THE SUITE LOOK OF BLACK ON BLACK
Designers bring elegant and edgy aura to compact condo
To some people, the idea of black walls and surfaces conjures an image of a heavy metal fan’s bedroom, or the scary basements of childhood. But black is having a moment right now, and it can be crisp and glamorous. Just look at a condo designed by Tomas Pearce Interior Design Consulting Inc.
According to Mel Quilatan, a partner with Tomas Pearce, the firm had created the interiors for common areas, lobby and model suite when the Toronto building opened.
“The clients loved the entire look of the common areas, and contacted the developers to get in touch with us,” says Quilatan, who, along with project manager Brian Woodrow, designed the space. “They basically asked us to give their suite the same flavour!”
What most attracted the clients, Quilatan says, was its dramatic, edgy but elegant use of black — on surfaces, walls, even floors. Touches of gold and vibrant brights, such as fuchsia and turquoise, as well as a range of textures, punched up the design. But to make this work within the condo’s confines, a bit of ingenuity was in order.
At 930 square feet, the condo is fairly compact — especially for a family with three young children — so intelligent space planning was a top priority. On the plus side, it’s a corner unit, filled with light and boasting spectacular views in two directions. The designers joke that creating a dark, sensuous space in a condo that’s awash in natural light presented a challenge, but it’s a key part of what makes the design successful. The secret was to vary the scheme not just with colour, but also with textures, finishes, and individual feats of artistry.
Interestingly, the entry is the only room that doesn’t get natural light, nor does it use black as its signature.
Instead, Quilatan says, “We used some design trickery to expand this space a little.” The walls are covered in grey suede with horizontal bands, a classic way to pull the eye forward into the suite. Mirrors on the inner walls of the entry reflect light from the windows beyond, banishing gloom.
The entry’s most interesting feature is once you step into the suite: a marble-topped console with a gold base, arranged with antique travel cases in snake and crocodile. The wall behind looks like a single huge slab of granite; but it’s actually a high-resolution photographic print on vinyl wallpaper.
“It’s all very durable; this is, believe it or not, a kid-friendly home,” Quilatan says with a laugh.
In the living room, translucent black-tinted blinds form the backdrop for a cushy black velvet sectional, a glass-topped and leatherwrapped round coffee table, and a rich-looking solid brass club chair, upholstered in black-and-white ponyskin. The finishing touches include a passel of silk toss pillows in fuchsia, white and gold.
“In a setting like this, lighting has to be very carefully planned,” Woodrow says. “There are two main sources here: the frosted acrylic pedestal, set in the window, with a gorgeous crystal sculpture mounted on it, catches the sunlight in the daytime. But at night, the entire pedestal has built-in LED lighting, and the side table has another built-in lighted panel in its top. At night, these two fixtures are all that’s needed to light the room.”
Quilatan and Woodrow used every opportunity to maximize storage and space planning. Supporting posts, part of the original structure of the building, were modified into squared-off columns and mirrored, maximizing both light and the appearance of space. Directly facing the sofa is a built-in floor-to-ceiling unit, with a central recess for a widescreen TV and leather-covered panels over deep storage cupboards.
In a condo this compact, there simply wasn’t room for a formal dining area. Instead, the designers opted for a built-in black velvet banquette under the window, softened by more pillows in pink and charcoal silk and leather. The “dining set” is formed by a round granite-topped bistro table and a pair of gold and black chairs.
The kitchen is fairly compact, but a wall of crisp white cabinetry keeps the look simple and smart. The backsplash is black-tinted stainless steel, and in front is a small island topped with black granite at top and sides, roomy enough for two stools at one side. Lighting is simple but carefully planned, with puck lights in the open shelves and a shimmering white globe over the island.
For the wedge-shaped and compact master suite, the designers opted to make the bed the main event. Walls and ceiling are black, and the bed linens and headboard are done in a soothing navy blue.
“People think that dark wall colours make a room smaller,” Quilatan says, “but in fact, painting the ceiling the same colour makes the edges disappear, so it feels bigger.”
The main lighting is a pair of backlit translucent glass towers on either side of the headboard. Low, lozenge-shaped side tables provide surface for a book — but no room for lamps. There’s just enough space for a club chair and dresser at the end of the room as well as a single, stunning canvas that depicts giant, bright-blue lips.
While Quilatan and Woodrow say that using this much black in an interior takes a certain courage, if done well, it can be spectacular.