The upstairs bedrooms share a bigger, nicer bathroom, which is good, but one of the bedrooms is majorly smaller than the other. There wasn't even really a choice for us - it makes way more sense for Michael and I to take the small bedroom and to let the girls have the huge 20x15 bedroom. That way there is plenty of room for them to spread out and play. Hopefully the toys will stay mostly upstairs in their room!
So our little 'master' bedroom (ha!) is proving to be a bit of a challenge layout-wise. There's no closet. Or rather, the head of the bed is in the original closet. So we're going to add a wall of Pax units. There's also a large hall closet that we can use for additional clothes storage.
I've been thinking a lot about painting the walls of the room black. There's just no getting around how tiny this room is (it's about 9 x 11 -- EDIT: I just double checked the measurements and I was off. It's about 8x13. Eesh, that's so narrow!), so I'm just going to work with it and play up the coziness aspect. I'm telling myself (and Michael) it could end up being really restful.
I'm planning to install a lot of new moulding everywhere in the house, including the bedroom. I'd paint the moulding black too though and I think the dimension will be really cool. I'm hoping with a light rug and white bedding/curtains, and oversized artwork, the mix could be just right with the dark walls.
Lonny
Elle Decor
High Street Market
I have dark gray almost black walls in my tiny Brooklyn brick-brownstone bedroom. The cozy factor is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI went with high gloss, but that was a mistake. Since the building is old, the walls are very uneven, with all kinds of bumps and irregularities. Thanks to the high-gloss paint, these lovely bumps and nicks and old paint drips catch the light in a not-so-lovely way. Wish I had gone with flat.
I have a very small bedroom in my apartment with a big window, so I felt pretty confident going dark in that room- admittedly, not black but a very deep terracotta. It gave the room such a great, cozy feeling! It stopped feeling like a closet and started to feel like A Room. The personality more than made up for any lack in square footage. I would also suggest sticking to a satin finish paint. I tried going glossy but its very cold for a bedroom.
ReplyDeleteLast year while my husband was overseas I painted a feature wall in our open plan living room matt black (with blackboard paint). When he came home he was too jet-lagged to complain. He came to accept it and after a few days even complimented me on it. We've had it for nearly a year now and I still absolutely love the black - you can style it in so many ways and anything looks great with it. I'd thought black would be a fad but I really think its here to stay for a long time. I had to rush so did one quick coat then another almost straight on top. It does show marks easily; and it does close in the space, but it adds so much drama and style to the room I won't be changing it for quite some time, if anything I'll be adding more. Go for it! Warmest wishes Sarah PS. On one of Nigella Lawson's cooking shows she wakes in her 'bedroom' which has black wallpaper with white flowers on it - it looks incredible.
ReplyDeleteblack beauty, high gloss or flat - how can you go wrong.
ReplyDeletepersonally, i love it and might have a problem ever waking up in the morning.
pve
I painted the walls in my tiny office a semi gloss dark charcoal. The moment I was done I was disappointed. I think this is a go big or go home kind of situation - I should have gone with a darker color and did flat or high gloss. That room is just so blah now.
ReplyDeleteBTW - The first photo with the neon orange table is hot.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I painted our bedroom chocolate brown (gloss) a few tears back. At first we really liked it, but after about six months it just became too cave-like. The dark color and glass also highlighted every flaw in our walls which wore on me over time. Just my two cents!
ReplyDeletei have a bedroom that is painted a flat dark charcoal. i agree with the first comment unless your walls are perfect i wouldn't go high-gloss, you'll just start to notice every imperfection. In that bedroom we also have the pax units with the mirror doors, and that helps a ton reflecting the light from the windows and making that small room fell a lot bigger :) i am sure what ever you decide it will be stunning!
ReplyDeleteBlack will be the perfect backdrop!
