The monolithic Pedra da Gávea mountain serves as a mystical backdrop for this TV show host’s home in São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro. Mr Alex Lerner had the oceanside home built so that he could relive the vacation feeling he enjoys when on holiday in St. Barts. Architects Studio Arthur Casas began working on the design the moment the plot was chosen. Optimising sea views was paramount of course, so the main living space of the home had to be elevated, freed from the high walls that surrounded the triangular lot. The landscape was made a living, breathing part of the home design by destabilizing perceptions of indoors and out.
The 5,200 square foot Brazililan home cost around $213 per square foot to build, but the sweeping ocean and mountain views are priceless.
Owner Alex Lerner stood firm that the only material he saw his house being realised in was the same peachy greige stone that he had laid eyes on at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Stone walls and natural timber come together in harmonious marriage. The blue water of an infinity pool shimmers beneath clear blue skies.
White outdoor chaise lounge chairs from Restoration Hardware, costing a cool $1,095 each, are kept pristine with washable covers. “I like things very, very clean,” Lerner admitted, and on this it seems the client and architect were perfectly matched. The house that Casas created showcases his own affinity for clean lines, and satisfies Lerner’s request for a place that would not require too much maintenance. Casas created the ambiance of a pristine vacation home, so much so that Lerner quipped: “Someday, will I have to give it back?”
Lerner confessed to owning four vacuum cleaners, and that he would have no qualms about putting one of them to use outside if any stray leaves should lay fault on his pristine new landscape.
The living room opens up fully to the sky and seascape, urging toward the veranda. The continuous floor level and ceilings achieve an unrestrained flow between the outdoors and in. The natural landscape becomes glorious decor for the home, colouring its dissolved wall.
Extensive terraces around the modern house exterior create an exciting social space.
Ambient lighting highlights every nook.
The garden is home to plants native to the Atlantic Forest.
The house is designed to merge with its green landscape, to frame and be framed by surrounding nature. The aim is that over time the home will become more and more integrated into its location, until it almost vanishes.
An intimate wooden volume forms the top floor of the house, in a much smaller footprint than the entertaining space below.
The wooden cuboid holds the master bedroom suite, which includes a large closet, spa bathroom, and a home office.
There is a hot tub submerged in the floor of the wood-clad volume, where a tall door measuring almost 12 feet tall leads directly into the master bedroom.
When the tall door is closed, it just about disappears within the wood grain. Great wooden beams build the frame of an outdoor room around the hot tub and deck.
Raised high off the ground, the infinity pool pushes out into space. At night, Lerner is able to skinny dip in relative seclusion. “I wanted to find a place for privacy,” he said. “I live alone, and here I can be naked.”
The wooden bedroom suite overhangs the main entryway to the house. A massive stone wall shields the home from the public eye. Architect Arthur Casas raised the foundation so the house below is hidden from view.
The front door opens into the living room on the mid floor.
Maid and gardener’s apartments, plus a number of guest bedrooms, are spread out across ground level.
Natural surroundings are both embraced and reflected by the rugged house design.
Notions of inside and outside become blurred and irrelevant.
Even the front door design is straddled between ideas of barricade and invitation.
Huge sliding glass panels and a stretched glass balustrade pull ocean panorama into the living area. “I spend my whole time here,” says Lerner.
A large floating staircase zigzags up the home.
Glass panels on the other side of the living room open onto a courtyard .
A comfortable lounge chair and footstool are placed by the window to enjoy the scene and ventilation.
The interior of the home is decorated predominantly in white and light wood tone to achieve the desired clean aesthetic.
Brazilian designers, Rodrigo Calixto and Guilherme Sass, made the Catamarã chairs seated at the kitchen dining island. Each chair carries a $1,100 price tag.
At the dining table, PK9 chairs by Poul Kjaerholm from Fritz Hansen ring up at $6,439 each. Diesel Fork Grande Suspension Lamps from Foscarini top the dining table, priced at $1,055 per pendant.
