An Interior Designer Uses Dark, Dramatic Colors in His Nashville Home Interior

Known for his bespoke aesthetic and love of deep and dramatic hues, Nashville interior designer Chad James gives us a look inside his own home in Tennessee.

August 02, 2021

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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A Modern Black Exterior Brings Drama to This Nashville Home

Never one to shy away from dark and dramatic tones, Nashville designer Chad James covered the entire exterior of his Nashville home in black. Anytime you're choosing black for exterior spaces, test the paint samples at different times of day to make sure the hues remain consistently black. Certain undertones such as purple, brown or blue can be brought out, depending on the positioning of the sun and the shade of black chosen.

Shagreen Is a Great Material for Bringing Depth and Texture to This Living Room

One of the biggest successes in keeping Chad's living room from feeling too dark was brightening up the fireplace facade with a shagreen application. Shagreen is the untanned skin of a horse, shark or ray, though more often nowadays is a man-made product made to look like that dappled, textured leather. The soft gray tones of the material help reflect light around the space while also highlighting this important architectural element and main focal point of the interior.

This Living Room Uses a Tone-on-Tone Strategy of Repeating the Same Color in Different Shades

A great way to play with dark colors in a lighter, layered manner is to choose a tone-on-tone palette. This involves repeating different shades and tints of the same hue for a more collected look with visual depth. Here in Chad's den, rich gray-brown is used on the walls, ceiling and the upholstery. For a touch of personality and contrast, he brought in deep merlot tones with the area rug and the gilded arm chair.

Painting a Home Exterior Black Requires Attention to Detail

If you're considering painting your own home's exterior black, never underestimate the power of each surface. To minimize the appearance of the simple trim, fascia and doors, Chad painted them all the same shade of black as the siding, but then brought attention to the oversized architectural windows with a touch of white for high contrast.

A Blend of Gray and White Creates Balance in This Living Room

In many cases, super moody hues such as black, charcoal or even deep forest green can brighten up a bit, and come across as less dark when paired with gray and white. Chad flanked each side of his shagreen-textured fireplace with stained bookcases in a shade that's a cross between ebony and slate gray, and filled the shelves with books covered in deeply textured white fabric.

A Timeless and Tailored Nook in a Cozy Living Space

As far as overall lines are concerned, Chad seems to stick with all things timeless and tailored. This cozy nook off the great room keeps classic style on display, from the bust and oil portraits to the architecture of the wingback chairs and the richness of the oak pedestal.

A Dining Room Ups the Drama With Rich Ochre as a Wall Color

In addition to making dark colors look effortlessly chic, Chad is also adept at working with complex colors. Case in point: ochre. Ochre can read as a deep mustard tone or even a dark rusty brown, and this color can be hard to mix with others without clashing. To make ochre appear more neutral, Chad paired it with deep green and dramatic cobalt here in the dining area.

Neoclassical Details Define This Home Library

Between his architectural and design-based projects, Chad often works neoclassical nods into his spaces. Known for its grand scale, geometric forms and simplicity, neoclassical style can be seen in the library area of the first floor. Chad has many neoclassical touches on display, especially in the gilded console table and the cerused (sometimes referred to as "limed") oak column structure of the floor lamps.

A Greenblack-Hued Kitchen Changes Color According to Shifting Light

If you've never heard of greenblack before, take a lesson from Chad's use of this distinctive color. Greenblack is a very classic, timeless color that blends the deepest shade of forest green with pure jet black; and depending on the time of day and/or natural light source, a space can change back and forth between the two colors. The spaces toward the entry side of Chad's house receive the most natural light due to the massive windows; those high-traffic areas appear green most of the day. Conversely, the darker areas on the other side of the house remain more shadowed during the day. Those are the more private, intimate spaces of the home.

Layered Blacks and Browns Bring Fashion-Forward Style to This Kitchen

For years, it was considered a faux pas in the fashion world to mix black and brown. Over time, though, the two dramatic neutrals became as loved on the runway as they are with interiors. The dark espresso-toned stain on Chad's kitchen cabinets layers beautifully with the greenblack walls and the rich walnut hardwoods. To help throw the dark tones off, bench seating with sand-toned upholstery and a tartan blanket in light gray and ochre tones were added.

Deep Moss Green and Rich Blue Define This Breakfast Nook

Something that really stands out about Chad's work in regard to dark color is how he always gravitates towards rich shades. Here in the dining area below the staircase, a custom banquette is upholstered in a deep shade of cobalt blue while the classic chairs are covered in an unexpected mossy green fabric.

Custom Neon Art Defines This Chic Stairway

Chad's stairwell is the perfect example of how neon art is a great fit for dark spaces. The walls are covered in a deep, rich shade of forest green, so dark that it's best described as greenblack; and when the neon art is illuminated, it helps brighten up the space and results in an edgy, urban vibe.

White Walls and a Patterned Floor Create Balance in This Bedroom

Another completely unique way to work dark color into a space without creating too much of a moody vibe is to stick with dark tones on a patterned floor covering, then use light colors everywhere else. The guest bedroom is painted a fresh shade of white, while the trim around the windows and the wooden frame of the bed are black. Chad's floor is covered in a classic diamond pattern rug with shades of black and wheat tones.

Traditional and Industrial Style Come Together in This Moody Bedroom

Chad's interiors lend themselves to a more classic aesthetic; however, he effortlessly combines timeless and industrial looks. The dark and moody primary bedroom features an iron bed with leather upholstery, a modern-industrial ceiling fan and a simple, menswear-inspired mix of textiles, including monogrammed bedding and a plaid rug.

Vintage Charm Mixed With Dark Colors Lend Personality to This Bedroom

Dark colors mixed with vintage finds can create a very bespoke look. Here in the corner of Chad's primary bedroom, a vintage science diagram and collected architectural models lighten up the mood and also create conversation starters.

A Menswear-Inspired Black and White Plaid Defines This Timeless Powder Room

Another ongoing design element in Chad's home is menswear-inspired design. Here in the powder room, the walls are covered in a timeless black and white plaid that will never go out of style.

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Photo By: Robert Peterson