Bronze is bold, and silver never fades, but matte blackis an obsession we can’t suppress. When it comes to bold kitchen design, the shine-free finish is appearing on statement making appliances, interest-bearing backsplashes,and dramatic countertops,and is used strategically in fixtures, faucets, and hardware. It is at once exceedingly practical and arrestingly dramatic–a go-to neutral while also a perfect“pop of color. Designer Lisa Mende knows a thing or two when it comes to designing with this dark horse and has a couple tips and a few favorite products for designing with matte black in mind. “Lighting, hardware, fabrics, wallpaper, and furnishings can work together to make basic black interesting, defining a style like traditional, transitional,or modern,” Mende says. “If kitchen cabinets are the matte black element, light and contrast are needed. And while Iadore an all black-and-white story, sometimes it’s fun to add a color.”





Arteriors Norelle Pendant / $1,050 / www.modernlightingdesign.com




Kravet TOBA Fabric / to the trade / www.ahokelimited.com


 


Lisa Jarvis Oyster Drawer Pull / $58 each / www.birddecorativehardware.com



Livettes Tropical Leaves Wallpaper / Starting at $36 / www.livetteswallpaper.com

 

  SMEG FAB28U / $1,999 / www.smegusa.com

 



Louise Gaskill Etta Chandelier / to the trade / www.louisegaskill.com







Shine by S.H.O Alexis Rug / $68 per square foot / www.shinebysho.com




Walker Zanger 4D Collection in Deep Blue / $9.75 / www.walkerzanger.com

 

Kohler Purist Bridge Kitchen Faucet / $1,236 / www.hughessupply.com




Rejuvenation Beckett Drawer Pull / $35 / www.rejuvenation.com



Akan by Lizzo Fabric / to the trade / www.ahokelimited.com




La Cornue Range / Starting at $52,700 / www.lacornueusa.com



LexMod Pyramid Dining Chair / $67.75 / www.lexmod.com