Dial Up the Drama with Our New Coal Look

by Carlisle Homes

Dark timber, striking stone and layers of grey; our latest interior style ‘Coal’ is all about making a bold statement.

The dark trend is taking interiors by storm, cropping up in many of the most fashion-forward homes around the world. And what’s not to love; if executed properly, dark tones are perfect for making your home feel cosy, dramatic and full of life.

If you’re tempted to walk on the dark side but worry that it might make your home feel gloomy, fear not. To show you exactly how it’s done, our interior designers have created the new ‘Coal’ decorating look, on show at our Piermont 29 display home, that balances dark and light elements for an interior that is both sophisticated and inviting.

Here are the six key design elements that make up this exciting new look.

1. Dark tones

The secret to preventing a dark interior from feeling heavy is to steer clear of pure black and instead choose nuanced tones with plenty of personality. In our Piermont 29 display home, we’ve anchored the scheme with Black Birch ply in chalk finish– a subtle wood grain laminate with a brown-black wash – on the kitchen island facing and overhead cavities, and the joinery in the bathrooms and living areas.

We’ve complemented this with furniture in rich, masculine tones, and matt-black tapware and handles for a contemporary edge.

2. Layers of soft grey & plenty of white

Creating balance is another key step in successfully decorating with darker hues. In our Coal decorating look, we’ve balanced out the rich timber finishes with layers of gentle grey and plenty of white to ensure the house feels open and welcoming.

We’ve used Absolute Matte in Oyster Grey for the main portion of the kitchen cabinetry, and painted the walls throughout the house in soft grey and the ceilings in bright, light-enhancing white. 

For the sofas and window treatments, we’ve chosen textural fabrics in various shades of grey and charcoal to create a sense of depth, which we’ve enlivened with pops of sage and blue in scatter cushions and bedheads.

Soft sheers at the window allow natural light to filter in, while strategically placed mirrors bounce sunlight around, enhancing the sense of spaciousness.

3. Clean lines

Furniture is structured and purposeful, with a focus on form and function. Think tailored, deep-seated modular sofas, solid, curvy side tables, and coffee tables with slender frames that let the eye travel through and maximise floor space.

Generous custom joinery with clean, crisp lines carry through the dark timber tones and signature Coal style.  This beautiful design keeps clutter at bay in the living areas, whilst  emphasising the home’s contemporary feel.

4. Statement surfaces

Luxurious, eye-catching surfaces in the kitchen and bathrooms elevate the Coal look to something truly special. 

Delicately veined Caesarstone in White Attica with an elegant shadowline edge profile features on the benchtops in both the kitchen and bathrooms. In kitchen, the Caesarstone has been paired with a deep-brown glazed tile splashback laid in a modern stackbond format that echoes the rich tones of the joinery. Meanwhile, the bathrooms combine pale-grey wall tiles and stone-look tiling across the floors and remaining walls to create a cocooning, spa-like feel. 

Feature, patterned wallpaper in tonal shades of grey add depth and cosiness to the master bedroom and study nook, visually drawing you into the spaces.

5. Personality-packed flooring

Textural flooring feels cosy underfoot and adds another layer of interest to the scheme. Wide-board timber flooring in a warm mid tone (South Collection Port Pine) creates a characterful foundation in the kitchen, meals and open-plan living areas, which has been carried through to the master bedroom for a sense of cohesion.

In the home theatre, study nook and other three bedrooms, textured, loop-pile carpet in a light charcoal feels tactile and comforting – perfect for spaces where you want to encourage rest or concentration.

6. Abstract artworks

When it comes to artwork in the Coal look, think big and bold. Oversized, abstract prints give walls an instant lift. Hang prints on their own or in pairs, keeping the framing slender and simple. For a more casual look, try propping them against a wall or on top of joinery.

When choosing artwork, take your colour cues from the soft greys and charcoals of the rest of the scheme. Or, add a little brightness by selecting pieces that feature accents of complementary hues, such as dusty blue or sage.