The owners of this remarkable house hit a stage in life where they could redefine their needs and reimagine their surroundings. With their three children grown and only one still at home, the couple downsized to the city. With the help of CplusC Architectural Workshop , they renovated the 523 square meter property into a space that would be used predominantly for entertaining and appreciating life as a couple, as well as carving out peaceful pockets for themselves. They envisioned hours playing mahjong, proudly displaying family memorabilia, having an organized spot to clean and store scuba gear, and embracing an uplifting meld of natural elements. An artful indoor-outdoor home design came to life and ZZ Top House was born.
Located in Australia, this indoor-outdoor home design benefits from a warm climate and cooling elements of shade. The composition cleverly confuses the onlooker as to where the boundary between the home and the garden lies.
Tall ceilings feature uniform cutaways and skylights that break open the living spaces. The skyscape becomes part of the interior decor; bright blue and enlivening during daylight hours and a sparkling blanket of starlit black velvet as night falls.
The threshold into the main living room from the garden is intentionally confounding. An open-air sitting area, kitchen, and dining space are presented like an indoor room with colorful flooring and a ceiling fan whirring overhead. However, this is merely an intermediary zone. Glass doors protect the main, internal living room from the elements.
The green flooring makes a color connection with the garden and a wall of delicate climbing plants behind the couch. An oval coffee table stretches long in front of the sofa, like a sleek white surfboard.
In the open-air kitchen area, a luxury grill gets BBQ gatherings going and an outdoor drinks fridge stores refreshments at the ready.
Once inside the sliding glass doors, the indoor living space provides a cozy respite for watching TV and stretching out on a comfortable modern sofa. A polished concrete floor maintains an outdoor feel that is also easy to clean after tracking traces of the garden in.
A lowered black ceiling makes this area of the home feel protectively cocooned, making movie nights and games nights more intimate.
The gray sectional sofa embraces the indoor living space and a chic glass coffee table with a snug L-shaped formation. A cowhide living room rug unfurls warming color and texture underneath.
Built-in media cabinets frame the wall-mounted TV, providing plentiful storage opportunities for the couple’s movies, games, and hobbies.
An assortment of playful throw pillows pepper the modern couch. Natural light floods the airy living spaces through louvers, highlighting every detail of the decor.
The couple favors natural timber, bare concrete, and exposed brickwork to construct an honest aesthetic. Rugged red brickwork builds a rich, towering backdrop for the interior kitchen and formal dining area, which expands into a striking floor treatment. A wooden dining table and chairs are complemented by smooth wood flooring with a contemporary diagonal installation.
An accent chair is placed by the window to fashion a bright reading nook.
A huge kitchen island fills the length of the grand room. Kitchen bar stools line up along the breakfast bar.
The kitchen island features an eye-catching split material composition. Luxe white marble forms a glossy prep area while natural wood builds the dining spot.
The black media wall is punctuated with atmospheric cubes of light where display shelving is backlit by recessed LEDs.
The split-level living room construction is edged with a built-in bookcase, which brings a homey touch to the raw industrial aesthetic.
Decorative vases and indoor plants add splashes of color to the neutral decor palette.
Books add a cheerful rainbow of color to the wooden bookshelves. Modern wall sconces complement a spherical floor lamp.
The home exterior is characterized by ornate wrought iron railings which darkly contrast crisp white stucco. A modern metal gatepost displays the house number.
Bamboo plants lightly shade the narrow pathway toward the entryway of the house. A tall door instantly reveals the sky-high ceiling height within.
The same black wrought iron railings that appear outside the building bring an ornate touch to the double-height living room. During the project, the homeowners decided to makeover the upstairs bedrooms and a bathroom to correlate with the rest of the renovation. These bedrooms are reserved for the couple’s child who lives at home and for their other two children to visit.
A built-in bench separates the home entryway from the kitchen diner. Decorative coat hooks dot the wall.
Outdoor lights accentuate the planting and the pathway.
The magical courtyard area is heated with a roaring fire pit.
Block paving colors the floor of the courtyard. Lush green borders feather the concrete boundary.
The garden landscaping has a wild nature with an abundance of plants pushing up between paving stones and conquering the perimeter.
