Black and White Make It Right

This guest room takes a classic combo to new heights.

The clean contrast of black and white creates a designer's dream, and best of all, this always-pretty combination never goes out of style.

Catherine Wenske of Austin chose this simple scheme for her downstairs guest room. "It all started with the antique headboard," she explains. "I painted it black and really liked it. I also had a large white marble piece that could be used for a dresser top. When I saw them together, I knew what I wanted to do."

Blend It Beautifully

Catherine used crisp white linens for her bed. The shams sport a floral motif in velvet that's a perfect pop of black on the white bedspread.

A clever arrangement of black and white furniture keeps the theme going. Catherine placed a black end table on one side of the bed and a white one on the other, proving that matching bedside tables aren't the only way to go.

The room forms a perfect gallery backdrop for black-and-white photos of family and friends. Catherine included groupings on the walls and on the tables and dresser. Vintage-style pitchers filled with white flowers provide a delicate touch. -LYNNE LONG

Too Much White? Never!

Catherine's guest room is not the only white room in her home. The walls are white throughout, and she believes a clean white base provides the best medium for pairing with a variety of colors. If you aren't content with just black and white, you can always add a bright accent. Try lemon, red, teal, or even pink to boost your color quotient. For a seasonal spruce-up, add pinks, yellows, and soft greens for summer, and red, purple, and even gold and silver for winter.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2006
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