Do you sand the doors before you paint them black? - I have all white painted interior doors and I'm really hoping I don't have to sand all of them before painting them »
The Shabby Nest In all honesty, I think they are only as dramatic as you intend them to be. In the case of the photo you've chosen, they are dramatic mostly due to the fact that the space itself is high drama. They can also be fairly traditional, even understated in a more subdued space.
Paint it: Super dark brick hallways, unless made of grey brick, can often seem Silence-Of-The-Lambs-ish. Unless you're willing to invest in UH-MAY-ZING lighting and fine art, paint dark brick hallways white to liven up the space and allow yourself to create a bold palette such as black and white. This is also a great way to experiment with your inner Dorothy Draper. Don't know who she is? Shame on you! Read about her style here.
Black interior doors with all-white trim tie in flooring and frames beautifully.
Tip: Black doors really sing when there is a wall of them creating repetition. And remember, door colors do not have to match the trim.