This week in thoughts: how black paint completely elevated our garden room...

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At the tail end of last week, I shared our completed cabin. It is now fully finished including the outside which, if I do say so myself looks absolutely AMAZING. And it’s all thanks to a simple tin (tins) of black paint (well anthracite actually but let’s not split hairs.)

I am a huge lover of a dark building; I love a black home, and having used black A LOT in our old home would still advocate for the hue that so often people are afraid of using. Black is a great neutral- especially if you love drama, or high contrast. Black as a backdrop is sublime for making things ‘pop’. It is excellent as an accent; or a way to ‘ground/anchor’ a space and personally, I think-makes things look instantly chic. Black has this knack of being dramatic- but also disappearing into the background in an unassuming way- quite the feat!

Can you go overboard with black? Yes. I think you can. It can definitely feel heavy if used too much. I certainly made this mistake in our old house- although to be honest I kinda think it worked. I’m not using as much black in the cottage (or any really) but that’s not because my love for it has diminished- rather that I don’t think it would work as well. I see a cottage as a characterful home that is more suited to an eclectic aesthetic; and one that can carry colour. I’m still using dark tones because I just love them so much- but they are more complex iterations.

Anyway I digress. I was approached by Crown Paints earlier in the year to use their products to transform our cabin. We had already completed the interiors and were ready to tackle the exterior too. Initially the building was a mix of cream and blue and just felt a bit dated. I wanted to bring those Swedish; Cabin-in-the-Woods vibes (but in Shropshire) and just knew it would look and feel better darker. The cabin is a mix of materials: brick, wood and metal so I was looking for a product that could do everything. It’s not a huge building but it’s still a lot to cover. I used Sandtex 10 Year Mutli Surface Exterior Satin Paint and was blown away by not only the coverage but how quickly it dired (although I did choose to do most of the painting on warmer days.)

Our newly painted cabin at night- feeling like a magical place…

I used the Anthracite (a soft black which has strong blue undertones- a little like Farrow and Ball Railings and super rich) all over and then went in with the Black on the very inner window frames and doors to create a ‘crittall-effect’. Proof that paint is the most transformative and relatively inexpensive thing you can use to completely change a space. Using one colour all over; bar the detailing has helped to modernise it but it also feels neater and simpler- especially when looking at it next to the house. The previous mix of colours emphasised the many materials and it felt less streamlined and ‘busier’ to the eye. The black makes it feel intentional and more connected to the surroundings. Despite being a very pigmented shade it feels more natural and akin to being in a garden. A dark deep green could work too though if you’re scared of black!

The paints went on like a dream, and only needed 2 coats. It has a priming, smoothing effect so it really looks like new; despite being around 25 years old! The paint resists cracking and peeling so great if you are low maintenance-which I think most of us when it comes to outdoor spaces because they tend to come second to our homes.

My tip would be to paint on a fairly dull day as it was hard work when it got too warm (but can also affect the consistency of the paint application. I avoided those super sunny days-not that we’ve had many! And painted early in the morning or early evening.) and to take it slowly. Painting always takes longer than you think so if you are thinking of doing a project like this give yourself MORE time than you think is necessary. Tools wise, a small roller with a sponge head and tray, plus a selection of paint brushes were all I needed. I also had a rag to hand to clean up an spillages. I don’t use tape generally as I find it a faff- it’s easier to practice mastering a steady hand instead.

Once completed, we gave the windows a thorough clean, which in itself made a huge difference, swept and jet-washed the small bricked area outside, and then painted the small potting table left by the previous occupiers. I added hooks for garden accessories to the wall above and gave the area a good tidy. It’s so cute and really useful for potting plants and general gardening jobs.

We then hung some Argos festoon lights around the roof, popped the bench back (again, a bench the previous owners had left us!) and added some new cushions from Jysk. I really wanted to keep costs down and I’m pleased to say that we managed to stick to our budget. I love how this little building looks now and how it feels more ‘us’. I think it’s natural to want to change things up when you move into a new house; and to add your own personality etc, but I don’t think that necessarily means you have to spend loads of money or start from scratch. Updating with paint and decor can be just as effective. The cabin mostly benefited from a good clean, sand and by removing a lot of the excess from the front. It certainly didn’t need any major work.

I love how the plants really zing against the black. Something about it feels magical and it’s much neater too!

Anyway, long story short we are thrilled with it and hoping to have guests come stay with us soon (not too long though cos well, just no.)

What do you think? Are you a fan of a black/ dark building?

Nina x