This All-Black House for Sale in Illinois Is a Goth Dream
Undoubtedly one of the more unconventional color palettes when it comes to a home, black houses can be surprisingly chic if not entirely unexpected, as evidenced by one all-black home in Illinois that has gone viral for its moody, dark exterior and interior design scheme.
While a fully black-on-black house might not be the first choice of most homebuyers out there, the home for sale at 110 Edgar Street (yes, after Edgar Allen Poe) in Lincoln, Illinois makes the case for a goth-inspired, mysterious color scheme throughout. Not only is the home itself octagon-shaped making it unique in and of its own right, the two-bedroom pad includes intricate design features such as no square rooms, a stunning spiral staircase, and gorgeous cathedral ceilings. Every room features black walls with white trim, and the luxe black-and-white theme carries throughout, but don’t worry, there’s also multiple shades of gray for those opposed to such a monochromatic vibe.
According to Realtor.com, the distinctive black scheme started with the roof, which inspired the owner and listing agent, Seth Goodman, to make everything in the home black. “Once the roof was done, I could envision how the house would be with black siding. Once that went on, it all made sense in my mind. I knew everything was going to be black, top to bottom, inside and out. It works really well. When you see the house in person, it’s a totally different feel than the pictures really show,” he said.
Goodman added that the 1,547-square-foot home is “not creepy inside when you’re actually in the house,” and it’s not just for the remaining Hot Topic shoppers out there. “It doesn’t have a dark depressing vibe — like I think a lot of people may think it does. I’m definitely not Gothic and I’ve never had an all-black house before. To me, when you’re inside, it’s a very modern, clean, and unique look.”
He put a lot of love into the house to give it so much uniqueness, adding, “When I bought it, it was all original, from the 1990s. The interior walls were pretty much all white, white carpeting, and the exterior siding was like a yellow, with beige shingles on the roof. It didn’t even have gutters. When the opportunity presented itself, I bought it. I just thought I would modernize this place, and then I’ll spin it. I started with the black roof, and then it all kind of went from there.”
Along with white trim, the countertops are white granite, and the tiling is white, too. The kitchen cabinets are a dark gray, and both bathroom vanities are white. And even with so many modern upgrades, Goodman explained, “There are no square rooms. The entire house is an octagon, so the shape of the rooms is very different. There’s even a spiral staircase, which is the only way to get to the upstairs loft, which features the main bedroom and a full bath. “When the windows are all open in the house, and there are skylights in the upstairs loft, it is flooded with natural light,” he added.
The 1993-built home is certainly drenched in natural sunlight thanks to windows located on every wall. Other features include a second bedroom and bathroom on the home’s main level, a cozy open living/dining concept with a corner gas log fireplace, a large tiled laundry room/mudroom, and a garage designed to fit at least three cars with plenty of wiggle room — and yes, the garage is black, too.
Situated on half-acre of land off a main road, Goodman said, “Most of the town didn’t even know it existed, and it’s got kind of like a semi-secluded feel, with all these mature trees around it.”
To truly take note of the home’s incredible transformation, check out the Google Maps listing, which shows a photo from before Goodman’s brooding revamp.
Shortly after it hit the market back in December, the home received viral attention when it was featured on Zillow Gone Wild, racking up more than 96,000 likes and nearly 5,000 comments. One commenter joked the home looks like “if goth and farmhouse had a baby,” while another joked, “Live, laugh, loath.”
Goodman purchased the home for $75,000, but it’s on the market for $250,000, with the listing noting it’s received more than $160,000 in upgrades. And while it might not be the color palette for every buyer out there, there’s sure to be someone who wants to live like it’s Halloween year round in such a Goth-inspired abode.