With each new Soulscape created one or two inspirational images are chosen to demonstrate its versatility in a few different decorative styles-or individual style as I call it.  Learn how to decorate with black and white and not have your room, feel cold and stark.

Your style doesn’t matter. Inspiration matters. What speaks to your soul matters.

The Stark + Stunning Collective features the high contrast color scheme of black and white. And like any other color numerous shades of each color exist from chocolate-y black to blue black and bright, pure white to warm creamy white and grayish white.

The ebb and flow is how the hue of each color is choreographed in this tango.

How to decorate with black and white and not feel cold and stark.

Below are three different Mini Design Soulutions inspired by the gorgeous stairwell photograph from the Stark + Stunning Collective requested by a reader. (Hope this gives you oodles of ideas Kathy!) Each design Soulution is conceptual to help you “see” how one inspirational piece can be translated to your individual style.

Sources are only provided in the Mini Design Soulution for  those items which directly translate to the inspirational image. The other items are just used to complete the concept.

In the black…

This Mini Design Soulution is traditional with a twist. The undulating handrail in the inspiration staircase image shimmy and shakes off hard angles.

The black wood frame of the sofa is an homage to our staircase inspiration and sidles up to a jet black wall.

The round black side table nestled beside the sofa has a collection of delicate looking spindle like legs reminiscent of staircase spindles in more traditional styled homes.

Partnering with this pair is an elegant side chair with an exposed curved wood frame (hat tip to the sofa) begging your hands to glide down its gentle slope to the newel post-like front legs.

The multi light chandelier’s bulbs are diffused with white shades trimmed with black along its edges-referencing the steps,  along with the black and white throw pillow.

Sofa / Side Table / Chandelier / Side Chair / Pillow

The next spin around the dance floor  is Fade to Gray.

This Mini Design Soulution shows black mostly used as  accents in a pale room. A classic white softly curved english arm sofa plays understudy to the show stopping black metal spiral wall sculpture. (Still doing a happy dance and fist pump over this find!) Its unique biomorphic shape is pure drama. It might as well french kiss the inspirational staircase image.  (Sigh…<3)

And the sexy black contoured lampshade on the floor lamp…magic. (Drops the mike.)

The gray wool area rug makes an encore appearance in Fade to Gray and cushions the black round coffee table with its metal looping details beckoning to art deco handrails of the twenties.

The black linear stripes on the white vase calls forth the positive negative pattern of the stair treads.

Sofa / Wall Sculpture / Floor Lamp / Coffee Table / Vase

Modern Moxie

The subsequent dance in this Design Solution belongs to Modern Moxie. All eyes are on the diva in this performance-the retro modern spiral black, gray, and ivory patterned wallpaper commands the spotlight.

This bold graphic conveys the spiral handrail in the inspiration image and is great for an accent wall.  Or go full moxie and paper an entire room for an award winning act.

The rolled arms of the white chesterfield-style sofa is a timeless beauty and plays a superb supporting role in color and button tufted detailing.

The white coffee table twirls round and round in this two step lending a hand to the gold spiral sculpture to stand tall and proud. (Pardon me while I geek out over design details.  OMG I can’ t believe I found this…okay, breathe.)

The devil is in the details.
The details make a room cohesive.
Design pros always pay attention to the details.

May I have this dance?

A new dance partner wants to crash this shindig. (This dance metaphor is getting out of hand. Sorry… I can’t help myself.) The pendant light fixture enters stage left and threatens to upstage the diva wallpaper. But there will be none of that.

The pendant fixture with its single central light source applauds the inspirational stair rail image and upon closer inspection appears to be the  2D wallpaper pattern manifested in this hip, three-dimensional light fixture. ( Those pesky details, popping up again.)

The bold retro inspired wallpaper two steps around  the light fixture culminating  with the rhythmic  black lines on the white throw pillow.  The tryst amongst this trio of wallpaper, light fixture, and pillow  result in a very elegant and graceful waltz of spirals and lines in black and white.

This pattern play works because the scale of each pattern varies.

Sofa / Wallpaper / Coffee Table / Pendant Light / Pillow / Table Sculpture

Black and white may initially feel cold, stark…unlivable even. There is always a solution to your design dilemma. Maybe you rent and can’t paint the walls?

These Mini Design Soulutions stark? Hardly.
Stunning? Absolutely.

A black and white color scheme easily sways together, cheek to cheek and I hope you discovered a few new ways to decorate with black and white and not feel cold and stark.

Inspiration comes from the most ordinary, extraordinary life moments.
Pay attention.
Use these moments to inspire the experience in your home.

Tell me, which Design Soulution speaks to your soul? And if you like these please help me by sharing them through social media.

Stay tuned for the next round of Mini Design Soulutions.