Black & White with Touches of Gold — A Small Bayit VaGan Apartment

Photography: Judith Hoffman

First thing’s first: This is a beautiful, small three-bedroom holiday apartment for a family, who dreamed of a contemporary and timeless look. What better choice than to go for the classic black and white color palette, and infuse it with some golden elements - always sure to make a statement.

I went with a light beige sofa. I didn’t want it to be a showpiece sofa, so I chose a neutral textured beige, a calming color that I could decorate around with striking pieces.

Neutral sofas are great; they can beautifully integrate, be the base of the design and easily accommodate style changes, as taste and necessities might change over the years.

I added scattered pillows in similar soothing colors and thus continued with the calming and relaxing sense that this sofa provides. To create a bit of interest, rather than placing the sofa against a light-colored wall, I opted to go with light beige wallpaper imbued with golden geometric shapes.

The wallpaper acts as a back drop, and although it has been placed on one wall only, it transforms the total look of the room and enriches it with depth, interest and the appropriate mood.

Nowadays, installing wallpaper is easy. It is hung and stripped with ease - Simple and not time consuming at all! I tied the wallpaper to this open display cabinet in black and brass. It is beautifully crafted, ties all the elements of the space together, and provides elegance to the room.

The black back of the cabinet emphasizes and enhances the many items that are displayed: picture frames, wine goblet, decorative plates, vases and more.

It is important to note that there are many metals used today in product design, that imitate the rich hue of gold . These include bronze, copper, and brass, which are the most popular. The trend and preference today is towards these warmer shades, which can accent each and every room of your home, from bathrooms to bedrooms and kitchens too.

As can be seen in the pictures of this project, I like to incorporate brass for that golden, elegant and sophisticated feel, which in this instance perfectly complemented the classic black and white color palette. This is noted in the stunning statement lamp, the display cabinet and the accessories displayed.

Wood panel doors are well-suited for many home settings and are an especially good choice for a small area with little room for doors to swing open and close. They add a unique and customized look to the room that is both sophisticated and attractive. Note the stunning statement lamp above the dining table.

An exquisite decorative Moorish style mirror was also in place here — spot-on for the black and white motif. It is black and white, and still somehow fresh and clean.

To conclude: The design concept of using black and white, when expertly executed, provides a home with interest and sophistication. There are so many wonderful ways of using black and white for that enduring and engaging look. Suddenly to see your world in black and white is not such a bad thing. On the contrary, it is actually gorgeous, fun, chic, contemporary and offers extremely stylish comfort!