style scout: fade to black.
September 01, 2011
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW MILLMAN
It’s almost second nature for us to throw on a little black dress if we’re going for a pulled-together and elegant look, so why all the eyebrow-knitting when someone mentions going for black walls in a room? San Francisco’s Ken Fulk bucked the taboo when redesigning this formal dining room in Lake Forest, Illinois, and we’re glad he did: The glamour of our cocktail party favorite translates beautifully into the dramatic space, which is made even more theatrical by the gold-leafed ceiling and carefully executed architectural lighting. “People are afraid to use black prominently with interiors because it feels like a strong commitment,” says Fulk, “but like in fashion, there’s always room for that sexy, slinky nighttime feel.”
Would you ever take the dive and make a statement with all-black walls? What about if they were paired with our style picks?
From left: Chandelier from Fendi; wine glasses from Waterford; chair from Antoine Proulx.