ReplyDeleteI have very dark charcoal walls in my bedroom which both my husband and I love with our white furniture and bedding and gold accents. I'd be nervous about high gloss unless the walls are perfect though. It shows every bump and imperfection. As much as I'd love to, I couldn't get away with it in my 100+ year old house. I'd probably lie there every night going crazy with the state of the walls! But I'm nuts that way! It is a fantastic look though.
ReplyDeleteI had black walls (Benjamin Moore's "Black Horizon", which was great) and loved them for about a year and a half (A long time for me :))! They contrasted so nicely with lighter furniture, and everything had really nice lines against them. the only reason I painted over them, was because I was craving something new. My bathroom walls are still black now, and have been for about 2 years. They are really starting to show dust really easily, so I think the glossy look is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteFlat black would soften it a bit I think!! I LOVE black walls...
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of painting the room black - so chic!
ReplyDeleteI think the only way to get the cozy feel you desire is through flat paint. The gloss will reflect everything like crazy while the flat will hide the true dimensions of the room. I'm sure it'll be great once done, can't wait to see it.
ReplyDeleteI love black bedrooms! Our guest bedroom is TINY - 8 x 14 and i painted it all black, including the floor. its super cozy and i have gold sconces and a white and gold painting that really pop against the black. Also, we have a rustic diy raw wood desk from old floorboards in there - the mixed textures look great!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Eva though - DONT do high gloss unless those walls are perfect! My boss just did a black bedroom too but painted the trim high gloss - that looks amazing. Can't wait to see what ya do!! -Boo
Hi there. I just painted my girls room chalkboard in black with white everything. I love it and often hang out in there while reading or with my two other little girls. I love the matte look but glossy sounds fun too. I have a picture on my blog. http://rockinrices.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
I can't wait to see what yours will look like. I'm about to paint one black wall in my bedroom and the rest a soft light gray. I chose the matte route, since my walls are not in perfect condition.
ReplyDeleteMy idea is that when I enter there is interest with the black wall, but when I wake up then I am surrounded by calm light color.
As for dust on the walls, I don't mind dusting one wall every couple of months.
I'd go with high gloss and embrace the highlighted wall imperfections. The "decay" element of the walls would be dramatically contrasted with shiny picture frames, soft white bedding, clean lines of furniture. Sexy!
ReplyDeleteWe've got black and dark gray here and I prefer the eggshell finish we have on the black over the semi-gloss we have on the gray. Like the others said, the dark semi gloss shows every imperfection.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Most of these pics seem to have a good source of natural light that balances the dark room, so it might be good to be sure that your wardrobe WON'T cover your one window. Can't wait to see what you do!
ReplyDeleteI have black walls in our bedroom. My husband and I LOVE them. I think they're super sexy and cosy. We used flat paint since we live in an older home and the walls are not perfect. I decorated the room with lots of whites and creams, but would like to add some colorful art. Thanks for posting such great inspiration pics!
ReplyDeleteI love black walls! It's very dramatic.
ReplyDeleteGo for it! We painted our guest room a dark navy. (BM Hale Navy) and used lots of white accents and I love it! It's dramatic during the day with lots of natural light and so cozy at night.
ReplyDeleteIf you'd like to see it, here's a peek.
I painted my small office a very dark gray (gray by BM) in eggshell. Our walls are textured down south so I couldn't go with gloss, it would've looked weird. I really love the color. While painting I was super nervous about how dark it was but once I got my light pink bamboo dresser, gold vintage chandelier, and bright accessories it looks great! I've had it for over 6 months now and see no signs of tiring of it.
ReplyDeleteI think black looks better on smooth walls. Otherwise it can look a little crack den. And you need to be neat in black. Otherwise, again: crack den.
ReplyDeleteAnd 9x12 is tiny? How long you been in NYC, girl?
http://rockinrices.blogspot.com/2012/06/chalkboard-room.html
ReplyDeleteSorry, I didn't give the exact info of the black walls that I love. Take care
I had dark navy walls in my bedroom in the apt that we just moved our of. I loved them & miss it! The room was super tiny and the dark paint made it feel much larger! The building was old with uneven walls, so I ended up using satin to try to hide imperfections. The dark color really seemed to make all my accessories pop. Can't wait to see all the projects in your brownstone jenny!! Your so inspiring!
