Black Interiors

I don't think I have ever done a black (residential) interior in my 10 years as an interior designer.  Mostly due to the fact that most Filipinos think it is a "bad", unlucky color and unthinkable to use in a room, and that it would "make the room look small".  I say, it depends on how you use it and what other colors & furniture you throw in along with it.  

I would one day hope to be able to use black in a home, like that of one of my fave style icons, Jenna Lyons, creative director & head honcho at J.Crew. See a complete view of her home here . 

Meanwhile, since coincidentally it is Black Saturday, I will be sharing photos of some darkly-done homes with you, to change your mind about black interiors.

 WHITE

Best complement to black is still...white. 

COLOR

Adding a touch of neon is a more updated version of toning down, or enhancing black. 

Depends on how you look at it.  

METAL

Metal finishes like brass & pewter "brighten up" black walls.  

PATTERN

Bold, graphic prints also take out the gloom in black and lend visual excitement. 

In the photos above, they used zebra prints, scroll patterns, and a Chinese nautical theme. 

 DINING

Contrary to popular belief, black can look good in the dining room...

KITCHEN

...and also in the kitchen.  

Don't cross out black the next time you're faced with a kitchen this narrow. 

BATHROOM

 Color & pattern for black tiles, black walls

BEDROOM

 This is Jenna Lyons' bedroom.  (I think this is the most blogged-about home ever) That Serge Mouille ceiling light is to die for.  

check out the constant use of bold graphic shapes & prints to offset a strong color such as black

DETAILS

from here

Black ain't so bad right? I'll leave you with some photos from the city-cool studio of my good friend, graphic designer Isabel Gatuslao.  These photos were taken by another friend, Daphne Osena-Paez, while we were hanging out there a few months ago.  See her full story (and more photos)  here.

Terrariums by RAAB. Photos by Daphne Osena-Paez. 

Forgive me for the lengthy post.  I woke up early on a Black Saturday and there was nothing much to do around the house.  I. just. can't. get. out. of. bed!!! Oh, dear.  

Looking forward to Easter Sunday tomorrow...have a good weekend, everyone!

Bright Here, Bright Now

Bright Here, Bright Now, 

I would like to have a dress like this for summer. 

(from J.Crew)

Or...maybe a boyfriend like this for summer? 

To be here (again) for the summer.  

Kiting in Siargao, 2007

 To change the upholstery in our home for the summer...or better yet,

To be one step further in building my future beach house.

 To dress like Kate Bosworth

From RUE Magazine

To have time to bake impossibly lovely stuff like these.

To try on all of the nail polish colors above. 

Thank you for these yummy hues, Kim! Couldn't get any more summer-y than this.

To look this fresh at work.

To wear this melon-striped dress I found at the department store, at a bargain, as often as possible.

 Handwoven banig from Manila Fame 2011

To have this wonderful pomelo salad everyday, 

at Via Mare UP Diliman. 

To do some of the D-I-Y projects at home I've been putting off for too long. 

To relax, rejuvenate, reflect. 

TO PUSH THE RE-FRESH BUTTON ON MYSELF. 

Bright here, Bright Now, that is what I want to do. :-)

Flower Child

Summer is in the air.  

Having been surrounded by so many flowers for the past weeks (see here), I can't help but envision scenes of girls with flowers entangled in their hair, sunlight beating on their faces, wearing light, cottony dresses and walking barefoot in the garden! 

How's that for some dash of color? Love the tangled, beachy waves on the pink hair, and the girl on the right shows that you can still wear a GINORMOUS bloom on your head while looking perfectly polished at it.  Oh, sometimes I wish I was a flamenco dancer so I could always have an excuse to wear flowers in my hair!

I don't know who she is but I love how she wore metallic leaves around her head.  

Totally owned it. 

Simpler strands. 

I'm no flower child but I can wear seaweed pretty well around my face! :-p Haha.  

This photo by Charlie Gomez taken in Ilocos Norte, March 2012, during an unforgettable summer vacation with my cousins and nephews.  I would say,  in spite of a stupid burn accident on my right cheek, it was my BEST summer vacation ever.  I'll write about it soon.  

Welcome, Summer 2013!