Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa have shared their Newport Beach home with the world, and one adjective consistently fits every room: moody (in the best possible way, naturally).
From their monochromatic kitchen to the dark, cocooning living space (seen on the 6th slide) with a black-painted fireplace and dark gray furnishings, the couple has showcased dark decorating at its finest. It's perhaps only right, therefore, that they continue this palette outside.
Foreshadowing their interior design choices, the El Moussas opted for a striking black-painted façade – and, while this look may feel bold, it's a look that, experts say, taps into a wider exterior paint trend. Increasingly, we are looking to continue our interior design choices (most specifically those seen in our living rooms) to our exterior spaces, and painting our entire home is the most impactful way to tap into this movement.
'The new approach to gardens is to turn your outside space into an extension of your living room,' comment Rob Abrahams and Rob Green, the co-founders of COAT Paints. 'So it's no surprise that those dark and moody shades that we love for the inside of our homes are keen to come outside and join the party.'
Painting the entirety of our home a dark hue, whether it's black (as in the El Moussas case) or a rich gray or dark green (again, whatever matches our interiors), can be a risk. However, as Abrahams and Green explain, it's possible to tap into this design movement in subtler ways. One alternative could involve shaking up our front door color – a design-approved favorite way to make a lasting first impression. Similarly, painting a porch or fence allows us to flirt with more dramatic colors without having to commit to such a daring statement.
'The other advantage of choosing a dark garden fence color is that it'll make a small garden look bigger, as the dark color will recede, while also allowing your plants to really pop against that dark backdrop,' they add.
Eddie Maestri, the principal architect and owner of Maestri Studio similarly recommends bringing a moody palette outside – only, in his case, he begins with the front door.
'For a moody statement front door, Farrow and Ball's Paean Black is a good option. This classic color has a hint of red that gives it a touch of fun and glamour. This would look especially good in their high gloss,' Maestri says.
Eddie is the Principal and Creative Director of Maestri Studio, based in Dallas, Texas. He guides and oversees every project to make sure that each home is well-designed from the outside in. He aims to bring his clients' personalities and preferences alive, both in new builds or historic homes (which the studio is known for).
When it comes to color recommendations from us at H&G, we can't help but shout out Backdrop's classic black Dark Arts. It's pefect for fences, front doors, and, of course, a whole home façade (if we dare). We can pick up a sample below.
Backdrop's darkest color is described as a deep, velvety true black that can elevate any space. It's designed for use outside use, so you get the look with ease – and know that it will stand the test of time.
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