One of my fave designers, Kelly Van Patter, has such a gorgeous home in Silverlake. I love how rustic yet elegant yet accessible her design aesthetic is - lovely! I especially love her dining room and how she incorporated a very neat design element that would work in a small space. Instead of keeping the molding dark and everything else white, she painted the main wall a dark color and kept the border white. Since the ceiling is also white, this allows for the space to really open up and keep your eye moving towards the ceiling. Fab! Check out a full tour of Kelly's home over at Apartment Therapy.
The room is in an elegant symmetry, and still manage to keep it interesting with the unique decor. I agree, the black adds accent where the white would not
Nicolette
http://www.furnitureanddesignideas.com/
that antler chandelier is to die for!