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Dazzling Rooms Featuring Black and White
Stylish ideas for decorating with black and white
Written and produced by Debra Steilen
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Breakfast Nook
Why we love it: Because of the unexpected use of “Poulette” houndstooth-check fabric for drapery trim and as the backs and skirts of upholstered chairs.
Interior Design: Megan Perry Yorgancioglu
Browse through our collection of showhouse rooms bathed in white.
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Laundry Room
Why we love it: Because we can’t keep our eyes off of the commanding black-and-white wallpaper that sets the tone for this room. We also love seeing classic hexagonal floor tiles next to playful polka dot fabric beneath the sink. And the black-and-white dog bowls by Jonathon Adler offer a whimsical finishing touch.
Interior Design: Berkley Vallone
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Stylish Entry
Why we love it: Because the entry’s classic black-and-white palette establishes the look and feel of the rest of the home—starting with checkerboard tile flooring and X-motif wallpaper. Turquoise accents used in almost every room begin here with a fashion-forward Monmart chest. See the next 3 slides for more rooms from the same home.
Interior Design: Megan Perry Yorgancioglu
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Neutral Kitchen
Why we love it: Because the designer interpreted the black-and-white palette with geometric shapes: rectangles in the form of cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and polished black granite countertops; squares in the tiled floor; and circles in the matching pendants. Plus, the Roman shades boast the same houndstooth-check trim seen in the breakfast room.
Interior Design: Megan Perry Yorgancioglu
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Master Bedroom
Why we love it: Because the black-and-white Art Deco bedside cabinet contrasts so beautifully with the draped canopy sheers and plush throw rugs. The gray-and-white bed linens and tufted headboard add intriguing patterns to the mix.
Interior Design: Megan Perry Yorgancioglu
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Family Room
Why we love it: Because the basic black-and-white palette in this family room gets its juice from orange and lime-green accents. The ceramic table lamp’s traditional shape delivers a more dramatic impact in bright orange. And a throw pillow covered in China Seas’ “Turtle Batik” weaves additional orange accents into the design.
Interior Design: Tobi Fairley
Check out these additional ideas for decorating with orange.
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Master Bedroom
Why we love it: Because this showroom space rides the fence between traditional and contemporary with its bold blend of midcentury modern furnishings and a custom-designed black-and-white rug. Strategically placed red accents keep the eye moving around the room.
Interior Design: Matt MurphySee more rooms from the San Francisco Decorator Showcase House.
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Breakfast Room
Why we love it: Because of the dramatic contrast between light and dark offered by a lofty ceiling lined with ebony in a white room with handsome white architectural trim. We also love the series of blue notes that break up the space: bamboo chairs with sapphire blue upholstery; contemporary lamps with bright blue shades; and a large piece of textile art in blue and ivory.
Architect: Stuart Disston
Interior Design: Sherrill Canet -
Kitchen and Dining Room
Why we love it: Because the red lacquered Italian armchairs and red hanging “pineapple” lantern make the black-and-white space feel so exuberant. A red "Gothic" lantern hanging above the island continues the fun in the kitchen’s work core.
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Breakfast Room
Why we love it: Because the black-and-white space gets hipped up with such simple components: window shades with punches of apple green, and green fabric mats on the black-framed prints. Plus the black lacquer dining table adds polish to a simple design and checkerboard linoleum floors that were stripped and resealed with a high-gloss finish.
Interior Design: Jessica Lagrange, Debra Martinson, and Dana Alpeter
See more images from this renovated home overlooking Lake Michigan.
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Powder Room
Why we love it: Because this lovely black-and-white powder room gets its color from gilt-framed paintings hanging above the commode. Plus tree-patterned wallpaper makes a whimsical background for a handsome black-framed mirror, antique wrought-iron sconces, and a vanity with black-marble sink surround.
Interior Design: Gail Plechaty
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Kitchen
Why we love it: Because the thoroughly modern commercial-style range looks right at home in a black-and-white kitchen with an English country house personality. An ebony-finish island is topped with white Calacatta Gold marble. The stone-covered range wall and herringbone-pattern tile floor amp up the simple color scheme with texture.
Interior Design: Anthony Como
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Living Room, Detail
Why we love it: Because this elegantly tailored room wears black accessories as if they were bow ties or pocket squares: a black fireplace surround, black-framed mirror, black side table, black floor lamp. See the next slide for another view of this room.
Architects: Tony Greifenstein and Keith Boyce
Interior Design: Larry Laslo -
Living Room, Overall
Why we love it: Because the light-filled room is a lesson in symmetry; each piece of ivory-color furniture has a twin nearby. The exception is a round antique table that holds the room’s only splash of color: a concrete urn displaying lush foliage. The white coffered ceiling and white walls contrast beautifully with an ebonized wood floor. See next slide for another room designed by Larry Laslo.
Architects: Tony Greifenstein and Keith Boyce
Interior Design: Larry LasloSee more living rooms decorated with neutral color palettes.
