly Ellsley chose black for the beautiful center island and accented black in the floors for maximum impact, and it worked!

Elegant and old world feeling black and white marble checkerboard floors, Elizabeth Dinkel

Love this Parisian bistro vibe at work here...Stephen Shubel designed this stunner of a  black 

kichen....love the floors too!

Rich European feeling bathroom gets a bold rich marble floor with  black, white and gold design

A black runner, black framed prints were used in this elegant foyer with black painted floors, Sherill Canet

Black painted walls and black floors give a dark and dramatic contrast to the white dining chairs, Elle Decor

Black is not only for indoors! Mary Mcdonald went bold and dramatic in this black and white setting....pretty exciting

SR Gambrel created this stunnig black and white marble foyer/hallway...resplendent!

S R Gambrel designed this living room, with a base of black and infused pops of bright colors

Sometimes a few statement pieces in black are all that is needed, Graham Moss

John Jacob achieved the perfect balance here wiht light and dark using black accents

One of my favorites...John Jacobs designed this exquisite  kitchen with black cabinetry

Stunning black cabinetry graces this gorgeous butlers pantry, Arthur Dunnam

A black kitchen works everytime...especially when topped with rich white marble

Sometimes you don't need an entire room to be black, just a few carefully chose black accessories just does the trick, as show here by Beverly Cleare

John Jacobs painted this bathroom wall a soft black and used white for extra punch and wow factor!

Love this tall black and glass cabinet....STUNNING! Mallory Marshall

Candler Lloyd chose charcoal walls and black chairs for punch in this otherwise muted colored filled room

Jiun Ho created this beautiful pared down but dramatic seating arragnement in front of the fireplace, charcaol and black are used here

Jiun Ho designed this drama filled dining room with textured walls and ovesized dining fixture

Gorgeous black Belgian reclaimed floors...fabulous!

I wouldn't think I would like a black bedroom but John Jacob with his trained and talented eye used just enough white to soften this beautiful dramatic room

Gorgeous room trimmed in black ,wtih black floors gets an extra punch with white seating and beautiful crystal objects for light, Decorpad

I love the impact and power of an elegant black painted chest in a foyer or hallway, Nathan Egan

Robert Brown designed this masculine and regal looking black surround tub, love the window treatment which brings in the black but manages to keep them light

Elegant swank looking black painted library...very chic

Ted Yarwood designed this simple, masculine powder room using black lacquered walls

Beautiful, sleek glossy black kitchen is pure drama and elegance...love the white floor as the contrast

A black damask paper in this super elegant powder room is superb looking, Ashley Goforth

Old world feeling black painted kitchen wtih a terracotta looking trim, different for sure!

Mary McDonald created this dramatic black dining room with accents with orange and pale blue

A black library is very rich looking

This beautiful vintage feeling bath with black tub and black walls/window treatments feels wonderfully old fashioned, photo by Melanie Acevado

This black and white bathroom certainly makes a bold statement, Lony magazine

Rob Southern painted his foyer glossy black to match the black door and used white and black marble floors for the light contrast that makes this foyer smashing!

Sensational black foyer accented with white and pale grays...quite beautiful!

Would love to know if you have a favorite and would love to know how you feel about black in interior decorating in general....would you, have you used it? Have a fabulous Friday!

Things I am loving Thursdays.........

Happy Thursday!! Knee deep in house projects, as they have finally started the bathrooms.....yippee!! The sheetrock is nearly complete so its soon time to start the flooring and trim work/doors. I have waited a long long time to get to this stage and will be sure to have a little photo sesh in the next day or two and post some pictures of current progress. With spring here (hoping its coming, never can be sure given that we had snow overnight, and yes, you heard me right) we are hoping to really forge ahead with no more weather delays! As you know every Thursday I devote this post to  talking about what I am loving or what I have discovered or what I am admiring this week. Always something fun to share......let me know what you think and of course if you have something you would like to share!

