There are three words that thanks to real estate marketing we all believe we need in our homes to achieve a modern look.
Light. Bright. White.
But can dark be modern too? Dark clothes are considered flattering, black cars are classy, timber is timeless. So how do you make a dark house feel all these things?
Natural lighting by way of windows is the most obvious and effective way to bring more light into a home. The downside of course, is windows can be quite costly and can take some time if permits are required.
Photo by Ada and Ivy, ‘Sun Tunnel’ by Velux Australia
Skylights are another option that bring in large amounts of natural light.
A sun tunnel like the ones used in this project by Velux Australia brings in beautifully diffused natural light throughout the room. This was particularly important in this home as the wet areas run centrally though the floor plan meaning they have no windows.
Artificial lighting is an essential consideration for any home, however in a dark home, it is even more important to get it right. Using a combination of area, directional and ambient lighting will not only light a space but create interest and a sense of luxury.
Once lighting has been considered many designers stop there, however there are many more tricks to making a dark space feel lighter and more modern.
Main Photo by Ada and Ivy, Inset by Anita Jean Design. ‘Full Moon’ Pendant light by Matt Blatt
Playful colours can be used as modern artful accents throughout the build and decor, yellow and orange in particular, remind us of the sun and compliment brick, terracotta and timber. The type of materials and the way they are used can also make the difference between a dark, drab, old fashioned home and a mid-century masterpiece.
Photo by Ada and Ivy, Leather Recliners by Kuka Furniture
Sharp lines, minimalist styling and dramatic contrasts will give a design a modern edge while often having the added bonus of reflecting light; think stone bench tops vs timber, square corners instead of rounded edges and blinds vs drapes. Again when it comes to soft furnishings, hard, sharp lines will aid in modernising the space. Leather and metallic fabrics are both great examples of fabrics that will reflect light, and even the most subtle of reflections will add a sense of lightness to a room.
Another material that can be used to this effect is polished concrete. Even the darkest shades can appear light when highly polished and this can be enhanced further by using reflective aggregates such as glass and metal.
In this project, the client chose to use a combination of cork and carpet for underfoot comfort so we then looked to the central spine of the home, an off white 3.7m high wall (above), and agreed that it needed to be a feature that would add drama and some subtle reflections.
Photo by Ada and Ivy, Advanced Spiritus Libero ‘Marmorino Concrete Finish’ applied by Render Craft
Situated opposite the main windows and with the surrounding flat, light absorbing finishes of carpet and matte timber ceilings, it brought a great opportunity to bounce light back into the room. This concrete render with it’s mottled semi-gloss wax finish and beautiful subtle flecks of sparkle throughout was the perfect choice, really adding a striking feature that lights up differently at various times of day.
It's with these carefully considered and applied tricks that we have been able to brighten this home without eliminating all its original features which give the house its character.
To see the full before and after gallery as well as design concepts head to Pintrest.
