Dark interiors are having a moment, and it’s easy to see why. Deep charcoals, inky blues and near blacks wrap a room in warmth and make it feel intimate in the best possible way, somewhere to slow down and stay a while.
Dark matters
We were thrilled to see this Cambridge bedroom featured in Dark Matters, the latest theme from Habitat by Resene (https://habitatbyresene.co.nz/dark-matters).
Resene’s piece explores how rich browns, inky blues and bold greys can make a space feel cocooning, and how texture adds another layer of drama when you’re working with charcoals and near blacks. This room shows exactly that.
Turning a Pinterest image into a home that feels like your own takes good design, strong collaboration and serious craftsmanship. For this new Cambridge home, designer Stephanie Allen-Jeffrey of DSGNR worked closely with the owners and the builder on a bedroom built around texture, where the wall above the bed became the artwork.
Three Muros Natural Rock panels were stacked and shaped seamlessly into a pointed peak that rises towards the six-metre ceiling. They were finished in Resene Bokara Grey with a heavy tint metallic coating, which picks out every seam and crevice in the stone and changes with the light through the day. Forte Urban SEOUL 190 ceiling boards and custom timber battens, framed and finished by Tunley Construction, bring warmth and precision to the detail around it. Timber, stone and colour come together in a room that feels contemporary and timeless at once.
CAMBRIDGE HOME
Supply and install: Muros
Design: Stephanie Allen-Jeffrey, DSGNR
Build and framing: Tunley Construction
Other projects
Dark works just as well in hospitality, where atmosphere is half the experience. At The Langlands Hotel in Invercargill, Muros Loft Brick panels painted in black anchor the dining space.
Loft Brick has the authentic warehouse finish of a well-established brick wall, right down to the nicks, chips and subtle colour variation in each brick and mortar line. Painted black, that character turns sleek and moody, setting off the mustard quilted dining chairs, timber stair treads and the warm glow of a glass pendant. It’s grounded and inviting, the kind of room you want to linger in over a long dinner.
One of the best things about Muros panels is the creative freedom they give you.
Many of our projects involve repainting or applying a creative finish over installed panels, easily done with a soft roller or a high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) spray.
This intimate whisky and cocktail bar is a great example. Muros Loft Brick panels were repainted in black, turning their rustic warehouse finish into something sleek, glossy and textural. A strip of warm light along the base of the wall catches every brick edge, while glowing decanter cabinets and quilted leather banquettes complete a space that feels high-end and welcoming in equal measure.
The Rise by Lucy Furniss Design
Some places ask for a darker palette. Tucked beneath the Ben Ohau range, The Rise is a bespoke off-grid retreat designed by Lucy Furniss Design, and its bedroom takes its cue straight from the mountains outside.
Muros Black Rock panels form a striking feature wall, their jagged, mountain-inspired forms carrying rich tones of blue, grey and black. Nature carved it, and we recreated it. Paired with soft linen bedding, ribbed glass pendants and low, warm light, the room proves a dark interior can be dramatic and deeply comforting at the same time.
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