ReplyDeleteYou once posted about my black kitchen for the campaign cabinet that I have in there. I am happy to report that I still love my black walls. I used Black Onyx by Benjamin Moore, and opted for flat paint to balance the many reflective surfaces in the kitchen including the stainless appliances, glass front cabinetry, and shiny black Silestone counter-top. It has remained one of my favorite painted rooms with no itch to change it!
ReplyDeleteI want to go dark with walls SO BADLY, but our overseas situation prevents it. If it were me, though - as much as I love a high-gloss situation, I'd go soft for a bedroom. Maybe some high gloss or lacquered bedside tables.
ReplyDeleteThe PAX units might be glossy, too???
Regardless, it will be fantastic!
Oh & in case your interested the color was mercer blue by eddie bauer from Lowe's:) looks a bit darker on the walls than on the chip.
ReplyDeleteI painted my home office walls high gloss black when we first moved in and it was DEFINITELY a mistake. Our home was built in 1959 and it showed every single bump and unevenness on the walls. I changed it to flat a year ago, and it's much, much better. I'd now only use high gloss paint in a newer home (or an old home with new sheet rock).
ReplyDeleteJenny - i love the idea! I just painted my guest bathroom an almost-black color and love it. I love a moody space :)
ReplyDeleteI would totally recommend BM's Baby Seal Black if you are looking for a slightly off-black or obsidian black. It's been a dream to use in a space with little natural light.
In our last house we had BM Iron Mountain on the walls and we loved it, so in this house we painted our kitchen/dining in the same color. We used satin, but glossy would be awesome. I say go for it!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't do black, but I've done deep dark navy blue, and I really like it in small or retreat-ish rooms. Art looks fantastic against it. ANd almost 3 years later, I still like it.
ReplyDeleteLove these images. Agree with you on using a dark color.
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday.
Teresa
xoxo
OK - black. I haven't painted a room black, but I painted all of my upstairs intetior doors in gloss black. Maybe it's because they're door and have beveled rectangles, but these doors are so hard to keep clean looking. Even the ones the children don't use much. They show every little finger print and dust particle. They looked kind of glamorous and stylish, but they just weren't practical for us. I've just started repainting over them... after about 2.5 years.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE black walls. Painted a bathroom Black Fox by Sherwin Williams. It was a warm black b/c it has a touch of brown in it. I went with Satin. Flat shows too many scuffs, Satin does not. I am currently renting or there would definitely be a black room in my house. :-)
ReplyDeleteGo for it. I painted my office walls a dark navy blue in a gloss finish and am so happy with it. You can definitely see every flaw in the wall which doesn't bother me at all, but it could make someone crazy if they're into a flawless look. If that's the case choose flat paint or skim coat first.
ReplyDeleteOur old 1947 home had peach tile with black accents so I painted the walls gloss black and LOVED it. Our bedroom was a very deep navy blue as well. I went for a semi gloss and, again, we totally loved it.
ReplyDeleteHi there! I too live in a Brooklyn brownstone- we originally painted our bedroom walls a dark gray in high gloss but quickly changed it to a true black in matte. Going full on black made such a difference- it felt much cleaner and less muddy. And the flat matte was an absolute necessity- older homes have walls too lumpy and uneven and the gloss showed every.last.one. I'm obsessed with our black walls, you'll love them too, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny! I painted the walls of my tiny bedroom (about 10x13) a glossy jet black and I LOVE it! It's been a few years now and I still think it's beautiful. Definitely gives the room some glamour and is obviously very cozy!
