Name: Tea Kettle Black
Brand: Ralph Lauren VM156
I’m still not through with my black is beautiful phase (nearly half my columns!) and I promise some color explosions soon. But for now, dig these black stripes…
The base coat is Ralph Lauren Tea Kettle Black — my new favorite color ever — in matte. It runs a bit blue, which makes it especially invigorating for decorative painting, alone or in groups. The stripe is a transparent glaze in a satin finish. My pal Brian shows us how the drawing’s done (he’s an artist — he’s sketchy) and my new trade secret is to use colored pencils and let that be part of the pattern. First-timers may choose to tape, but I’d rather die than go through all that trouble.
What’s the difference between this and wallpaper? It’s completely bespoke (color, scale) and easy to get rid of once you’re ready for something new. My lovely client says she’s too hopelessly square to ever live up to her chic stripes, but I must remonstrate: my dear, it’s the other way around — you’re a real class act.
- Mark Chamberlain, interior and decorative painter
Re-edited from a post originally published 2.10.09 - JL
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Gosh that's sexy - it makes the Beige floor and upholstery stand out like intentional choices rather than default/drab.
Absolutely LOVE IT! Did you do the whole room like this though? That seems like it might be a little over-powering (but I have seen some very well done, all black rooms so perhaps not).
that is hot
that really looks great and the furniture and accessories are working it.
Love it! And I love the chair! Where's it from?
I personally love all the black posts. Keep 'em coming. Black is the new black.
I love this so much.
I'd love to see a detail photo with the pencil stripes showing.
Well, gosh. That's my apartment.
Thanks to Mark, who is a gentlemen and an artist, I'm looking at and enjoying these stripes right now.
He's quite right that the color runs a bit blue. We've found that on a day of strong sunlight the wall looks almost navy. The other walls in the room are Shaded White from Farrow and Ball.
The chair was eBay, the lamp and steel table were craigslist. Pink roses were Mark's idea. :)
Moira -
Congrats on the daring and sexy color selection - this is making me want to stripe it up in my apartment too!
Oooh, I like that. That stripe method could look good with any colour.
Like, like, like...
SOOO much better than the before photo! I love the sophistication and elegance... especially the combo of roses, silver and black. I have one small criticism; the stripes remind me of prison bars. But that could just be the way the flash is hitting them in the picture. Overall, it's lovely. :)
Every time I see something like this, I'm blown away by the results. This looks stunning. I wonder what it looks like in person. I wonder what effect the stripes have on the room. Does it feel busy? Bold? I wonder. It sure looks amazing in pictures.
I love this! You would think black would close the room in, but this just makes everything pop. So classy. I'm in love.
LOVE LOVE LOVE...
So nice to see black featured as a color option! People shouldn't be so afraid to venture from the land of neutral and take a bit of risk.
I just salvaged a desk with those metal pieces on the legs like how the chair has it in the picture above. Does anyone know where to get replacements of those metal pieces... or what they are called?!
Gah, I want this in my bedroom!!!
I did that in a spare room at my dad's house. I picked a dark celery color (if that makes any sense) and painted 18 inch wide vertical stripes. They were all the same color but one was matte and the other was satin. It was just enough contrast to make the walls interesting without making them the focal point of the room. Unfortunately, my dad got remarried, and the new wife painted over it. Sigh.
We recently did this in our half-bath (a very small, windowless room) using a charcoal gray paint (one in eggshell and one in semi-gloss). I was nervous that it would make the room look smaller and envoke feelings of claustrophopia. However, it actually feels bigger, and looks really great!
@Danielle, how big were the stripes?