Australian architectural firm Taylor Knights recently completed an extension to an existing bungalow house in Melbourne, Australia. The 50 m² house extension was intended to recreate the relationship between the house and the lush garden and accommodate the common areas. That's why the homeowners - a creative couple with a child - opted for an open living space that overlooks the garden. Another requirement of the clients was to display their large collection of works of art and books in the new living space.
Considering these wishes, the architects have designed a modern interior that is a good example of furnishing with contrasting colors. They complemented the classic black and white combination with gray, a light wood tone and green as an accent. Read more about the Brunswick West House project in the article!
The classic color duo black and white
Black and white is a timeless combination that is particularly special in interior designgood figuremight. The elegant contrast looks extremely modern and impresses with a very special elegance. Contrasts create tension in the interior and can be interpreted in different ways. The combination of light and dark, new and old or modern and rustic also ensures a design rich in contrast.
Contrasts play a big role in the Brunswick West House. On the one hand, the white brick walls contrast with the black-lacquered wood ceiling. Part of the interior walls and the furnishings in the kitchen are also black, which creates a dramatic effect. A contrast between different materials and surfaces is also present. An example of this is the rough surface of the brick walls meeting the polished flooring.
Artwork by Wassily Kandinsky as inspiration for the color palette in the interior
Accents are also desirable when furnishing with contrasting colors. They soften the contrast that is too strong and give the furnishings even moreinteresting touch. For this project, the architects took inspiration from the homeowners' favorite work of art. It is the abstract painting Empor (Upward) by the artist Wassily Kandinsky. Both the color palette and some of the shapes in the interior are based on the well-known work of art. A copy hangs on the black wall in the new living room right next to the entrance door.
The flooring in the extension is a polished green screed that is “speckled” with small pieces of bluestone. The green color is due to the background of Kandinsky's work and also harmonizes perfectly with the view through the windows.
The entire facade that faces the garden is designed with wide windows. Thanks to this glazing, there is no lack of daylight in the living room. In this way, the dramatic effect of the black can be softened a little and a harmonious overall picture is created.
Light wood elements provide warmth
When decorating with contrasting colors, the black and white color combination should be used with caution. Both colors are monochrome and would look cool alone in the interior. In the example, the classic color duo is complemented by elements in light wood, which give a feeling of warmth.Light woodcan be found several times in the interior: the entrance door, the window frames, the table and chairs in the dining area and some of the storage furniture such as the kitchen upper cabinets and sideboards give the room a warm touch. The window seat was made from the same wood and is the perfect place in the room to relax or read.
The role of light wood in the interior design of this home is two-sided. On the one hand, it provides more warmth in the interior and, on the other hand, it creates a contrast to the black wood that is used as cladding for the ceiling. The interaction between the two types of wood is particularly effective in the kitchen, where the light wooden wall cabinet meets the dark ceiling.
Modern fitted kitchen in black and white
The combination of the two most famous contrasting colors also characterizes the design of the kitchen. The white brick wall successfully highlights the matt black kitchen fronts and the small stainless steel tile mirror reflects the light. Large kitchen appliances such as the refrigerator are masked as black cabinets so as not to intrude into the modern interior design. The heavy use of black in this area is tempered by a skylight.
The architects designed a separate area for the owners' large book collection where the books can be stored neatly. Black and white are used as the colors for the bookshelf, with black shelves attached to a white wall.
A cozy living space for the whole family
The idea behind the new living space in the extension was to create a cozy common room where the family cooks, eats and relaxes together. The private rooms such as bedrooms and bathrooms remain in the old part of the house. In order to better protect the privacy of the residents, the architects designed a new entrance to the house by converting the ivy-covered side path. The new front door invites residents and their guests directly into the modern living space.
A view of the facade and the garden
The rear façade of the house extension, which leads to the garden, is almost entirely glazed and features the same color combination of black, white and light wood. The homeowners can sit outdoors on the small terrace and enjoy the beautiful summer weather.
Project by:Taylor Knights Architects
Photos: Tom Blachford
