Black and
Starry Nights
Oh,
these dreary short days and long, black January nights. This month is
one of the darkest of the year, a darkness heightened by the absence of
the colorful lights, brightly wrapped packages, sparkling Christmas
trees and holiday cheer that preceded it in December. It’s a good
month to talk about black, the color of the night. But rather than being
afraid of the dark, or allowing the lack of light to depress you, let’s
face black head on and look at it from another perspective.
Like
the shimmering stars in Vincent Van Gogh's famous Starry Night
painting, black has many dramatic and positive attributes that can
enhance your life and your home. Artists and historians have been
going back and forth for centuries on the issue of whether black is a
color or not. We’ll leave it to them to decide. But even without a
permanent address on the color wheel, black is a neutral and as such has
as many tricks up its sleeve as any of its light-reflecting
counterparts. For instance, we all know that in our wardrobe, black
is visually slimming – rather a good thing after the holidays.
Though
it may seem counterintuitive, the proper use of black in your home can
actually cheer you up; as it makes bright colors appear brighter, and
soft, lighter colors stand out in contrast.
Linda
had not really thought of black as a key decorating element until she
was asked to design a home to look like the French impressionist painter
Henri Matisse might have lived there. Her clients wanted so many bright
colors in each room that she was afraid the home would look like a
circus. As she fine tuned the color palette, she discovered black’s
remarkable talent for pulling colors and elements together – she calls
it grounding – as well as adding an edge and sophistication like no
color she had ever used. Its absence of color can cause the eye to stop
and linger for a moment, creating a restful emptiness, and perhaps
providing the space to simply relax and take a breath.
That
Matisse–inspired project was the beginning of Linda’s affection for
black, and she has used it ever since to add strength and presence to
rooms. Black has the ability to be bold and powerful while exuding
mystery, sensuality and elegance. It can add depth and definition to a
space, but its power must be respected and used sparingly or it can
become overwhelming and severe.
We've
selected four photos of varying styles to demonstrate some of the many
talents of black. There are unlimited ways you can use these
principles to introduce a touch of black into your rooms, most of them
very inexpensive. The good news about black is that it’s widely
available, making it perfect for DIY projects.
Another
French impressionist, August Renoir, said, "I've been 40 years
discovering that the queen of all colors is black." We invite you
to embrace these dark January days and nights, and take advantage of the
mysterious qualities of black to evoke a sense of potential and
possibility – perfect for an optimistic start to the year. Then sit
back and toast the New Year and the hope and vision for change
that brings good things and new energy into all of our lives!
Linda Applewhite
