BASIC BLACK IT'S ALWAYS IN STYLE.

Byline: Suzanne Sproul Staff Writer

BLACK does a decor good.

It grounds. It anchors, but it also adds definition and pizazz to almost any interior. You can use it to set off, outline, underline or sharpen.

Touches of black define, distinguish and dazzle when they're applied to interiors, according to Saundra Dunn, owner of an interior design firm in Alta Loma.

``I love to use black. I think it is very dramatic and can add elegance and sophistication to a room or rooms,'' said Dunn.

Much like black is a staple for most wardrobes, the same is true when dressing up the house. In the home or in the closet, the solid color lets you show your personality through the accessories you choose.

Black furnishings, whether fully or partially colored, provide the framework and a unifying element to any room. While sometimes decorating can be as simple as black and white, the color does work best in combination with others such as red, camel and even rosy pink.

``Pastels were very popular years ago and still are fun, but many people have chosen to tweak the look a bit by introducing black. It's easy and affordable,'' Dunn said. ``But others also have decided to be bold and choose black stone or granite for kitchen islands or counter tops, especially.''

Applied in splashes, the color isn't allowed to overwhelm or dominate.

``I like black in kitchens, but also powder rooms and even the living room. You can be very versatile,'' she said.

Use the bold hue in bathrooms to create a dramatic focus. Black marble counter tops automatically seem to set off gold accessories such as mirror frames, towel bars and faucets. Add fluffy white towels to the mix and you'll find a contemporary design.

Paint light wood frames black or replace them altogether throughout the house. Your artwork and prints suddenly will seem to come further into focus.

For the bedroom, choose crisp, clean white linens and comforters and set them off with black bed skirts. Toss in a couple of black-fringed pillows to complete the look.

If you don't want to surrender to a complete fade to black in a room, you can opt for accessories such as a lampshade or picture frame in neutral tans and browns.

Although using black as a design tool is popular today, the concept is far from new. That's good news for consumers.

Visitors will find a vast and quirky collection of modern/contemporary furniture and accessories at Futures Collide in downtown Pomona. The store specializes in pieces from the 1930s through the 1970s and has become a favorite of Hollywood art directors searching for appropriate props as well as those who simply want something decidedly different for their homes.

There's the chrome kitchenette set with matching chairs you might expect to see from the old sitcom ``Happy Days'' or the 1960s resin and fiberglass lamps that probably spotlighted some groovy times way back when. Check out the surprisingly non-jarring oversize pink couch, notably outlined in black, and the eye-catching boomerang table.

``Black is always in style,'' said Michael Ortega, Futures Collide collector and manager. ``Not many people want a room done in all black, but using it here and there, even sometimes in places you wouldn't notice - like the hands of a clock or highlighted in artwork - really opens the focus up.''

A little can go a long way, he said. A recent client saw a set of black matte cat wall hangings at the store, loved them and promptly bought them. The client said the duo, together, would be enough to break up the monotony of a blank white wall at home and be fun to look at, too.

``I personally love black. It's a color that men and women both like and that can be used in any type of decor you prefer. My suggestion, though, is to introduce it gradually to your home. See how you like it. Go with big pieces first, such as a couch or a love seat, then add a lamp or a cocktail table. Have fun with it,'' said Victor Ortega, Michael's brother and co-owner of the store.

Once the black bug has bitten, the furnishing and design options seem limitless, said Victor Ortega, adding, ``Good furniture is timeless, whether it's the pop plastic pieces of the 1960s or the chrome ones seen again in the 1970s. Reproductions are very popular right now, and this type of furniture really works as functional art in today's decor.''

How to use it

--Use black with red, camel and rosy pink hues for a pleasing color combination throughout the home.

--Pair black with white to create bold geometric designs for a sophisticated color scheme.

--Draw attention to artwork with black wood frames.

--Use black in bathrooms for a dramatic effect. Black marble countertops pair well with gold accessories such as mirror frames, towel bars and faucets.

--In the bedroom, set off crisp white linens with black throw pillows and a black bed skirt.

--Use splashes of black in the kitchen to evoke a contemporary design. Black countertops will anchor the room and, paired with chrome accessories, will make your kitchen a show-stopper.

- Compiled by Sherry Joe Crosby

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Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) ON THE COVER: Thomasville's Cinnamon Hill collection includes this Davidson upholstered bed in a licorice leather finish with Hocknell bedding ensemble in red, white and black.

Thomasville

(2 -- color) Top: Touches of black, seen in this Central Park sofa and end table, both from Thomasville, can make a room pop.

(3 -- color) Above: Midcentury modern flying saucer lamps can be purchased at Futures Collide in Pomona.

(4 -- color) Right: A set of cat wall plaques, from Futures Collide, can be used to accent a classic 1950s look.

(5 -- color) A unique accent piece, such as this lamp at Futures Collide, can offset black elements.

Photos by Walter Richard Weis/Staff Photographer

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How to use it (see text)