BLACK AND WHITE: Day and Night
While the modern sensibility gravitates towards beige and beige neutrals, we seem to have forgotten about the neutrals of “the lost generation”: black and white. Gertrude Stein may have had other colors in mind when she coined the phrase, but she remembers her zeitgeist and the Cole Porter era. With the flourishing of photography, images are projected in black and white, suggesting the complexity and uncertainty of the Great War while alluding to the safety of a black and white world. These were the neutrals of that time: white and black. Of course, we know that when they get together, they are anything but. The product of their marriage is color, the grays of reality with its transcendent ambiguity.
There is something very refreshing about black and white. You know where you are standing. Black or white tie, the event is formal. The little black dress iconically worn with white pearls is as symbolic of Coco Channel’s love of combining contrasting opposites. They are Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; it is the world of Man Ray and Moholy-Nagy. He is a modernist with roots in Josef Hoffmann’s passion for opposites. It is crisp and crisp, transparent and clean. It’s Ford’s black car with white walled rims. It is “Night and Day, Day and Night.”
It’s comforting to know that we can return to these neutral colors in design, presenting as sharp a picture as before, making black and white a classic. Always a strong statement, they let the owner know exactly where he stands. And, support they do. Like walls, furniture, glass, lights and in almost all aspects of the home, they carve their niches, making a gesture to the past, but very modern.
Black and white is effective for making bold statements. These neutrals easily define features while creating sharp edges of distinction. For example, a black sink against a white wall, or vice versa, clarifies the definition of purpose for the user. Or a black sofa placed on a white floor creates the same strong backdrop. It’s dramatic, home theater.
The use of black and white tiles on the floor, whether marble or ceramic, creates this feeling of drama, especially in an entry foyer. White tiles laid diagonally with black inserts are the quintessential classic and elegant floor. Positioned as such, it guides the visitor gracefully through the entrance, suggesting a sense of purpose and style. In the powder room, black and white combines an air of formality, suitable for the half bathroom. Kohler’s newest toilet, the Hatbox, adds to this sense of bathroom drama in both its shape and color. Its sculptural form, that of a woman’s hatbox, disguises its true purpose, perhaps suggesting that it transcends its ordinary function. It is elite and elegant, functional and elegant.
Furniture also creates drama in the home. Black floors are elegant, so much so that when a white sofa or rug sits on them, a unique sense of drama emerges. He says, in effect, that he knows what he is and what he wants to be. It presents an aesthetic level of elegance. While these neutrals are perfectly at home in public areas, in private ones, they are less so. Starting a bit in the bedroom, they are sharp to look at. If one wishes to use black and white in private areas, neutrals need to be tamed a bit. For example, a mostly white bedroom with hints of black will fit the bill perfectly. It will create a light, bright and airy space that is very stylish and modern. Alternatively, a mostly black room will soak up all the light, creating a smaller, cozier space more appropriate for a man’s study.
In the kitchen, black and white is especially effective as it creates a crisp backdrop for the meals being prepared there. White cabinets with black countertops and backsplash draw a clear distinction of purpose that highlights the appliances and cookware. In particular, white walls in a kitchen convey an image of cleanliness.
Whether in the entrance hall or in the bathroom, black and white creates a home theater. The contrast of their opposites makes for a formal, yet elegant and classy backdrop suitable for those who want an attractive classic elegant look.