BLUE AND WHITE SERVING PIECES. Love blue and white, that's certainly no secret. But was thrilled when I found these gorgeous blue and white ikat dishes at Target!! How beautiful will these be for outdoor entertaining? And if one breaks, I dont' have to throw a fit.....its inexpensively replaceable. Though I have noticed Target changes their merchandise so often, so I typically buy an extra set of 4 for "backup" aka breakages. I think these are just fabulous looking! (You won't believe how reasonable these were....a lot of look for a little money) Love a bargain!

TULIPIERES. Whats not to love, they add drama, a flowery element, height and a historical elegance to any room. I have an old one that I bought at a sale many years ago in white with touches of crackled blue that looks incredible with yellow or pink tulips. What better way to announce springs arrival than with a tulipiere overflowing with Springs "poster child" flower, the gorgeous tulip!

DOG PAINTINGS. I don't know why but I have always had an affinity for beautiful oil paintings of dogs. There is something so old world, and elegant about them, the timeless traditional pictures that they are. William Secord  Gallery in New York has the most fabulous gallery brimming with nothing but dog and animal paintings, that is their specialty. It is the only gallery of its kind..isnt' that neat! If you want to see more click here.

PAMPERING YOUR PETS. On the subject of dogs,  I have a golden retriever that is the biggest, sweetest mush around. So every now and then, I enjoy getting him something that I know as a person, I would enjoy being given. A beautiful new bed, such as the blue toile one shown below was ordered for Teddy.....and then I got around to looking at all the other goodies at The uncommon dog's website and was totally entertained by what else they were offering....such adorable, fun things! Most are way too small or not suitable for such a big dog, but these things were too cute to not share. How adorable are these dog houses and those strollers.....what a riot! You can visit them here.

BELL JAR LANTERNS AND OTHER LANTERNS FOR KITCHEN ISLAND. Love the elegant old world look of old fashioned bell jar lanterns. I actually love lanterns in general and would put them in every room if I could. In thinking about lighting for my island kitchen, I definitely want something old world and beautiful...probably not going for a chandelier, so looking at bell jars and other lanterns..whats your opinion?

AMAZING MARBLE TILES. You by now, know and sympathize with my obsession with them. Can't help it....they are just so beautiful. I am in utter amazement that they can do this with stone!! Here are a bunch of incredible creations by New Ravenna and Ann Sacks, are these not like works of art?  So here are a few goodies worth sharing with you.....which is your favorite?

ANYTHING FROM TOSS DESIGNS. Ever since I discovered this fun, exciting and vibrant chic line of totes, travel bags,tunics and other small accessories I have been hooked! I make sure to start a new season with an updated something or other from Toss designs. Love their fresh prints! Be sure to stay tuned because I am going to be offering a giveaway very soon from this fabulous California based company. Below is a sampling of what they offer...check them out by going here.

WALLPAPER. Whats a post without it! But this week I am happy to report I have made some concrete decisions, granted it's only for two small spaces, two powder rooms but I love the looks and how they both work with the marble flooring. The first one is  moving for the small library powder room, I chose a Thibaut chinoiserie which has lots of darker, rich colors, and am having a custom floor done in golds and deep Burgundy's. Enclosed a small swatch of the stone colors.

The second one is for a powder room off the kitchen, I wanted something elegant, timeless and not stuffy. The soft yellow and white paper is beautiful, traditional and happy while the soft gray in the paper gives it a very "current" feel, the white and pale gray honed basket weave marble look great with it! Would love to know what you think.

COOL SERVING PIECES. I love entertaining though I must admit I am really rusty since we are not in our home yet. Really rusty. But in our old house, we entertained fairly often and outdoor entertaining is one of my favorite ways to have people over, its typically more casual, easier and certainly nothing beats eating outside on a perfect summer day. I love this dispenser that I just ordered...instead of holding 1 drink, its holds 3 different ones..isn't that neat! 

OK, so those are my goodies for today. Some I am already enjoying, others on my wish list. Always good and fun to dream, wish and desire! Would love to know if there is something you are loving this week.....do tell and hope you have a splendid Thursday!