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Showhouse Bathroom
Why we love it: Because we’re dazzled by the thought of bathroom walls lined in heavily veined Italian marble tiles. And we also love the matching rectangular white sinks set into charcoal-colored iron bases. Black-crystal sconces add a Gothic touch.
Interior design: Larry Laslo
See more rooms from the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club Showhouse in New York.
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Entry, View 1
Why we love it: Because Schumacher’s graphic Monaco Damask wallpaper creates such a striking first impression. And the black and antique-white staircase adds such interesting detail. See next slide for another view of the entry.
Interior Design: Tobi Fairley
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Entry, view 2
Why we love it: Because the black-and-white serpentine chest easily holds its own against the graphic wallpaper.
Interior Design: Tobi Fairley
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Stairwell with Statuary
Why we love it: Because the winding staircase displays such a sculptural presence against that high-gloss yellow wall.
Interior Design: Lee Bierly and Chris Drake
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Showhouse Dining Room
Why we love it: Because of the black-and-white dining table whose stripes are echoed in the Roman shades and credenza table skirt. We also love the fact that the window trim, base molding, and crown molding are painted gloss black—which pops against eggshell-finish white walls.
Interior Design: L. Jonathon Savage
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Black Kitchen
Why we love it: Because the jet-black cabinets look like they came straight out of a library—except for sparkle coming from their champagne-silver painted accents. And the slabs of Calcutta marble used for countertops and the range wall are simply breathtaking.
Design: Carrie Hayden -
Showhouse Bedroom
Why we love it: Because this oh-so-tranquil master bedroom was decorated with a light touch that includes stone-etched panels depicting a smattering of ravens. Their black silhouettes related to the room’s black-frame chaise and bed, adding interest without creating a distraction.
Interior Design: Gail Plechaty
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Den
Why we love it: Because we’re charmed by the sense of comfort the room gets from traditional toile curtains, and armchairs upholstered in buffalo check fabric. And we love seeing how easy it is to punch up a black-and-white room with different accent colors.
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Showhouse Sitting Area
Why we love it: Because this elegant sitting area mixes black and white with pops of red—and makes it look effortless. Plus, we just really, really like the zebra-pattern draperies from by Eastern Accents. See next slide for another black-and-white room by Jack Fhillips.
Interior Design: Jack Fhillips
Check out all the rooms at the Showhouse at Adamsleigh in Greensboro, NC.
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Daughter’s Bedroom
Why we love it: Because of the way the black lacquered furniture and large scale artwork pop against the white-textured Scalamandre wall covering and contrasting black trim.
Interior Design: Jack Fhillips
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Showhouse Guest Room
Why we love it: Because this room’s black-and-white color scheme is embellished with the sparkle of metallic gold: starburst-style mirrored artwork, gold throw pillows, and gilt accents on the ebony bed and nightstands. We also love the ceiling’s double-striped wallpaper.
Interior Design: Megan Winters
See our favorite ideas for decorating bedscapes with pillows.
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Library, Overall
Why we love it: Because the room’s mix of cream, white, black, and smoky gray feels timeless and fresh at the same time. See another view of the library on the next slide.
Interior Design: Billy Ceglia
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Library Detail
Why we love it: Because the black marble fireplace surround is a riveting focal point in a mostly white room. And because all the books are covered in white paper to keep the focus on the architecture and the art.
Interior Design: Billy Ceglia
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Guest Bedroom, Overall
Why we love it: Because the bold use of black walls really makes the framed black-and-white photographs pop. See next slide for another view of the bedroom.
Interior Design: Joy Tribout
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Guest Bedroom, Desk Area
Why we love it: Because the black-and-white animal skin rug brings a playful pattern into the mix dominated by traditional office furnishings. The dressy black-and-white chair is by Century Furniture.
Interior Design: Joy Tribout
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Patterned Kitchen
Why we love it: Because the white cabinets and black-granite counters create the perfect backdrop for a checkerboard floor, geometric pillow cover, and black accent pieces.
Browse our collection of kitchen cabinets with furniture-style flair.
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Dining Room
Why we love it: Because of how elegantly the black-on-crème toile wallcovering complements the room’s ebony floor and white woodwork. The traditional pattern completes the graphic effect of contrasting neutrals, while softening the look at the same time.
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Artistic Hallway
Why we love it: Because of how beautifully the framed family portraits reinforce the home’s black-and-white motif.
Interior Designer: Susan MarinelloBrowse through more images from this comfortable family home.
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Outdoor Space
Why we love it: Because the fire pit’s circle of black chairs offers such a stark contrast to the lush outdoor setting.
Interior Design: Marion Philpotts Miller
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Handsome Patio
Why we love it: Because of the repeated geometric shapes seen in the backs of the wrought-iron chair backs, the muntin-glass French doors framed in black, and the balcony railing. Natural stone and cream fabrics offer a beautiful contrast to all the black details.
See more ideas for gracious outdoor dining and entertaining.
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