air to breathe

It's kind of odd how cozy can be what we need some days, and at other times, soaring open spaces can have the same calming effect. I love the drama of this setting (isn't that a common theme of the interiors I'm drawn to?), with the almost cathedral-like windows and inky black furnishings. Most of all, though, I just like the expanse of cool space.

Image Source: Casa Vignelli

luminescence

I never thought I would appreciate a room that was painted pink, but this proves me wrong. The coral pink is in perfect contrast with the sleek black trimmings-- the shelves, the fireplace, the floor (love the geometric pattern), and the mirror. Black defines the spaces, coral brings warmth, and the white gives illumination. Many elements are highly unusual: the geometric patterns on the floor, the eccentric details on the venetian mirror, even the subtle blue of the french chair beside the fireplace. The horns on the mantelpiece, already the focal point, give a unique touch to the room: gradation, while the rest of the living room is made up of stark contrasts. It's all wonderfully compelling, and I still haven't gotten over that it's pink.

Image Source: Paul Costello

high contrast

I've never seen a room quite like this. Everything is absolutely black or white, with a few jewels of color that make the room shine. I love how the black outlines the main elements of the architecture; it's like an imaginative drawing rendered in ebony ink. I find the whole conceptual feel of this bedroom really inspiring-- it's easy to imagine spending time working on creative endeavors in such a setting.

Image Source: "Cabo Cool" in Western Interiors Magazine. Interior by Kara Mann. Photo by Matthew Millman.

skillful combination

This mix of period elements works surprisingly well-- the room as a whole looks like every cog was meant to be there, but when you separate the pieces, there is a lot of diversity. From what I can tell, the table is (probably a reproduction of) an old European design, perhaps as old as the medieval era? The subtle designs on the upper portion of the wall harken to that era as well. I wish I could see more of the fireplace and the door; they look like classic elements too. The architecture is Art Deco, what with the high ceilings and the deep, sharply angled windows. Both the hanging platform for the candles and the seats are more modern, maybe from the 1990s- now. The differences flow together extraordinarily well.
This dining room has a restrained grandeur that is wonderfully atmospheric. I imagine it would be even better at night with all of the candles and the fireplace blazing.

Image Source: photo by John Coolidge