Dark Exterior, Light Interior: 6 Homes That Celebrate Contrast
They claim the best of both worlds and have a distinct wow factor. See if any of these high-contrast homes light a spark of curiosity
I've noticed a lot of houses with dark exteriors lately. Some have been made with the shou-sugi-ban technique, which creates a protective charred layer that results in a dark exterior. Others resemble stealth aircraft, removing detail in favor of an almost total darkness. As has been explored elsewhere on Houzz, black and coal-gray exteriors have an undeniable wow factor and help make any colors incorporated pop.
What interests me about black exteriors isn't necessarily their form, which I equate with suspenseful movies — not in a bad way, but in the sense that movies shot in the dark let our imaginations take hold. Dark exteriors allow the same to occur in how the interiors relate to the outsides. What I notice the most is the strong contrast between the exteriors (dark) and interiors (light).
What interests me about black exteriors isn't necessarily their form, which I equate with suspenseful movies — not in a bad way, but in the sense that movies shot in the dark let our imaginations take hold. Dark exteriors allow the same to occur in how the interiors relate to the outsides. What I notice the most is the strong contrast between the exteriors (dark) and interiors (light).
The Cantilever House has a second-floor volume in black propped atop a concrete base. This black-over-gray composition inverts our expected notion of light over heavy. It is particularly pronounced in the black soffit over the walkway at the base of the stair.
Inside white surfaces abound, and the large windows frame the trees and water. The thin exterior skin means the black is only subtly glimpsed.
Echo House is a renovated old Victorian house with formerly dark interiors. The architects put the dark on the outside, moving from orange brick to a dark gray color. The cantilevered volume adds some square footage to the compact footprint.
What was dark and compartmentalized inside is now open, bright and full of surprises, especially the mezzanine over the kitchen.
The Whistler Residence is covered partly in dark shingles, which accentuate the concrete that breaks up the form and the wood that can be seen through the large opening.
The concrete, glass and wood combine to create a bright and airy interior, where the wood joists and ceiling create a strong sense of enclosure.
The dark stained cedar exterior of this midcentury remodel is a pleasing fit within the wooded context.
Inside the home is white and bright, with windows and skylights that give views of the trees and sky.
The aptly named Black House is a renovation that strives to stand out amongst the "pink house fabric of suburban Phoenix," as the architect describes it.
Yet the black and the heat are kept out of the interior, which is white with some stone.
Black exteriors are particularly impressive at night, when they appear even darker and the lights glow from within like a lantern, as in the Flowing Lake Residence.
Some black from the exterior is carried through to the interior (wood wall on the left and window frames), but this house is another example where white and light prevail.
Here's another project where the interior glow is accentuated by the dark exterior; the large glass walls arising from the modern design (and having all the lights on for the photo shoot) accentuate the effect.
The interior is very bright, thanks to the glass walls and white surfaces but also the double-height space cut between the living room and kitchen.
Last is the Robins Way house, which mixes dark brick and wood on the exterior. The light shade of grout provides some relief to the dark colors outside.
Inside it has white walls, a light wooden floor and a distinctive ceiling of natural rope. The dark exterior is visible through the clerestory and other windows, but it doesn't overshadow the bright interior.
More: On Trend: Bold and Black Exterior House Color
More: On Trend: Bold and Black Exterior House Color