Inspirational Home Redesigns

Greetings from London. I think I look a little fuzzy here. Perhaps it’s the camera man or most likely the jet-lag. Regardless, I’m always at the top of my game in London because, quite frankly, it’s my favorite English-speaking City in the world. I love that everything is so civilized and that I can wear good sweaters in the winter months-two things that don’t exist in Los Angeles. Of course, London is steeped in history and tradition, while also being hip and modern. I was immediately struck with something in my room that stuck with me the entire trip-the classic use of black and gold in design.

Here is the inspiration for this post. It’s a wee corner of my room sporting a delicate Empire-Style black and gold chair. Above hangs a print framed behind glass in black with a worn-gold frame. Adjacent, was a black and gold Chinoiserie bar. Though chic, the inspiration didn’t become reality until the following day when I walked past Buckingham Palace, and then it hit me.

Stay back, keep out and, nice try. Any way you look at the gates of Buckingham Palace they are imposing, a major barrier between you and the Queen’s corgis. However, they were sporting a fresh coat of black and gold paint. This was my a-ha moment. If black and gold was good enough for Queen Elizabeth and my room, it’s got to be stylish. Notice the flag? It means Queen Elizabeth was in town. And no, that’s a complete stranger at the gate. 

Here is a detail from one of the fences across from the Palace at the entrance of Green Park. 

While traditionally thought as a fancy combination, the use of black and gold can be dressed up or down depending on how you design your space. There is no question that either approach works and in the end the takeaway is that it’s elegant. Here the homeowner uses a classic Chinese screen as the backdrop to a home office. The furnishings are simple, clean and contemporary yet are harmonious with the elegant screen because nothing competes. The screen almost reads clean and contemporary because it’s mostly monochromatic.

Here is a more modern approach to black and gold. Though dark, the cabinet is sleek and is a counterbalance to the bright window and crisp trim color. It’s all formal but somehow still casual.

This very ornate Chinoiserie cabinet is filled with an abundance of coral, turning what could be so fussy into something beachy and elegant. It’s just in your approach to accessories. 

Of course most of us don’t have 18th Century Chinoiserie at home, but we can infuse black in gold in simpler ways. Lighting can achieve this goal. A gorgeous gold lamp and black frame can introduce elegance into most spaces. I think this lamp would be smashing in a living room, library or sexy dining room.

You can also spruce up an existing lamp with a replacement shade in black and gold. Voila, an instant reference to Buckingham Palace without the jet-lag.