Designing your home with black paint and black accessories might not be your first inclination, but black color and home accessorizing has quickly become a hip new trend. Like white or gray, black is a neutral that can pair well with any other color. Plus, a black wall will make a bold, contrasting statement in any room.
We are in love with “Railings” by Farrow and Ball. A softer alternative to true black, it is versatile and timeless. We’re currently using it on kitchen cabinets and window grilles at a handsome historic renovation in Durham. — Robert MacNeill and Brittany Roux, Roux MacNeill Studio, rouxmacstudio.com
My color choice for a black paint is Benjamin Moore 2131-10 Black Satin. This black paint gives a room a sophisticated and dramatic look. I have used it in a small powder room with bright art on the wall and it looks great. Just make sure you paint your baseboards and trim white for a nice contrast. — Julie Flournoy, For Your Convenience
Tricorn Black is my go-to for a terrific neutral black that doesn’t have the undertones of any other colors, so as to pair wonderfully with any of them in a space. It also works really well on the brick of a fire place for a quick and dramatic change to any room! — Antoine A. Pontón, Principal-AP Designs, LLC, AntoinePonton.com
Caviar is a crisp black that makes a bold statement. It’s perfect for interior and exterior doors, hiding scuffs on staircase risers, and creating a bit of drama on ceilings. — Vicky Serany, Southern Studio, southernstudio.com
This warm black is my pick for a versatile dark neutral that would suit most any room. Keeping window, door and ceiling colors light, Paean Black is a stunning contrast in a powder room, or in a kitchen with white cabinets; and the hint of red is perfection for creating a cozy reading nook or an inspiring office. — Sally Williams, Colorful Concepts Interior Design, colorfulconceptsinteriordesign.com
1. Vietri urn, $28; The Shoppes at 1700
2. Stemless wine glass, $16.95; Zest Cafe & Home Art
3. “Every Man Should Know” book, $9.95; “Old Man Drinks” book, $14.95; The Shoppes at 1700
In a year that’s been anything but, storyteller JD Thomas’s haunted tours will make those eerie October evenings feel a bit more normal—paranormal, even—with stories of ghosts and ghouls, local folklore and mysterious occurrences.
Thomas, who you may otherwise know from his completely different persona as Santa from the Great Raleigh Trolley Santa Express, has led haunted tours on the trolley through downtown Raleigh for the past three Halloweens. But this year, due to COVID, Thomas is taking his tour to the streets of North Hills. Though the format will change, Thomas says, his spooky stories will be the same.
Thomas has devoted much research to Raleigh’s haunted past, and, as an engineer for Amtrak, he’s got a few stories of his own to tell.
“I like spooky, I have fun with it,” Thomas says. “People want to hear these stories. They don’t know a lot about Raleigh’s haunted history.” The tour will be interactive, too, so tour takers can ask Thomas questions and tell him what they think. But some of the stories can be pretty frightening, Thomas says, so he doesn’t recommend the tour for children under 13.
Thomas’s haunted walking tours take place Friday and Sunday evenings, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Groups will meet in the outdoor foyer between STIR and Capital Grille, where Thomas plans to host Halloween-themed cocktails from STIR while waiting for guests to arrive. A Saturday evening tour, beginning at 5 p.m. at Union Station, will also be available. Costumes are highly recommended; Thomas will be dressed in a black top hat, dark round glasses and a black tuxedo, with his signature long beard and a cane for a creepy crypt-keeper vibe. “It’s not as jovial as Santa Claus,” Thomas jokes. “When I wear that outfit, I transform into the storyteller of Raleigh.”
Thomas’s tours will follow all government-mandated COVID regulations, including spacing people six feet apart and requiring face coverings. With local communities already cancelling fall festivities and even trick-or-treating due to the pandemic, Thomas says the haunted walking tour will be perfect for people looking for something to do to celebrate Halloween this month. Each haunted tour will be capped at 10 people. Tickets cost $30 per person; call (919) 889-4499 to reserve your spot.
An interior designer’s take on his historic home in Five Points.
