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Inspiration: Charming Black Walls

by | Jun 21, 2009 | Color, Decorating Inspiration, Kitchens

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Inspiration: Charming Black Walls
Cottage Living

Black walls can be very dramatic, but I think in the right setting black walls can be cozy and charming too. I always love a chalkboard wall (especially in a kitchen!), but a nice semi-gloss black gives a little sheen to reflect more light — taking this tiny kitchen from small to WOW!

The white cabinets give a great contrast to the walls! Notice the black floors and window mullions too, which also help the cabinets to stand out.

Here is more inspiration on decorating with black!

34 Comments

  1. gail gray of a fresh start professional organizing

    Amazing. Thank you for sharing it. I would never have thought about black. The way the windows tie in…brilliant!

    Reply
  2. Mrs.Rabe

    I can’t believe I am saying this but I love this look!

    I don’t think I will be doing it in my house, but it is really great…

    Mrs.Rabes inspiring blog post..This and That

    Reply
  3. Jackie

    What a great idea – I’ve never thought of black walls before, but I love how they look in that kitchen!

    Jackies inspiring blog post..Welcome…

    Reply
  4. Beach Vintage

    I agree, if used in the right way it is wonderful.

    Reply
  5. janice

    That’s a stunning wee kitchen! Black is really versatile and can warm a room and add depth as well as make it dramatic; I think it goes particularly well with rusty red or with shocking pink as well as white. The theme of my teenage daughter’s bedroom is fuchsia, black and white with touches of silver and crystal. She was scared initially, but we went all out and it glows. Thank you. Your blog’s like getting a magazine delivered to directly to the kitchen table!

    janice|Sharing the Journeys inspiring blog post..Connected and Encouraged

    Reply
  6. Brighton

    The main wall in our guest/kids bath is painted black. I love the look and am considering one wall in the kitchen. Very pretty!

    Brightons inspiring blog post..Fluffing up the bedroom…

    Reply
  7. amydeanne

    I just put chalkboard circles in the kids rooms last week. i love that pic though, it is so encouraging to see the range of color and not feel like it’s “too dark” kwim?

    amydeannes inspiring blog post..Vanish

    Reply
  8. janet

    Love the funkiness of the room with the black and it reminds me how much I miss Cottage Living as well as all my other mags that went out of business.

    Janet

    janets inspiring blog post..FOR YOU, MY PRETTIES

    Reply
  9. g.suzie

    I would have never dreamed that black walls could look so great, I thought they would totally close in the room. . .Looks really nice!

    Reply
  10. Natalie

    Ooh the black walls are unexpected yet definitely welcome in this gorgeous space! We have dark gray walls in our dining area and when I first told everyone we were going with dark gray, they wrinkled up their noses and asked why we wanted to live in a cave! Now that they’ve seen it, they realize how chic dark walls can be! :)

    Natalies inspiring blog post..Mmm…

    Reply
  11. mary b

    Love it!
    I have been considering painting our cabinets black & leaving walls white, but I love this even more.
    Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  12. Mary Beth (Cats, Books, Life is Good)

    I think in order for black walls to look good, there needs to be a lot of white/light colored woodwork, like these cabinets. Otherwise, to my taste, it gets too dark. But the little expanses of black in this picture really do make the cabinets pop.

    Mary Beth (Cats, Books, Life is Good)s inspiring blog post..SHOPPING FOR FOZ

    Reply
  13. Carol Long

    I never thought black walls would be appealing either much less in a kitchen but this is absolutely stunning. Such inspiration. Thanks.

    Carol Longs inspiring blog post..Metamorphasis Monday

    Reply
  14. Emily-Sarah

    This is gorgeous! I like the chalkboard in the kitchen too — for lists … and also as a safe place for my little boy to be creative on the walls. :-)

    Reply
  15. Jessica

    we have painted one wall, above the chair rail, in our dining room black. The rest of the room is a really light gray almost blue color. We love it!

    Jessicas inspiring blog post..30 Days of Littles Day 17

    Reply
  16. Ramona

    Absolutely delightful! I too love chalkboard in a kitchen…pure charm.

    Great Post.

    Smiles ~ Ramona

    Ramonas inspiring blog post..Great Fathers I Have Known

    Reply
  17. jessimarie33

    What a gorgeous kitchen! We just did our cabinets in white and I would love to try this, so thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  18. Kimm at Reinvented

    It took a minute for the picture to load, and I’ll admit, while I was waiting, I was thinking “black walls? Oh No!”
    Oh, yessss! That is very cool, I love the contrast with the white cabinets. Since there’s little wall space, the dark color isn’t overwhelming. You always find the best pictures!
    Have a fabulous day Melissa, you’re doing a much better job of being in “limbo” than I ever could.

    Reply
  19. Vee

    Oh I had to run over to see this after reading that title. Have to say that I am pleasantly surprised as I thought I’d hate it, but I don’t. Not at all. I am not, however, sharing this with my beloved. He’s already having a fit thinking about painting the door black. Ha!

    Vees inspiring blog post..Window Project Mosaic

    Reply
  20. Pat

    Pretty kitchen!

    Pat@Back Porch Musingss inspiring blog post..~A Desk Story~

    Reply
  21. Richella

    This is beautiful! We all know how black works with everything–I’ll bet we all own at least one pair of black pants that we’ll pair with just about anything. But I don’t think many of us would think about using black on the walls. Thank you for helping us to expand our thinking here.

    Your posts are always such a treat for the eyes as well as the heart. Thanks!

    Richellas inspiring blog post..Metamorphosis

    Reply
  22. Lorie

    *gasp*

    I have fallen in love with black cabinets lately, but don’t think I can make that plunge.

    But I MIGHT be able to talk myself into painting the walls behind the kitchen cabinets black!!

    Lories inspiring blog post..Balloon Walkway

    Reply
  23. Diane Costanza

    I love that kitchen! It is very much like what I have planned for my current kitchen re-do -after the current bathroom re-do! :-)

    Black is great to ground any room.

    Thanks so much for sharing.

    Diane Costanzas inspiring blog post..My personal creative style

    Reply
  24. jennykate

    Ooooo, I love it! Black and red are two of my FAVORITE colors to decorate with and I love the way they used those two colors in the the picture above!!

    jennykates inspiring blog post..Monday Morning – Weekend Recap

    Reply
  25. Puna

    I love this kitchen. It’s amazing that the walls can be so dark yet, the kitchen can be so light but cozy too.

    Reply
  26. Peggy

    Sharp-looking kitchen. Ours is reversed with black cabinets, distressed with red showing through and white painted pressed tin backsplash. Lots of colorful enamelware hanging from beamed ceiling plus all kinds of red items.

    Reply
  27. Lauren

    Fantastic! We just had our home office painted black w/ white trim and leopard carpet. I’m in love with my little black gem!

    Reply
  28. sanju

    Nice!!

    Reply
  29. Carrie

    My sister had a black powder room in her old house and it looked really great. She brightened it up with light coloured towels and accessories.

    Carries inspiring blog post..Frugal Motivation

    Reply
  30. o-girl

    Ooooh! I love it…you have to look twice to notice the walls are even black. (At least I did). See, I’ve been toying with the idea of painting my kitchen walls black but I haven’t seen enough pictures of how it could look. This little kitchen is dreamy! Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply

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