An open sided staircase design leads to the master suite. Wooden treads push out from their stone wall mount, where a recessed handrail hides.
Perimeter lighting keeps the scheme soft and simple, and does not encroach on the wondrous view.
Hardwood cumaru flooring floods the home, a durable choice to withstand the elements.
White ceilings keep the stone build feeling light and free inside.
Outside the master bedroom, Sérgio Machado’s artistic interpretation of a procession of ants marches across the wall.
The white bedroom is cool and calm, with crisp linens from Restoration Hardware. A 19th-century French chest rests by the bed.
A bench at the foot of the bed also comes from Restoration Hardware. The chair is by São Paulo designer, Aristeu Pires.
The luxury bathroom seems to stretch for miles thanks to the clever positioning of a custom cut frameless mirror.
Ground floor plan.
First floor plan.
Second floor plan (Master suite).
Section drawing.
Grey decor builds a cool modern base, but what if your personality seeks something a little stronger? Turn up the energy inside your home by introducing solid accent pieces in shades of red, which is thought to promote feelings of strength, determination, power, passion and even love. There are many ways to succeed with a lively red and grey colour combo, from scattering a few star accent pieces into a predominantly neutral design, to building fearless colour saturated spaces. We’ve selected these two apartment designs to help you out in your quest to a red hot home, as they come chock full with inspiration for colour balance–plus some nifty ideas for stylish home layouts to boot.
Designer:K Band
A grey ceiling creates an awesome zoning technique in the living room of a 86 square metre apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine. Lighting inside this darkened area is reduced to an atmospheric haze, promoting a cinematic ambience around the TV. Other lighting in the open plan room presents as dazzling spotlights in crisp white planes.
A red sectional modern sofa is pieced together in a multi-sided arrangement, offering seating options to both the lounge and kitchen diner when entertaining.
The home entryway is joined to the living room via a wide walkway, so a full length rotating mirror has been installed to mark a subtle boundary between the two. The decorative mirror is held in a bright red frame to let it stand out from its white and grey surroundings.
A red ottoman piece is separated off from the rest of the sectional sofa. Instead, it is grouped with the bookcase and a floor lamp to make a reading nook.
Behind the lounge, a modern dining table and chairs set occupies free floor space in front of the kitchen. The dining set is restricted to shades of grey, black and wood tone to allow the adjacent red kitchen cabinets to shine. Red flowers slot into unique glass vases on the table, to tie the palette of the neighbouring zones together.
Kitchen drawer units form a line of red that balances out the sofa.
The red drawer units stand proud of grey cabinets to make them really pop. A column of clear shelves tower at one end of the dining table, displaying pristine white tableware.
With the walls filled edge-to-edge with flat grey handle-free units, the eye focuses solely on the core red kitchen. The colour illusion makes the room feel minimalist despite an abundance of storage.
Large grey storage cabinets line the hallway. These span from the front door toward the home’s private quarters, where a master bedroom, kid’s room and family bathroom reside.
The entire hallway is encased in the same solid grey tone, including all internal doors and ceilings.
inject revitalising colour into the grey master bedroom, in place of the red accents used for the living room. A portiere conceals a walk in wardrobe to the right, whilst lightweight grey drapes let sunlight peep in from the window.
The pattern of the grey bedroom wallpaper is reminiscent of breeze blocks, which nudges the aesthetic into the industrial realm. A raw timber headboard increases the colour temperature.
A modern chandelier hangs a black hoop of directional light.
Grey upholstery wraps the cushiony modern bed. A plush grey rug keeps toes cosy around the bedside.
Following on from the plants in the master bedroom, we come to a green bathroom scheme.
Green panels colour the wall behind a floating bidet and toilet set. A mirrored backsplash behind the vanity doubles the effect of the bold feature wall.
Kids have their own ideas, and this pink kid’s room is bursting with a whole different personality to the rest of the home.
One half of the room is given over to a kid’s study space, well lit by the window.