Photographs by Jennifer Robertson
Designer Antoine Pontón takes pride in creating meaningful spaces for his clients. The owner of Raleigh-based interior design firm AP Designs, Pontón has a passion for creating beautiful spaces for others, but the tables were turned when he began designing the bungalow he now shares with his partner, Ryan. For Pontón, it was an opportunity to pour his heart into his most prized project yet: the place where he lives.
Pontón, who is originally from southern Louisiana, runs his design business with the motto “remembering the past and embracing the future” in mind. His regard for implementing existing details came in handy when restoring the 1928 bungalow located in Five Points, a project he completed this spring before moving into the home with Ryan, who has lived there since 2012.
As with most historic homes, the bungalow certainly didn’t lack character. From original moldings to glass doorknobs, Pontón focused on highlighting the bungalow’s authentic charm while updating it in a way that fits the couple’s lifestyle and individual personalities.
“No corner, inside or out, was left untouched,” Pontón says. “We decided to stay away from anything too trendy. We stuck with classics that will never go out of style.”
With design and decorating ideas swirling in his mind, Pontón kept them all in one place by pinning sketches and photos to a design board which he referred to throughout the renovation. Though this is his first time decorating a home for himself, Pontón says there are some pieces that have followed him for years, including items he has collected on travels. Persian rugs and paintings, for instance, make his house feel like home. Fabric that he and Ryan found on a trip to Bali last year are now throw pillows adorning a custom-made sofa, setting the tone for the living room’s ambience.
“Experimenting with bright colors can seem daunting, but I love to see how colors, textures, and shapes can harmonize when creating an eclectic, interesting space,” Pontón says.
One of his most beloved possessions is a trio of abstract paintings Pontón’s father painted in 1968, when he had moved in to his first apartment. “He couldn’t spend much on decorations, so he headed to the art store, got these three canvases and simply painted on them,” Pontón says. “They’ve hung in every place I’ve lived.”
Another meaningful piece is a framed American flag hanging in Pontón’s office. The flag, he explains, was flying over the nation’s capital the day his father retired after serving for 36 years in the U.S. military, in 1988. “I always try to incorporate sentimental keepsakes in every design, and this flag certainly fits that bill,” Pontón says.
Pontón and Ryan enjoy hosting cocktail hours with friends, but with no room for a butler’s pantry, some design innovation was needed. So Pontón dedicated a portion of the galley kitchen to an at-home bar that would make any mixologist swoon. “This is when the idea of ‘meaningful design’ comes into play, when it’s imperative to make every nook and cranny not only functional, but fun and enjoyable as well,” Pontón says. With an oversized porch to welcome visitors, the home is the perfect spot for entertaining or sipping cocktails with friends.
Now that the historic charmer has received its facelift, Pontón says he couldn’t be happier with the final result.
“One of our favorite things to do is to entertain guests, and we’ll be hosting gatherings often here,” Pontón says. “I’m looking forward to helping others transform their spaces, so they can see their homes’ potential as well. When you’re as passionate about your job as I am about design, it doesn’t make it feel like work.”
At this point it’s become a cliche to say that, for the 2020 election cycle, the stakes have never been higher. But there’s really no other way to put it. National unrest, a global pandemic, a faltering economy; all are hallmarks of a year that will culminate in the American people choosing to take the country in a different direction or ushering in four more years of the same. So, in the spirit of cliches, here’s another one for you: Your vote matters and it’s never been more important for you to cast it. For many, voting will look a lot different this fall; for others, it will be familiar. We want to make sure you know what all your voting options are and that, on Election Day or in the weeks before, you’re ready to make your voice heard, from the top of the ticket on down.
First of all, are you registered to vote? You can check at vt.ncsbe.gov/reglkup/. If you’re not registered, here’s what to do:
How to Register
In North Carolina, if you are a U.S. citizen of at least 18 years old, there are lots of different ways to register to vote. You can apply to register to vote online through the NC DMV website; you can fill out the North Carolina Voter Registration form at your local elections board office* or send it through the mail; or you can register and vote on the same day at sites across your county during the early voting period from October 15–31 (bring your driver’s license or ID and proof of residence). You must register to vote before Election Day on November 3. For more information, check out the Wake County Board of Elections website at wakegov.com/elections.
