The Style That is Design's own Little Black Dress

Source:  Jillian Rotondaro

Date: October 29, 2018

As trends come and go, we find ourselves fixated on finding a style that is going to last. When designing a space, not only does the space have to withstand the wear-and-tear of everyday life, but a good space has to grow with the home. Every few years, the trendy color and metal of choice for hardware, decor, and finishes shifts in the design world. Brass had its moment just a year ago with the popular combination of brass and marble covering every kitchen and bathroom imaginable. After the shine grew comfortable in the design world, chrome and nickel moved into the scene with their popular reflective surfaces. Today, it’s all about matte black snatching the title of a supreme style designed to last.

The velvet finish of matte black is stealing the spotlight from warm metals. Although the shine isn’t completely off the metal movement, this new finish is finding a place for itself in kitchens and bathrooms alike. The popularity of the color comes from black being a true neutral; it’s an intensity that’s always sharp, fresh, and new.

Matte black may be commonly modern, but it’s a finish that carries a hint of understated elegance and depth to just about every style — from modern and industrial, to traditional and farmhouse. Adding in black faucets, hardware, and other fixtures is a great way to get a dose of design’s little black dress.

WHERE TO USE:

This versatile, neutral finish can go with any design. Add a touch of black to a patterned design for depth. Hand-painted, patterned cement tiles have remained at the top of the trends, and adding touches of color may be met with fear of overpowering the already beautiful design. Despite the hesitation, matte black is creating the new traditional— adding a vintage look without feeling old fashioned.

If your moment with millennial pink is lasting a bit longer than the trend itself, change up the design by adding a matte black mosaic or sink faucet. Soft pastels like pale pink, mint, or powder blue can crash with brass and gold fixtures, but glimmer next to black matte. Unlike it’s reflective cousins, matte black doesn’t have to compete with its surroundings.

The combination of natural stone and black matte is the next brass and marble. While reflective fixtures reflect light and blend into the surroundings, a black faucet accentuates veining, drawing eyes and attention to nature’s creation. The richness of the finish adds a certain density to earthy materials; against different finishes in stone (like polished or honed), matte black adds a needed warmth to any space.

But don’t be afraid to pair this matte finish with other reflective metals. Today, it’s all about an art-deco, eclectic feel. Since matte black is a true neutral —neither warm nor cool— it pairs just as well with brass and chrome, and every sheen in-between.

Switch out this chrome liner with a bold matte black to make your own unique accent piece.

If you’re hesitant to embrace the bold design, a black and white color scheme will give you the timeless design every homeowner yearns for, with a touch of drama. Add dashes of the matte finish in fixtures and faucets for a pop of flair without distracting from the overall design of the space.