A series of arches gives the home exterior an elegant aesthetic. Outdoor furniture fills a small patio area where the homeowners can enjoy a drink and conversation.
A concrete bench makes a warm seat by the outdoor fireplace.
Small trees soften the solid garden walls with their natural silhouettes.
The green courtyard makes a peaceful view from the main living room and the open-air lounge space.
From outside the property walls, climbing plants provide a glimpse of what awaits within.
Side elevation, including the master bedroom.
Home composition.
Upper floor plan.
3D drawing.
Side elevation plus garage.
Lower floor plan.
Design blogs are filled with countless ideas for interiors. What about ideas for your exterior? How are you planning to envelop your home? Where will your main view look out to, your patio be awash with the smell of, and what will you drive up to at the end of each day? These fifty home exteriors show what it means to have a modern-looking façade. Using combinations of timber, plaster, bamboo, glass and concrete, they shoot up straight in large vertical panels, slither into long horizontal levels, and criss-cross with the forest and palm trees in a myriad of natural settings. Pick your favourite from our top 51 exteriors for yourself.
Visualizer:Subpixel
Sharply angled walls and windows give the upper floor of this modern home exterior added perspective, which directs the eye toward a beautiful Bonsai tree.
Visualizer:3DVue
Combine varnished timber, plaster and mushroom tones into one snazzy exterior design. This street side home finishes off its frontage with a row of manicured garden hedges.
Visualizer:Archi CGI
Integrate greenery into your home. This white brick creation lets in the light through a series of brick inlets, while a creeping fern drapes over the living area and garage.
Visualizer:Constantine Rybkin
don’t have to be in the city. Set in a stunning forest glade, white cherry blossoms and weeping willow trees create softness, while a black-painted column holds a room with a view.
Visualizer:Yura Savitskyi
We’ve all dreamed of a modern log cabin from time to time. This paned wooden exterior runs its grooves smooth on the roof and perpendicular in its body, as it opens up its windows to a forest of pine.
Visualizer:Phil Ryan
Sexy and sophisticated, this array of disjointed levels knows how to glow when the sun begins to set. A tall column of beige brick meets slatted wood panels in a plaster frame, letting light into common areas and giving privacy in areas where we like to hide.
Visualizer:Artem Trigubchak
Sculpt your exterior garden with a few placed rocks. This modern building, resplendent with a tall concrete column, slatted wall of blinds and vertical glass panes matches its grey to a rock entrance and stairway.
Visualizer:Studio Aiko
Use your pool to mimic the shape of your exterior. This long-line horizontal abode protects from the elements with glass and metal coverings, while a luxurious strip of blue runs its length. Two levels of patios are furnished with different types of modern outdoor chairs to delineate the specific functions of each area.
Visualizer:Marcin Mierzyński
Mix corrugated steel, plaster and concrete for the perfect blend of modern and homely. This two-storey residence on a flat plot of land lets in the sun with skylights up to the stars.
Visualizer:Yuliya Rastorguyeva
Using a different material in one area can highlight a space. Enfolded in steel, concrete and glass, this stunning horizontal wooden panel marks a clear path to the front door.
Visualizer:Fedorova
A beautiful balcony heightens your enjoyment of the outdoors. Large, open-framed windows make the most of this rural setting, while glass railings allow a comfy seat in an outdoor pod.
Visualizer:Maciej Duda
Outdoor lookouts don’t have to be high. This white plaster dream seats a small party in a wooden enclave, providing the perfect view to watch trimmed hedges, birds and bees pass by.
Visualizer:Marcin Mierzyński
Three interlocking levels show versatility of colour in this two-storey mansion. Featuring large panes of glass and even wider viewing platforms, its open-plan form creates a rural oasis.
Visualizer:Phan Anh
Let the city in, or keep the city out. This innovative apartment open shutters at the main gate and central window façade, making them solid again to protect from noise and fumes.
Visualizer:Nmachine
Tropical exteriors can work in urban districts. This two-level home uses a bevy of bamboo shutters, wooden pool decking, wild tussocks and palm trees to achieve the look.
Visualizer:Studio Aiko
A great design for a home or office, this building offers an industrial twist on the home above. Instead of bamboo shutters, metal grating offers a glimpse of the outdoors between hanging fairy lights. Instead of palm trees, oak-lined boulevards make the space green.