If you are registered to vote, check out your sample ballot and consider your options. There are more than 100 different ballots for Wake County voters this year, covering everything from U.S. president to state offices to judges and local lawmakers. Be informed. Then, make your game plan: you can vote at your assigned precinct in person on Election Day, at an in-person early voting site with locations all over Wake County, or you can vote by mail using an absentee ballot.
Worried about contracting COVID-19? Vote by mail-in absentee ballot.
While experts say they don’t expect voting at the polls this year to be any more risky than shopping at the grocery store, no one really knows what the coronavirus pandemic has in store for us this fall. Mail-in absentee ballots are available to all North Carolina registered voters. If you decide to go this route, first, you have to fill out an application requesting that your absentee ballot be mailed to you. Do so here: votebymail.ncsbe.gov/app/home or find blank applications at the Wake County elections office to fill out and return in person, via mail, fax or email. Once you receive your ballot in the mail (it should take no longer than 10 days), fill it out in the presence of one witness (spouse, friend, roommate); the witness doesn’t have to see who you’re voting for, just that you’re voting. Once you’ve completed your ballot, put it in the return envelope and complete and sign the outside of the ballot return envelope. Your witness will need to complete and sign the witness certification envelope as well. Then, return your absentee ballot to the Wake County Board of Elections office, either by U.S. mail postmarked on or before Election Day, by commercial courier service (FedEx or UPS), or drop it off in person on or before Election Day. You can also drop off your absentee ballot at any early voting site in the county during early voting hours. If you want to track your mail-in ballot, you can call the Wake elections office to make sure it’s been received, or download the state’s BallotTrax app. For more information on any of this, check out ncsbe.gov. Remember, you can request an absentee ballot and not submit it if you decide later on to vote in person—but, of course, you’re only allowed to vote once!
Worried about long lines on Election Day? Vote early.
Early voting will operate much the same as in prior election years, whereby any registered voter who lives in Wake County can vote at any early voting site in the county during early voting hours. Early voting starts October 15 and lasts through October 31, with hours during the week and on the weekends. For a list of Wake County’s early voting locations and hours, visit wakegov.com/elections/. You can also register to vote at any early voting site during the early voting period (see How to Register).
Want to vote the traditional way? Vote on Election Day November 3.
It’s an untraditional year but many of us will need that extra time to do our candidate research, especially on those down-ballot races. Remember, if you’re voting on Election Day, you must register to vote before November 3. Polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day and any voter in line by 7:30 p.m. will be allowed to vote; you must vote at your assigned polling place (find that here vt.ncsbe.gov/pplkup/). County election boards will be taking COVID-19 precautions to protect poll workers and voters, enforcing social distancing, providing hand sanitizer and masks, providing single use pens, cleaning surfaces and equipment frequently and other precautions.
*Wake County Board of Elections
1200 N. New Hope Road Raleigh, NC 27610 (physical address)
Powder blue lends a note of nostalgia to any look, a reminiscence of calmer, simpler times. It also helps that the hue is flattering on virtually everyone. Baby blue can be dressed up in structured maxi dresses or made casual in a cozy sweatsuit for an elevated, or understated, wistful style.
1. Yacco Maricard cotton lavender shirt, $310; C.T. Weekends 2. Amanda Uprichard Nanette blue top, $172; Uniquities 3. Bao Bao blue prism metallic tote, $795; C.T. Weekends 4. Crystal open circle earrings, $29,50; J.Crew 5. Le Lis blue briar washed hoodie, $49; Le Lis blue lyle washed joggers, $49; Madison 6. Wade Voss belted blue Betty dress, $138; Monkee’s 7. Nation Fiona violet smock tee, $124; Uniquities 8. Frederic bleu fumée cross body bag, $180; C.T. Weekends 9. Sea Celine puff sleeve dress, $465; Uniquities 10. Kate Spade roulette leather hobo bag, $298; Nordstrom 11. Elliot Lauren periwinkle crew neck top, $95; Copper Penny 12. Jeffrey Campbell blue black cowboy boot, $170; Main & Taylor 13. Brahmin Duxie croc embossed leather crossbody bag, $245; Nordstrom
