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For all those ‘black walls’ naysayers; here’s a house that nails it
A bold black interior and clever design make this compact Cashmere home feel bright, warm and spacious.
AI summary
This compact Cashmere home by architect Braden Harford challenges the idea that dark walls make a space feel small.
The bold black interior (Dulux Rawene) frames large windows and expansive views, creating a cosy yet spacious feeling. This design choice enhances the connection to the outdoors, making the 81m² home feel larger.
Contrasting textures, including raw wood panel ceilings and solid oak floors, add warmth and balance the dark palette, proving that a "black walls" approach can be highly effective.
Originally, there were two ‘70s townhouses on the two adjacent sites - they were both destroyed in the Christchurch earthquakes and later demolished. Harford’s own home is to the right of this new one. Photo: Cowdy
An Open-Plan Living Space Framed by the View
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the open-plan living area with natural light, framing sweeping valley views and making the compact home feel bright and spacious.
All the windows are carefully positioned to maximise the best “slices” of the view. Photo: Cowdy
The galley kitchen features white cabinet doors and drawers to create a bold contrast to the black. Photo: Cowdy
Warmth and Texture in Every Detail
An exposed timber ceiling, textured wood panels and oak flooring bring visual warmth to the lower level, where the staircase leads to a cosy second bedroom and generous storage space.
The second bedroom has plenty of visual warmth, with an exposed truss ceiling and concrete block walls. Photo: Cowdy
There is a single bathroom in the small house, and it’s also low maintenance. Photo: Cowdy
Carports on both townhouses follow the same line - there is a great similarity in the two houses, although the first house (not pictured) is clad in concrete block. Photo: Cowdy
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