Black
was a trend that was very much in evidence at last year's design fairs but, even so, I was
surprised by how prevalent it was at this year's LDF. Black - whether on
furniture, accessories or lighting, whole items or just details - was
everywhere. Even designers without any black pieces used the colour on their display stands. Thankfully this look has
nothing to do with the black ash furniture beloved of the late 1980s adolescent male. The finishes today include gloss, a soft sheen and a LOT of
matt black. This last suggests a grown-up, serious and unfussy
mood. Some of the matt black pieces I saw reminded me of volcanic rock - a
material that has both dramatic and unchanging 'elemental' qualities). And I
particularly enjoyed seeing mixes of matt and gloss within collections, like Another Country's Another Pottery Series.
If
it seems like this trend is rocking the boat, it isn't. As in fashion, overtly
feminine looks have been out of vogue for some time now, replaced by more androgynous or masculine styles - and black interiors are a
continuation of this. And, as black is effectively a neutral shade, it slots in comfortably with the massive over-arching trend for neutrals and naturals,
while at the same time giving it a bold update.
I'm
hoping to add captions and links at some point but if your work is here and
you'd like it captioned now, please email me at the address in the 'about me'
section.
