ZEBRA ZEST
HOME TRENDS Life is better in black and white
MOST OF Resene’s top-selling 20 colours are versions of white which makes sense given the dominance of this colour in today’s interior designs — especially when preparing a house for sale where white gives a crisp clean background on which prospective buyers can envision their own furnishings. Many of the ‘whites’ in Resene’s top 20 parade are actually tinged with another colour, coming in, in its purest shade at number nine, Resene Black. In fact, the top spot is taken out by Black White with ever popular, Alabaster, relegated to second place.
Black has been the perfect partner to white since time immemorial.
Embracing monochrome
A ‘monochromatic’ scheme is the use of one colour and either lightening the shade with white or darkening it with black. While this type of interior design scheme has since been expanded to encompass all manner of colours, black and white is the original monochromatic decorating style, as versatile as it is timeless. The combination of black and white can be as bold a statement as it’s possible to make, especially when stripes are brought into the picture.
But a black and white scheme doesn’t have to be in your face — it can also be subdued and subtle. It all depends on the ratio between the two colours, the particular intensity of each colour that you choose and the tonal differences between them, whether you opt for a gloss or matt finish.
Learning from the Tudors
Look to English Tudor style for the popular and striking use of black on exterior and interior woodwork to make it stand out from a white background. Dating back to the period of architecture between 1485 and 1558, the Tudor style has since made its way around the globe, cropping everywhere from Malaysia’s Grampian Highlands to the American state of Texas, often signalling wealth.
The traditional pairing of black and white is today a thoroughly contemporary treatment with black a popular choice for modern exteriors. Strong true blacks such as Resene All Black or Resene Black are good choices but if you like a very slightly softer look try Resene Gumboot. The Tudors opted for clear, crisp whites but if you are choosing a slightly softer black, you could pair that with a slightly softer, warmer off-white such as Resene Half Pearl Lusta.
Elegant kitchens, bathrooms
In the kitchen, black and white can make a bold statement. Think about glossy black cabinetry paired with marble or stone worktops or the reverse with fashionforward white cabinetry and a glossy black glass splashback or an intricate black and white pattern on a tiled splashback.
A minimalist’s dream
While black and white can work with almost any decorating style, the simplicity of the pairing and the crisp lines achieved are a minimalist’s dream. It is very hard for this colour combination to work well in a cluttered space — it is best enjoyed when the juxtaposition of the colours can be fully enjoyed with a little space around features. A black and white scheme can also work very well in an open plan home, unifying the space as a whole with different treatments designating the different purposes to each zone.
Adding pops of colour
You don’t have to stay true to the monochromatic look throughout the space, to add a little variation you can add interest with pops of colour. This can be achieved using a natural colour such as terracotta or stained timber to bring the scheme down to earth or with elements of gold or copper to elevate the scheme to the realms of opulence. Grey is also a natural fit, diluting the boldness of pure black and white to add interest and depth. Pure reds such as Resene Code Red or the brighter Del Toro and deep pinks like Colour Me Pink will also pop nicely against a black and white scheme.
Flipping the script
It is more usual to use white as the main colour and black as an accent but it is entirely viable to reverse this if your space receives enough natural light. Contrary to popular belief, painting your walls an inky black hue won’t necessarily make it feel smaller. In fact, it usually has the opposite effect, making it feel larger.