ReplyDeleteWe painted our office "Francesca" by Martha Stewart. It's a very soft black, and we chose to go with a flat finish. The trim is a glossy bright white, and the floors are pale oak. Couldn't be happier with it! Everything in the room really pops. The room still feels very open too. The flat paint hides all the flaws and sort of soaks up the light in a velvety way. We used another dark color in satin paint in our bedroom, and all you can see is every bump, lump, ding, and every other imperfection in the wall. If you want a lot of drama and glam in the room, and your walls to be the feature, gloss would be the way to go. If you want the room to seem more cozy, and have your furniture and decor to stand our more, definitely paint with flat.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your feedback! I agree that glossy is probably not the right way to go here. I'll only consider it if we have to cover the window with the Pax unit. I think the gloss will help the room feel less cave-like. But if we have any natural light, I'll definitely opt for flat. I'm going to do a post on my favorite black paint colors, but I really love Martha's Francesca too, JD! Definitely in my top three choices!
ReplyDeletexx
I painted my bedroom Benjamin Moore's Kendall Charcoal based on Jenna Lyon's old bedroom. I think it's one of the best decisions my husband and I have made in the apartment yet. Can't say enough how much I love it!
ReplyDeleteHere are some photos: http://www.75thandsedgwick.com/2012/05/jewelry-organization-revealed.html
Aaaah I LOVE this look! I've been trying to decide for the last couple days what color to paint this little nook/extra room in our bedroom. Basically I just have a desk there and I'm loving the look of black with gold frames on the wall! So sophisticated! I'm thinking I'll paint it black thanks to this post! I'm in love. Thanks once again for the inspiration. I've used SO many paint colors/choices that you've shared before on this blog and I love them all. Can't wait to see all your house renovations/projects. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteOMG, I love love LOVE a dark wall, especially in a bedroom! I've done this in a couple of places I've lived and it's beautiful. You walk in and immediately feel cozy and a little mysterious! And everything pops more vividly against it. Big fan.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I found that flat was more calming than glossy. Best of luck with it!
G
I am in love with our black walls in our hallway! Even though they are chalkboard, I am really itching to paint more walls in my house black! http://jennyjohnstoninteriors.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-first-diy-project.html
ReplyDeleteI would think a matte finish would be best. Glossy, lacquered seems like it would be best on paneled walls or cabinets.
You show some great picutres here for inspiration. Here is another one you might like too. http://pinterest.com/pin/104216178847536826/. like many of the pictures you show, I think its the contrast between the black walls and lighter furnishings that make it work.
I say GO FOR IT!
YES YES YES! Oh please yes. It will look FANTASTIC. If I were doing it, I'd cut it down the middle and do semi-gloss or an eggshell finish. A hint of shimmer more than flat, but without the extreme sheen of lacquer.
ReplyDeleteIf I were you I would have a playroom for the girls and keep all their toys and books there. Let them have the smaller room where they will sleep keep their clothes. You and your husband deserve the larger room as a retreat for yourselves. Think about it!
ReplyDeleteLove that you are thinking about painting the walls black! Could look great with whites and large artwork as you described!!
ReplyDeleteSarah M. Dorsey Designs
I love the idea of black walls. It's so cozy and chic.
ReplyDeleteWe have deep dark navy walls in our guest bedroom, with a little bit of a purple undertone, and it is SO restful, it is truly the best place to sleep in the house. I did flat paint so it would feel sort of chalky and moody (and could get away with it since it is a low traffic area.) I love the way it expands the feeling of the room, too. My one compaint/future project: the ceiling is much too white. I'd love to paper it with grasscloth when budget allows.
ReplyDeleteWe painted our kitchen flat black a couple years ago. We still love it and get a lot of compliments on it. My cabinetry has a dark warm stain and its lovely with the black. We went flat due to four little pairs of hands running in and out. But those lacquered walls are gorgeous. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIn our previous home, we didn't have black walls in our bedroom, but we did have VERY dark charcoal walls. It always provided a nice contrast to any bedding we used. It wasn't a huge room, but felt cool and serene. I'm imagining that black would have the same effect!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried this look, but I think it's super cool, especially when it's really glossy.
