Needing, Wanting, Loving: A Black Kitchen

Although I'll always have an attraction to the beauty and simplicity of white kitchens (hello Carrera marble, glossy white subway tiles and soft, soothing hues), being a New Yorker has made me appreciate the bold and the daring.  Dark, moody bars, rich lacquered walls of Park Avenue apartments, and the glittery lights of the city have me craving interiors that pack a serious punch. Kitchens that predominantly feature darker elements are my latest fixation- Whether it's black lacquered cabinetry, black marble countertops, or a rich backsplash set against steel-framed windows:

{Blair Harris}

Apartment Therapy featured Jeff and Halle's 1,250 square foot East Village apartment last year and I fell hard for their lively kitchen.  The backsplash features lively tile by Urban Archeology that incorporates my favorite shade of sage.  They chose Benjamin Moore's Mopboard Black for their cabinetry- I love the matte black finish:

Speaking of matte black, how dreamy are these streamlined uppers and lowers, and that black marble!  TDF.

{TFAD}

A few months ago, Architectural Digest featured Nate Berkus's and Jeremiah Brent's Greenwich Village townhouse, and I fell hard for the kitchen.  The solarium-style window allows in a healthy dose of natural light and the black lacquered cabinets are chic and timeless (and take a look at that detailed ceiling!)

{Nate Berkus via Architectural Digest}

{Nate Berkus via Architectural Digest}

Brittany (the fab blogger behind Brittany Makes) renovated her kitchen and included Sherwin William's Cyberspace as the paint color for her cabinetry.  The dark, moody shade juxtaposes well with the crisp Carrera marble countertops and the brass hardware:

{Brittany Makes}

And what's even more daring?  Adding an opulent chandelier directly over the sink, as designer Tobi Tobin did in this modern farmhouse.  The cabinetry is painted in Farrow and Ball's Pitch Black:

{House Beautiful}

Adding simple task urban lighting, an old school refrigerator and deer antlers gives this kitchen a quirky personality.  Who says it has to be 100% utilitarian? Can't it be decorated with pretty details as well?

{Sagverket}

While I love the drama this dark shade creates, I find I prefer it with a dose of white or white-washed wood mixed in.  Whether it's just a simple white subway tile backsplash separating the upper and lower black cabinetry, or perhaps upper cabinets painted in a lighter shade, I prefer when the light balances the dark.  Designer Naomi Stein featured a delicious black + brass hood and stove among a white kitchen, and the result is fabulous:

So what's your take on black kitchens?