Going Goth

Dining room by Joe Nye

I love a little touch of the unexpected, a beautiful room with a few pieces thrown in that are a bit... off. I think it gives a home character, displays the personality of the home-owner, and relaxes the interior by showing that beauty doesn't have to mean predictable!

So, with that said, I am a fan of items that are striking in some way, such as the intriguing Gothic-style pieces in these photos. For instance, Joe Nye uses that dark, Goth armchair to anchor the bright and glittering dining room above.


Dining room by Eleanor Cummings courtesy of House Beautiful

Miss Cummings amplifies the warmth of this room with heavy wood chairs and dining table (and that gorgeous terracota wall color).

Bedroom by the late Gaser Tabakoglu

Another option for your Goth pieces: paint them a bold and unexpected color! I like how the color of this bed blends with the striped walls, while the silhouette remains prominent.

Powder room by Joe Minton

Joe Minton mixes it up by combining the Gothic vanity with Italian linen walls, a French mirror, and a framed Chinese needlepoint.

Dining room by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

Here, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard gets playful by contrasting a visually heavy dining set against funky Majorelle curtains from his own fabric line.

Dining room in home of Keith Johnson and Glen Senk of Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters

And, last but not least, we can always rely on the keen eye and inventiveness of Anthropologie's Keith Johnson to create rich and engaging rooms, like the dining room above where a Gothic cabinet mingles with an Irish dog statue, French lantern, Chinese building blocks, and dreamy Cole & Son "Lily" wallpaper.

In today's world of cerused oak and white-washed, dainty settees, I love that some of these designers have stayed true to the warm and staid appeal of this mysterious and wonderfully ornamental style.