ReplyDeleteOooo do it! We have a "cozy" bedroom and used Behr's sled, it's the darkest gray without being black. Firstly the room seems so much bigger, the color pushes the walls back and it's so relaxing. Plus every color bedding goes with it and it's nice for afternoon naps.
ReplyDeleteI would've loved to have done gloss, but I move art around a lot so patching walls and gloss don't play together well - but two years later we still love the color and say it out loud all the time. That's paint love baby!
And you have to be on the same floor as the girls...why- exactly? Would it be the end of the world if you were NOT on the same floor? Does one of your children require careful monitoring because of health issues? People have lived on separate floors for centuries with no ill effects. I'm sure it would not reflect badly on your parenting skills.
ReplyDeleteTake a bigger bedroom for heaven's sakes. 9x11 is ridiculously small. It's the size of my daughter's room. She only has a twin and it's still minute.
Honestly, I do not understand parents who are this self-sacrificing. It makes no sense. If you paint a room that tiny in black, you're going to feel like you're living in a dungeon come December.
Ooh! I'm loving all these suggestions! Lots of new-to-me colors to check out! Thanks, guys!
ReplyDeleteRiverdaughter - We have a two year old and I wouldn't feel comfortable sleeping two full floors down from her. What if I don't hear her crying in the middle of the night and she comes tumbling down the stairs looking for me? It's a real concern and not what I consider self-sacrificing. My husband and I don't need a huge bedroom because we aren't loungers - we just need a comfortable queen sized bed, two night stands and organized clothing storage. This room provides all of these things. No real sacrifice at all! :)
Catherine - I wish we had another space for a playroom, but every room is being used right now. When my little sister moves out and when the girls are a little older, I think we'll reconfigure the spaces and let them have the whole upstairs and we'll take the downstairs.
We painted one of our guest bedrooms black. Pencil point by Behr in flat. It is by far my favorite room in our house. I sometimes just go and lay in the bed in there just because I love it so much. I don't think you'd regret it.
ReplyDeleteTwo points - definitely agree with the matte finish - the velvet appearance is much more restful, upscale than a gloss finish unless walls are in pristine condition. Understand your concern re your two year old BUT our dream house came available when our daughter was a year old and only the master was downstairs. She quickly learned the rule to always come down the stairs scootching on her little bottom and the baby monitor was a life saver. It truly was never an issue having her upstairs...this coming from an overprotective, first-time mom! Good luck - Ali
ReplyDeleteI guess I disagree with almost everyone- I think black walls are awesome for hotels, temporary settings but too dark for every day. Maybe it's b/c the winters here are so long and I crave open, light everything. :)
ReplyDeleteAmy - I havePencil Point on my list now! Can't wait to check it out!
ReplyDeleteAli - Thanks for your note! We'd be two full floors away from Evie if we don't sleep on the same floor. I don't think a baby monitor reaches that far and more importantly it would take me too long to get up there. I'd be worried for my own safety (falling down stairs) in my half-asleep state! I wouldn't even bat an eyelash though if it were only one floor away from the girls. :)
Do it! Do it! Do it! I love your work and can't wait to see you wow us with how you style black walls!
ReplyDeleteJenny- two words: baby gate. Add a nightlight if you must turn off the hall light. In fact, you'll probably need a baby gate at the top of the stairs anyway since there is no guarantee that in the hypothetical situation where you 2 year old is stumbling around upstairs that she will automatically find your bedroom. Sleepy children are frequently disoriented.
ReplyDeleteBesides, if you put Heather in the small room upstatrs, there will be someone to hear her if she cries and gets up in the middle of the night.
And from what I can remember when my brother was that age, he never went searching for my mom. He just jumped into bed with my sister or me so you're probably over thinking this.
Your queen is going to eat that room. It will feel claustrophobic even without the black walls.
JMHO Moms tend to get pressured to become eternal watchful servants of their children these days as if the umbilical cord never gets cut. I worry that a whole generation of children will be completely disfunctional without their mothers. I suspect it's not healthy.
These are all lovely ideas, but I would go for a black accent wall first. See how you like it and go from there!
