Black-and-White Palette for a Casually Refined Great Room
A designer layers in Art Deco-inspired furniture, sculptural LED lights and a Greek key rug for a first-time homeowner
Designer Anthony Michael jokingly refers to this newly built home in Chicago as his client’s “first big-boy house.” “He’s a young attorney who up until this point only lived in dorm rooms and apartments with friends,” Michael says. “He didn’t have any furniture or art, so everything in the home is new.” For the great room, the designer went with a classic black-and-white color palette with pops of color through art and accessories, and mixed in vintage-inspired furniture and contemporary light fixtures.
The seating area features an Art Deco-inspired white sofa with a curved back and a pair of ebony wood side chairs with cognac leather seats. The mirror-and-chrome coffee table and side table add a touch of bling.
The pleated black drapes are made of Italian wool gabardine. “I love using menswear to make drapery, because it hangs so nice,” Michael says. The wood statues in front of the drapes are remnants from a Tibetan temple.
The pleated black drapes are made of Italian wool gabardine. “I love using menswear to make drapery, because it hangs so nice,” Michael says. The wood statues in front of the drapes are remnants from a Tibetan temple.
Michael says he usually tries to persuade his clients to hide their TVs, but since the fireplace was already wired for one, the placement made sense. “Painting the entire fireplace surround black really helped to make the TV blend in,” the designer says.
How to Hide Your TV in Plain Sight
How to Hide Your TV in Plain Sight
The dining area features a sculptural walnut dining table with a pair of white upholstered dining chairs on one side and a tufted bench on the other. “The homeowner doesn’t host too many formal dinner parties, so adding the bench allows for more flexibility for informal gatherings,” Michael says.
Shop for velvet benches on Houzz
Shop for velvet benches on Houzz
A trio of color-block paintings on the wall above the dining area demands attention. “With all of the black-and-white elements in the room, just a little bit of color goes a long way,” Michael says. The art is flanked by slim-line LED light fixtures that are attached to the wall.
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Great Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A young, single attorney
Location: Chicago
Size: About 600 square feet (56 square meters)
Designer: Anthony Michael Interior Design
The home’s great room came with nice features, such as oak flooring, ceiling molding, French doors leading to a balcony and a wood-burning fireplace with wiring for a TV above the mantel. “We didn’t have to do any construction in the great room,” Michael says. “Paint was key to setting the tone for the space.”
The French doors, ceiling molding and fireplace mantel are painted in Deep Caviar, and the walls are in Decorator’s White, both by Benjamin Moore. The classic black-and-white palette is enhanced by the large Greek key-pattern area rug that covers most of the floor. “Having the same area rug under the dining area and the seating area helps to connect and visually enlarge the space,” Michael says.
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