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Black and blue (and brass): 2014’s edgy color combo

Annie Elliott | January 18, 2014

Remember how I said that a bossy color goal for 2014 was to use ever-edgier color combinations? And I mentioned black and blue as one of those combos?

Well, I’ve decided that this particular color pairing is worthy of more attention. Turns out I started using black and blue together last year without really registering it:

Blue, black and white dining room by bossy color

But we can go a lot farther, don’t you think? Especially with darker blues…

Black and blue: blue wall tile, lacquer door and claw foot tub

TWO blues plus black (three blues if you count Marilyn) = even edgier.

Black and blue: blue, light blue, and black living room

This makes me want to cry, it’s so amazing.
Black and blue: blue lacquered walls with black star wallpaper ceiling Black and blue: black, blue and white geometric tiled floorBlack and blue: navy twin bedding against gray fabric wall with black frames

Here’s the thing, though. I think dark blue and black needs a dash of warmth to be truly successful. Warmth in the form of, say…brass.

Black and blue: Blue restaurant walls with brass light fixtures

Or camel-colored leather.

Black and blue: black, blue and camel living room

Or old, foxed paper.

Black and blue: black gallery wall with warm brass accents

But brass is the best, given its warmth AND shine.

Black and blue and brass: Emily Henderson designed bedroom

I think Emily Henderson is singlehandedly responsible for bringing brass back as today’s metal of choice. (She designed the bedroom above….if Jamie Drake is my style hero, Emily Henderson is Bossette Katherine’s.)

I’ve always chosen brass for house hardware — hinges, doorknob plates, etc. — but I  wasn’t bold enough to use it for faucets or light fixtures right away. Girls’ got cojones, Emily does. Made of brass, obviously.

Black and blue: Blue velvet sofa against black walls with brass lamp

Try some black ‘n blue, Gentle Readers. Then add a dash of brass, give yourself a high five, and marvel at your handiwork.

Quoted most recently in The Wall Street Journal and on Washingtonian.com, Annie Elliott is an expert in curated interiors, brilliant color palettes, and telling people what to do in the nicest way possible.

Category: Bedroom, Color + paint color, Kitchen + bath, Living Room + Family RoomTag: black and blue, black walls, blue butler's pantry, blue dining room, blue living room, blue velvet sofa, blue wall tile, blue walls, brass, brass light fixture, Emily Henderson, Jamie Drake, navy blue

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It was an honor to be a sponsor of the 87th annual Flower Mart at the National Cathedral! My  daughters have been trekking up to the Cathedral for this event since they were little - wonderful memories. This year, my favorite flower display was the Hong Kong Economic and Trade office; those peonies smelled UNBELIEVABLE! 🌺 🌼 🌷 🌻! Switzerland was a close second ;)

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For today’s Wallpaper Wednesday, we discuss Hicks Grand by David Hicks.The British interior designer created the smaller-scale Hicks Hexagon in the 1960s and later scaled up the pattern to create Hicks Grand. The contemporary, geometric, honeycomb repeat adds intrigue and depth to any room. I have only used the smaller Hicks Hexagon (stairway picture), but I LOVE the scale of Hicks Grand. Fun fact: The Hicks Hexagon pattern was used on the rugs in the Overlook Hotel’ hallways in The Shining 😱#wallpaperinspo #interiorinspiration #hicksandgrand

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Apr 30

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Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.But nothing says spring like flowers! 🌷 🌻 🌸 (And birds!)

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Apr 28

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Your house should reflect *you*. My recent visits to Eudora Welty’s house and the Mississippi Museum of Art reminded me of that. If the wallpaper you put up makes you happy, it’s a success! If you need help figuring out how to translate your personality and lifestyle into your home’s function and appearance, I’m here 😉.Read my new blog post for more!

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Apr 24

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Annie Elliott Design is a proud sponsor of the 87th annual @flowermartdc! I hope to see you all there! I will be there on May 1st shopping for peonies, yellow roses, and Black-Eyed Susans. 🌸 🌹 💐 #flowermartdc #springflowers #interiordesign

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Apr 22

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The star of today’s Wallpaper Wednesday is Farrow & Ball’s Lotus!The dramatic Lotus pattern is in the Art Nouveau style of the late 19th century and veeeeery early part of the 20th. (The pattern’s curved, stylized, botanical shapes are a classic indicator of Art Nouveau style.) Today, Lotus wallpaper is available in 19 colorways — or coloUrways, since Farrow & Ball is British ☺️ — and the metallic ones are quite spectacular. F&B changes its wallpaper colorways with annoying regularity; once they cease making a paper, that colorway is considered “archived.” But fear not: ANY F&B wallpaper pattern can be made in ANY F&B paint…all it takes is time and money.If you’re a Succession fan (I struggled, but I made it through), you may remember Lotus from Season 3, in Rava Roy’s foyer.#interiordesign #wallpaper

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Apr 20

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You know my thoughts about small rooms and wallpaper: bold, large-scale paper totally works! Your gateway drug is powder rooms. They’re the perfect place to experiment with whimsical patterns and bright colors because you don’t spend a ton of time in there. Although * I * argue that when you have the right wallpaper, you’ll want to ;)

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