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny! Throwing in my two cents...I've never painted a whole bedroom dark but I just did one wall in Martha Stewart's Plumage (deep dark teal), in my basement bedroom with very little natural light....it's suuuuper cozy at night--reads almost black but with the prettiest peacock tints where the lamps hit it. Have you considered doing a dark dark version of a color (meaning, non-black)? Could be interesting.
ReplyDeleteI've also done and loved a blackboard wall--the matte black is lovely, even in my old home with all its imperfections!
As for picking the smaller room....if you're happy with your decision and feels it's best for your family, good for you! No need to justify your decisions to your readers :)
When I first moved into my 1500 square feet, 2 story condo, I painted the whole place, thinking it would be cool to have a rich dark master bedroom (my room). The results ended up being bearable for the first year (windows face where sun sets. so dark room+sun= STEAM ROOM). so unless you have a really good AC and the sun doesn't turn the room into an oven, I would say go for it.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the ceiling should not be painted dark (mistake I made--it made the room feel like a cave. really depressing).
Hope this is helpful! wish i could of had your two cents two years ago!!
I dream of having a home like this. I know exactly how I'd decorate it, and it would have a lot of black walls and hardwood floors. :)
ReplyDeletehouse for sale Philippines
A friend did a tiny bedroom in black to great success. She even painted the impossible high ceiling black so it was a cocoon and not an elevator shaft. She went with flat, which made it seem very soft and inviting. Gloss or lacquer only works on perfect, freshly skim-coated walls, otherwise every little flaw is magnified. Gloss is luxe but not necessarily restful. Be sure to use white and/or metallic accents to offset the black, and be sure that if you go flat, the black is as inky as you can get it.
ReplyDeleteWe painted our tiny bedroom with Farrow and Ball Off Black. Oddly enough, we feel like it makes our room feel bigger, as the walls now seem to recede.
ReplyDeleteThe Farrow and Ball flat paint has an incredible feel and depth to it. I highly recommend.
Have you considered Farrow and Ball Down Pipe? It's Abigail Ahern's "signature" colour and there are alot of pictures of fab spaces using that colour.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of room choice absolutely no need to have to justify your reasons to us readers! Whatever works best for your family, I'm sure the post was about what colour black not what room should you have :)
I like the black walls in the photos, but in such a tiny room I think I would feel claustrophobic unless there were a wall of windows to let in lots of light. Especially in the winter - it would be a dark, depressing cave.
ReplyDeleteI painted one wall black (flat) in our current condo to "mask" the giant black hole that are big-screen TV is. My husband brags about it all the time. :) I do notice dust on it and it's a bit hard to clean and cobwebs are easily visible. But I thin it does make the place look more cozy. As someone else mentioned, I would go with one black wall and see how it looks - maybe the wall behind the bed. I'm sure you'll make it look great, no matter what you end up doing.
ReplyDeleteHello. I read your blog all the time but never commented. I just wanted to say you do nit need to justify to your readers why you think it would work best for your family to sleep on one floor or for you to take the smaller room. You are very sweet to do so. Each family needs to find their own way. And it is fine to take a cozy small room.
ReplyDeleteOn the black room issue, I loved the rooms you posted. Excited to see what you pick. I need a room makeover. Was thinking white but this might be the better way to go.
I think you have a fun blog and post some great stuff but I was pretty disappointed to see that instead of actually crediting the orignial posters of the content you used, you credited a Pinterest board. That's not the same. Even worse, I looked at a pin and it didn't have any credit to the original poster either. If that were my content I'd be pretty pissed. Anway, sorry to be so negative but it really is unfair to the creators of that content. I really do think you have a lovely blog and great ideas though.
ReplyDeleteHey Amber,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your note! I totally appreciate where you're coming from. I'll try harder in the future to source out the specific links to images. (I assumed they were all there in the Pinterest links).