Visualizer:Maciej Duda
Surprise guests with an unconventional garden. Planting hordes of pussywillow afront decorated grey brick, a wooden corridor lit by hanging pendants draws the eye in.
Visualizer:Ink Pixel
Zip away in your jet boat from the moment you wake. This contemporary abode uses concrete, slatted wood and glass to create a cascade of layers that stretch over a lake.
Visualizer:Yuriy Bochkaryov
Key elements of your exterior need not be standard. This house turns a traditional cathedral roof on its head, by slanting it diagonally across a concrete and wooden base.
Visualizer:Blackbell
Grey and stone add a feeling of serenity to urban surroundings. Walk down the sanded wooden steps to a comfortable seating area nestled between the trees.
Photographer:Tinnaphop Chawatin
Make the most of a view by building exterior protrusions. These five balconies offer a well-lit, design-cushioned view. Blue forget-me-nots offer a simple surprise on the way in.
Architect:Abramson Teiger Architects
Succulents and shrubs offer an easy-to-maintain garden alternative. This brick and wooden home can enjoy their greenery on the ground floor, or look over them on a black iron balcony.
Visualizer:Ark Viz
Nature and technology merge in this beautiful autumn setting. Forming a series of blocks joined by a concrete-clad passage, a large glass lounge opens up the indoor-outdoor flow.
Visualizer:Mo Design Studio
Rooftop gardens bring nature to man-made constructions. This residence makes its stone layers shine with an array of palm trees, hanging flowers and vines dangling atop.
Architect:Architecture Paradigm
Worried your white exterior looks a little too stark? Spice it up with double-roof layering, unconventional angles and a bunch of greenery growing from its edges.
Visualizer:Shuvajyoti Misra
Belonging more to an art museum than a residential street, this towering masterpiece strikes a chord with a perforated yellow façade. Rows of rose hedges and an upper balcony offer differing views.
Visualizer:Marcin Mierzyński
Make your house the brightest on the street – and not just for Christmas. LED line lighting tracks the ceilings, walls and pot plants of this seriously innovative two-storey.
Visualizer:Zrobym Architects
Think black and white won’t sit well together? Think again in this Jenga-style structure that holds a black box on the top, and a white one underneath. Paths of pebbles draw the guest in.
Visualizer:Zrobym Architects
Match the shape of your garden to the shape of your exterior. Be there or be square, in this steel and wooden structure framed by box hedges and even a street number in a cube.
Visualizer:Osama Abdallah
Two looks can mesh together with the help of materials. Miami-esque plaster and glass joins with rustic stone and industrial concrete to produce the most unusual house on the street.
Architect:Jobim Carlevaro Arquitetos
A sloped site can work to your advantage. Wide window panels with warm wooden sides let a great view rest in an urban location.
Visualizer:Baust Architects
Climb over four roofs in your quest for great entertaining. A stone and wooden gate opens up to platforms paved in pebbles and lined with succulents.
Visualizer:Ibrahem Magdy
Have one feature you’d like to stand out? This large home favours the entrance and dining room, in L-shapes of heavy grey stone.
Visualizer:Ibrahem Magdy
Dare to be different in the way you let in light. This modern Islamic-style exterior makes darker rooms lighter, while shedding traditional mosaic light patterns on the carpet inside.
Visualizer:Ibrahem Magdy
Centralise light in the middle of your home. This exterior cradles large sheets of glass in columns of brick, while offering two balconies for sunset views.
Visualizer:Vogue Architects
Design your home or office block with flow in mind. Two thick-set horizontal levels are met by a concrete panelled entrance, maximising movement across each level. Large glass panels let the outside in.
Visualizer:Luisö Ramos
Have some designer cars you’d like to show off? This residential home combines concrete and plaster columns with a wooden garage fronting the road.
Visualizer:Ioan Ralea-Toma & Vlad Andrei Popa
How do you make your apartment stand out from the rest? Use columned windows to draw them in, then fascinate with a luminescent glow that filters through perforated window shades that light up at night. The polished sphere sculpture offers a modern alternative to the traditional garden statue .
