Black isn’t normally a color that comes to mind when the subjects of florals and botanicals are being discussed, but noir was the most powerful hue in flourishing products that caught our attention during High Point Market this month. Here are a few examples of dark florals we saw.
We spotted the Currey & Company Taylor chair in the manufacturer’s showroom, the rounded backs swathed in black blossoms entwined with pale taupe tones. The exaggerated shape of its balloon back is already dramatic but upholstered in this particular fabric, it’s even more so. It’s no surprise that the company’s VP of Creative Cecil Adams, who heads up the upholstery program, concentrated his college courses around fashion, as his talent with detailing shows in the products he actualizes for Market twice each year. Kudos on this fabric choice, Cecil!
A celebration of the centuries-old Chinoiserie aesthetic, Tempaper’s Canopy fuses old world nostalgia with modern design principles to create a print that exudes sophistication and elegance. Depicting a lush tropical scene that comes to life through the integration of bright, exotic blooms and rich hues, the mural-style paper transforms rooms into an accessible getaway. Available in a deep ruby red and a symphony of blues, Canopy will serve as an iconic focal point in a broad array of design styles begging for dark florals.
The Social Butterfly chair at Ambella Home intrigued us given the chairs (and walls) are upholstered in the manufacturer’s Paradise pattern in Ebony. This one-of-a-kind textile represents a floral and aviary wonderland. Made of 100% silk taffeta and woven in India, it is embroidered in multicolored yarn that makes it a work of art.
Included in the new Collection Esmé, the Laurence Chair debuted in the Bruce Andrews Design showroom during Market. The explosive flowers on the seat and back cushions are all the more powerful due to the deep black background of the fabric. Bruce surrounded the deep tones with pale pink velvet, covering the legs in the fabric as well—a very nice touch that made our dark florals cut!
How do florals on casegoods qualify for this review of High Point? Just look at the stunning Evie Chest looking buoyant against the dark wall in the photograph above and we doubt you’ll argue that this vignette qualifies as dark beauty! Shown with the Mackenzie Upholstered king bed and Delta Ottomans, all by Bernhardt, the chest is a veritable canvas for metal water lilies that bend and curve along the antiqued mirror on the chest to call to mind the Art Nouveau movement.
Jackie von Tobel had a number of floral works of art with dynamic black backgrounds on view at Left Bank Art during Market. The detail of the composition above featuring a charismatic cockatoo surrounded by winsome flowers was one of our picks among the luscious creations being shown in the dark florals category. You can see other strong designs on the art section of her site and on her Instagram profile.
The Gramercy by Kate Spade New York is a hand-tufted rug in a blend of wool and art silk that represents a study in asymmetry given the beautiful bouquet seems to be casually tossed to the side produced by Jaipur Living. The array of primary colors wandering across the surface of the carpet pops from the dark background to bring a playful spirit to this creation.
Serving as a composed pop of color for the Facet Collection at the French Heritage showroom, Michelle Workman created this floral tableau, which was photographed by Caitlin Vincent and printed on large-format acrylic panels by Shutterfly. Leave it to the inventive designer who is known for a fearless approach to color to come up with such a kicky way to heighten the drama in a space!That’s a wrap on our dark florals during High Point Market this spring. Black is definitely the new black where botanicals are concerned this year. Our color forecasting continues with our next post when we take a look at finds in navy blue.