My absolute favorite colors – though some may argue they aren’t colors – are black and white. Whether they are technically shades or colors, my love for them is reflected in my closet, and in my designs. For me, the appeal of black and white is that they can be classic & timeless, yet modern & on trend. They are as laid back as a white T-shirt and jeans (or like our rain jackets seen above), or as sophisticated as a LBD or tuxedo.
So, while doing renovations on our 100-year-old house, black and white were obvious choices to freshen things up, but still reflect the history of our home. Subway tile is a simple, yet beautiful and timeless material that can be used in both the kitchen and bathrooms (seen in a previous post). By using different color grout, and/or playing with the pattern, I was able to keep the update more current. Various shades of gray (in Carrara marble and the paint) were a natural choice as a compliment.
We found an antique tub and had it refinished with black feet 
Black tile frames the pot filler above the stove 
We kept the original vent in a guest bath and painted it black for contrast 
Laying the tile in a herringbone pattern with black grout gives interest to this shower wall
Don’t worry though – I don’t live in a monotone world! I do own colorful pieces of clothing and plenty of bright lipsticks; and I have many other fun colors as accents throughout my home. However, if you were to ask for my recommendation on a color palette for a renovation that you won’t want to do-over in a few years – keep it simple with black and white. And as always, let me know if I can help you with your home updates!
What are your favorite colors?
