THE DARK SIDE

These days, a dark home exterior doesn’t equal gloomy or spooky. Choosing a black façade creates a striking, dramatic look. And when mixed with the right outdoor lighting, a home’s black exterior finish wows with an attention-getting ambiance.

By Melissa Mauzy

By Aspect Design Build.

This home was constructed near the shores of Lake Minnetonka in the western suburbs of Minneapolis, where the “cottage” look is a prevalent theme locally. This home is an updated, moodier, more rugged version of the cottage based on what you might see at a turn-of-the-century Lake Superior lighthouse that has been beaten by its harsh waters for years.

Photography by Spacecrafting Photography.

By Old Town Design Group.

Combining bold exterior paints and a traditional elevation, this modern farmhouse is a homeowner design. Interior design partner Everything Home wanted to make an additional impact with a statement front door, choosing Sherwin-Williams Frolic to complete the look.

Photography by Tom Graham.

By Penny Lane Home Builders and Architect Eric Vollmer.

The "Nordic Modern" exterior is composed of clear cedar vertical siding, black-painted Hardie lap siding and corrugated steel siding. Strategic window placement captures light and frames views while providing privacy from the next door neighbors. Four operable skylights bring daylight and ventilation deep into the house.

By

Glo Windows, VY Architecture, Structural Edge Engineering and King Building & Remodeling LLC.

The artfully designed Boise Passive House is tucked in a mature neighborhood surrounded by 1930s bungalows. Its classic profile gleams from days of old while brining simplicity and design clarity to the facade. The black exterior bridges the gap between eras with the dark color selection, ushering it in to the current decade.

Photography by Gabe Border Photography.

By Core Group.

An empty lot in the popular Summerhill neighborhood of Atlanta is turned into a stunning 2-story home with transitional styling and dark exterior. Black on black on black, and on trend, with accents of stained wood, this house represents bold design choices and a can’t miss eye-catching exterior.

Photography courtesy of Core Group.

By Jay Marc Homes and McCullough Architects.

This home was custom-built to provide a space where the family can host large gatherings and have relatives stay for long periods of time. A folding glass wall unveils over 1,000 square feet of deck space that features partially covered lounging, a casual dining table and an additional lounging area with large side-mounted umbrellas and a sliding window in front of the kitchen sink that can be converted into a bar top. Both restrained and refined, this home has a great combination of materials and colors. It feels warm, yet open, is tasteful and unique, and overall came together really well.

By Hays + Ewing Design Studio.

This Virginia Beach modern home has a striking presence as seen from the water. A linear fountain strikes a line along the entry path, disappears below the house then reappears as a pool and foreground to Linkhorn Bay. A trellis further strengthens the connection between the water elements and the shoreline; it travels along the entry walkway, through a vestibule to hover above the pool. Exterior materials include concrete, glass, stained wood and composite metal panels.

Photography by Prakash Patel.

By Lowell Custom Homes.

The exterior is a transitional contemporary farmhouse with dark gray metal siding and rustic burnt orange accent trim. The exterior blends seamlessly with nature and features expansive views of the lake and wooded property.

Photography by S Photography.