I have to say though, I think this is just the name of the game these days. I say that as someone who gets their original content reposted without credit all the time. It happens and I'm not terribly upset about it, though I respect that other creatives might feel differently, so like I said, I'll try harder to not lean on Pinterest's sources (or lack thereof).
Thanks for your feedback!
xx
Hey Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your blog! It's my very favorite design blog and I borrow your ideas and style all the time. As a matter of fact, after our house fire, we rebuilt in the same spot and Better Homes and Gardens is coming in a few weeks to tell our story in pictures! I'm so nervous and excited and can't wait to tell them how design blogs (especially yours!) have changed how people view and decorate their homes. My master bedroom is painted 'graphite' (Ben.Moore) and I love it so much. It's the perfect blend of charcoal/black/navy and in different times of day looks all those different colors. I'm still waiting on some furniture to be delivered but my bedding came from Olatz after you featured Joann's bedroom. I think of you and your beautiful, bold style all the time as I live and work in my home. You are such an inspiration and I'd thought I'd share the room with you, especially since it so reminds me of you:)
Wishing you love and blessings as you move and can't wait to see how you decorate your new place.
edie wadsworth
xoxo
http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2012/06/around-the-house-summer-edition/
I painted my dining room black about a year ago, and i still LOVE it. it's so dramatic and i really like the cozy and a little bit moody atmosphere. i think it would be great for a bedroom. we used matte black paint, since the walls were very uneven after a wallpaper removal job that just got to be too much! ;) i showed my dining room on my blog, here is the link if you want to take a peek
ReplyDeletehttp://girlinthegrayhouse.blogspot.com/2011/11/dining-room-makeover-big-reveal.html
i can't wait to see what you decide to do!
I never thought I would like black walls but my son changed my mind. He painted his living room, hallway and bedroom black(he didn't quite finish so I finished it for him)and when I saw it for the first time I loved it. His sister Vanessa + Valentine and I added bamboo shades, black panels, red velvet Louis chairs and a white couch. It was very cozy...
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the room we painted dark (Benjamin Moore Soot). The room is small, and has 2 (of 4) walls that are floor to ceiling windows. The dark color is a no brainer. They have been Soot for 2 years, and I would love to paint more rooms dark. Seriously, STILL can't get enough of it! My home has lots of moldings and plaster trim and it looks stunning set next to it.
ReplyDeleteI just posted a photo on instagram and tagged you.
I just love it! GOOOO for it in your bedroom, you won't regret the dark, cozy nest!
I recently recommended dark gray and black for a client's Brooklyn Brownstone, for the den and bedroom respectively. The bedroom was large and could really take a dark color. I know black is trendy, but it does look good. I also presented navy as an option, but, you know, the client is not reading design blogs and could care less, so he chose black. The den was smaller, but also has high ceilings and big windows, so it worked well. I think it looks great in both rooms and crates a cozy atmosphere. The client loves it. A matte finish was used.
ReplyDeleteI am currently considering lacquered walls for another client. They are kind of awesome, but we may just go dark and matte due to the labor intensive process of getting a nice, flat shine... paint, sand, paint, sand, etc. - spraying works best, not rolling or brushing. I know some designers have sprayed automotive paint on the walls. I love the look, but to have it done really well may also break the budget - these are old NYC building walls. That said, I think I am going to do it in my small bathroom - a lighter color though. It will be a good DIY lacquer test run without too much effort.
Looking forward to seeing your end result!
It looks like I'm in the minority here but the idea of black walls is so icky to me! All of those rooms feel like caves to me. Not a fan, but I'll be interested to see if you can change my mind since everything you touch turns to gold!
ReplyDeleteI had black walls in my tiny en suite in the house I've just sold. I had them for 12 years and I never tired of them (they were 1ft squares of marine ply stained black). I miss them now.
ReplyDeleteDownstairs in that house I painted a study in blackberry . Very very dark. I loved it so much I painted the bedroom in our other house the same colour. I was concerned since the room doesn't have such good natural light. But it's lovely. I completely love it. It's as easy as peasy to live with and the light, as it travels across the walls over the course of the day, is beautiful.
