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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.

Colleen Hawkes
Last updated: 16 July 2026 | 2 min read
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This compact Cashmere home by architect Braden Harford challenges design norms with its bold black interior. The dark walls, painted in Dulux Rawene, are used to frame expansive views through large windows, making the 81m² space feel surprisingly bright and spacious.

Contrasting textures like raw wood panel ceilings and solid oak floors add warmth and character. This cleverly designed two-bedroom home at 86B Landsdown Terrace maximizes its footprint and is now on the market.

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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Colleen Hawkes Colleen Hawkes
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