24 DIGS.NET
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3.15.2019
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D E S I G N P R O F I L E | B L A C K L A C Q U E R D E S I G N
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he owners of this home—a family of four
living in Manhattan Beach—wanted a
colorful, modern and inspired dwelling.
ey were immediately receptive to the bold ideas
suggested by Murray, who worked on this project.
e house, which is new construction, features
clean, contemporary lines and white walls.
"is blank canvas allowed for a lot of creative
freedom," Murray says. "At the same time, it was a
very collaborative process as the homeowners were
so interested and involved in the design process; in
fact, the shower tile layout in the main bath was
client-designed."
One small piece of decoration was the starting
point for everything. "Very early in the project,
the homeowners sent me a piece of multicolored,
geometric wallpaper, which can be found in the
downstairs bathroom, that became the inspiration
for the whole project," Murray explains. "It really
encouraged the combination of vibrant and
desaturated hues." Paints by Benjamin Moore,
geometric wallpapers by Farrow & Ball and
Astek, oversized abstract paintings, rich wooden
credenzas, sculptural accessories and wool rugs
create textures and visual dynamism throughout all
the areas. When asked about her favorite element in
the house, Murray answers without hesitation: "e
paint-splattered Encrusted Spectrum wallpaper by
Astek in the bedroom makes a fearless statement
that I find so special." Lighting fixtures by France
& Son, Leucos Lighting, Flos and Moooi—among
others—combined with pieces by brands and
designers such as Lawson-Fenning, Tom Dixon,
RH Modern, ABC Carpet & Home, Kartell and
Calligaris showcase different design styles and eras.
"Since the space is inhabited by a young family,
form and function are equally important," Murray
says. "We juxtaposed very organic textures with
metallics, acrylics and bright pops of color to bring
soul, depth and comfort to a very contemporary
aesthetic. I think the variance makes the modern
bones of the home feel kid-friendly and lived-in."
"OV ER SIZED A BSTR ACT PA I N TI NGS, R ICH
WOODEN CR EDENZ A S, SCU LPTU R A L ACCESSOR I ES
A N D WOOL RUGS CR E ATE TE X TU R ES A N D V ISUA L
DY NA M ISM TH ROUGHOUT"
Caitlin Murray, founder of Black Lacquer Design, introduced
pops of colors in every corner, such as Encrusted Spectrum
wallpaper by Astek in the master bedroom and a custom-
made yellow table in the living room.
Touches of bold hues complement tonal grays,
creating a playful and energetic look. "Adventurous
color choices was definitely the theme for the
home," Murray confesses. "I wanted to see a lot
of variation in tones throughout the space, and I
balanced it and made it pop by making softer, more
subdued choices around those bursts of color."
anks to a great dose of imagination and
audacity, Murray has created a home with a strong
personality like no other. blacklacquerdesign.com
