Black, White, and Mid-Century Modern All Over

Homeowners Robert and Dena got engaged a month ago and this 1970s house was their first home purchase together. With a budget of $55K, they brought in Leanne and Steve to modernize the entire first floor. They were absolutely thrilled with the updates.

The original front exterior of the house described by Leanne as, mid-century modern meets cabin meets country.

A black house isn't for everyone — but these homeowners absolutely loved how it made their house stand out.

The original kitchen had a bizarre, zig-zag layout with a lot of wasted space.

By tearing down walls and replacing the zig-zag cabinetry, Leanne was able to open up the kitchen and put in a large, marble island.

To continue the black and white theme in the kitchen, Leanne chose ebony butcherblock countertops and a black backsplash.

The original zig-zag kitchen and dining room.

From this angle, you can see how the island has been extended into the previous dining space.

The new dining room is light, bright, airy, and incorporates some lovely greenery.

Opposite the dining space and on the other side of the island, there was some unused space that was perfect for this custom china closet Leanne put in.

The original sprawling greatroom, featuring a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace.

Leanne's goal here was to lighten, brighten, and whiten this space. She did that with a fresh coat of paint to the walls and, to create contrast, painted the fireplace black. To tie together the black and white theme, Leanne and Steve used slate flooring throughout.

An overhead view of the updated great room.

Leanne incorporated this cute little sitting area in the great room.

The Fords needed a lighting fixture that could act as a focal point and fill the space. Leanne had her friend Sarah create this custom, Mid-Century mobile.

The original entryway didn't offer much of a first impression.

Though the updated stairs aren't pictured here, you can still see how there is more of a hallway leading into the new kitchen. Leanne and Steve used slat walls to conceal all of the doors in the original entryway.

The original first floor bathroom.