Goth rocks

Tired of minimalist chic, understated tones and a sea of beige? Then it might be time to go gothic.

Taking its cue from the alternative cult club/fashion scene, home designers and retailers are putting

their own spin on goth. It might take the shape of an ornamental antique cross hung on a whitewashed wall or rich crumpled velvets in shades of red and burgundy. The look, say design experts, is part Spanish colonial, part Renaissance and includes plenty of dark tones.

'It's heavy and rich, and certain people like that style,' says interior decorator Kamini Ezralow.

A savvy touch of goth in interiors can be comforting when done the right way. In her book, Living Spaces: Bringing Style and Spirit to Your Home, author Marlee LeDai addresses design elements culled from places of worship and employed in the home, an example of which is the use of church pews around a kitchen table.