Study in Black

Here's a striking black study, courtesy of Apartment Therapy and From House to Home UK. I'm surprised at how good the lighter colored woods look against the dark background. I also suspect that the great natural light is part of what keeps this from feeling oppresive.

Black (and other dark colors) are great choices for rooms that are glimpsed from other rooms -- the dark color draws the eye in, making the whole space look deeper and more layered.