A white table lamp comes in handy for late night study.
A powder room by the home entryway is also the laundry room.
All red bathroom decor engulfs the small space.
Floor plan.
Designer:Obrys Design & Marina Grinchuk| Visualizer:Obrys Design & Marina Grinchuk
Measuring a smaller 53 square metres, our second featured apartment was designed for a single young male.
This home is a studio apartment. Glass bifold doors draw across to separate the sleep zone from the lounge area. A single shade of soft grey and warm terracotta red is used throughout to create fluidity.
flank a huge TV and sleek white media unit. A slouchy grey armchair and ottoman sit low to the ground.
The short stand of the Oda style lamp suits the floor hugging furniture. Originals are available here .
It seems the ottoman may be occupied by a furry housemate for the most part–maybe could use some stylish cat furniture in here!
The glass wall bedroom allows the line of sight to pass straight through it from the kitchen, dining zone and lounge, which helps the whole place feel bigger…
…It also means that the giant TV can be viewed from all areas too.
The dining table is a unique design that descends from the rafters, almost as though it has been flipped upside down to defy gravity.
Long supports extend from the ceiling to cradle the tabletop. Black bar stools sit tall at the table. Red folding chairs hang on the wall nearby to get down for guests - although these are more suited to sitting around the TV than to pull up under the high table.
A terracotta red kitchen colours the back wall for the most part, with a stark black backsplash completing the run.
White wall cabinets bring light relief to the L-shaped black and red kitchen design.
Simple white window blinds allow bold black window frames to stand proud.
Red kitchen accessories strengthen the colour theme.
White bedside table lamps crown red side units.
Skateboards colour the wall of the entryway, diffused through a black mesh cabinet front.
Terracotta red continues into the bathroom decor. A white double sink bathroom vanity cuts through a grey splash wall.
White tiles lighten the bathroom colour combo.
Floor plan.
Dark isn’t the first theme that comes to mind when designing a kitchen. Stereotypical assumptions are of white and bright kitchens matched by light wood—something like the color of breakfast pancakes. Have you ever thought otherwise? Perhaps something like a modern dark kitchen?
We’ve got a collection of stunning spaces sure to switch up your vision. This black kitchen design inspiration is the sexiest interior design can muster. All divulging in shades of black, navy, or dark brown, they add what white kitchens cannot—a seductive allure that says sleekness and sophistication at the same time. Take a peek at some brilliant interiors on the darker side to see if a modern luxury black kitchen could be for you.
Modern Dark Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation
1. Make it an All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Design At Sketch
Almost completely covered in black, a few minor elements shine in chrome and wood in this kitchen interior. We love how the textures do the talking, especially through the matte table under black wood-panelled walls. But having an open approach like this means that every one of your accessories on display—including knives, wine glasses, mugs, cutting boards, teapots, cookie jars, etc.—need to be on point.
2. Add Wooden Elements
Visualizer:Bogdan Tovstyy
This black beauty edges towards wooden elements. We see a speckled floor, a white wall, and a central bench. Rounded black lamps hover over the island, providing functionality and style. If you’re wondering how visual intrigue is added to this modern black kitchen… a huge credit goes to the abstract art!
3. Complement the Black Kitchen with Orange
Source:Vancouver House
A bit of curve rounds out the hard edges—adding some much-needed warmth. This wave-design bench leads up to an orange-hued enclave in this black-and-silver interior. The burnt orange sure makes a design statement (apart from the unique central island).
4. Keep Your Dark Modern Kitchen Simple
Visualizer:Panda Fox Studios
A simplistic look makes this black kitchen a winner. We see the basics: a light floor, a black minimalist island, and sleek cabinetry. But the contrast between light and dark keeps the ambiance interesting, while the large window welcomes plenty of natural light.
5. Make it Dark… Or Not?
Visualizer:Who Cares Design
If you’re eyeing a dark kitchen aesthetic but are hesitant to make the change, this is it. Introducing more light, this black kitchen is hardly dark at all. Black benches, cabinetry, fixtures and stools are intersected by large-panel windows, a white shelving stand and light flooring.
