Lynn Knight
Black is rarely a paint color that comes into consideration for walls, with many homeowners presuming it will make a space feel dark, cramped and dungeon-like. So, she recruited the help of Nina Magon, the creative director and principal of Contour Interior Design, based in Houston and Miami.
We wanted it to look more high-end, and sometimes, especially in production homes, dark colors help the space look more custom."
Magon started by painting the kitchen cabinets black and accenting them with gold rather than stainless steel. To keep the space from feeling too dark, it helped, naturally, that the kitchen was part of an open floor plan. (Enclosed kitchens without as much natural light, Magon warns, don't always fare well with a black color palette.)
"There's a lot of natural light coming into the house, which made it easier to use a dark color," says Magon. Translation: If you opt for black paint on walls or cabinets, weave in lighter colors to keep the space balanced.
Mason carried the wood detailing into the master bedroom, pairing it with sheer black drapes.
To soften the space, Magon added sheepskin throws in the master bedroom and office. Get the look: In the living room, the textured console table is from Noir, the light fixture is by Arteriors and the sculpture is from Moe's Home Collection.
