Black walls - not just for angry teenagers

Wallpaper magazine called the Portuguese architecture and interior design firm Oito Em Ponto the "princes of Porto" and they weren't far wrong. I've been flicking through their back catalogues and came across this 2004 private residence in their portfolio. I love the use of visual tricks (like the bust at the end of a black corridor in front of a mirror) and they way that they perfectly pulled together rooms are blackened, creating an art gallery sort of ambiance that lets the art itself take centre stage. I particularly like the white piece in the hallway where the eye is drawn only to imperfection against a muted backdrop. I'm sure that it's the "house's own" but it's perfectly placed. A perfect city pad for a city gentleman.