Visualizer:Ioan Ralea-Toma & Vlad Andrei Popa
Another innovative apartment block, this concrete, plaster and wooden find uses its outside lights to full effect. As a plethora of moving slabs pave your way in, light deflects off a large vertical façade, entrance, and lush ferns in the garden.
Visualizer:Ngotrung Ngo
Make the most of a narrow house exterior, by flagging it with a mast. A navy painted panel cradles this striking triangular facade, a mixture of black and white bars that cunningly match the gate.
Visualizer:Luisö Ramos
Landscaping can play a large part in your exterior design. While concrete and plaster squares wind around living areas, three stone sculptures punctuate what could be an overwhelming design.
Architect:Forx Design Studio| Photographer:Tinnaphop Chawatin
Wide, open and inviting describes this classy modern space. Set on a row of manicured lawns and hedges, its central structure features a lit border ceiling and grandiose staircase to guide the way in.
Visualizer:So On
Make your home feel like a high-end resort. White and wood weave around a greenery-framed pool, while full-wall glass windows offer a look to the sea and indoor-outdoor flow.
Visualizer:Kozman Architects
How do you maximise sunlight in your home? This brick and concrete structure uses wooden slats as Venetian blinds, opening up the space and catching rays while the sun goes down.
Architect:Jobim Carlevaro Arquitetos| Visualizer:Torquatoregis
Design your home to be out in the open. This wood and brick two-storey features a central space for sunbathing, and a deck out front to enjoy green space.
Visualizer:Ioan Ralea-Toma
Bend the rules with your exterior. This residence features sloping outdoor patios, an ascending roof and convex front elevation on a simple, flat patch of green.
Visualizer:Burak Lafcı
A mountainous location deserves a home with a view. White wooden rafters reach up to the sky afront a pool, wooden lounger deck and tinted rectangular windows.
Visualizer:DÉR architects
Make your home easy to access. Set amidst clear, flat land, trimmed hedges and spacious steps, this wooden exterior invites in visitors with a cavity in its centre.
Visualizer:Ark Viz
Ever imagined a chequered exterior? Neither had we. This two-storey mixed-material home employs the style with aplomb, finishing it off with a steel convex balcony and grass tuft-embedded patio.
Visualizer:Aleksandr Zhidkov
Easily described as a dream come true, this modern home afront a mock coral reef gets our eyes excited. As metal chain windows let in just the right amount of light, strong charcoal frames and a cascade of white steps lead up to urban paradise.
Visualizer:Thomas Dubois
This interesting façade is what sci-fi movies are made of. A clear dome atop two levels of slatted wood make this circular home reminiscent of UFOs.
Dark isn’t the first theme that comes to mind when designing a kitchen. Stereotypical assumptions are of white and bright kitchens matched by light wood—something like the color of breakfast pancakes. Have you ever thought otherwise? Perhaps something like a modern dark kitchen?
We’ve got a collection of stunning spaces sure to switch up your vision. This black kitchen design inspiration is the sexiest interior design can muster. All divulging in shades of black, navy, or dark brown, they add what white kitchens cannot—a seductive allure that says sleekness and sophistication at the same time. Take a peek at some brilliant interiors on the darker side to see if a modern luxury black kitchen could be for you.
Modern Dark Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation
1. Make it an All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Design At Sketch
Almost completely covered in black, a few minor elements shine in chrome and wood in this kitchen interior. We love how the textures do the talking, especially through the matte table under black wood-panelled walls. But having an open approach like this means that every one of your accessories on display—including knives, wine glasses, mugs, cutting boards, teapots, cookie jars, etc.—need to be on point.
2. Add Wooden Elements
Visualizer:Bogdan Tovstyy
This black beauty edges towards wooden elements. We see a speckled floor, a white wall, and a central bench. Rounded black lamps hover over the island, providing functionality and style. If you’re wondering how visual intrigue is added to this modern black kitchen… a huge credit goes to the abstract art!
3. Complement the Black Kitchen with Orange
Source:Vancouver House
A bit of curve rounds out the hard edges—adding some much-needed warmth. This wave-design bench leads up to an orange-hued enclave in this black-and-silver interior. The burnt orange sure makes a design statement (apart from the unique central island).