Go black I say!
I painted my tiny, tiny, oddly-shaped bedroom black (Benjamin Moore's Baby Seal) and I AM SO IN LOVE WITH IT.
ReplyDeletehttp://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-little-houzz.html
I wish I'd done it when I first moved in. I went with eggshell for no reason. A bit more gloss would have been nice.
Wow,the walls and the beds. What a perfect combination of designs.
ReplyDeleteI'm just moving into a room which is 9x11, so I can't wait to hear how you're planning on organizing this small space!
ReplyDelete8x13 is exactly the size of our guest room/office that I am working on right now! Cozy is a good way to look at it. I went the opposite with light gray walls and a blue ceiling. I can't wait to see it in black!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I've seen a blog post about black walls and I'm loving it!!
ReplyDeleteMy mother is an interior designer and begged me to paint my bedroom black when we moved into a new house while I was still in high school. I was very hesitant but the second the paint went up I was in love!!! I definitely think that the furnishings and design have to compliment the black in every way, but I'm sure you would be doing that anyway!!
My mom also painted a dining room black ages ago and it was a hit with all of our friends and family.
nice pics
ReplyDeleteI love dark walls, they're effortless chic!!!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy this post, have a great weekend! :D
Wow your blog is very beautiful i like your blog thanks for your post.
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I recently did our powder room black, which I know is not a bedroom but I LOVE it. I like black in smaller rooms! Go for it! Can't wait to see all that you do.
ReplyDeletePs- I started with a semi-gloss (whatever the next level up at SW is from flat and it reflected too much light and looked to shiny. I finished up with Flat and was much happier with the result).
xo . trina
I recently did our powder room black, which I know is not a bedroom but I LOVE it. I like black in smaller rooms! Go for it! Can't wait to see all that you do.
ReplyDeletePs- I started with a semi-gloss (whatever the next level up at SW is from flat and it reflected too much light and looked to shiny. I finished up with Flat and was much happier with the result).
xo . trina
Flat, flat, flat! We did our bedroom in Martha Stewart's Francesca last spring (it's named after her little black French bulldog- cute!). Eva's absolutely right about the high-gloss highlighting imperfections, of which there are many in our vintage Chicago apt. I was worried to make the jump (though it wasn't absolutely terrifying because the walls were already a dark navy), but I'm smitten. It's so cozy while still being chic, and I love being in that room now. I'm excited to see how all of your new projects go in the new home. Congrats & good luck :)
ReplyDeleteLauren
Painted the wall behind my bed black recently, and could not be any happier. I still get giddy every time I look at it. Everyone thought I was insane at first, but now they are sold!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add my two cents :) I originally only painted the back wall of my bedroom a flat black (Dulux Night Jewels 1 - not sure if this is available in the US, I live in the UK) but it always felt a little unfinished. Finally, after living with it for probably 6 months, my other half relented to me painting the entire room black, including painting out the picture rails. I couldn't be happier with the result and even better, we both sleep better than we have in years. As others have said, everything pops against the deep colour. I have two large windows in the room so it lets in lots of light but it's very cozy of an evening.
ReplyDeleteYou can see it in this post: http://gettingitswoonworthy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/bedroom-updates-so-whats-keeping-me.html
I'm sure whatever you decide, it will look amazing. Your style is endlessly inspiring! xxx
great
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ReplyDeletegreat
ReplyDeleteLOVE black walls. I used a semi gloss, but like Eva said, you have to make sure your walls are flat if you're going too glossy. Flat might look a little chalkboard-ish.
ReplyDeleteI love the design combination. It is great. Love every detail in this blog.
ReplyDeleteAbout 10 yrs ago I painted our bedroom a VERY dark navy blue {semi-gloss} with white trim. I loved it! It was very restful and calming. I did white bedding and furniture with silver accesories. If I did it again I'd add pops of color to the mix, something bright and fun.
ReplyDeleteGo for the black! Worst case scenerio, you can always repaint. :)