This Daniel Island Park home turns the neighborhood’s aesthetic on its head with a black exterior and sleek, colorful interior highlighted by textured wallpapers, surprising fabrics, and lots of glass.
BACK IN BLACK: Nestled on the tip of Nobles Point in Daniel Island Park, the “Black House,” as it has become known, was designed by residential designer Neal Van Dalen to provide his clients, a family of six, with privacy and a closer connection to nature. Walls of windows help bring the outside in, and plenty of outdoor living space allows the family to soak in the spectacular views. The exterior paint color was the suggestion of designer Hollis Erickson, who repeated the hue inside.
YIN & YANG: Erickson helped her clients move from a more transitional style in their previous home to the bold look they were craving. She pulled the Sherwin Williams “Iron Ore” paint from the exterior into the main living space, anchoring it with a striking book-matched, honed Nero Dorato marble fireplace surround. Dark furniture—Verellen chairs in a bouclé fabric and a wood coffee table designed by Erickson—are balanced by soft white sofas and walls painted with Benjamin Moore’s “Decorator’s White.” The designer also pulled hues from the marble and tied them into custom art pieces that pop from the neutral backdrop.
Blending In: The clean lines of the Balmain teak dining table and chairs from RH conform to this contemporary outdoor perch with views over Ralston Creek toward Mount Pleasant.
Brass Tactics: In the adjoining wet bar, Phillip Jeffries metallic “Enlightenment” wallpaper in “Tantra Taupe” complements a handcrafted set of floating brass and glass shelves by Bryan Reiss.
The neighboring butler’s pantry features an abstract acrylic and oil pastel by local artist Emily Brown that helps pull the room together.
The Open Kitchen continues the color story with the same exterior black on the cabinetry, offset by a stunning black-and-white “Orca” marble countertop and backsplash. The brass-paneled hood, made by local craftsman Matt Burchette, provides a statement piece balancing the marble fireplace on the far side of the room.
In the homeowners’ bedroom suite they enjoy panoramic views of the marsh from their Doorman Designs bed, handcrafted in New Orleans. A striking contemporary “Photon” chandelier from Visual Comfort highlights the soaring black ceiling, while the hand-knotted Oscillo rug from RH keeps the space grounded. Playful wood nightstands from Italy and black Bayliss table lamps reinforce the monochrome palette.
A long, window-filled corridor leads from the main living space to the homeowners’ bedroom suite.
Natural light pours into the bathroom through a large window in the shower (with remote control shades). The warm wood of the vanity is contrasted by black-framed mirrors and marble countertops.
Spa Dreams: A concrete-and-glass terrazzo floor by Concrete Collaborative adds texture and interest to the large walk-in shower, with Native Trails “Avalon” freestanding cement soaking tub from Molufs.
A Room of One’s Own: While the couples’ older children had (mostly) moved away by the time construction was complete, Erickson designed a room for each to match their interests. For the eldest son, there’s an international flavor, the large Lemieux Et Cie rug tying in a leather chair and drums that are out of frame.
Color Her Happy: The daughter’s room (she still lives at home) features The Vale London “Mighty Jungle” cotton in “Lagune” on the window coverings. Its soft aqua carries through to the painted ceiling as well as the bathroom tile. “The fabric is so perfectly her!” says her mom.
Office Space: The upstairs study’s warm wood furniture, topped by a chandelier from Visual Comfort, stands out against the rich blue-green walls painted in C2 “Titan.” The mid-century modern desk is from CB2; its Mad Men vibes are echoed in the leather “Commodore” chairs from Palecek. A green Moroccan rug from Moattar in Atlanta ties it all together. The consoles, painted the same colors as the walls, expertly blend in, allowing the photography from Heart of Gold Gallery in Mount Pleasant to sing.
HANG TIME: With a big family of varying ages, having plenty of hang-out spaces was key. In the large, multipurpose den, a Robin Bruce “Neval” sectional and ottoman from Celadon provide ample room to stretch out and watch movies. The Sherwin Williams “Argos” paint adds a hint of blue to mimic the sky captured through the tall windows.
Serene Dream: The home’s positioning takes full advantage of the lot’s unusual configuration, with a narrow street frontage and a wide marshfront. Van Dalen expertly designed the structure around existing trees so the home is shaded and private while capturing the views. The elevated pool was installed by Aqua Blue Pools.
On Deck: Fiber cement siding that mimics the look of real wood with none of the maintenance issues brings warmth to the outdoor seating area, where Serena & Lily “Boonville” coffee tables cast from real tree roots continue the organic look.
The home is expertly designed to blend in with its surroundings while offering spectacular marshfront views
