“Often considered drab or dull, brown is the most under-appreciated color in interior decorating. Many pass it over for more familiar hues without properly investigating the wide spectrum of tones available. Red-browns, blue-browns, chocolate browns – all are deep, dark, and delicious. Brown is the color of silky fur, soft suede, and buttery leather. The color exudes sophistication, mystery, and an earthy richness. It just takes a bit of imagination and daring to try a soft terracotta or a deep coffee. A brown color scheme can complement tropical woods such as rosewood, teak, mahogany, African walnut, or ebony. And it is th perfect backdrop for black-and-white photographs, tropical flowers, and raffia textiles. Barkcloth, a red-brown fiber peeled from the trunks of fig trees, can serve as a unifying motif for a range of earth tones. Natural hardwood floors in varying shades of brown possess a warm beauty that carpet and any other color, especially pastels such as pink, baby blue, lilac, and green.
Above: Rich brown tones vary from the simple to the sophisticated. Resting on traditional bark cloth, a variety of textures-rough glass, smooth amber, and polished bone beads, ranging in colors from terracotta to cocoa-creates an interesting mix. Traditional Zairian Showa mats with embroidered geometric symbols contrast with contemporary upholstery print fabrics, directly below, which are designed and produced by U.S. Based Ugandan textile designer Dan Sekanwagi for Visual Feast Fabrics. At bottom center. “Ashanti, Tanala”, produced by Arte Wall-covering and Fabrics, Inc., offers options for covering chairs, sofas, even windows in the spirit of Africa. At bottom right, Raffia woven Kuba cloth, enhanced with appliqued geometric symbols, and, above, a women's cloth from Gambia, made of rich brown cotton and silver threads, are two other African textiles to consider when decorating your interiors in brown tones.
To The Left: Ocher yellow walls, rich dark wood, accessories in contrasting colors, and lush green plants create earthbound beauty that is the hallmark of African style. All of the furnishings here have been given a second life with new upholstery, cushions, and pillows. The contemporary pastel collage on paper by African-American Artist Janet Taylor Pickett is at the center; it shares the limelight with a six-foot ceremonial mask from Burkina Faso. The mask is from Findings (246 Race St Philadelphia, PA).”
- Excerpt from African Style: down to the details by
Sharne Algottson: a great read
for bringing the style and interior inspirations of Africa into your
home! You may also want to check out her previous book in which she
co-authored entitled: 
"The Spirit of African Design", as well as her latest publication: "City Living: Creative Ideas For The New Urban Home". And if you are ever in the Philadelphia area, you definitely have to pick up something to adorn your home at her home gallery "Twist", which she co-owns. “More than a store, Twist is part gallery—where we showcase our own designs as well as other custom and restored furniture, plus accessories and gifts.”- Sharne Algotsson.