4. Keep Your Dark Modern Kitchen Simple
Visualizer:Panda Fox Studios
A simplistic look makes this black kitchen a winner. We see the basics: a light floor, a black minimalist island, and sleek cabinetry. But the contrast between light and dark keeps the ambiance interesting, while the large window welcomes plenty of natural light.
5. Make it Dark… Or Not?
Visualizer:Who Cares Design
If you’re eyeing a dark kitchen aesthetic but are hesitant to make the change, this is it. Introducing more light, this black kitchen is hardly dark at all. Black benches, cabinetry, fixtures and stools are intersected by large-panel windows, a white shelving stand and light flooring.
6. Make Use of Asymmetry in the Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Visual Method
This modern black kitchen takes another angle on this kaleidoscopic space, breaking all spatial boundaries. Black and glass alternate in this chic kitchen as the interesting ceiling design keeps the space unconventional. We’ve also got to appreciate the cherry blossoms, doubling as decor even within the interior.
7. Factor in Some Warmth
Source:Modulnova
This warmer-looking kitchen makes a move to brown. It strategically achieves the purpose with the use of wood. This not only introduces natural textures but also makes the ambiance inviting. Talk about a modern style that’s equal parts welcoming!
8. Place a White Island in a Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Jean Regauer
An instant way to brighten up a dark kitchen (we mean, get the best of both worlds)? This kitchen space shows us how by using a white island on a black floor. The backsplash further enhances this dark-and-light effect, while the cowhide rug adds just the right amount of coziness.
9. Make Marble Your Best Friend
Architect:Chamberlain Javens Architects
If you’re looking to create a modern luxury black kitchen, you know what you’ve got to do: Go big on marble! This natural stone adds the luxe factor to any space, especially as a large, central island, as seen in the kitchen above. You can also add it through the backsplash.
10. Make it Mysterious
Visualizer:Tomek Michalski
You can double the visual intrigue in your all black kitchen by adding some mystery. In this kitchen, mood-lighting sets the scene in black and grey, while a marbled bench acts as the hero. The back inlet and flooring create contrast and depth. Taken together, these elements make the space an interesting one.
11. Layer Gray and Gold
Visualizer:Mitaka Dimov
Black kitchens are cool, but what if we layer in gray and add accents of gold? This stunning kitchen space uses gray flooring to add diversity to the otherwise black palette. The thick gold panel is one way that makes the space look incredibly high-end.
12. Add French Style to Black Kitchen Design
Visualizer:Aeroslon
Make your kitchen both modern and French with traditional black cabinetry. In this space, standing armoires act as sinks, and all other displayed items remain black. The stark white clock can surely act as the focal point of the space!
13. Consider Soft Elements
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Rough, light wood and low-hanging white lights set this kitchen interior a world apart. You can also notice a layer of light gray cabinetry, adding variation to the otherwise dark color palette. These elements factor in softness to the black kitchen design.
14. Let the Accessories Do the Talking
Photographer:Mikko Ryhänen
In this black-and-wood creation, the accessories take center stage in adorning the interior. We love the houseplant, but the crockery deserves a special mention for doubling as decor. The light oakwood backdrop further warms the space up.
15. Consider a Matte All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:HDR Designer
Neat square panels perfectly line up to emphasize the stark black minimalism that is at play here. We love how the cabinetry is matte black with no hardware, adding a sense of simplicity. The herb planters are a healthy green addition to bring the otherwise simple space.
16. Add Some Stencilling to Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Fine lines and stencilling set this monochromatic space apart. Lined by black magnetic lights, black stencils and glossy white facades, it makes its mark on a light wooden floor.
17. Build a Shape Out of Black
Visualizer:Huso
18. Create a Modern Dark Kitchen with Gradients
Visualizer:Mario Nogueira
If you’re wondering how the intrigue in this space is working… It’s the gradients from black, to charcoal, to light grey. White surrounds in the walls and a monochromatic hanging light. This clever design technique makes sure the space is anything but boring, even if it’s using mere neutrals (minus the stunning orange dining chairs, of course).
19. Leverage Black Textures
Visualizer:Nefeli Kallianou
One instant way to add interest to a black kitchen is with textures, as seen in this metallic matte kitchen. This accounts for decorative presence in the light and bright space, providing character to an otherwise simple room.
