Houzz Feature

One of Spatial Design Architect's most popular projects, TIMBERS, from our earlier years, has been featured in a write up on HOUZZ...

The Elegant Exterior: Add a Black Accent
See 10 homes that successfully flirt with the dark side

Jennifer Ott 4 July 2016

San Francisco-based interior designer, architectural color specialist, and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her forthcoming book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," will be published in October 2016.

If my recent exterior colour consultations are any indication, I’d say black is continuing its run as a hot exterior hue. But not everyone can, or wants to, use this powerful colour on the entirety of their home. For one thing, it’s not the best choice in a hot and sunny climate, as black absorbs more heat than lighter hues. Many also find it a tad too sombre looking when used in large doses. If you love the drama and elegance of black but don’t want to go all in with it, consider limiting its use to accents only, or as a secondary colour on the home.

They say opposites attract, and I am definitely drawn to this home for its pleasing mix of traditional and modern elements. And while this home features one of the largest black accents, all that darkness is balanced out nicely with equally large amounts of warm and light colours and materials.