6. Make Use of Asymmetry in the Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Visual Method
This modern black kitchen takes another angle on this kaleidoscopic space, breaking all spatial boundaries. Black and glass alternate in this chic kitchen as the interesting ceiling design keeps the space unconventional. We’ve also got to appreciate the cherry blossoms, doubling as decor even within the interior.
7. Factor in Some Warmth
Source:Modulnova
This warmer-looking kitchen makes a move to brown. It strategically achieves the purpose with the use of wood. This not only introduces natural textures but also makes the ambiance inviting. Talk about a modern style that’s equal parts welcoming!
8. Place a White Island in a Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Jean Regauer
An instant way to brighten up a dark kitchen (we mean, get the best of both worlds)? This kitchen space shows us how by using a white island on a black floor. The backsplash further enhances this dark-and-light effect, while the cowhide rug adds just the right amount of coziness.
9. Make Marble Your Best Friend
Architect:Chamberlain Javens Architects
If you’re looking to create a modern luxury black kitchen, you know what you’ve got to do: Go big on marble! This natural stone adds the luxe factor to any space, especially as a large, central island, as seen in the kitchen above. You can also add it through the backsplash.
10. Make it Mysterious
Visualizer:Tomek Michalski
You can double the visual intrigue in your all black kitchen by adding some mystery. In this kitchen, mood-lighting sets the scene in black and grey, while a marbled bench acts as the hero. The back inlet and flooring create contrast and depth. Taken together, these elements make the space an interesting one.
11. Layer Gray and Gold
Visualizer:Mitaka Dimov
Black kitchens are cool, but what if we layer in gray and add accents of gold? This stunning kitchen space uses gray flooring to add diversity to the otherwise black palette. The thick gold panel is one way that makes the space look incredibly high-end.
12. Add French Style to Black Kitchen Design
Visualizer:Aeroslon
Make your kitchen both modern and French with traditional black cabinetry. In this space, standing armoires act as sinks, and all other displayed items remain black. The stark white clock can surely act as the focal point of the space!
13. Consider Soft Elements
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Rough, light wood and low-hanging white lights set this kitchen interior a world apart. You can also notice a layer of light gray cabinetry, adding variation to the otherwise dark color palette. These elements factor in softness to the black kitchen design.
14. Let the Accessories Do the Talking
Photographer:Mikko Ryhänen
In this black-and-wood creation, the accessories take center stage in adorning the interior. We love the houseplant, but the crockery deserves a special mention for doubling as decor. The light oakwood backdrop further warms the space up.
15. Consider a Matte All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:HDR Designer
Neat square panels perfectly line up to emphasize the stark black minimalism that is at play here. We love how the cabinetry is matte black with no hardware, adding a sense of simplicity. The herb planters are a healthy green addition to bring the otherwise simple space.
16. Add Some Stencilling to Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Fine lines and stencilling set this monochromatic space apart. Lined by black magnetic lights, black stencils and glossy white facades, it makes its mark on a light wooden floor.
17. Build a Shape Out of Black
Visualizer:Huso
18. Create a Modern Dark Kitchen with Gradients
Visualizer:Mario Nogueira
If you’re wondering how the intrigue in this space is working… It’s the gradients from black, to charcoal, to light grey. White surrounds in the walls and a monochromatic hanging light. This clever design technique makes sure the space is anything but boring, even if it’s using mere neutrals (minus the stunning orange dining chairs, of course).
19. Leverage Black Textures
Visualizer:Nefeli Kallianou
One instant way to add interest to a black kitchen is with textures, as seen in this metallic matte kitchen. This accounts for decorative presence in the light and bright space, providing character to an otherwise simple room.
20. Work on the Functionality of the Modern Dark Kitchen
Visualizer:İbrahim Ethem KISACIK
This dark modern kitchen makes sure it’s as functional as is stylish. The central island is paired with a black dining table, while all necessary appliances are fixed into the cabinetry. We also see pendant lights and lighting under the hood providing just the right illumination.