20. Work on the Functionality of the Modern Dark Kitchen
Visualizer:İbrahim Ethem KISACIK
This dark modern kitchen makes sure it’s as functional as is stylish. The central island is paired with a black dining table, while all necessary appliances are fixed into the cabinetry. We also see pendant lights and lighting under the hood providing just the right illumination.
21. Create a Modern Classic All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:A&L Interior Design
Folks seeking an inviting all black kitchen can look towards this modern classic space. It merges contemporary elements (through sleek black cabinetry) with traditional ones (as seen in the wooden backsplash) to bring together the best of both worlds.
22. Put Essentials on Display in Your Modern Black Kitchen Interior
Visualizer:Polygon
Yet another kitchen that uses black and wooden elements to create a dark-themed interior. What sets this one apart is the hanging pans. They do offer easy access as the residents cook, but they also double as decor! (Note how the pans also use black and wooden elements to stay coherent with the theme).
23. Add the Industrial Style to the All Black Kitchen
Via:Emotion School
Industrial style lovers, rejoice! This is THE inspiration to set up your favorite interior design style, the dark way. This kitchen uses rustic wood and exposed elements for the ceiling to create an industrial black kitchen interior.
24. Make a Statement with Black Chunky Lamps
Via:HomePicture.in
All eyes on the two chunky lamps hanging in this monochromatic setting. They do add focus but also allow the contrasting white inset to shine. Not to forget the central island, providing plenty of storage space.
25. Make Room for Keepsakes
Visualizer:Maxim Goryachev
There’s nothing like personalizing your space to who YOU are. This kitchen serves the purpose by adding keepsakes and heirlooms. Also, black leaves room for details, so it’s one of the best colors to use if you’re hoping to display knick-knacks.
26. Use Black to Add Intimacy
Visualizer:Helen Bank
Who says dark colors make small spaces feel smaller? We only see black adding luxury to this compact space (with some credit to the white flooring adding brightness). This kitchen—with black marble backsplash—speaks opulence, and for all the right reasons!
27. Enhance Black Kitchen Design with Patterns
Visualizer:Ksenia Lenski
This black kitchen interior makes a design statement with the patterned marble island. Its sleek metallic legs lift it off the floor, creating an illusion of space. Simultaneously, the textured inset makes sure visual interest is added.
28. Don’t Forget a Black and White Rug
Visualizer:Nada Aboelrous
If you’re not in for a complete kitchen renovation, simply painting your cabinets black and adding a black-and-white patterned rug will achieve the purpose! We love how this kitchen keeps sets the base with white and tops it with black.
29. Let the Lighting Make a Statement in the All Black Kitchen
Architect:Artpartner Architects
When everything else is understated, letting the lighting create a statement is a good idea. This matte black kitchen interior uses rod lighting to do the talking. It sticks to the all black kitchen color scheme, though!
30. Tone it Down
Visualizer:Valeria Mosolova
This open floor plan uses dark gray throughout, showing us that black can work in more spaces than the kitchen 😉 It sure makes a design statement for those cooking and dining—or lounging!
31. Consider a Black and Wooden Bar
Visualizer:Amir Emami
This is the ultimate modern luxury black kitchen! After all, what’s better than displaying your favorite collection of beer right behind the black kitchen island? The low-hanging pendant lights also add to the black kitchen design.
32. Add the Gothic Vibe
Visualizer:Sebastian Lorio
This dark-gray kitchen is super simple with its sleek, hardware-less cabinetry. Well, except the far left end. Here, we see a statement piece of art and intriguing layered lighting created a focal point.
33. Stick to the Minimalist Style for Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Miguel A. Ramos
This compact kitchen space follows the simple rule: white walls paired with black cabinetry and an island. Even in this nook, the space is able to make a style statement while providing optimal functionality. The window here gives a contrasting element of light to the otherwise dark modern kitchen.
34. Layer Lighting in the All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Tatiana Durnescu
We see shades of gray and black coming together to bring this modern dark kitchen to life. What we especially love is the multiple types of lighting, all layered together to bring visual interest to the space.
35. Set the Backdrop For Your Living Space
Visualizer:Sasha Zolotukhin
