The Art of Design Issue 63 2023 | Page 64

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GOING DARK :

BLACK LUXURIOUS KITCHENS

“ When working with black , you need to think about its undertones and how they balance with your other design elements . For a cool undertone , you could embrace the blues and lean into a clean , contemporary look with light marble . But if you want to lift the kitchen and make it warmer , match your cabinetry with equally warm finishes , like wooden accents and orange-yellow lighting .”
If you want to go dark while retaining a touch of countryside chic , choose shaker doors that prevent the kitchen from feeling flat . Couple this with rustic wooden features , like wooden bottle storage and crates for fresh produce , that help to break up the space .
“ In a black kitchen , don ’ t forget the value of open space ,” says Chris . “ Open shelving and cut-outs will help to make the room feel bigger and airy , yet still be functional as storage or task areas . Lighting built into shelves and other storage units will also help this , as it will provide useful illumination for tasks as well as aesthetic interest .”
The contemporary black kitchen is far removed from the sharp , contemporary , minimalist expectations . It can be whatever the user wants – including family-friendly .
Black kitchens can be overlooked by their more colourful counterparts . But sumptuous kitchens in black tones are back with a bang – especially when paired with natural tones and thoughtful lighting .
“ Some have considered black kitchens as too dark and uniform . But the contemporary black kitchen is still warm and welcoming , if lighting , texture , worktops and flooring are properly taken into account ,” says Chris Dance , Showroom Manager at InHouse Inspired Room Design .
Rich and welcoming , ensure that the black family kitchen has plenty of light , whether natural or artificial . This includes task lighting , that is most useful for cooking and preparing food – and the inevitable clean-up – and atmospheric lighting . The latter is particularly effective if you want to submerse yourself in the colour , with black-on-black cabinetry and worktops , as it helps prevent the kitchen from feeling overwhelmed in darkness .