June 17, 2010

When In Doubt...

...use black and white! You can't go too wrong with this classic color combination. But the secret to making it work is to make sure you soften it up a bit. Warm color tones mixed with rustic wood elements does the trick!
My own bedroom rocks the black and white look, which was a color scheme born more out of necessity than choice (I had lots of black and white stuff already). But it totally works, thanks to a couple pink pillows thrown in here and there and lots of soft fabrics.
I don't know about you, but I quite love the modernity and crisp, clean feel of b&w paired with weathered pieces of eras past. Is this a look you'd try in your own home?

P.S. Today is the last day to enter the Pottery Barn giveaway!! Winner will be announced tomorrow morning...good luck!

*images via Country Living

23 comments:

Unknown said...

i love vintage with new - but i dunno if i'm all for these shots .. and i agree black and white is very classic! - and can dress it up in SO many ways!

*kiss kiss*
Erika
~Tiptoe Butterfly~

Karen said...

Love a black and white room with shots of color. It's a look that I'd never tire of.

sylvie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sylvie said...

oh those striped bamboo seating pieces are heavenly! and a magnificent, full-of-found-objects bookcase too? perfection!

xo,
sylvie of silver lining

Jen said...

You are so right! And think of all the colors you can pair with black & white... red, turquoise, orange, and even pink. Love the possibilities! :-)

Karena said...

Crystal, I adore the look of black and white and there is so much you can do with it!

Come see what I have put together for Catherine at The Shiny Pebble!

Karena
Art by Karena

Connie @ Sogni e Sorrisi said...

Love that rug!

Bailey@ peppermintbliss said...

A former color addict, I have to say the crisp classic black and white combo finally convinced me of a neutral. Now the whole first floor of my home is going to be black and white! go figure!

Nikki said...

Thank you. I needed that. I've been trying so hard to interject color into my house...I think I'm giving up. Black and white are colors ;)

Jane Flanagan said...

I love that wall of paintings and the bookshelf!

Andrea said...

I couldnt agree more. I did my whole living room in black and white, and recently added cobalt blue drapery to the mix, amd it looks great. Thats the great thing about black and white, you can throw in literally any color and it looks fab!

Style Odyssey said...

i agree about black and white. and it's hard to get it wrong, especially with a little warmth added.

Anonymous said...

I love the black and white combinations too. Can't go wrong with classics, right?

Helena - A Diary of Lovely said...

definitely right, great classic combo!

Greet Lefèvre said...

Using black and whit can't go wrong and is very chic!! Love it!
xx
Greet

Fargerike Dagny said...

Love black and white - definitely something I try to incorporate in most of my designs, it's actually my signature ;)

Have a fabulous Thursday!!

xx
dagny

Lana {lanalou style} said...

Such a great space, wish I had all that shelving, I'd have it filled in a second!

this free bird said...

i absolutely love the black & white stripe against the bamboo...amazing. crisp/clean, but also very relaxing. you just want to be in that room.

love this one.

Sally@DivineDistractions said...

I'm coveting the shelving on the back wall...regardless of the color!! I do love the black and white...always a classic and good everywhere.

Sarah Klassen said...

I agree — there's nothing like black and white, but it has to be done right. I've seen it done wrong, and it just doesn't sit well with me. I have no doubt that your room is beautiful! Would love to see pics sometime :)

Hope you're doing well, Crystal! I have an email coming your way very soon...

xoxo

Anonymous said...

What a great idea. I never realized how black and white is the great stabilizer and then the rustic wood, the gold, the color give it that pizazz! Thank you Crystal, I'll incorporate this in my decor

Kathysue said...

Love love love black and white and I use it as a base in my home but you are right I have added spring time colors with it. I just did my front porch with a striped curtain in black and white that I am crazy for, you can see it here if you want another dose of B&W
http://goodlifeofdesign.blogspot.com/2010/05/porch-is-done.html

Linda [Forever Champagne] said...

Absolutely love these photographs... great choice to demonstrate the effectiveness of black and white, which I absolutely adore.

Hope you are doing well, Crystal.

All the very best, Linda xoxo

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