Black and White (and a Bit in Between): Timeless Interiors, Dramatic Accents, and Stylish Collections

by Celerie Kemble

Black and white décor is at once dramatic and understated, modern and classic, apparent in the work of iconic designers such as Dorothy Draper and Madeleine Castaing but just as present in design today. And the inspiration is all around us—from nature (a zebra’s stripes, tree trunks rising from drifts of snow) to old Hollywood movies and fashion to black-and-white photography and patterns we encounter in our everyday lives (crossword puzzles and the pages of our favorite novels). 

In Black and White (and a Bit in Between) , acclaimed interior designer Celerie Kemble trades in her signature vivid palette for this iconic aesthetic, highlighting the black and white work of design stars and peers, including Bunny Williams, Thomas O’Brien, Mary McDonald, Victoria Hagan, Mark Hampton, Delphine Krakoff, Brad Ford, Philip Gorrivan, Carrier and Co., and Miles Redd, and welcoming you into more than 100 spaces in every imaginable aesthetic. Woven throughout are her witty observations and expert advice on choosing the best paints and finishes, adding patterns and accessories, building an entire room scheme based on inspiration found in nature, collecting black and white objects, and even choosing the perfect accent colors. 

With more than 350 gorgeous color photographs, this is a vividly photographed celebration of a timeless scheme, infused with inspirational tips, glimpses into showstopping homes, and proof that a limited palette is anything but.

Genres: Design, Interior Design

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[Sam (Hissing Potatoes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, focused interior design book that nonetheless manages to be comprehensive enough to appeal to people across a range of personal preferences and includes practical, experience-based discussion/recommendations for material types and even cleaning tips.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous eye candy here. Not much practical inspiration unless you are a designer or have a TON of money. This book is really for those who just love beauty, not so much for the middle-class home lovers just looking for practical, useable home inspiration. To be clear, I don't find that to be a problem. It's still perfectly lovely to look through.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it! I think Kemble was just inspired by black and white interiors at one point in her career and was like, “I could write a book about that” and she did. She has access to a higher-end range of designed rooms than I usually interact with, and I hated some of them, but I also found a lot of great inspiration. I shared some highlights on my Instagram stories as I went.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed the variety of decorating with black, white, gray and an occasional dramatic accent. She has a section on displaying your collections, some methods of cleaning (possibly more necessary with whites).

[Sarah "Kat" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book.

[IE · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the maximalist vs minimalist tips and the collecting topic, the decor was a bit too elegant for my tastes.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good at describing the elements of design that need to be included in order to manage the difficult task of decorating with black. The decorating style emphasized was way too modern for my taste.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love black and white however not so much in my decorating. I appreciate the design and loved the tips for cleaning.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty, but not that many pinnable images.

[Corinnagoodwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

was expecting more, not realy my style but looks great