21. Create a Modern Classic All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:A&L Interior Design
Folks seeking an inviting all black kitchen can look towards this modern classic space. It merges contemporary elements (through sleek black cabinetry) with traditional ones (as seen in the wooden backsplash) to bring together the best of both worlds.
22. Put Essentials on Display in Your Modern Black Kitchen Interior
Visualizer:Polygon
Yet another kitchen that uses black and wooden elements to create a dark-themed interior. What sets this one apart is the hanging pans. They do offer easy access as the residents cook, but they also double as decor! (Note how the pans also use black and wooden elements to stay coherent with the theme).
23. Add the Industrial Style to the All Black Kitchen
Via:Emotion School
Industrial style lovers, rejoice! This is THE inspiration to set up your favorite interior design style, the dark way. This kitchen uses rustic wood and exposed elements for the ceiling to create an industrial black kitchen interior.
24. Make a Statement with Black Chunky Lamps
Via:HomePicture.in
All eyes on the two chunky lamps hanging in this monochromatic setting. They do add focus but also allow the contrasting white inset to shine. Not to forget the central island, providing plenty of storage space.
25. Make Room for Keepsakes
Visualizer:Maxim Goryachev
There’s nothing like personalizing your space to who YOU are. This kitchen serves the purpose by adding keepsakes and heirlooms. Also, black leaves room for details, so it’s one of the best colors to use if you’re hoping to display knick-knacks.
26. Use Black to Add Intimacy
Visualizer:Helen Bank
Who says dark colors make small spaces feel smaller? We only see black adding luxury to this compact space (with some credit to the white flooring adding brightness). This kitchen—with black marble backsplash—speaks opulence, and for all the right reasons!
27. Enhance Black Kitchen Design with Patterns
Visualizer:Ksenia Lenski
This black kitchen interior makes a design statement with the patterned marble island. Its sleek metallic legs lift it off the floor, creating an illusion of space. Simultaneously, the textured inset makes sure visual interest is added.
28. Don’t Forget a Black and White Rug
Visualizer:Nada Aboelrous
If you’re not in for a complete kitchen renovation, simply painting your cabinets black and adding a black-and-white patterned rug will achieve the purpose! We love how this kitchen keeps sets the base with white and tops it with black.
29. Let the Lighting Make a Statement in the All Black Kitchen
Architect:Artpartner Architects
When everything else is understated, letting the lighting create a statement is a good idea. This matte black kitchen interior uses rod lighting to do the talking. It sticks to the all black kitchen color scheme, though!
30. Tone it Down
Visualizer:Valeria Mosolova
This open floor plan uses dark gray throughout, showing us that black can work in more spaces than the kitchen 😉 It sure makes a design statement for those cooking and dining—or lounging!
31. Consider a Black and Wooden Bar
Visualizer:Amir Emami
This is the ultimate modern luxury black kitchen! After all, what’s better than displaying your favorite collection of beer right behind the black kitchen island? The low-hanging pendant lights also add to the black kitchen design.
32. Add the Gothic Vibe
Visualizer:Sebastian Lorio
This dark-gray kitchen is super simple with its sleek, hardware-less cabinetry. Well, except the far left end. Here, we see a statement piece of art and intriguing layered lighting created a focal point.
33. Stick to the Minimalist Style for Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Miguel A. Ramos
This compact kitchen space follows the simple rule: white walls paired with black cabinetry and an island. Even in this nook, the space is able to make a style statement while providing optimal functionality. The window here gives a contrasting element of light to the otherwise dark modern kitchen.
34. Layer Lighting in the All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Tatiana Durnescu
We see shades of gray and black coming together to bring this modern dark kitchen to life. What we especially love is the multiple types of lighting, all layered together to bring visual interest to the space.
35. Set the Backdrop For Your Living Space
Visualizer:Sasha Zolotukhin
