By Robin Lechner Designs December 21, 2013

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While the trend for white remains strong in contemporary interior design schemes, gray has overtaken and leads the field as the neutral hue of choice. A natural extension of classics like chrome, stainless, and platinum, shades of gray add depth, texture, and sophistication to any décor. Grays can be tinted with any hue, influencing its ultimate color.

In one of my favorite kitchen updates, the AC duct work above the island was painted graphite gray as was the wall space framing the upper cabinetry. The dramatic gray actually originated on the foyer ceiling, continuing into the kitchen, and carried through to the living room. It covers the only solid wall in the entire living space which houses the home’s media center, a fireplace, and bar. The continuous use of the same color unites all the living spaces. .

In another kitchen update, I mixed various shades and textures of gray – a flat finish in the prep area looks rich with the wood cabinetry and stainless appliances. A metallic finish on the dining area wall looks like suede in daylight and shimmers in candlelight making for romantic dinners.

I opened the wall adjacent to the dining room (above), creating an island. Mahogany storage drawers are on the kitchen side, while textured metallic wallpaper (looks like crinkled foil) was added on the side facing the dining area for a sophisticated and elegant transition.

I first wrote about the growing popularity of gray for use in interior designs in June 2012. Almost a year and a half later, it remains high on color preference lists. It’s an emotional and inspiring hue. As you can see in the photos, any color can be used in combination with gray; they seem to be more enhanced and stand out without being overpowering. For my design clients, I prefer using deep shades of gray. In addition to exuding charm and elegance, a dark room appears larger. The corners of the room seem to recede, causing boundaries to disappear. Dark rooms also enhance mood, infusing a peaceful quietness. Visit my website or browse my portfolio on Houzz for more photos illustrating my use of gray.

Blog post: http://bit.ly/1fi0tE4 Website: www.robinlechnerdesigns.com

Wallpaper in a soft neutral palette ranging from soft white to almost black provides a calming atmosphere in the guest bath above.

Another guest bath uses the same color palette, but the materials, shades, and textures create an entirely different mood. Horizontal tiled wainscoting ties in with vertical striped paper on the walls and ceiling creates a dramatic jewel box effect.

The dark gray/brown hue of the featured living room is sophisticated and elegant any time of day, but is especially rich in the evening with lamps and candlelight.

The guest room (left) doubles as a home office. The suede-textured gray provides a quiet space to relax or work.