black trim offers a striking contrast

When we moved into our house ten years ago, like many new homeowners we spent the first couple of years eradicating the previous owners' dubious paint selections. Dingy white walls got covered with butter yellow, sky blue, and russet red. Busy floral wallpaper got stripped away. And woodwork that had been painted Williamsburg blue and a very 1980's shade of rose were rescued with a fresh coat of white paint in a gloss finish.

Glossy white woodwork throughout the house can be a wonderful way to unify rooms that are painted different colors, and it has always been an easy rule of thumb that I've followed. Of late, however, I've found myself drawn more and more to the look of rooms that feature window trim and other woodwork that's painted black or another very dark color, creating a striking contrast against other lighter colors surrounding it.

Here are several images that illustrate this bold but beautiful technique:

eclectic bedroom design by san francisco architect Feldman Architecture, LLP

by Stephan Jaklitsch Architectsthanks to The Contemporist

contemporary family room design by san francisco architect Feldman Architecture, LLP

by Mell Lawrence Architects

by VASD architecture and interiors

by VASD architecture and interiors

contemporary living room design by atlanta architect Blount Architectual and Interior Design

modern bathroom design by san francisco architect Feldman Architecture, LLP

For more great examples, see these photos from the set of the movie It's Complicated.

Note that in all of these examples, at least one or two other touches of black are needed in the room in order to maintain a feeling of balance. Hmmm. We've got a black lacquer piano in our living room. Perhaps some black trim on the new windows in there would work... (Bob would kill me.)